Severe stomach pain

I'd like to invite, @smiles444 @edda @lucie2 and @sousou to join this discussion as well; I'm certain they have much insight to share.

My dad has been very ill and in and out of the hospital for 4 months and the doctors cannot determine the cause for his pain.

My dad started out with a constant and throbbing lower, left side abdominal pain. Then he had the abdominal pain plus nausea , which then became abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Doctors thought he had gastritis, an ulcer, diverticulitis, abdominal aneurysms, and spasms . All of the above do have his symptoms listed, but the doctors say he does not have any of those things (although he does have 2 tiny abdominal aneurysms but they say they are so small and can’t be the cause of the pain). Meanwhile, he has had multiple CT scans, a colonoscopy, that thing where you go in through the throat with a tube and look for ulcers, ultrasound, different medications for all of the above diseases because they thought that’s what he had…time has gone by and my dad has lost about 30 lbs. He has become so frustrated, weak, angry, discouraged and sad. My dad is 77 years old, a smoker, he has a weak heart and had a massive heart attack about 20 years ago. He has a defibrillator. He also cannot taste his food. He can taste things at first but than gets a metallic aftertaste. Could be the smoking but probably all the meds. I think this began when he first received anti nausea meds.

He is still in the hospital but soon to be released. Since he is always nauseous, he is hardly eating and was hooked up to parenteral nutrition. The doctors have given up and I feel like my dad has too. Please help. We are desperate...
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@daughter It is sad for me whenever I hear of someone with the sort of stuff your dad is going through. I have had most of those, and know the bad stuff that comes with living that way. But it is also an opportunity to try to help. I suggest that he might have his ANA, BUN, SERUM LightChain protein, and his proteinuria checked . You see, the symptoms you list are classic symptoms of several different forms of Amyloidosis, and these two tests will help sort it out. It is called a rare disease, but that is mostly because few doctors know how or have the facilities to diagnose it. You can get good info from Mayo Videos done by Martha Grogan, Morey Gertz or Angela Dispenzieri, or from Alnylam Pharma. You can also download free or read online my own story at https://bit.Ly/1w7j4j8 "Amyloidosis Dossier..." The particular symptoms I see that are like mine: 77 (so am I), abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, weak heart, attack, loss of taste, metallic aftertaste, multiple doctors that cannot find the reality, weight loss, all the failed tests so far. When you check it out, make sure the lab is a top lab, such as Mayo-(Rochester) Quant, ARUP, Mass General, etc.

My 77 year old father has been very ill and in and out of the hospital for the past 4 months and the doctors cannot determine the cause for his pain.

My dad started out with a constant and throbbing lower, left side abdominal pain. Then he had the abdominal pain plus nausea , which then became abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Doctors thought he had gastritis, an ulcer, diverticulitis, abdominal aneurysms, and spasms . I have become an expert of looking up diseases. All of the above do have his symptoms listed, but the doctors say he does not have any of those things (although he does have 2 tiny abdominal aneurysms but they say they are so small and can’t be the cause of the pain). Meanwhile, he has had multiple CT scans, a colonoscopy, that thing where you go in through the throat with a tube and look for ulcers, ultrasound, different medications for all of the above diseases because they thought that’s what he had…time has gone by and my dad has lost about 30 lbs. He has become so frustrated, weak, angry, discouraged and sad. My dad a smoker, he has a weak heart and had a massive heart attack about 20 years ago. He has a defibrillator. He also cannot taste his food. He can taste things at first but than gets a metallic aftertaste. Could be the smoking but probably all the meds. I think this began when he first received anti nausea meds. Because he is unable to keep things down or eat much, he recently received parenteral nutrition. Doctors are talking about sending him home or to rehab because they have given up on finding a solution. Please help! We are desperate for an answer.

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Thank you, @oldkarl.

Hello @daughter,

I too, am sorry to hear about your father; it is so difficult to watch a loved one struggle with their health. We're glad you've joined Mayo Clinic Connect.
I'd like to share a few links to discussions that you may find helpful. Feel free to click on the links, read through them, and participate where you feel comfortable:
– Abdominal pain with severe constipation and weight loss https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/abdominal-pain-since-july-2017-with-severe-constipation-and-weight-los/
– Mesenteric Panniculitis or Sclerosing Mesenteries https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mesenteric-panniculitis-or-schlerosing-mesentertis-auto-immune-around-small-intestine/

Since you mentioned he has 2 small abdominal aneurysms, I'd like to invite Mentor @kariulrich for her thoughts about your dad's pain. You can read her and other members' experiences here:
–Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome (MALS) https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/median-arcuate-ligament-syndrome-mals/

@daughter, did your dad take any steroids (like Prednisone) or such medicines to relieve pain? Often, some cardiac medications, when taken longterm, can cause a metallic aftertaste; have you asked the doctors about any drug induced conditions? Mentor @kdubois may have more insight about this, as well.

@daughter .. Has your dad had any previous abdominal surgeries?

No he has not. It seems like it is more the nausea that is bothering him and he is only able to keep liquids down. He is receiving IV nutrition because he cannot eat.

@daughter .. Your first description of his pain made me think diverticulitis, but it would have shown in the tests you described he had. I wish I could help. I deal with nausea quite a bit with all my stomach and esophagus problems. Zofran sometimes works amd sometimes does not in quelling it. I spent 17 months on a feeding tube. It might be an option for your dad. There are various types I had a 24 hour pump.. as I went back to food I disconnected it during the day and did my feeding over night as instructed. Some people use a syringe feed method. One thing I liked about the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville FL when I was so sick was they worked as a team to try and figure out how to best treat me.

Heart doctors would know if his pain might be what they call referred pain. Continue to be the good advocate you are for your dad. Get second, third.. fourth opinions if needed. Please keep us updated.

I will keep y'all in my prayers.
Zaroga

Hi Pam,
The problem with adhesions is they always seem to come back causing more pain. I’ve learned in all my research that the techniques used during surgery (handling of organs, types of gloves, etc..) are crucial in trying to minimize adhesions. It wasn’t until my 6th abdominal surgery, that I came across this information and I can tell you first hand adhesions are painful causing our organs to stick together so every time you move you hav pain. If adhesions are what’s happening with you I know I have found 1 doctor so far that specializes in nothing but chronic pelvic pain, adhesions, endometriosis, he is Dr Cook in Los Gatos, Ca. I’m currently searching for other doctors like this throughout th US because no all of us can go to California and will post names as I find them. I hope this helps somewhat.
Good luck!!
Cindy

Yes, I have this terrible pain also. It mostly starts at night, and I thought, that it was connected to food, I ate for supper. So now I am hardly eaten dinners anymore. The pain lately was so bad, that my Primary Doc thought, it might be pancreatis and is sending me back to my GI. But I had CT scans, while in the ER, and it does not show anything.
I also have a lot of headaches, and pressures. I do not know anymore, what to do. Have not received any real help from the medical field.