1. < Digestive Health
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Severe stomach pain

Posted by tyjacob @tyjacob, Sep 18, 2011

I have had several years of pain in my stomach and not sure what to do. i have had ibs, acid reflux, gastritis, internal hemorrhoids. A few months ago I had a slighly irregular Z line, mildly erythematous found in the antrum and nodules were found in the ascendingn colon.
I have taken xypaxin for pain but it no longer helps. I throw up daily and have diarrhea, I have headaches. My stomach cramps so badly that I can go anywhere because of the pain. What should I do?

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Profile picture for carolel
carolel | @carolel | Aug 11, 2018
In reply to @carolel "I had a laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 2002 and was very well post op. Since January this..." + (show)
Profile picture for carolel @carolel

I had a laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 2002 and was very well post op. Since January this year I have suffered pain, mostly severe, round about the site where my gallbladder was. It is now accompanied by nausea and vomiting. This has been investigated as an inpatient by various scans and scopes, but as far as I can see, by the physicians and not from a surgical point of view. When I mentioned the possibility of adhesions to my GP he just dismissed it. I feel like no-one believes me because I’m not rolling around and screaming in pain. I admit that I do have a high pain threshold but even for me it is getting unbearable. I’m taking Amitryptiline, Oramorph and Paracetamol, which do very little regarding pain relief. Could it be adhesions or any suggestions as to what else it could be?

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All bloods have also been clear but awaiting results of stool tests

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Aug 12, 2018
In reply to @lz5b00 "I have had acute abdominal pain since April 2011 and it has escalated over the months....." + (show)
Profile picture for lz5b00 @lz5b00

I have had acute abdominal pain since April 2011 and it has escalated over the months.. The pain begins early morning, remains unrelenting and escalates throughout the day. It is sharp at times and gnawing most of the time. It radiates down from my sternum and to the lower left of my abdomen. My family doctor nor GI specialists cannot find the cause. I have had CT scans, ultrasound, video capsule endoscopy, colonoscopy, blood tests, push endoscope, H pylori tests, ova stool test for parasites and MRI, to name a few. EVERY test result has been returned as "unremarkable"--no cause found. I am currently taking Paxil 25mg, Nexium and Oxycodein for the pain. Nothing has helped me determine the source of this pain. I am reaching out to this community to see is anyone has a similar experience.

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@carolel

I am sorry to hear of your chronic pain. Your concern is certainly understandable. Have you discussed this with the surgeon who performed the laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 2002?

Please remember that it is always your right to get a second opinion.

Teresa

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2 replies
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carolel | @carolel | Aug 12, 2018
In reply to @hopeful33250 "@carolel I am sorry to hear of your chronic pain. Your concern is certainly understandable. Have..." + (show)
Profile picture for Teresa, Volunteer Mentor @hopeful33250

@carolel

I am sorry to hear of your chronic pain. Your concern is certainly understandable. Have you discussed this with the surgeon who performed the laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 2002?

Please remember that it is always your right to get a second opinion.

Teresa

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Believe it or not the hospital where I was operated on has been demolished, but thanks for the suggestion because I can still remember his name so I might be able to find out if he still practices. I will definitely try that

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Profile picture for carolel
carolel | @carolel | Aug 12, 2018
In reply to @hopeful33250 "@carolel I am sorry to hear of your chronic pain. Your concern is certainly understandable. Have..." + (show)
Profile picture for Teresa, Volunteer Mentor @hopeful33250

@carolel

I am sorry to hear of your chronic pain. Your concern is certainly understandable. Have you discussed this with the surgeon who performed the laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 2002?

Please remember that it is always your right to get a second opinion.

Teresa

Jump to this post

I have since investigated this and it appears that he is now practicing in Sydney, Australia. To be honest, when I was an inpatient and leading up to being admitted, I was seen by about 11-12 different doctors, and I can only recall seeing one more than on one occasion

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aesmayo01 | @aesmayo01 | Aug 12, 2018
In reply to @stillsearching "I had similar symptoms years ago and it turned out that my pancreatic duct was bent..." + (show)
Profile picture for Still searching @stillsearching

I had similar symptoms years ago and it turned out that my pancreatic duct was bent which did not allow the pancreatic juices to flow. It took me years to discover this. I had all of those tests too and they came back normal until I had an ERCP with a fantastic gastro wizard at UCSF (San Francisco) Keep track if the pain gets worse after eating (when the pancreas starts to work). Mine hurt more in the morning also because laying flat (sleeping) took the pressure off of the duct then ramped up the rest of the day I hope this helps. I'm on a new journey for chronic pancreatitis that has taken over my life. I'm thinking of going to Mayo clinic for some help to get some (or any) life back. I wish you a positive outcome. Don't give up

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Did the ERCP's give you a pancreas attack? Were you diagnosed after EUS? What does it show if you have chronic pancreatitis?

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1 reply
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carolel | @carolel | Aug 13, 2018
In reply to @stillsearching "I had similar symptoms years ago and it turned out that my pancreatic duct was bent..." + (show)
Profile picture for Still searching @stillsearching

I had similar symptoms years ago and it turned out that my pancreatic duct was bent which did not allow the pancreatic juices to flow. It took me years to discover this. I had all of those tests too and they came back normal until I had an ERCP with a fantastic gastro wizard at UCSF (San Francisco) Keep track if the pain gets worse after eating (when the pancreas starts to work). Mine hurt more in the morning also because laying flat (sleeping) took the pressure off of the duct then ramped up the rest of the day I hope this helps. I'm on a new journey for chronic pancreatitis that has taken over my life. I'm thinking of going to Mayo clinic for some help to get some (or any) life back. I wish you a positive outcome. Don't give up

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Apparently the ERCP showed a slightly inflamed pancreas but the blood results indicated that it couldn’t be pancreatitis

REPLY
Profile picture for Teresa, Volunteer Mentor
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Aug 13, 2018
In reply to @lz5b00 "I have had acute abdominal pain since April 2011 and it has escalated over the months....." + (show)
Profile picture for lz5b00 @lz5b00

I have had acute abdominal pain since April 2011 and it has escalated over the months.. The pain begins early morning, remains unrelenting and escalates throughout the day. It is sharp at times and gnawing most of the time. It radiates down from my sternum and to the lower left of my abdomen. My family doctor nor GI specialists cannot find the cause. I have had CT scans, ultrasound, video capsule endoscopy, colonoscopy, blood tests, push endoscope, H pylori tests, ova stool test for parasites and MRI, to name a few. EVERY test result has been returned as "unremarkable"--no cause found. I am currently taking Paxil 25mg, Nexium and Oxycodein for the pain. Nothing has helped me determine the source of this pain. I am reaching out to this community to see is anyone has a similar experience.

Jump to this post

@carolel

What an interesting turn of events. Even though the hospital has been demolished and the doctor is no longer in the country, I feel sure that the hospital records do exist somewhere. It might take some time to track them down, though.

In the meantime, however, are you interested in getting a second opinion at a research facility like Mayo? They have three facilities, Minnesota, Florida and Arizona. Here is how you can call for an appointment, https://www.mayoclinic.org/appointments/

I look forward to hearing how you resolve this situation. Will you post again?

Teresa

REPLY
1 reply
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Gary, Alumni Mentor | @gman007 | Aug 13, 2018
In reply to @stillsearching "I had similar symptoms years ago and it turned out that my pancreatic duct was bent..." + (show)
Profile picture for Still searching @stillsearching

I had similar symptoms years ago and it turned out that my pancreatic duct was bent which did not allow the pancreatic juices to flow. It took me years to discover this. I had all of those tests too and they came back normal until I had an ERCP with a fantastic gastro wizard at UCSF (San Francisco) Keep track if the pain gets worse after eating (when the pancreas starts to work). Mine hurt more in the morning also because laying flat (sleeping) took the pressure off of the duct then ramped up the rest of the day I hope this helps. I'm on a new journey for chronic pancreatitis that has taken over my life. I'm thinking of going to Mayo clinic for some help to get some (or any) life back. I wish you a positive outcome. Don't give up

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Hi @carolel
I am a volunteer mentor, but have been on a sort of sabbatical for the summer months. This thread appears to have started about 6 years ago, so I am gonna respond to your recent post and if anyone else would like to ask questions, I will respond. I have carried a diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis since 2006. I was hospitalized with acute pancreatitis three times for a total of 30 days that year and had many tests, a gall bladder removal and scans later in the year showed calcification and scarring of my pancreas and a continuous level of pancreatic inflammation. The main reason I am replying to your post is that elevated pancreatic enzymes in the blood are not always present in pancreatitis. My pancreas had been damaged to the point that it was unable to produce enzymes in large enough quantities, after the third attack, to be revealed on a blood test. My youngest son either inherited the problem from me or we are just an unlucky family as he has had two acute attacks. With his most recent, his lipase was very elevated, but his amylase was only slightly above normal. My point is, there are other ways to evaluate your pancreas and that should be done. If it is not related to your pancreas, I would consider that a blessing, but I would not know which direction to point you in if it is not.
Blessings and better health,
Gary

REPLY
Profile picture for carolel
carolel | @carolel | Aug 13, 2018
In reply to @hopeful33250 "@carolel What an interesting turn of events. Even though the hospital has been demolished and the..." + (show)
Profile picture for Teresa, Volunteer Mentor @hopeful33250

@carolel

What an interesting turn of events. Even though the hospital has been demolished and the doctor is no longer in the country, I feel sure that the hospital records do exist somewhere. It might take some time to track them down, though.

In the meantime, however, are you interested in getting a second opinion at a research facility like Mayo? They have three facilities, Minnesota, Florida and Arizona. Here is how you can call for an appointment, https://www.mayoclinic.org/appointments/

I look forward to hearing how you resolve this situation. Will you post again?

Teresa

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Thank you for your offer but that would be impossible for me for many different reasons which I would rather not discuss but I will keep you informed of my situation. The next step is an appointment I have with the gastroenterologist in September

REPLY
Profile picture for Teresa, Volunteer Mentor
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Aug 13, 2018
In reply to @lz5b00 "I have had acute abdominal pain since April 2011 and it has escalated over the months....." + (show)
Profile picture for lz5b00 @lz5b00

I have had acute abdominal pain since April 2011 and it has escalated over the months.. The pain begins early morning, remains unrelenting and escalates throughout the day. It is sharp at times and gnawing most of the time. It radiates down from my sternum and to the lower left of my abdomen. My family doctor nor GI specialists cannot find the cause. I have had CT scans, ultrasound, video capsule endoscopy, colonoscopy, blood tests, push endoscope, H pylori tests, ova stool test for parasites and MRI, to name a few. EVERY test result has been returned as "unremarkable"--no cause found. I am currently taking Paxil 25mg, Nexium and Oxycodein for the pain. Nothing has helped me determine the source of this pain. I am reaching out to this community to see is anyone has a similar experience.

Jump to this post

@carolel I certainly hope that you are able to get some more help and information from this appointment in September!

Teresa

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