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Functional dyspepsia
Hi everyone,
Really happy to be joining this community!
In 2013 I started experiencing symptoms of chronic dyspepsia as well as early fullness. Constantly feel discomfort in stomach, nausea and occasional constipation. The main problem is early fullness: I feel totally sick after a couple bites or sips of anything. In the last couple years I've lost a bunch of weight.
Four different medical teams have tried to figure out what's wrong. Two CT scans, an MRI, 4 endoscopies, a colonoscopy, multiple pathology tests, a gastric emptying study, and four upper-GI series. I've not undergone any procedures or been put on medication for more than a week or two at a time.
At the moment two different medical teams are arguing about what's wrong with me. One believes based on an MRI and CT scan that there is an outflow obstruction after the second part of my duodenum, which they think is annular pancreas or some close variant. They believe that by bypassing my duodenum they will relieve me of the symptoms. The other team (looking at the same images) thinks there isn't evidence to justify an operation and thinks the problem is functional. Both teams agree that the duodenum is slightly dilated, and there is some amount of narrowing after the second phase.
I don't know what to do since we've basically exhausted all of the different imaging and scope-based tests as far as I can tell.
If anyone has suffered from these symptoms before or been in a similar situation, I would greatly appreciate hearing your stories.
Thank you so much,
Joseph
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I've been on Desipramine 25mg for a few weeks and it hasn't helped yet. The GI dr. wanted to start me off on 10mg and I told her I'm so done being conservative (I'm a retired RN but we all must be our own advocate). What are you taking for yours?
So sorry for what you've been through and continue to experience. It really does affect quality of life when you don't feel well. I wish you well also.
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1 ReactionI hope it works for you. They had offered me amitryptaline (also an antidepressant), but I’m nervous about all the system medications because of my central sensitization. So I’m actually not taking anything prescription for it—I take FDGuard and Iberogast preventatively and/or for pain.
Right now I’m working with a GI psychologist. They provide interventions from the brain side of the “brain-gut” disorder. It’s helping, but not as much as I would like.
I hope the medication works for you so that you won’t have to go down the line trying others, fingers crossed.
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2 ReactionsHello:
Looking for some assistance with my chronic stomach issues with functional dyspepsia. They began early last year when I vomited on the tennis court while playing a match. I thought I had a stomach bug so I took it easy for a few days.
The stomach never really felt right after that and I began vomiting while playing tennis with alarming regularity. After vomiting, I would be unable to eat and as a result, by the end of 2023, I had lost 29 pounds. I had all sorts of tests, colonoscopy, endoscopy, abdominal CT and a gastric emptying test. They did find gastritis but nothing else. I took Omeprazole for a few months and I now take meds for depression and anxiety because they could not determine any other causes. I took about 3 months off of tennis, put on a little weight and things settled down for awhile. I started playing again a few months ago and all was OK but now things are deteriorating again but I have noticed something…When I play tennis in the morning I never have a problem, but when I play in the afternoon or evening, I vomit almost every time. I have played tennis for my entire life and I really don’t want to give it up but I played last night, vomited, and have barely been able to eat anything since.
I am open to any suggestions..Thank you.
That is a mystery. Hmmm….can you keep a journal of your day to see what things happen in the afternoon that could trigger it? Then share with your doctor.
I noticed this year that most of my acute issues flared on the weekends…usually Saturdays! I found it odd. I actually had 2 Saturday doctor visits and one to urgent care all on Saturdays! I researched it and think I figured it out.
I hope you can figure out what is causing you to get so sick. Have you consulted with a functional doctor?
Thanks very much for the reply. I have seen my GP and a gastroenterologist for my colonoscopy/endoscopy. I am also seeing a therapist to try and alleviate the issues. I have not heard of a functional doctor before.,,can you please provide a bit more information?
I’m no expert, but from what I’ve read, there are doctors who focus specifically on the treatment of functional disorders. This link may help describe it better.
https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/what-is-a-functional-medicine-doctor
As someone mentioned, a food diary would be good. Also, I read that the digestive system is at it's peak in the morning, less so as the day goes on. If true, then having no problems in the morning makes more sense. But still something is wrong. Good luck in running this down. Mayo has a long list of possible reasons for vomiting: https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/nausea/basics/causes/sym-20050736
Thank you. I found one locally and will set up an appointment. I appreciate your help.
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1 ReactionThank you for the response and the information on the digestive system. I had never heard that before. I appreciate the response.