Dry heaving & abdominal pain for 2 months, Dr has no answers.

Hello @steve74 and welcome to the Digestive Health support group on Mayo Connect. Probably the most difficult health issue for any patient is one that is not easily diagnosed. I'm sure that you are relieved that many of the serious diagnoses that you have been tested for are negative, but it is still frustrating that an answer hasn't been found for these symptoms which most likely limit your daily activities.

I'm glad to hear that you are looking for a second opinion. My suggestion would be that this second opinion comes from a multi-disciplinary health care system such as a Mayo facility or a university medical school. These types of institutions are research-oriented and see health issues that are not typically seen in a regular physician's practice.

I'm sure that your doctor has looked at any other health conditions and/or medications which might be contributing to this problem. I'm wondering if by keeping a food/activity journal, you might be able to track any triggers that might worsen these symptoms. If you have not done this, it might be a good first step, especially before you see another doctor for a second opinion.

On Mayo Connect, we are not medical professionals, so we can't accurately guess what might be going on with you. However, we have a number of members who have had hard-to-diagnose digestive tract issues. Here are links to some of the diagnoses that were discovered after many years of looking for answers. As many of these are rare diagnoses, many members have searched for the answer for a long time. I'm going to provide you with links to some of these discussions. Feel free to read the posts and see if any of these seem to be similar to what you are experiencing. If so, please feel free to comment and/or ask questions by hitting "Reply" under the post that interests you.
--Collagenous Gastritis
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/collagenous-gastritis/
--Gastritis That Won't Go Away/Fasciculations/Extreme Sweating
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/gastritis-wont-go-away-fasciculations-extremity-sweating/
--Medium Arcuate Ligament Syndrome (MALS)
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/median-arcuate-ligament-syndrome-mals/

These are just a few hard-to-diagnose digestive tract problems. By looking through the Digestive Health group, you may find others.

I hope that you will read the posts in these groups and also consider keeping an activity/eating journal to see what might be triggering these problems. In this journal, remember to also list any exercise and/or stressors that might occur during the day.

I look forward to hearing from you again. Will you continue to post about your progress as you look for an answer?

Hi has your doctor ordered a gas empty and study for you those sounds like a gastroprios symptoms stomach pain and having her that and has your doctor looked at your gallbladder. 🧐🙏. Prayers and best of luck hope you get better if not get a second opinion.

Thank you for the detailed response. I have read through the posts you shared. Good information. I would love to visit a Mayo Clinic, unfortunately I don't think there are any locations near Philly. I tried to get an appointment at Penn Medicine but it would be months just to get a consultation. I will have to keep looking.

I have been keeping a journal of all my symptoms, Dr visits, meds and tests with dates and times of each symptom. I have also been logging everything I eat and at what time, plus tracking weight loss. So far, I have not noticed any obvious trigger.

My Dr. has now asked me to start taking 10mg of Amitriptyline each night. I just started it last night so we will see if it helps but even so, I'm afraid we are just masking the symptoms and not addressing the real issue.

@steve74,

I appreciate your response. Your situation certainly is puzzling. Your doctor's plan to try Amitriptyline might be a good one until you can get a second opinion. Rather than thinking of it as "masking the symptoms" you might think of it as a way to find relief until the consultation comes about.

Unfortunately, most hospital systems have long wait times for a new patient consultation. It might be good to go ahead and schedule something, even if it is several months out. A second opinion from a university health system just might fit the bill.

Continue to post as you have questions or concerns.

Perhaps a neurologist who treats vagus nerve or peripheral nerve issues.

There are some real similarities to what I have which is Mast Cell Activation Syndrome……your body reacts to foods w any histamine in them to speak of. I was sick and tired of being sick and tired literally and the regular protocol for this is vegetarian eating that made me so much sicker . I decided that I would eat according to my blood type from the book Eat Right 4 Your Type. So I went on the Carnivore diet by Shawn Baker. I am O+. Which was formed by meat eaters. Holy moly, I started to get well within 12 hours after about 7 months virtually in bed w horrible brain fog. My problems started as a reaction to the covid booster. Boom! Lesions all over….food made me worse histamines went crazy. As soon as I got on carnivore, it all stopped. I eat no histamines to speak of. Mayo didn’t know what to do w me either. The only Dr. Who honored what I told him 5 months after I got myself well, I thought, was an allergist immunologist . He did blood work that screamed histamine imbalance and put me on GL infusions once a month. But he told me “ you saved your own life! “……… I do have Ehlers Danlos and apparently 30 % of us can acquire this problem. However I’ve been approached by at least 6 others who could not get well and who don’t have EDS. They also had huge success on Carnivore diet. Shawn Baker is on You tube too….I got his book….you might want to check it out. What have you got to lose?

Have you been tested for Gastroperesis? That is something to check into.

Best wishes!
I have other problems and have been ill over 4 years. Bowel/gastro issues.

You might want to consider a Caster oil pack put on your stomach.
Look up Barbara Oneill. Shes holistic, disingenuously ostricized, yet highly intelligent, profusely well read and effective with many remedies.
Search her with gut/abdominal issues.
Contrary to the criticism, shes outstanding and knows the bodys ways of healing itself.

Have you tried food allergy testing? After years of ulcers esophagitis, Linx surgery etc. turned out I was allergic to most foods I was eating. Had Linx removed and now if I avoid the foods I feel better!