Digestive issues

Posted by bumble81 @bumble81, Apr 14, 2020

I started having digestive issues last fall. By December I was told I had bilary dyskenisa and had my gallbladder removed.
That did not fix my problems.
I sometimes have traditional heartburn but mostly I have sour stomach and stomach pain mostly middle immediately below sternum and to the left. Increases after eating. I often feel like food did not make it into my stomach. Like it's stuck down there.

I will get this weird fast quiver like spasm deep inside. I can feel it with my hand I push down and so can my husband and it goes on for hours at a time. Anyone have that before? It's very strange but something inside is not working properly. I also have postprandial hypotension and intermittent difficulty swallowing.

My blood tests show slightly elevated liver enzymes but doc said they are not dangerously high. My stool is frequently bright yellow and liquid:(

Also I cannot seem to get a straight answer but do those of you with experience with ulcers did it cause excessive burping?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

@ilean

The doctors have looked for that. Thanks for reaching out! I think it’s going to be something unusual.

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I know this is a far fetched idea but, have you had a hormone profile done to see if this is all hormone related?

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@ilean

I tried to get into Mayo but they didn’t accept me. Why? I have no idea. Been diagnosed with POTS in August 2022. Have lost 26 lbs(weigh 97 lbs now, 2 endoscopies, 2 colonoscopies, Ct’s, MRA, MRI, 3 GI’s, 2 pain doctors, 4 ER visits, Gallbladder removed, enlarged parathyroid removed, seen allergist, urologist, PCP, 2 general surgeons seen for opinion, etc….more meds than you can imagine, delayed gastric emptying test, pill camera swallow. No-one can diagnose my severe upper abdominal pain, gas, bloating, severe nausea 60 percent of the time. It hurts so badly if I eat I now have food aversion. Have had 2 different nerve blocks, Ketamine injection How sick do you have to be to be able to see a Dr at the Mayo Clinic. I am malnourished and dehydrated. The dehydration was even noted on my MRI results. My PCP says he no longer has hospital privileges, GI Drs all said they have never admitted anyone to the hospital or requested home health for dehydration or malnourishment. UTSW is scheduling appointments 13 months out. I won’t be alive in 13 months. I have been pretty much bedridden since January 2022.

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Have you been tested for Chronic pancreatitis or EPI? If you haven’t had one already, ask for a fecal elastase test. Good luck!

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@susanh824

Have you been tested for Chronic pancreatitis or EPI? If you haven’t had one already, ask for a fecal elastase test. Good luck!

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Yes I did a stool test and everything looked ok. Please keep sending ideas if you think of anything!!

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@fotula

I know this is a far fetched idea but, have you had a hormone profile done to see if this is all hormone related?

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I don’t think I have had a hormone test. I had a complete hysterectomy about 25 years so I don’t really think about hormones! I will look into this.

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@julsnealey

I have had chronic, cyclical digestive issues for over 15yrs.
THE CYCLE: No, or minimal BM's for 2-10days. Over that time frame I get increased bloating, severe painful gas, nausea and feeling full after a few bites. Without warning, I will get an extremely urgent need to have a BM, along with aching joints in wrists, knees etc. (So urgent, I have had an accident 2x) With this urgency, I will have severe abdominal pains and while having a BM, I will repeatedly vomit at the same time. (I have bowls in all my bathrooms for this) This will go on for 20mins - 60mins of BM/vomiting/pain, aside from shakiness and weakness, the symptoms are relieved, but the cycle starts all over again.

I go copious amounts of looser stool. Never hard stool, even though I have not gone to the bathroom for 3-10days. Its truly like there is a kink in a hose and everything backs up behind the kink until it gets too much. When it "gets too much"(I never know when this will occur) and I have become increasingly more uncomfortable, bloated and have such horrible gas I can't stand up straight. This "purging" vomiting/loose stool at the same time, can go on for a few days, depending on the length of time since I have gone, or simply be a one time, violent "purge" episode.

This has been getting increasingly worse as I get older. I am a 53 yr old female.

TESTS: Swallow Study, LES not working correctly, sliding hiatal hernia, endoscopies with some inflammatory lesions (no obvious cause) Stool samples show chronic inflammation indicators in the stool, low potassium, and chronic anemia and intermittent high blood protein. Colonoscopies show nothing horribly obvious. I swallowed a camera capsule and it was determined that I had very rapid movement through the small intestines, some inflamed lesions through out intestines, but no diagnosis. I do get very thirsty and drink about 70oz of water a day. There are no food triggers that we can find.

Does anyone have similar issues? A doctor that I should see to help with this? I am desperate. I would love any help you may have.

Doctors are stumped and I am getting increasingly more depressed as I feel more and more sick. There is no relief.

Medications: NEXIUM
LEXAPRO
TRAZADONE

I get

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@ilean
I was going to suggest same idea as @lasirvlasirvent did.
Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome -MALS
This can cause celiac artery compression, resulting in similar pain, nausea and weight loss as you describe.
I have gone through that- extreme pain with eating, nausea, lack of appetite, bloating, feeling full after one bite etc.
Diagnosed with abdominal Doppler ultrasound and/ or CT Angiogram.
You said they already checked for that but I would ask them to look again at the arteries serving stomach, intestines and the other organs. Can’t hurt to do it again.

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@julsnealey

I have had chronic, cyclical digestive issues for over 15yrs.
THE CYCLE: No, or minimal BM's for 2-10days. Over that time frame I get increased bloating, severe painful gas, nausea and feeling full after a few bites. Without warning, I will get an extremely urgent need to have a BM, along with aching joints in wrists, knees etc. (So urgent, I have had an accident 2x) With this urgency, I will have severe abdominal pains and while having a BM, I will repeatedly vomit at the same time. (I have bowls in all my bathrooms for this) This will go on for 20mins - 60mins of BM/vomiting/pain, aside from shakiness and weakness, the symptoms are relieved, but the cycle starts all over again.

I go copious amounts of looser stool. Never hard stool, even though I have not gone to the bathroom for 3-10days. Its truly like there is a kink in a hose and everything backs up behind the kink until it gets too much. When it "gets too much"(I never know when this will occur) and I have become increasingly more uncomfortable, bloated and have such horrible gas I can't stand up straight. This "purging" vomiting/loose stool at the same time, can go on for a few days, depending on the length of time since I have gone, or simply be a one time, violent "purge" episode.

This has been getting increasingly worse as I get older. I am a 53 yr old female.

TESTS: Swallow Study, LES not working correctly, sliding hiatal hernia, endoscopies with some inflammatory lesions (no obvious cause) Stool samples show chronic inflammation indicators in the stool, low potassium, and chronic anemia and intermittent high blood protein. Colonoscopies show nothing horribly obvious. I swallowed a camera capsule and it was determined that I had very rapid movement through the small intestines, some inflamed lesions through out intestines, but no diagnosis. I do get very thirsty and drink about 70oz of water a day. There are no food triggers that we can find.

Does anyone have similar issues? A doctor that I should see to help with this? I am desperate. I would love any help you may have.

Doctors are stumped and I am getting increasingly more depressed as I feel more and more sick. There is no relief.

Medications: NEXIUM
LEXAPRO
TRAZADONE

I get

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Have Drs. Checked for gastroparesis or for your bowel endometriosis?

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@julsnealey

I have had chronic, cyclical digestive issues for over 15yrs.
THE CYCLE: No, or minimal BM's for 2-10days. Over that time frame I get increased bloating, severe painful gas, nausea and feeling full after a few bites. Without warning, I will get an extremely urgent need to have a BM, along with aching joints in wrists, knees etc. (So urgent, I have had an accident 2x) With this urgency, I will have severe abdominal pains and while having a BM, I will repeatedly vomit at the same time. (I have bowls in all my bathrooms for this) This will go on for 20mins - 60mins of BM/vomiting/pain, aside from shakiness and weakness, the symptoms are relieved, but the cycle starts all over again.

I go copious amounts of looser stool. Never hard stool, even though I have not gone to the bathroom for 3-10days. Its truly like there is a kink in a hose and everything backs up behind the kink until it gets too much. When it "gets too much"(I never know when this will occur) and I have become increasingly more uncomfortable, bloated and have such horrible gas I can't stand up straight. This "purging" vomiting/loose stool at the same time, can go on for a few days, depending on the length of time since I have gone, or simply be a one time, violent "purge" episode.

This has been getting increasingly worse as I get older. I am a 53 yr old female.

TESTS: Swallow Study, LES not working correctly, sliding hiatal hernia, endoscopies with some inflammatory lesions (no obvious cause) Stool samples show chronic inflammation indicators in the stool, low potassium, and chronic anemia and intermittent high blood protein. Colonoscopies show nothing horribly obvious. I swallowed a camera capsule and it was determined that I had very rapid movement through the small intestines, some inflamed lesions through out intestines, but no diagnosis. I do get very thirsty and drink about 70oz of water a day. There are no food triggers that we can find.

Does anyone have similar issues? A doctor that I should see to help with this? I am desperate. I would love any help you may have.

Doctors are stumped and I am getting increasingly more depressed as I feel more and more sick. There is no relief.

Medications: NEXIUM
LEXAPRO
TRAZADONE

I get

Jump to this post

Thanks for the recommendations. I just saw my new GI for the first time last week. I am going to mail him all the scans on a disk

They have checked for gastroperesis but I have never heard of bowel endometriosis!

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So I (39 yr old female) have been struggling with unresolved digestive issues for months, did lots of tests, all negative, and tried almost every OTC and prescription medication with no improvement of symptoms. My most bothersome symptoms are: abdominal pain and cramps, excessive gas, belching and irregular bowel habit (sometimes diarrhea, sometimes constipation, rarely normal BM ).
Out of despair and lack of other options, I am thinking of trying low FODMAP diet.
I need your opinion and real life experience: does it really help with digestive symptoms ? And if so, how long does it take to start feeling better?
Are there any tips to make this diet work ?
Thanks in advance .

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@hopethereisnothing

So I (39 yr old female) have been struggling with unresolved digestive issues for months, did lots of tests, all negative, and tried almost every OTC and prescription medication with no improvement of symptoms. My most bothersome symptoms are: abdominal pain and cramps, excessive gas, belching and irregular bowel habit (sometimes diarrhea, sometimes constipation, rarely normal BM ).
Out of despair and lack of other options, I am thinking of trying low FODMAP diet.
I need your opinion and real life experience: does it really help with digestive symptoms ? And if so, how long does it take to start feeling better?
Are there any tips to make this diet work ?
Thanks in advance .

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@hopethereisnothing, There is another discussion started by @hopeful33250 on the topic here that might answer your questions:
--- Fodmap Eating Plan: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/fodmap-eating-plan/

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@johnbishop

@hopethereisnothing, There is another discussion started by @hopeful33250 on the topic here that might answer your questions:
--- Fodmap Eating Plan: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/fodmap-eating-plan/

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Thank you for your reply.I had a quick look at the link you posted and found a couple of useful posts. I will be happy if I receive more replies 😃

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