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Upper Stomach Bloating + Back Pain

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 4/13/2014 9:07 AM (GMT 0)
I have been having severe upper stomach bloating and bad back pain. It seems to come on whenever I eat anything and last for hours. I have tried pretty much everything (laying on my side, butt in the air, peppermint tea, probiotics, gas-x and other pills) and nothing seems to work. Also I struggle with constipation, not diarrhea. My doctor recently prescribed me prednisone (currently on 20 mg tapering down from 40 mg), hyoscyamine, pentasa (which made it worse and am no longer on it), lactulose, flagyl (no longer on it), and some pain meds. The prednisone usually works instantly but it isn't touching it this time. Does anyone else have these issues? The pain gets so bad I can't stand up straight and am forced to take pain meds in order to sleep at night.

I have had crohn's since 2005 and it started out with diarrhea and mouth ulcers. I was in remission for a few years and have been in and out of remission since. I have tried numerous drugs (imuran, asacol, remicade, entocort, humira, liada, pentasa, xyfaxin) with little results, the best results coming from remicade and humira and one time with xyfaxin but no effect the next time.

I am going in this coming thursday for another colonoscopy and also my first time swallowing the pill camera. What have people's experience been with the pill camera?

Sorry to ramble on so much, this is my first time posting. I am very active 26 year old male that works a full-time job and two part-time jobs and am just getting really frustrated with this disease during this flare and am losing some hope. Thanks in advance!
Posted 4/13/2014 9:13 AM (GMT 0)
Also a relatively new symptom which started a couple months prior to my flare was a major increase in belching. I normally don't belch a lot but for the past couple months I have been having HUGE burps very frequently. The weird thing is is that the belching started when I was feeling really good.
Posted 4/13/2014 12:28 PM (GMT 0)
When my upper stomach hurts and it radiates to the back, that means that my pancreatitis is flaring up. It's a simple blood test for amylase and lipase.

There's also the chance it's gastroparesis, and they can do a stomach empty test where you eat some food and they watch it under an x-ray for how long it takes your stomach to empty.

Just some alternative ideas since pred isn't helping.
Posted 4/13/2014 12:38 PM (GMT 0)
i found these test to be very helpful in getting answers for my self... nothing your GI or general doc know of... its an out of pocket test (two 645.00)

but

it will tell you your PH , in stool etc many markers what bad bacteria are living in you, parasites etc if any ---what your yeast levels are and if your good bacteria is TO LOW> help me a great deal in getting better and being able to function better.. from here i got some answers in what i need to work on and fix
look into the sample reports on the links
OAT test http://www.greatplainslaboratory.com/home/eng/full_oat.asp

COMP stool...looks at 92 bacteria 48 yeasts 22 parasites as well what you good bacteria levels are
http://www.greatplainslaboratory.com/home/eng/stool.asp
Posted 4/13/2014 12:57 PM (GMT 0)
Emergency Services, welcome to the forum.

It sounds like you are having some reflux (belching, gas). Have you tried taking a proton pump inhibitor like Prevacid?

Have you considered lactose intolerance? Most adults are lactose intolerant to some degree. Try eliminating lactose and see if that helps.
Posted 4/13/2014 4:09 PM (GMT 0)
My amylase and lipase levels have always been normal and my last blood test (a couple weeks ago) showed normal levels as well. Doc says he doesn't believe it is the pancreas.

I have tried Zantac and Tagament. Those both helped to take away pain I was having near my xiphoid process. It felt as though my upper stomach was bloating so much that it was pushing my xiphoid process out and causing a lot of pain and tenderness to the touch. After starting on Zantac that pain went away but the Zantac did not help with any bloating or stomach/back pain.
Posted 4/13/2014 5:25 PM (GMT 0)
Try another PPI and eliminate lactose. You might also try doing a low residue diet for a few days to see if that gets you any relief.
Posted 4/13/2014 5:47 PM (GMT 0)
I have followed a lactose free diet for about 3 weeks now and haven't felt any difference. My foods the past couple weeks have been grilled chicken, white rice, bread/butter, and whey protein shakes with lactose free milk.
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