Okay, what next?

So the last stool sample I did two weeks ago came back negative for giardia, c. diff., and some others. I also had a Remicade infusion about that same time. But NOTHING has changed! I am still having cramping d with mucous about 4-7 times per day, mostly in the morning (three between 5a and 7a). It has a very strong, sickly sweet smell to it. Then every 2-3 weeks, I start getting a bit nauseated that gets worse day by day until I just throw up and can't start once I've started. That happened yesterday and today just drinking a glass of water made me throw up. I have only been eating like a meal or two a day. I had surgery on my sinuses this morning, but with the nausea and vomiting they admitted me to the hospital to get pain under control (the Fentanyl 75 patch doesn't make a dent) and to keep nausea under control so I don't throw up and ruined my freshly-broken nose that's being held together by splints.

I can't really seem to get my GI to be concerned. My next appointment isn't until Feb 3. The endoscopy/dilation I had on Christmas Eve will be followed up then. I just am tired of playing phone tag with nurses and "telephone" with the doctors. I wish the doctor would give me a list of "try this, if it doesn't work then this, if it doesn't work then this...." in one visit rather than having to go back each time. Pills to stop cramping don't work, nor does nausea medication. (If you need proof my stomach doesn't absorb oral medicine is in the fact that I a cold/allergies the last two weeks, and 50 mg of benadryl and 2 tsp of Nitequil don't even make me sleepy, let alone help with the cold/allergies).

I am just so tired of having to go to the ER twice a month for fluids. But I am tired of fighting with my doctor to have some interest in helping me get better. It's like pulling teeth.

On a side note, I am pretty sure I have pleurisy.

If I remember correctly (which is kinda hard for me at the moment) you were being treated for the giardia, weren't you? Could some of the problems you're currently having be from the giardia meds? I know some meds really throw everything out of whack gut-wise.

It sounds like your GI is like my last GI. He was so laid back that it took half a day for his head to catch up with his feet. I hope you can start feeling better soon.

Thanks guys. They haven't really looked into anything, so that's been frustrating. They are going to run some more stool samples (I am insisting). After that, maybe try a quick burst of prednisone. I don't have an appointment until February.

@minnie, they don't really do injections very much - at least none of the doctors I've ever been to will approve them. Zofran doesn't work for me, even in IV form. I am not sure what kind of self-injections are even legal in the US.

@JaSanne, I actually felt better on the antibiotics for the giardia (for the first time ever). So that's why I thought it still hadn't gone away yet.