Hi All,
Since 2001 have had weird "episodes". For the first five years it was mainly pelvic pain but seemed to be accompanied by gas and bloating. After five years my Gyno finally gave me a hysterectomy and I found out I had a painful disease in my uterus called adenomyosis. So I thought 2006 was the year I got my life back. Not so!
Six months after surgery I had a terrible pain in my right side and an intense feeling to have a bowel movement and yet I did not need to go. I ended up in ER where they thought I had appendicitis. After a CT scan and some blood work they ruled out my appendix, gave me a pain shot and sent me home with instructions to go back to my doctor. These "episodes" kept happening every 1-5 months up until earlier this year when I finally gave in to my Gyno and took birth control pills because he thought possibly my ovaries (which was the only thing left after hyster) were acting up.
Ok, bear with me because I know so far it sound like I have only had female problems, but these painful side pains are ALWAYS accompanied by terrible gas, bloating, and nausea. For a year now I have been real sick. One cold or flu after another and these "episodes" of gas, nausea and bloating. This last episode started October 31 with alot of pain while having a bowel movement. Not because it was hard, but I could literally feel it moving through and it hurt when it got to the spot on my right side that had pain. The past 7 weeks I have lost 15 lbs, I am terribly nauseated ALL THE TIME, I get gas if I eat anything and periodically I get terrible right side pain (low). I have been to my primary doctor twice. First time she gave me antibiotics which didn't help, second time she referred me to my rheumatologist, my gyno, and the gastroenterologist! She mentioned something about possible Crohn's but I don't think my symptoms are that severe. I have only had diahrrea three times in 7 weeks. I usually have a bowel movement every day, but sometimes it has mucus, or it is real soft. Sometimes it appears to be normal.
This is the worst "episode" I have ever had. I have never lost this much weight. I am weak and tired all the time. I am grateful I have been off work for the past week and have another week off because I work at a school or I would not be able to go. Sometimes my heart beats real fast and I get weak and out of breath. I am only 36 years old, I am not very overweight (maybe 15 lbs), I have no other health concerns, I do not take any medication aside from the birth control pills for my ovaries. I feel like I have been trapped inside this body that doesn't work properly at times for so long and I feel like I am going nuts. I have a colonoscopy scheduled for January 14. Does a colonoscopy show IBS? I thought my doctor said and IBS diagnosis is made only after ruling everything else out.
Over the course of three years I have completely eliminated caffeine, fast food, frozen food or any food with perservatives, I even went on a gluten free diet for a spell until the rheumatologist tested me and I was negative for Celiac Disease, I drink no soda. I have been on a meat free diet, a tofu only diet, a raw foods diet, low carb, and the list goes on and on and on. All in the attempts to make these "episodes" go away.
So I guess what I want to know is does anyone else struggle with these symptoms? How were you diagnosed?
Thanks for reading this long post and I cherish your input.