Posted 8/20/2013 1:12 AM (GMT 0)
I have had stomach issues for my whole life....at least as far as I can remember. I have been under treatment for them and had them relatively under control until about a year ago when they became suddenly more bothersome, and then spun out of control in February of this year.
Before they got worse, my problems were primarily centered around IBS, my dairy allergy and acid reflux.
Of course, I avoided dairy in all forms, took medicine for the acid reflux, and when the IBS got worse, began taking anti-spasm medication for it. Also, when the IBS got worse my GI did a colonoscopy, tested multiple times for Chrons and Celiac, and didn't find anything. This resulted in changing to a different kind of anti-spasm medication and adding another medicine to try and help. My stomach was not great, but it was at least tolerable, with problems mostly being related to pain, nausea, bloating, D or C, depending on the day. It was annoying, but it was livable.
Then, in February, I got what I thought was a terrible flu bug. Had extreme pain, fever, D, vomiting, etc. etc. Long story short, I ended up in the hospital for 5 days, was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (via scope), and had an infection that the doctors could not really figure out. So they just put me on Flagyl and an antifungal. While in the hospital, I also started having strong pain under my right rib, in addition to my abdominal pain. The doctors said that it was my gallbladder causing me pain and did an MRI to check for gallstones (I had pain like this before, however it was just not as constant, and something I always had attributed to my IBS or acid reflux). They did not find any gallstones, but they did say that there was inflammation and my liver enzymes were elevated. However, since I was getting better, they sent me home to finish recovering and follow up with my regular GI doctor.
I didn't get better. The doctors had explained that it could take MONTHS to recover from colitis, so I thought the pain, nausea, vomitting and D. were normal to experience. I took the pain medicine, stocked up on probiotics and vitamins, and ate what little food I could tolerate. However, after waiting until May and not having me get better, they decided to do another colonoscopy and round of tests and I was diagnosed with C. Diff. C. Diff is terrible, as is the medication that treats it. I was given three weeks of antibiotics, and felt horrible for every second of it. After the medication for C. Diff, I prepared myself for another slow recovery process, taking the pain pills, nausea medication, and dealing with the "post infectious IBS"- as my GI liked to call it. My doctor warned me that it would likely be a slow recovery, my IBS would be a lot worse, and I would have to be careful about the C. Diff coming back, especially if I was on any other antibiotics for other conditions.
Fast forward, to July... I was dealing with things.. had a couple of bad days or bad weeks, but was not getting any worse. Then, at the end of July, I got an upper respiratory infection and had no choice but to go antibiotics for it, for 10 days. Somewhere in the 2nd week, my stomach got worse. I thought for sure that the C. Diff was back, like my doctor has warned me could happen. Starting in the first week of August, I was so sick that I had no choice to stay home from work. The symptoms were more or less the same: D, abdominal pain, nausea, low grade fever. Also, the upper abdominal pain was once again more prevalent. I immediately contacted my doctor and they did another C diff test... after waiting forever.. it came back negative. After talking to my doctor more about my symptoms, they put me on Flagyl again for a week and also scheduled me for a HIDA scan. This is where I am at now, with only two days left of the Flagyl left and the HIDA scan scheduled for Friday.
I am unfortunately not feeling any better, still extremely nauseated, having bouts of pain in my upper abdominal that bend me over, constant discomfort and pain in my lower abdominal, and going between D & C. I really hope that the HIDA scan might point towards any possible problem with my gallbladder..but what if it doesn't? Obviously this is something.. part of me feels like it may be a return of the "mystery" infection that I had when I was in the hospital, assuming that was not also C diff.
I should mention, I am only 25... up until about a year ago I was more or less healthy, aside from the stomach issues. But then, around the same time that the IBS got worse, I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism, and VVS/POTS, which has all mixed up and peaked at this point.. me being more or less confined to bed and waiting for answers. I have been tested for many many things, everything from MS, to immune issues, to allergies.
Basically, at this point I am frustrated and overwhelmed with this all. I have already been out of work for three weeks and I really would appreciate and advice or wisdom that anyone would have to offer...