So I've decided to come here because I am at my wit's end. I don't know what to do with myself anymore, and it seems like every doctor I go to has refused to help or acknowledge that I have something wrong with me. So I'm turning to others who may have some sort of answer for me.
Brief history of why I'm here. about
a year ago, I suffered from a bad bout of constipation and diarrhea that sent me to the hospital for dehydration. While I was in the hospital I was having generalized pain in my abdomen, and since I was so scared with what was going on with me I didn't know what to do or tell the doctors. Everywhere hurt when they pressed on my stomach and I didn't know what was wrong with me. I was freshly 21 years old, and thought that I may have had something wrong with my colon. The doctors thought I was having an appendicitis attack and opted for emergency removal after 5 days of laying in the hospital. When i was released I felt somewhat ok again, until about
2 weeks after returning to work. I suddenly was overcome with a bout of nausea so badly I thought I was going to be sick all over the customers I was helping. I was sent home. Since then, the symptoms have continued to grow, multiply and get worse. Symptoms include:
-major bloating and gas
-belching and sever nausea (feeling like I could vomit, though I havent because I am a severe emetophobic and refuse to let myself become sick like that)
-alternating between severe constipation and loose stools, light colored stools
-These fits usually hit me around mid afternoon or at night, rarely in the morning
-Fits usually last between an hour to 5 hours
-Tenderness and bloating in the mid upper stomach, just below the breast bone, like there is a rock or gas trapped in my stomach
And it doesn't matter what I eat, or how much. They just come without warning, even if I've eaten nothing but crackers. I thought I had gluten intolerance so I cut out gluten from my diet. That didn't work either.
So far I've been to two gastroenterologists and both of them have told me Im imagining everything and that I'm not actually sick. I started to believe them and tried to convince myself that everything I've been feeling was made up. Despite telling myself this the fits continue, I continue to feel nauseated, bloated and sick and just plain miserable.
Well, about
5 days ago, I thought I might have finally convinced myself that I was fine, and ate a sandwich that had mayo on it. BIG MISTAKE!!!! I suddenly was overcome with SUCH a severe case of sickness i had to hide in the bathroom for HOURS, and with it was the first sign of pain in my upper right quadrant. I thought I had jammed a rib bone somehow, but the more I feel around it, the less I'm convinced it is my rib bone and more what's underneath. The last doctor I went to ruled out gallbladder problems simply because I did not have jaundice, but my MOTHER has had her gallbladder removed and I was told gallbladder problems are hereditary.
Am I crazy? Am I making myself sick? Is it really my gallbladder, or am I making assumptions and MAKING Myself sick because this is the first time I've had pain in my upper right quadrant. It's not sore all the time now, but pressing on the same spot can bring up pain that was never there before. The pain occasionally radiates to my back like Ive lifted something heavy, but I don't know if that's part of the problem.
I'm at my wit's end. I'm 22 years old and my quality of life is HORRIBLE because I'm living in constant fear of this illness. And so far all the doctors i've gone to have made me feel like I am insane or a hypochondriac because both have told me basically to get over myself and stop wasting their time. I need help pointing myself in the right direction from other's who have had something similar and to tell me what to do because so far two highly trained gastroenterologists have called me crazy and won't help me.
Help please?
I'm sorry for such a long post... if anyone could help me I would be eternally grateful....