Stomach troubles with too many previous diagnoses.

It started around two weeks ago. I was having terrible pains to my stomach, frequent urination, and horrible nausea. I didn't think too much of it for the first day, because I've got Celiac's, IBS, PCOS, and frequent kidney and ovarian issues.. So, really, going to any doctor with these sorts of illnesses and claiming abdominal pain just makes most doctors write you off.. But when I started violently throwing up, even when I didn't have anything left to really get out of my stomach, not to mention I was suddenly beginning to have throbbing migraines. Because I was having trouble just getting off of the bathroom floor, my husband drove me to the hospital and the doctor there refused to help me figure out what was going on. He just pushed a lot of pain killers on me, had me take zofran, and sent me back home.

The pain that I've been getting ever since has been in my lower abdomen, and instead of being a cramping sort of feeling that I used to get whenever I ate gluten, it's more of an intense stabbing that runs from both sides all the way through. In situations like this, I would honestly just try to lead whatever doctors I see into the direction of what I would like to be tested and ( hopefully ) ruled out, but I'm just at a loss. The pain isn't right over my ovaries, and the vomiting doesn't happen right after eating, nor does it intensify if I drink or consume any sort of caffeine. So, really, I've ruled out my pre-diagnosed illnesses, but any doctors I talk to just blame them. Any advice? I don't usually like having to take to the internet to attempt to find solutions to my health problems, because self-diagnoses usually turns out both wrong and a bit of a set-back. But I don't get any positive feedback from doctors. I'm just at a loss, and it feels terrible to be in this situation.

Oh goodness, hon!

The one thing that comes immediately to mind is kidney or bladder infection, which needs attention right away. I know it can cause some folks to have major vomiting issues and pain, and I believe it can cause increased urination. Kidney stones, too, and Celiacs have a slighter higher chance of having kidney stones, actually. I've come across a forum posting before that says there can be a relationship between kidney problems and migraines, as well (http://www.migrainepage.com/dcforum/discussion/5253.html )

The only other issue that I personally have any experience with is one that is less likely, I'd think: sulfite issues. You can have your urine tested for higher levels of sulfites, I believe, although I don't know the accuracy of the test. Here's why it might be worth checking out if you can't find anything else - and this is not going to float with doctors, just to warn you.

There seem to be a few causes of sulfite sensitivity - it's still largely unstudied - but one is if you are low in sulfite oxidase. No current known cause for this. However, a number of sulfite sensitive people I know of are helped by supplements of molybdenum. As this trace mineral is used to make molybdenum cofactor, which is used in the creation of sulfite oxidase, that seems to suggest a possible potential cause. If you aren't absorbing enough molybdenum, you can't make enough sulfite oxidase, which means you can start reacting to sulfites, yeah?

The reason doctors won't look for this: they don't think it can happen. There have been only two recorded cases of people who were low in molybdenum, both with severe gastro-damage. In 'healthy individuals,' doctors say this deficiency can't happen, so it would never be an issue. There's not even a TEST to see if you are low in this nutrient.

However, you seem very much like myself, suffering from gut issues that can interfere with your absorption, so we don't qualify as healthy individuals, IMO.

In myself, I have noticed that when I have reacted to gluten (I'm a celiac as well) or another food that I react to, I suddenly react MUCH worse to sulfites. Other folks with gastro problems have noticed the same thing. Also, although I don't believe it's an official symptom, some people who have sulfite issues suffer from a constant need to pee. I'm assuming that in my case, I am not absorbing molybdenum very well when I react, or something ELSE I need in order to process sulfites.

Again, I don't know that this would be the issue for you. But sulfites are considered the 10th most common allergy in Canada, so they aren't THAT uncommon. And with gut issues, that might make it more likely. There's a blogger who has a lot of information on the foods that can make sulfite sensitive folks react, if you are interested: http://holdthesulfites.com/


Good luck, I hope you are feeling better very soon.

shaunamom

Hmm. I wouldn't have thought a stomach infection, but I will probably bring that up when I go see my doctor. As for kidney or bladder infection, I was really surprised when I took a urination test and it came up normal. I've often had kidney infections, so I thought it to be a pretty good assumption. I hadn't thought of a sulfite sensitivity-- in fact, really didn't know anything about it! That is definitely something that I will look into. Thank you so much!

As for gallstones, it's always been something that doctors think about whenever I go in, but have never diagnosed, so I'm not quite sure about that, but I suppose it can always be looked into again.

Thank all of you so much for the help! I'll be taking all of your words into heavy consideration.

Migraines can occur in the gut as well as in the head. Can cause the vomiting, gut pain, etc. Sulfites are one known trigger. I'm sulfite-sensitive.

Yes, there is a test for molybdenum level. But this isn't the whole story.

And yes, there is a urinary sulfite test, but it has to be tested in fresh (i.e., within 10 minutes of urinating) to be accurate. A urinary sulfate test is not always accurate at diagnosing sulfite issues, because it is possible the body hasn't dumped the excess sulfite (which rapidly converts to sulfate) in the particular urine batch getting tested.

Can reverse or decrease sulfite sensitivity with supplements, if you know how to go about it (requires special testing).

Read more:

www.heartfixer.com/AMRI-Nutrigenomics.htm
mthfr.net
Methylation Panel test (done at home via finger prick; no doctor orders required):
www.holisticheal.com/health-tests/nutrigenomic-testing

Email me if you want to know where sulfites lurk in foods (more than just if you can read it on a label...depends on senesitivity threshold) - I have a huge list. You may not need to avoid all the stuff on the list because your sensitivity threshold may be higher than mine (I'm sensitive to very tiny amounts of sulfites).

Also, the sudden, recent onset of your symptoms suggest infection (gut and/or kidney) as another potential cause of your symptoms. Have you been assessed for Candida overgrowth? Perhaps a Naturopathic physician could be of some help.