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Diagnosing Problem for Stomach

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Posted 3/27/2008 6:15 PM (GMT 0)
 

Hi.  I'm a new member here and have been bothered with a stomach problem for several years now that the doctors seem unable to figure out what it is . . . at least the doctor's I've seen that is.  I'm hoping someone here can help me.  For several years now I've suffered from severe pain in the right upper quadrant of my stomach, just behind my ribs.  It stays a dull or semi sharp pain most of the time - just bad enough that you're aware of it.  Then at times for it seems no apparent reason (I've tried to, but been unable to come up with some common attribute) it will become severely painful, making me sick to my stomach, doubled over in pain, sometimes almost passing out because of it.  At these times, it hurts even through to my back.  Sometimes this will last for a few moments, sometimes for a half hour or more.  My general practitioner initially thought it was gall stones, but further tests by a specialist - a gastro enterologist said that wasn't so.  about two years ago, after gall stones was ruled out, this same doctor then put me through many many other tests trying to figure out what it was with no success.  sad    I finally told him I'd had it, I was tired of being poked and prodded with him finding nothing.  The doctor had admitted that he didn't know what was causing it.  But rather than giving up or referring me to someone else, he wanted to do all the tests again.  That's when I ran!

Secondly, and it appears totally unrelated to the first problem, I have these bouts of vomiting for hours, sometimes even days.  Once I vomited for four days - repeatedly - until I was finally even having tactile hallucinations from dehydration.  Many times I've ended up at the Emergency Room to be given something to stop the vomiting and then IV fluids for dehydration.  Originally these bouts occurred once or twice a year, but now are occurring on a much more frequent basis, approximately every three to four months.  In between, I'll have days of being horribly nauseated or throwing up repeatedly for say a day. 

I've been referred to yet another specialist on this (after another bout that ended up with me at the Emergency Room) by my General Practitioner.  I've already undergone another endoscopy (showing a hiatel hernia - that I'd already been diagnosed with years ago and all the doctors have dismissed as incidental and gastritis) and some blood work and I'm fearing more and more tests that will show nothing.  sad   

I'm on medication for GERD - nexium.  I have medications prescribed for me - phenegran for general nausea and Vicodin (which I'll admit I'm scared of taking too much of too often) for the pain when it becomes severe.  There's got to be something that can stop this from happening again and again.  sad    I've learned to live with the dull pain in my side, but I'll admit it, I fear the times it becomes a sharp cutting pain and I fear too the hours and days spent vomiting again and again.  I don't want to continue to live like this.  sad

Has anyone any ideas that could help me?

Posted 3/27/2008 10:29 PM (GMT 0)
Cannon I think you should try switching your medication. Nexium can cause really bad side effects. I hope this little info will help you, please keep us posted. yeah
Posted 3/28/2008 1:18 AM (GMT 0)
I wasn't aware that Nexium could cause seriously bad side effects.  Will look into changing.  But these problems had started before I was on the Nexium.  I had pretty bad acid reflux and was using lots of different over the counter medicines.  Then my doctor had me go through several different kinds that didn't work.  I was taking Prevacid which worked really well for me, but my insurance company was giving me problems and finally refused to pay for it, so that's when my doctor switched me to the Nexium.  But let's face it, I don't need to continue taking a drug that will cause me even more problems.  nono
Posted 3/28/2008 4:38 PM (GMT 0)
r u sure there aren't any bloackages in the tubes which carry bile to the intestines?
Posted 3/30/2008 3:30 PM (GMT 0)
I don't know.  confused    What kind of test would show that?  I think all the ones I've had so far have been negative except for my liver function bloodwork. 
Posted 4/4/2008 4:01 AM (GMT 0)
did you get tested for "delayed stomach emptying" (gastroparesis)?
Posted 4/4/2008 12:08 PM (GMT 0)

Are you seeing your PCP or are you seeing an GI physician?  They have so many tests they can run.  I know you probably feel like you've been put through a lot all ready, but you need to get to the bottom of what's causing this problem.

I know a couple of years ago before I had my esophagus and a hiatal hernia repaired, I thought they would never stop sending me for tests.  But, it turned out to be in my best interest. I would have days that I would think I am just going to forget all about this crap, but I couldn't.

I think you need to follow it through until you find out what is going on because what you are dealing with doesn't sound normal to me, even though I'm not a medical professional.  Please keep us posted.

Take care!

Carla

Posted 4/4/2008 6:46 PM (GMT 0)
Cannon,

I had a Nissen wrap in October 2007. We thought that the surgery would resolve reflux and painful attacks I was experiencing. The pain was incorrectly attributed to esophageal spasms. When they continued after the Nissen, they started checking out my gallbladder.

The pain you are describing is very familiar to me. Your symptoms point to gallstones so your doctor checked for them and put you through gallbladder tests. The tests showed no problems with your gallbladder. Your experience up to here is the same as mine. Now here's where I'm fortunate to have a GI that is well-versed in sphincter of oddi dysfunction. The sphincter of oddi is the valve at the end of the bile duct shared by the pancreas and gallbladder where it empties into the small intestine.

Dare5555 was on the money with their answer regarding a blockage. If the sphincter of oddi is not working properly, it doesn't open to allow the bile to flow - this causes the bile to back up and causes intense pressure in the duct. Just like if a gallstone were blocking the opening. In my case, the sphincter did not open and close properly and the bile duct itself was so narrow the bile did not flow freely - the pressure built up in that duct was so high that the pain was excruciating. Many physicians overlook the sphincter of oddi as the cause of problems.

The tests to determine sphincter of oddi dysfunction are done endoscopically - you lay on your tummy and get put to sleep. Not deep like surgery, just lightly like a regular endoscopic procedure. Then they use special equipment to test the pressure inside the duct. This must be done by a highly trained technician and GI. The procedure to fix a sphincter of oddi problem is called a sphincterotomy and is also done endoscopically. It's a risky procedure, but when done by a well-trained physician, it is worth it.

I had the biliary sphincterotomy about a month ago - Feb 28th. The recovery was unusual in that I was nauseaus for 10 days and was really feeling ill. But after that 10 days things got so much better. Most people have easier recoveries - mine was bad partly because I had a small intestine bacterial overgrowth that caused some issues. I'm glad I did the procedure. I have no more pain. Foods no longer trigger a painful attack. I can eat anything I want.

Do some surfing on the web on reputable sites and look for "billiary sphincterotomy" and "sphincter of oddi". I think you will find some interesting information that pertains to your symptoms. Then you can have another discussion with your GI or find a different GI to discuss your findings with.

Good luck.

Post Edited (HappilyWrapped) : 4/4/2008 12:51:17 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/29/2008 5:01 PM (GMT 0)
Well, another endoscopy . . . another report saying a hiatel hernia dismissed as nothing; gastritis . . . some bleeding in the lining . . . but according to the doctor . . . nothing.  Still have the pain under my right ribcage and the persistent nausea and this doctor tells me he finds nothing!!  mad    So where does that leave me?  Back to popping pain killers.  mad    Yeah, that's great.  This idiot doctor wants me back to see him in two months and I'm like for what??!!  eyes    So you can run more tests that my health insurance company can pay for? 
Posted 5/1/2008 1:05 PM (GMT 0)
        

       Cannon I can relate. Have the pain on my right side under ribs and when I have an attack it goes through to my back.

        Have had CT scan upper abdomen and pelvis, Hida scan, ultrasound, blood test and endoscope.

        I do have gallstones and my hida scan score for gall bladder was on the low side.  My GI said that the report for gallbladder stated that removing it MAY be of benefit.  GI said notice MAY.  I really don't know what to make of the whole thing.

          I am also suffering from acid reflus for the past two months.  Another endo. showed a bacteria called H Pylori and have just finished antibiotic treatment for this and will be retested in two weeks.

          Unfortunately, from what I have seen on the computer getting rid of this bacteria dosen't seem to have an effect on acid reflux.  But,  who knows????

           Anyway I do fear the attacks on my side and back although I have vommited occassinally from them the worst problem for me is the pain that goes to my back.  I can't get comfortable and it sometimes fells that there is a rock in my side or back that is growing bigger.

            Am on Prylosec 40 mgs.

 Wish you the best,

    Cricket

Posted 5/1/2008 1:28 PM (GMT 0)
Cricket - Sorry you're going through this too.  Yours sounds so similar, almost identical.  As bad as it makes me feel that someone else is experiencing this . . . it also makes me feel better knowing that someone is experiencing it too.  Sounds crazy I know.  But I'd gotten so scared of the pain and the fact that the doctors can't tell me what's wrong . . . I'm just scared.  I want it to stop and never come back and here I've got the doctors telling me they can't find anything significant . . . that it's all just little stuff.  If they were having it I'm willing to bet they'd find out what it is and fix it. 

Like you I'm also being treated for acid reflux.  I'm on Nexium for it.  I've tried so many other medications that didn't work.  Was on Prevacid for a long while and that worked best . . . but my insurance company refused to pay for it, which is why I ended up on the Nexium.  Why are insurance companies allowed to decide which medicine your going to get?  They get to override the doctor's choices? 

 

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