1. Community
  2. Gut, bowel and stomach
  3. Abdominal Disorders

Persistent Stomach Pain - No Answers

Posted , 5 users are following.

kedening
kedening

Hello! 

The story is this! I am a 27 year old female on WAY to many meds for a possble unknown GI issue. It all starts with when I had my galbladder out in Dec 2015 as an emergnecy proceudre, I did not have symtoms prior. After that date  a week later I started to feel belly pain and nausea. I went back to the hospital, was admitted but drs could not find anything. I was told to see a GI specialist. For 4 months I battled pain and severe nausea. After an endoscopy, HIDA scan, stomach emptying scan, many blood tests, 3 CT scans, a few x-rays; I was given exploratory laproscopic surgery in april of 2016. Prior to the surgery I had an H pylori infection and what the holistic dr believes as a staph infection. In the surgery they found scar tissue above my liver, basically twisting that and my small intestine togehter. After the surgery I had a few weeks in which the stomach pain was low and nausea was low, but then it returned persistant as ever. At this point it was reccomended to me to go gluten free (so I acutally started that in Jan). I am also dairy free as much as I can. The GI ran another endoscopy and colonoscopy and everything comes out as normal. I have been dealing with this stomach pain since Jan and the GI seems to have no answers for me. I did see a holistic dr and they put me on some supplements, but recently I came off of those. I was also seeing a physical therapist, who was able to help me relieve some of the scar tissue. I have some sitting on my diaphram so I am on muscle relaxers to combat those.

The only test that indicate whats going on are a simple blood test called C-reactive protein. This test range for me is highly elevated and as I am aware continuing to grow. this blood test reveals that I have inflammation somewhere, but the origin is unknown at this time. 

Currently I am working on getting admitted to Cleveland clinic as per the sugestion of my Dr.  I am posting in hopes someone might offer some answers into where I can look into and options I have not thought of yet! 

Thanks 

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • philippa61759
    philippa61759 kedening

    Posted

    Sometimes gallbladder removal triggers IBS.  Has your GI specialist ever mentioned this?  Do you have changes in bowel habits or food intolerance? Perhaps ask about IBS at your next doctor's appointment.

    • kedening
      kedening philippa61759

      Posted

      We briefly discussed it, but I'm missing markers for the disease... so it hasn't been something he has pursued!

    • philippa61759
      philippa61759 kedening

      Posted

      If you have IBS, it will not show up in tests because it is a functional bowel disorder.  The only way of telling is by excluding other causes or diagnosing it from your symptoms.
  • donna70117
    donna70117 kedening

    Posted

    Good luck with getting to the bottom of your problems. I had my gallbladder out over a year ago and still have stomach issues. The only thing they could come up with is that I am fructose intolerance. I have been trying to stay on a low sugar diet but even doing that I still get the stomach pains and feeling like cramp. I hope you find something out soon.
  • sanya11314
    sanya11314 kedening

    Posted

    Oh dear, that's terrible.

    I hope you have not regrown adhesions since there seems to be a tendency if you developed some after first surgery.

    (every operation is an adhesion formation risk, some never hurt due to location, some can muddle up everything. Often they are missed in scans, too little of structure to be seen. 

    If they suggest another CT, please ask, if an MRI wasn't just as good.

    You had a load of radiation dose already clustered in a year, as much as I love CT imaging and wasn't probably done in lower abdomen (ovaries) 3 times, 'only' upper abdomen I presume?

    Of course good indication outweighs risks, but there is an alternative sometimes (MRI vs CT), not always, CT has clearer pics and can look at everything at once, MRI needs different protocolls according to question.

    Due to the location, I would ask, if an MRI and ultrasound scan for SMA (superior mesenteric artery syndrome) would make sense. A duodenal compression can cause lots of nausea. Maybe some adhesions have shifted that distance of arteries where duodenum passes through?

    Unfortunately the only help is surgery again if lying on the left after a meal doesn't help.

    Small nerve injuries are also always a problem during surgeries.

    I really hope you get answers as to why you have those symptoms since gallbladder removal.

    All the best!

     

Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.