Abdominal pain, bloating, burning and losing my mind!
Posted , 12 users are following.
Afternoon All
I wanted to post this not only to clear my head, but on the slim chance anyone has experienced similar or has advise.
So around a year ago I started to get bad heartburn and what I would class as bloated gas burps after a night out. I would only get it for the next day and then it would then go and I could be fine for a week or so before the next "attack".
It got to april and became every weekend. At this point I went to the docs and they put me on PPI and said see how you get on. A few weeks in started to get it more often to the point of even having dinner at home would cause this onset of burping and gas (the burning was less I think due to the pills). I went back to the doctor and he scheduled a endoscopy which revealed a small hital hernia and inflamed stomach and esophagus. I was told that the hital hernia was only small and that majority of people have them. The best thing to do was to persist with the PPI pills and see how I got on giving stomach time to heal. Which I did. I had my bloods done and was told I was healthy with nothing wrong. They did a stool test for Hpylori which came back negative.
Roll on may at this point I started to get a extreme bloating and burning again. Went back and got referred to private specialist. He was quick to blame the hital hernia and said I needed a PH swallow and 24 hour test. Along with a ultrasound. Ultrasound was all clear and my PH test showed some upper reflux that wasn't normal but not extreme.
At this point the specialist advised as I seemed to have been getting worse on the PPI that I should start to come of them and see what happens. About a week and a half into this I got extreme burning in my upper abdomen above the belly button. All across. To the point I was in such pain I went to A&E to get looked at. Full bloods again, ECG and upper checst Xray all clear. They told me that burning could be acid after a discussion amongst themselves and it was wise to go back on PPI. They have now prescribed nexium. This was two weeks ago.
Since then I have had crazy bowl changes. All during the above I was normal with no real difference. Yet now I seem to be swapping between days of constipation to watery just like that. The upper burning has gone from my chest again and I am still bloating after food yet I now have this constant abdominal pain which just feels like a dull ache above my belly button constantly. Which I feel is worse when trying to sleep on my sides like normal (however I am not sure if it's because I am just more aware of it.)
This week I went to have a food allergy test which all was clear. However when speaking to the guy he said it sounded to him as though it could be chronic pancreatitis issue. As it would cause the dull ache and if it was producing enzymes correctly the food would cause bloating etc. I stupidly spent the night reading into it and got no sleep along with just breaking into tears constantly. I can honestly say I think my mind is just broke. Anyhow.. I went to the GP today and raised my concerns, to be told that my bloods have shown clear each time they have been done in the last three months so it couldn't be. I tried to explain I had read people's posts on this very forum of it not being detected in their bloods and was only picked up when it got to cancer or critical stages. Once again I was shot down.
The conversation then turned into.. it is most Likley IBS. I feared I would end up with this label. I do not mean to take anything away from anyone with IBS but I feel this is a nonsense diagnoses when they just don't know the answer. As I have read countless posts of people branded with IBS to only be something later down the road. Especially as up this this week my bowls had been fine!.. I hope fingures crossed it's something to do with being on nexium now and taken morphine sulfate for overall week while the burning eased of. Either that or I have stressed myself out to the point of it effecting my bowls if that is possible.
Anyhow I have another endoscopy set for tomorrow (17th august 2017). I hope they find something this time. But I have been told by doctors if they didn't see ulcers or gastritis before it's very unlikely I will have it now ( even with the change of symptoms).
Just to recap symptoms for tldr
- no odd bowl changes up until this week now a mkx to this week
- original heartburn seems ok on PPI
-constant dull ache in upper abdomen above the belly button area
-no being sick
-no rectal bleeding or previous BM issues
-bloating and gas burps shortly after meals.
I really don't know what to do next if they don't find anything. I literally went from a healthy 27 year old with no real stress on his life to constant abdominal pain and not even being able to enjoy dinner with his GF. Any advise greatly appreciated. Thankyou to anyone who takes the time to ready this even if they don't have any answers.
Kind regards
3 likes, 34 replies
sam18386 Bodsworth
Posted
Hi Brodsworth, this is ibs, no doubt. When my ibs flares like it has today then the pain hits where you've said. Insist on more tests, ask for more help.
Silvers.jessica Bodsworth
Posted
sounds like sounds like you're going through with a lot of other people are going through right now don't feel bad mine started in 2012 mine started at first with the same thing that yours did just occasional burning and discomfort until I got to the point where I was basically throwing up everything I was eating I went to the hospital after I got to the hospital they did it and oscopy and found out that it was gastritis and GERD so they started me on a PPI Prilosec I think it was but that made me feel even worse so I stopped taking that and started feeling like crap again so I went back around 2015 and had a colonoscopy that's when they said I had IPS well fast forward I started a diet for about three months started feeling better so started to eat normal again ,,,,, until the hot pocket, that thing sent me into a violent episode, I went to the hospital with pancreatitis, and just got out, now have to baby my stomach again, lots of light eating lots of weight loss, and they don't like to tell you ,you as going to live with this the rest of your life but it's true, so my recommendation is to look for gastritis and ibs safe foods, start eating that way for a few weeks see how you feel, I just started a probiotic gummy from schiffs , and had the first normal bm in weeks ,so I definitely say get some proobiotic , hope these tips help, when you speak to your gastro, make sure you ask him all the right questions, will I have this forever? What type of diet should I eat? Should I take pro biotic? I have one the 7 and plan on asking all these questions as no-one ever really answers those questions before , good luck , I started this I was 250lbs now I weigh 133 lbs ,
Bodsworth Silvers.jessica
Posted
Hi silver
Thanks for info. Did you ever look into SIBO as a cause of your problems. I just find it odd a lot of my tummy troubles started after I was on such a high dose of PPI. Its something I want to look into but waiting on specialist.
From everything I have read over the last few weeks rightly or wrongly it does seem to be that IBS as we know it is caused by some underlined issue. Such as IBD, SIBO, stress, low stomach acid for some etc. I think it's a mix of finding what's wrong and then resolving or adjusting to that. Doctors should have to define your cause before they palm people off with you have IBS now be on your way and eat better...
I may be wrong. But here's to hope.
Silvers.jessica Bodsworth
Posted
No never even thought that could be a culprit, but may bring it up on the 7th ( my appt with gastro), there are places you can order one from though, I took a pic but I don't think I can post it, but it says take a brochure to your doc, and they will send out the test, costs about 175-180.
sarah48029 Silvers.jessica
Posted
My GP laughed when I asked him about probiotics saying they were just being dropped into a pool of acid so were pointless. However, I've read loads in the news recently about NHS trialling probiotics for so many ailments.
I started a probiotic despite the GP's comments & it really helped my BM. I've been loose for a very long time & can't believe that after not that many days of taking probiotics I had (& still have) normal BM - I'm about 3wks into them & still great. It's not solved all my stomach issues (yet!) but definitely made a huge difference to the bowel already.
I found a supplement company who sell probiotic powder which you reactivate in lukewarm water rather than trying to rehydrate probiotic capsules directly in stomach acid. It's not that pleasant to drink, but it's only a small amount & well worth it if it has such a great effect. They actually agree with my GP to a point & say that their research shows that bacteria from live yoghurt & many probiotics don't reach the bowel, but they have formulated this one specifically to manage to get the friendly bacteria through the acidic conditions.
I don't know if probiotics help with IBS though. I'm about to embark on an elimination diet - something which I've been trying to avoid but I realise that the food intolerance tests are likely not accurate enough.
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sam18386 sarah48029
Posted
Hi Sarah, I have read lots of posts about ibs over the years, is it OK if I comment? I think firstly you do have ibs or something very similar. I find another doctor as yours seems not able to understand that you are trying to help yourself. Prebiotic were the one thing my dietitian and doctors were sure about, they help some people and they don't help others. That's true, you can find probiotic yogurts if they're easier to take and if you can have milk, Rachel's are nice orYeo Valley. Ibs is hard to diagnose but once you discover what you've got then you'll get the help you need with a bit of luck. You have to be careful just cutting things out of your diet as that's what happened to me. I had done the Fox maps diet, eliminated loads of things on the say so of the dietitian then she left, I was then stuck. Make sure you see a dietitian before you cut loads out otherwise you could end up very ill! Good luck and swap doctor, he or she clearly don't know what they're talking about!
sarah48029
Posted
Thanks moderator & apologies - I won't put company names in future posts.
sam18386 sarah48029
Posted
sarah48029 sam18386
Posted
Thanks Sam. Yes - I will change doctor - he made me quite cross being so dismissive, even more so as I know the NHS are doing a lot of research on probiotics. I have heard a few 'experts' saying that probiotics in yoghurt don't generally reach the gut though, so it's important to find the right probiotics (with prebiotics as you say). Thanks for the advice on cutting out foods - I will take heed & be careful!.
sam18386 sarah48029
Posted
I think you will be OK, try your best and if anyone doesn't like what you're doing then tough, you have to do what you can for you and for your health! The odd glass of wine never did anyone any harm, except me so that's 2!
Nu2this Bodsworth
Posted
Hi Bodsworth,
If you are losing your mind, then it would also be a few of us lol. I am in the process of being diagnosed. One day is one thing the other another. I am almost beginning to feel like a medical lab rat. God bless the doctors because I know they are at odds with these types of diseases. I can tell you I had the same effect with PPIs. I was told I had minimal reflux yet was put on 80mg of pantropozal daily which caused more bloating and pain to my hiatus hernia. I stopped them all together. I have a runny stool and docs don't seem to make a big deal. Right now I'm on square one with my symptoms. At this point, I would try modifying your diet, read more on that. See what works...trial and error. Just eat veggies, read lables, especially when it comes to drinks and see if there is any change to the degree of pain. No one knows your body more than you and God and He is the greatest doctor. I hope and pray you feel better.
Bodsworth
Posted
So it's eleven and I've got to be up in six hours for a flight to Italy with the GF. I am doing nothing but dread it I feel so sorry for her we both saved hard for this and was so excited when I was.. normal.
Have been in pain all day today. This pain in my upper middle abdomen is just destroying me mentally there is no escape regardless of BM, IBS relief tabs for gas, paracetomol. Nothing.
Over the last week I took some people's advise started low fodmaps. To early to tell but no changes as of yet.
Extremely depressed. Went and got myself some flouxitine during the week. I got to the point where I was so low and down I was tempted to cut myself deep and call 999 so someone would have to help me. Stupid I know but silly thoughts come to mine in desperation I guess. Luckily I found better judgment and called my aunt. Five days in to the tabs the random crying has stopped atleast.
So yeh now onto a holiday that I saved for over a year to go on. To be in pain and not be able to eat or drink nice foods. If it wasn't for my Bette half I think I'd rather curl up in bed for two weeks and sleep!...
pippa58442 Bodsworth
Posted
Bodsworth
Posted
Thought I would update this as been a while.
Holiday was good for s mental break. I lived on pizza ice-cream and steak with chips. I had the mental attitude of I'm on holiday on going to enjoy it. Oddlyt of the pain went away and was very sparodic. However I did start getting sicky feeling every morning until eating. We where doing a lot of walking though.
Since my return well first week on was the same I was feeling posativly. However since then for the last three weeks back to continuous pain above my belly button. Last few days I have actually felt something inside me spasming. That was new and odd as it don't hurt but could feel the vibrations. Stools still alternating between normal and constipation followed by one day of a flush it seems.
I have a colonoscopy this Thursday. Quite nervous as never been sedated before. I did withought for enscopy but not sure I'll manage the pain I've read about withought it!
Not sure what's changed since I got back. If I'm eating something that's setting me off. Lack of the extra exercise...
All I know is if they don't find anything Thursday it's back to drawing board. So fed up of feeling in pain.
Hope everyone is doing well. Reading the forums the struggle continues for us all.
pippa58442 Bodsworth
Posted
Have you been diagnosed with IBS?
The pattern of symptoms you are having is typical of IBS. When your mind is distracted with holiday fun, your symptoms will go into remission. Once you are back to your normal routine of stresses and strains, your symptoms can come back, This often manifests itself with more spasmodic pain and bowel habit change. This happens to me. If your colonoscopy comes back normal, don't worry, just leave it at that. IBS is functional and will not show up on scans. A clear colonoscopy would be good news and no cause for concern.
Bodsworth pippa58442
Posted
Hi Pippa
No the specialist hasn't said it's IBS. I think because the pain is constant and doesn't relive with a BM and is the same morning or night it didn't fit. But I guess if they find nothing it will only come back to that.
Oddly I don't feel stressed or anxious. If anything rather relaxed. Yet the pain continues rather bizzare.
Do you take any pain meds for IBS? I think if I could block the abdominal pain out I could just carry on life as normal as the BMs are not that different or urgent like some people have. Mine is just this pain. Paracetamol doesn't really effect it. O was taking morphine at the start which was great, but I stopped it as became more constipated which I read Was a side effect.
pippa58442 Bodsworth
Posted
Your symptoms sound very like IBS.
My IBS started with constant pain and was not spasmodic and then became come and go spasmodic pain. My bowel habits alternated between normal, constipation and loose stools just like what you are experiencing. Now it only comes on when stressed. Although pain typically improves after a bowel movement, every one is different and it is possible your are experiencing atypical IBS which means you have IBS but your symptoms are not typical of the condition. IBS is not always textbook.
Paracetemol doesn't do much for me but Nurofen, Buscopan or cocodomol help a lot.
Bodsworth pippa58442
Posted
Hi Pippa
So the coloscopy found that I have early chrones. My large bowel reported fine. But they went into the small bowel around 25cm and found multiple ulcers and one deep one.
I hope this explains the pain in my abdomen. Not sure on what to do from here. I hope it's something treatable or removable. But from what I have read about IBD doesn't sound posativly.
Atleast I know now.
pippa58442 Bodsworth
Posted