What's going on with my digestive system
Posted , 55 users are following.
Hi all, first time hear and hoping someone out there may shed some light on whats going on with my stomach. I have had bouts of indigestion and heartburn for many years, probably due to always working unsociable, shift work, but they were sporadic and very mild bouts. However, since December last year I have been suffering with allsorts of problems, which seem to be digestive tract linked. Prior to these problems I injured my back at work in September, and have not been able to go back as yet. Before, the symptoms started happening I was put on Naproxen (an NSAID), to help relieve my back pain, so I could do Physiotherapy. I took Naproxen for about a week, until I had to stop due to getting severe stomach cramps. This then led to all the symptoms I am experiencing right now, which I will list in a bit. I saw my GP, who put me on 40mg Omeprazole, 20mg twice a day, which relieved the symptoms for a while. However in recent weeks the symptoms are getting bad again, I have been to and fro from my GP, who has put me on Domperidone as well as the Omeprazole. My GP had my blood tested for a total blood count and Helicobacter Pylori. The blood results were all good, except for a slight raise in platelet levels. I am having more blood tests done, and have been referred for a scan, I have heard Pancreatitis and Gallstones mentioned recently, but thought I'd mention my problems on here, just in case someone has experienced the same as myself, and can help enlighten me.
The main symptoms I get are bloating (and associated random sharp stabbing pains all over abdomen, chest and back), burping, stomach churning, frequent throat clearing, 2 specific frequent dull aches that can get sharp (one on left side of upper abdomen, and one just to right of centre of upper abdomen), raised heart rate, nausea, hot flushes, bouts of dizzyness, pale coloured stools (sometimes loose, but generally firm). It hurts more when I move and I also get this sharp pain, right across the top of my abdomen, where I'm guessing my diaphragm is, when I bend over.
These symptoms aren't daily, I can go 2 - 3 days and feel ok, only experiencing very mild symptoms, but then the symptoms flare up and it leaves me not being able to do anything cause I feel so rough. The pains and discomfort I get do hurt, but I'm not in severe pain, so I'm just having to deal with it whilst my GP investigates. I'm hoping the scan will reveal something, but if anybody can help with any info on the reasons why I'm getting all these symptoms, I would be very grateful to hear it. I've been struggling for a couple of months now, and totally fed up, just to know what is going on would be a help in itself.
Thanks in advance.
BTW. Forgot to mention that I can't eat bread, or high sugar content foods, these flare up my symptoms. I had a Rhubard and Custard boiled sweet the other day, I thought 'surely one will be ok', I wish I hadn't bothered, that hurt. I've never been a heavy drinker, and I do smoke, but again not a lot, on average about 7 - 8 a day.
5 likes, 203 replies
SKYE17 paul75665
Posted
paul75665 SKYE17
Posted
Hi Skye
Unfortunately all your message didn't come through. Please post again if you want, it'll be interesting to know what you have to say.
paul75665
Posted
Hello all following this discussion.
A quick update for you.
Had my colonoscopy yesterday as a follow up to the high faecal calprotectin results. Bowel prep was quite a bad experience this time, but the colonoscopy went well. I was alert through the whole procedure and watched it all on the tv screen. The doctor performing the colonoscopy commented on how healthy my colon looked, there were no polyps, no signs of inflammation and bleeding, the only thing they did find was hemorrhoids, although these weren't too bad, but could cause bleeding every now and again. Numerous biopsies were taken and I should get the results of these in about 10 days.
Not much else to report, I'll be waiting for the biopsy results with interest, and I'll let you all know what they reveal, if anything!
paul75665
Posted
Hello Everyone
I don't know how many of you are following this discussion still, but I thought it wise to update you all with some promising developments that some of you may be interested to hear.
Anyway, after 4 years of suffering with my various abdominal, digestive symptoms I had all but given up on finding the cause and possible relief from them. However, a couple of weeks ago someone on this website mentioned getting an food intolerance test done. I was so desperate for some answers that I thought why not, what have I got to loose, I've thrown so much money at trying to find out what the problem is why not waste some more. Well, I found a website that did food intolerance testing and paid to have the test done. I was surprised to find that they discovered 17 food intolerances, 3 non food intolerances and 5 heavy metal sensitivities. They also discovered that I was severely lacking in a number of essential nutrients, and I was surprised to find that the symptoms of having low levels of these nutrients were some of the symptoms I was experiencing. The best thing about this test, and the other I had which I will tell you about in a moment, was that the company doing the test required no background information at all, they didn't know my medical history, my current diagnosis or my current symptoms, yet they hit the nail on the head as far as describing the symptoms I was having. Impressive!
Well, I am skeptical about anything you find only, let alone testing, so as a precaution I had another test done, by a different company, using a totally different method, that focus only on food and drink intolerances. Initially they do a positive / negative test, then give you the option to extend the test to a full food and drink scan. The initial test for me came back as positive for food intolerances, and after requesting the further test they found I am severely intolerant to 3 foods, and borderline intolerant to another 3 foods.
There are some discrepancies between the two test results, but there are also some definite links as well. Anyway, I have been eliminating most of the suspect foods from my diet since getting the results and I have to say that there are improvements in my symptoms. I'm still some way from what I'd consider to be 100% back to normal, but my bloating and burping have definitely decreased, I feel less abdominal discomfort, pain and nausea, and I'm not experiencing the light headeded, 'out of it' and 'on a boat' feelings that I used to get. I've been told that I should see a great improvement with my symptoms in about 3 weeks following total exclusion of the problem foods, and it can take up to 6 weeks for all traces of intolerance to be out of my system. The companies I had the tests done with have very good advice specialists and have been able to answer a lot of my questions, in particular one concerning whether food intolerance can cause inflammation, which they catergorically said yes it does. This would indicate that the positive faecal calprotectin results I had late last year could easily have been caused by food intolerances, and not Crohn's Disease as my doctor initially thought. I'm now going to get my doctor to refer me to a dietician and see, with the information I have gathered, if we can develop a healthy diet tailored to my needs and intolerances to make improvements to my current state of health.
If any of you are interested in hearing more about these tests then please let me know, I'd be only too happy to share this information. However, I would suggest you private message me so I can send you links to the relevant websites, although they are pretty easy to find on the internet.
I'm not saying this is the cure for me, I need more time to see if a flare up occurs, but they early signs are good and I urge you to look into these tests if you are still struggling with digestive problems with no reason yet to be found.
All the best and I'll update this in a few weeks to let you know my progress.
Ms_Jones paul75665
Posted
Hi Paul75665
I had a lot of digestive issues over the years due to endometrios and the subsequent surgeries. Also a scan I had about a year and a half ago seemed to indicate a blocked bile duct.
Follow up scans showed NO blocks in the bile duct. I was sure I must be suffering from adhesions. I went to a new Gastroenterogist to review the results. He also requested a group of lab tests.
Long and short a) I probably passed a gallstone, and b) I had food sensitivities. I cut WAY back on one of the foods, which I had always eaten a lot of and noticed an immediate difference in my abdominal swelling and bloating. I never was “allergic” to anything. But obviously my digestive tract had a “not friendly” reaction to this particular food. I would have never thought that was the case, but there it was.
But t prior to that - it seems for some reason I was experiencing some type of gall bladder episode that was extremely painful. It apparently resolved on its own,
thank goodness.
Don't rule out anything when you go to the Dr. Check everything - no matter how off the trail you think it might be.
paul75665 Ms_Jones
Posted
Many thanks for you reply and comments Ms Jones.
Nice to hear that you have found reasons for your problems and that your current health status has improved, that's the point I'm hoping to get to in the near future.
I've already covered all bases with regards to my symptoms. I've had scopes, scans, X-Rays, numerous blood, urine and stool tests done, seen gastroenterologists, neurologists and rheumatologists and the only test that ever found anything wrong was elevated faecal calprotectin levels in two stool samples, however the follow up colonoscopy with biopsies came back fine, apparently my colon, rectum and terminal ileum looked very healthy. I then discovered at a later date that food intolerance reactions can cause inflammatory effects, which could well have been the cause of the elevated faecal calprotectin results. I certainly don't share any of the common symptoms of having an IBD apart from bloating, which is also common with IBS, so we can pretty much rule out Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn's Disease as well.
I've now got the long process of introducing foods again to see what I can and cannot tolerate, if it gives me some relief in the end, then it will be worth it.
Many thanks again for your comments.