What's going on with my digestive system

Its been some time since I've updated this discussion, so thought I'd give you some info.

I still get back pain, right in mid centre of back, like someone is pushing a hard, blunt object into me. Due to the medication I'm on, all my symptoms are pretty much subdued, but before this, yes I did experience pains right across my belly button. I'm currently on Omeprazole, Mebeverine and Amytriptyline and the combination seems to be keeping severe pains at bay, but I suffer from extreme nausea almost on a daily basis, I also feel drained, tired, weak and just generally unwell.

My GP put me on a FODMAP and gluten free diet, and this had no impact on my stomach problems, so now she has decided to refer me to see a Gastroenterologist, although I'm going to have to wait a couple of months at least. All I know right now is that my problems feel like they are here to stay for quite some time still.

I do hope you get to the bottom of your probs, it can be very demoralising and frustrating, and it certainly has been a life changer for myself.

All the best.

Good to hear from you. Glad some things are working for you.

I'm still undiagnosed at the moment after having a load more tests. Gallbladder isn't working fully so hopefully they'll whip that out.

The fodmap had made my stools go back to normal but hasn't, as you said, had any effect on my other problems. If anything it's made it worse.

Anyway, all the best for your gastro appointment. Hope it all goes well. Keep us updated.

Gem

So sorry to hear about your problems, and I know how much they can affect normal daily life. My whole world has been turned upside down because of my stomach problems, so I can sympathise.

Until I see the Gastroenterologist, I'm still totally in the dark as to what is going on, and I have this feeling that I could be living with this for the rest of my life. I'm sorry I can't give you any more info.

One revelation I discovered was I have a serious problem with supermarket bread and bread products. However, I can eat bread from a proper bakery. I discovered supermarkets use a different proving process to traditional bakeries, they basically prove dough once, whereas proper bakeries prove dough twice, I know cause I worked in a bakery before all my problems started. Supermarket bread will cause me to bloat like a balloon, and cause allsorts of pain and discomfort, yet proper bread (as I call it) still gives me some problems, but no where near as bad as supermarket bread. Maybe you could try not eating supermarket bread, or cutting out gluten and lactose. I also have problems with fruit, and rich flavoured food, and spices don't agree either. It might be worth you trying a FODMAP diet just to see if it helps, I would also go gluten and lactose free at the same time. There is plenty of advice on FODMAP online, so you shouldn't have a problem doing the FODMAP. Surely its worth a go if you haven't already, it didn't work great for me, but has helped a bit. Cut out alcohol too, if you like the odd drink or two as I did.

I will update this discussion once I've seen the Gastroenterologist, or with anything else I find out, but at the moment I'm just left in limbo, wondering if this will ever end. In the meantime I wish you all the best.

Very sorry to hear you feel awful

Has  your Doctor checked you for things like h-pylori, which can cause stomach pain?

Have you also asked for a referral to a Gastroenterologist who specialises in these areas?

Oh, so sad to hear you are still suffering in limbo, I thought since you hadn't posted for a while your issues had been resolved.

Best of luck with the Gastroenterologist.

It has been a while since I have posted anything, reason being I am so fed up I've lost the will to do anything.

Still suffering with the same symptoms, bloating, nausea, dizziness, feeling faint, sharp and dull pains all over abdomen, chest and back, endless stomach and bowel churning and gurgling, hot / lump feeling in throat, and unable to eat properly. I physically and mentally can't take anymore, and its worse due to having a day or three of feeling ok, then waking up and feeling awful for anywhere between a couple of days to a couple of weeks, and then the whole process starting again. The Gastro appointment was indecisive (explain in a mo), and still the government feel I'm able to work when I'd be calling in sick on average 2 - 4 days a week. Its all a complete joke and a farce!

As for Gastro, well I went to the appointment a couple of weeks ago now, and he looked through all the tests I'd had done. He seems to think that I don't have gastritis, celiac, H.Pylori (only had blood test for H.P, which apparently is indecisive) etc, most of which would have been picked up during Endoscopy, although I forgot to ask if Omeprazole could hide these problems, but he knew from my notes that I had been taking it for some time now. He arranged for a faecal elatase test to be done, for which I am still awaiting results. It was also noted that I have a fast digestive transit time, food I eat for my evening meal will come out the other end first thing the next morning (at most approx 12 hours). And then he mentioned the FODMAP diet I was put on by my GP and asked if I'd seen a Dietician with it. When I said no, he said that was pointless, trying to do a FODMAP correctly without guidance is hard, if not impossible, so has referred me to see a Dietician and start the FODMAP again (probably another 2 - 3 month wait for that). Again, when I mentioned the Naproxen issue I had, which I believe where all this started, the Gastro said nothing and moved onto something else. I believe the Naproxen, which I was given a year ago now, caused the excruciating upper abdominal pains, but has also caused my digestive system to be, what I'd describe as out of sync and hyperactive, not sure if that makes sense but its the only way I can describe it.

So there you go, another few months wasted and still no closer to discovering what is wrong. This has messed up my life, my family life and I'm dreading christmas, I'm almost certain I will wake up feeling ill christmas day (for the 2nd time now).

I'll let you all know results of elatase test when I get them, other than that, there won't be much else to report for a while. Sorry I can't give you lot any positive findings, I'll keep trying!

Take care, all the best and thank you for the words of advice and encouragement you've given me over the last year. Merry Christmas to you all if you don't hear from me sooner!

ive a fast transit time too. I think our digestive systems are way ahead of our bodies. 

I think meds play a huge role in symptoms, ie I HAD a cast iron stomach RIGHT up until I was put on to two diff antibiotics for infections turns out I never had , that's when it all started. 

Did you initially have any prescription meds that triggered your probs?

i can sympathise though, I'm dreading Xmas too for the second year. Putting on a brave face for the family

paul do you drink coffee or booze?

i have a gastro appoint next wed. I've never been so afraid and it stresses me out and makes my tummy worse thinking about it.

Something our Drs don't look at is stress, as in stress raising outer cortisol levels (as with caffeine), outs our bodies into hyperdrive , throwing our adrenals out.

have you considered seeing a naturopath who will start with balancing the adrenals/thyroid etc and starting a different approach? It's just a thought and did help me initially as I'm a HIGHLY strung individual and stress is a huge factor for me personally. Sadly I never follow anything through to my detriment.

anyway sorry to carry on. I just know how you feel. I sit at work all day stomach churning and random pains all round my gastro tract then I jump in my car to go home and cry , it's a dreadful cycle ESP when you have a small child to care for.

keep in touch.

I agree with you when it comes to meds playing a part in this. I was prescribed Naproxen for a back injury I got from being overworked. I was also under a lot of physical and mental stress as my employer didn't listen to me when I told them I couldn't cope with the increasing work load. The inevitable happened and I popped a disc. I was put on Naproxen to help with the pain, to allow the Physiotherapist I was referred to, to help get my back mobile again. After a week and a half of taking the Naproxen I started to get severe upper abdominal pains, so bad that on a couple of occasions I could've, and probably should've called an ambulance. I went back to the GP who told me to stop taking it, and put me on Omeprazole, which helped ease the pain a lot, but since then I've been left with all this bloating, stomach churning, random abdominal pains, dizziness, etc. I believe the Naproxen has messed something up inside me, and everytime I mention it to a doctor, they shy away from making any sort of comment, apart from a locum doctor who told me that the amount of stress I was under, coupled with taking Naproxen was a recipe for disaster. I had informed GPs prior to this of my poor bowel movements, which were frequently dark and tarry. Dark and tarry stools are a sign of upper abdominal bleeding, and Naproxen should not be prescribed to people who show signs of this type of bleeding. I managed to get Naproxen prescribed through the receptionist, as our surgery is always so busy, and I can only think my notes weren't fully checked before the Naproxen was given to me. I know I wouldn't be like this if I hadn't taken this drug.

I don't drink coffee or alcohol anymore, but before all this started, I was bad for coffee, the coffee maker was always on the go, and trips to Costa were frequent. I never drank huge amounts of booze, but more often than not I would have a couple of tinnies in the evening.

What part of the Gastro appointments worry you? What treatment, or procedures have you had so far? I've had alsorts done, Sigmoidoscopy, Endoscopy and Colonoscopy with polyp removal and I have to say they have been ok experiences. The only part that I struggled with was when the sedation and pain relief wore off towards the end of my colonoscopy, and I was asked to keep alternating from lying on my side to my back. They do this so they can get a good look around the colon, but that did hurt, not for long though. I did worry and stress a lot before these procedures, but there wasn't any need really, the worst bit for me was the laxative bowel prepping, not pleasant. I'm sure your Gastro appointment will be fine, try not to let it worry you too much.

I'll give Naturopath a look, thanks for the suggestion, although like you I do struggle to follow things through, and as I said, my mood at the moment is pretty low, and gets in the way of me doing anything positive, well anything full stop really.

Try to take it easy and try not to worry about your Gastro appointment, it will be fine. You might even get the answers you are looking for. Stay strong and don't give up hope. I'm still hopeful that they will find the cause of my problems, even after being like this for a year.

Good luck and keep us informed.

i haven't had anything done aside from bloods and physicals.

im terrified of any and all diagnostics, this has carried on for what feels like so long I'm scared of disease etc.

what p*sses me off though is that while I'm only late 30's I've started menopause because it runs in the family.. That alone messes with hormone levels and digestion! Causing infact digestive disturbances. However Drs are so ignorant they refused to run any labs to confirm so meanwhile I've spent all this time thinking it's something worse and worrying myself into a worse state of health. 

Honestly paul I know they are trying to help but we need to second guess Drs but you know that.

absolutely you have damage to your gut cause of the meds, they are known to destroy the stomach lining.

anyway I better go for now. My hubby starts a new job Monday and that's made me a thousand times more anxious for my upcoming appoint,eat with all the what ifs.... Il likely cry like a baby at the appointment. 

Thanks for the kind words , I have nobody to share my fears with, so I'd been turning to the bottle lately which clearly hasn't helped matters

Like you, I was petrified of anything the doctors were going to do with me before they started probing and prodding, but to be honest I needn't have worried. I feared the Endoscopy most, but I just fell asleep through it all, combo of sedative and up all night on laxative bowel prep (I had a combined Endoscopy and Colonoscopy). Your first Gastro appointment will be just asking questions, going through notes, then what course of treatment to take. Don't know if you need to take a pee sample in, but I had too. There is nothing to worry about all all, I'm a wimp, and I've survived it.

When at the appointment, I stress to you to ask the doctor for a 'Faecal Elastase' test to be done, a test that measures Pancreas function. Why, well I've had alsorts of tests done and nothing has ever really shown up. However, the Faecal Elastase test ordered by the gastro consultant has shown an "abnormal result". I'm not getting my hopes up, as I'm beginning to realise that some tests can be inconclusive, but could they at last have found something?! I have had a follow up appointment made at hospital, according to the receptionist at my surgery, I'm just waiting for hospital confirmation. I did try and call the hospital today to see if they could explain this better, but they're out of office until tomorrow, will try again tomorrow.

I can pretty much gaurantee the alcohol isn't helping you, just like the smoking isn't helping me. I just don't have the strength or will power to stop it right now, whatever is wrong with me has taken any of that away, but if I do have a problem with my Pancreas as the faecal elastase test has shown, then smoking and drinking should be stopped immediately. I've really got to try and give up, sooner rather than later!!

Good luck for the future, and if you can, give up the alcohol for a bit, see if it helps your symptoms at all. It's a long shot I know, but I've been trying tonnes of long shots to find out whats going on, I won't stop trying until I do.

All the best and keep in touch.

Drank too much again last night. You are correct. I hate I can't stop, but I realise it will kill me.

thanks again for the tips.