Mystery Diagnosis

[lukenick1]

I am a victim of a mystery illness. It's so frustrating. I have tummy troubles. After about an hour after i eat I start to feel so bloated, indigested and nauseous. This has been going on for most of my teen and adult life. I have been to many gastro doctors, had many tests including, upper GI series, Upper endoscopy, barium swallow, hyda scan, and even had my gall bladder removed leaving me no relief. I've been tested for H.Pylori and that was negative. I was prescribed, prilosec, levsin, reglan, phenergan, tums, etc over the years and still suffer. I even resorted to an anti-depressant thinking it was anxiety causing all my tummy troubles. Im not lactose intolerant, do not have a gluten allergy, have no food allergies, been tested for everything. My diagnosis is the same old....gastritis, IBS. Ugh it's so frustrating. On the bright side of things, I stay thin. I just wish i could live my life feeling satisfied after i eat and not ill. Thanks for listening....can anyone relate???

 

[Disneylover79]

Did they do a gastric emptying test? I had your exact symptoms and they did a gastric emptying test and I had delayed emptying called gastroporesis...also massive bloating can be cause by some GYN problems maybe you need to go that route and see what you can find...believe me I can relate to your problems I would complain of nausea almost minutes after I eat and it would last for a few hours so they did think it was my gallbladder but I work in a hospital and I would always ask the drs what they thought....I hope you find some relief soon..

 

[DisneyJules]

I was thinking, IBS. I know that's so non descript. My brother suffers from IBS as well and he has cut out meat out of his diet. This seems to have helped a great deal. But of course, everyone is so different. I can only imagine how frustrating it is for you.

 

[lukenick1]

Did they do a gastric emptying test? I had your exact symptoms and they did a gastric emptying test and I had delayed emptying called gastroporesis...also massive bloating can be cause by some GYN problems maybe you need to go that route and see what you can find...believe me I can relate to your problems I would complain of nausea almost minutes after I eat and it would last for a few hours so they did think it was my gallbladder but I work in a hospital and I would always ask the drs what they thought....I hope you find some relief soon..

Yes i did have the gastric emptying test where they make you eat the radioactive eggs. What did they prescribe to you for gastroparesis? I really think thats part of my problem. When i eat sometimes...i stay full for up to 8 hours before i am hungry again. I hate feeling so yucky all the time....ugh

 

[KPeveler]

Yes i did have the gastric emptying test where they make you eat the radioactive eggs. What did they prescribe to you for gastroparesis? I really think thats part of my problem. When i eat sometimes...i stay full for up to 8 hours before i am hungry again. I hate feeling so yucky all the time....ugh

there is no drug for gastroparesis that works well at this point. reglan was the only one used when i was youngr, but that has been pulled off the market a while ago... apparently it is linked to neuro problems...

I wish i had answers for you!

 

[mickeymedic]

Regan was pulled off the market?

 

[KPeveler]

Regan was pulled off the market?

I hope so - it has been linked to tardive diskinesia (sp), which is like parkinsonism. I see all kinds of ads for lawyers who are encourging people with neueo problems after reglan to sue...

 

[mickeymedic]

I hope so - it has been linked to tardive diskinesia (sp), which is like parkinsonism. I see all kinds of ads for lawyers who are encourging people with neueo problems after reglan to sue...

I believe it's still available. It's just not recommended to take if for more than 12 weeks. Tardive Diskinesia symptoms have always been listed as a possible side effect with prolonged use.

 

[KPeveler]

I believe it's still available. It's just not recommended to take if for more than 12 weeks. Tardive Diskinesia symptoms have always been listed as a possible side effect with prolonged use.

then i guess that it wont work well for chronic/permanent gastroparesis, since it can go on for years. i guess i was thinking of another med that was taken off the market (maybe zelnorm or something?)

 

[The Mystery Machine]

This is also a early symptom of ovarian cancer. Normally I would not mention this however since my sister's MIL is dying of cancer now I had to mention it.

She always had "digestive issues" and was prescribed the tests, meds, etc.

Come to find out the only way to know is if they actually cut you open. It is downright scary.

I hope it is nothing like this but I thought I would mention this to you.

Symptoms of ovarian cancer are nonspecific and mimic those of many other more common conditions, including digestive and bladder disorders. A woman with ovarian cancer may be diagnosed with another condition before finally learning she has cancer. Common misdiagnoses include irritable bowel syndrome, stress and depression.

The key seems to be persistent or worsening signs and symptoms. With most digestive disorders, symptoms tend to come and go, or they occur in certain situations or after eating certain foods. With ovarian cancer, there's typically little fluctuation — symptoms are constant and gradually worsen.

Click for more.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/ovarian-cancer/DS00293/DSECTION=symptoms

 

[lemondog]

HOLY CRAP!!!!!!!

I can't believe I ran across this thread! Tomorrow my DH has an appt. with our internist b/c of godawful shaking of the hands/extremities. I swear he looks like a Parkinson patient and he is only 38. Well guess what? He has been on Reglan for 2+ years for stomach/gastro issues. Unbelievable.

Well, I guess I know what condition we'll be asking the doctor about tomorrow. Tardive Dyskenesia.

 

[mickeymedic]

then i guess that it wont work well for chronic/permanent gastroparesis, since it can go on for years. i guess i was thinking of another med that was taken off the market (maybe zelnorm or something?)

Agreed about Reglan. I was on it for a while, but was not crazy about the potential side effects. But after 3 months straight of constant nausea and abdominal pain I had to try something. It worked alright for a while, but the more I read about it, the more nervous I was getting about the potential neuro effects. I finally decided that the risks did not outweigh the benefits So I stopped taking it. Nothing else really works as well - but I found that Ginger Root does well to curb the nausea.

A low fiber diet is also key for gastroparesis. It's kind of counter-intuitive. Anyone with GI issues has been told "eat lots of fiber." My really bad 3 months came during a time when I was trying hard to eat a really healthy high fiber diet.

 

[sparklynails23]

HOLY CRAP!!!!!!!

I can't believe I ran across this thread! Tomorrow my DH has an appt. with our internist b/c of godawful shaking of the hands/extremities. I swear he looks like a Parkinson patient and he is only 38. Well guess what? He has been on Reglan for 2+ years for stomach/gastro issues. Unbelievable.

Well, I guess I know what condition we'll be asking the doctor about tomorrow. Tardive Dyskenesia.

Wow! I just read the decription of TD. Time to call a lawyer, too. I hope your husband recovers.

 

[Disneylover79]

Yes i did have the gastric emptying test where they make you eat the radioactive eggs. What did they prescribe to you for gastroparesis? I really think thats part of my problem. When i eat sometimes...i stay full for up to 8 hours before i am hungry again. I hate feeling so yucky all the time....ugh

They have me on Reglan, the funny thing is about a month or so after taking it I was feeling so good that I stopped taking it, then I started with the bloating and my GI dr told me to start my Reglan again and it will help and it sure did...it speeds the movement in your intestines....

 

[quasar4legs]

To the op, sorry to hear you are having these ongoing issues.

Have you looked at food intolerances as opposed to allergies. The allergy clinic my son and I attend supports doing an elimination diet in an attempt to identify types of foods that may have an impact.

Have a look at the Food Intolerance Network, it may be of some help. We did our elimination diets under the supervision of a dietician as it can be complicated to work through everything on your own.

Hope you find an answer soon.

 

[sparklynails23]

Not all food allergies or sensitivities will create positive reactions during an allergy test. I wonder if you've tried an elimination diet, too.

 

[wdhinn89]

Has you doctor done blood work for Celiac?

 

[lukenick1]

To the op, sorry to hear you are having these ongoing issues.

Have you looked at food intolerances as opposed to allergies. The allergy clinic my son and I attend supports doing an elimination diet in an attempt to identify types of foods that may have an impact.

Have a look at the Food Intolerance Network, it may be of some help. We did our elimination diets under the supervision of a dietician as it can be complicated to work through everything on your own.

Hope you find an answer soon.

Thanks for the suggestion...I will definitely check that out!!!!!

 

[lukenick1]

Has you doctor did blood work for Celiac?

Yes. It was fine.
I've literally been suffering like this since I was about 13 years old and I am now 37. If it was ovarian cancer I'd think I would know by now so thank God. I have also taken Reglan as a teen i dont remember how long i took it but how scarey is that!!!!! I now take Phenergan as needed for the real bad episodes. Also I do not suffer everyday but it's definitely at least 5 out of 7 days per week and it never hits me at breakfast. Could it it be that Im eating a small meal (cereal), hmmmmmm???

 

[5lilfish]

Celiacs has a lot of false negatives. Also, you could be glutten intollerant and not test positive for Celiacs. I am going through a self trial of eating glutten free right now. I'm only on day 5 and I've read that it could take a couple weeks to see the difference. So far the only thing I have noticed is that I don't seem to get all stuffed up after eating.

I'm having abdominal issues too. I have feared ovarian cancer. I see my Gyn in 2 wks for my yearly and I plan on bringing it up then. Until then, I keep reminding myself that, like you, I have had these issues on and off for my whole life. I've always been a Tums popper.

Good luck...
Jess