I have to have help
#4459 - 03/29/03 08:29 AM
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meg
Reged: 01/29/03
Posts: 41
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Either I don't have IBS or I have the most unusual case around. Everything I eat, other than my bland baked chicken, white rice, white potatoes diet absolutely kills my belly. I am in terrible pain today, from an epsiode I had Wednesday morning and Thursday night. I am so desperate for answers. I have a terribly painful area just under the left ribcage, but more toward the midline of my tummy. When it's pressed upon I feel like I could pass out and the pain will hurt in the exact same area in my back. For years I had, what I called the normal case of IBS, I'd get a throbbing pain on the left side of my umbilicus and shortly thereafter I'd go to the bathroom. Now I just hurt all the time, night and day. I can't eat anything other than the chicken diet I just talked about. I have terrible trapped gas for days after an episode, but can't take the anti-gas agents for they contain sorbitol. And they never did help anyway. I was thinking of seeing a gastroenterologist, I just don't know. I need help. Heather I have your book and I would give my eye teeth to be able to eat those foods you talk about, I just can't imagine being able to eat those. I've tried, it just doesn't work for me. Do you think this could be Celiac? I can't eat anything made with oats or oat flour, but then again I can't eat much of anything. This is all just making me nuts...... I need help and don't know what to do.... Meg
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GO TO THE DOCTOR. Get a valid diagnosis, celiac is easy to control once you know the cause. You could be tearing your digestive system apart by not knowing what's wrong and eating the wrong items. It's not a big deal, even the colonoscopy and endoscopy are a walk in the park (if you're drugged of course....lol). Make your appt Monday and keep us apprised, we're all in the same boat!
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I THINK YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY SEE A SPECIALIST AND THE SOONER THE BETTER, ESPECIALLY IF THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME TIME, ALREADY. yOU NEED TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING ON WITH YOU. For your own peace of mind. I HAD AN ULCER SOME YEARS AGO, IT CLEARED UP, and then I HAD FOOD ALLERGIES(THIS IS PRE-IBS.),ANYWAY, WHEN MY PAINGOT SO BAD AND IT FELT LIKE I HAD A HOLE IN MY STOMACH, BECAUSE i never seemed to be able to ease it, I HAD A SCOPE DONE JUST TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE WRONG. This is why I think you should find out if you have anymore wrong with you than ibs. You will feel much better just for knowing for sure.
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The ladies are right. RUN to your doctor. Get a referral to see a GI. Be firm. In the meantime, read the dietary guidelines in the first year for IBS, and "how to break the cycle of attacks" on this website. You will most likely have to start with a few foods and gradually work your way back into more if this is IBS. It is so important to get a proper diagnosis - IBS symptoms mimic other problems - best get the problem identified - it makes finding a solution that much easier!!!!! I hope you feel better soon.
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Formerly HanSolo. IBS, OCD, Bipolar, PTSD times 3.
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I agree with everyone else - you need a thorough GI checkup! I once pointed to the spot just to the right of center below my ribcage where I was feeling the pain originating from and my doctor said I was pointing to my gall bladder. You say your pain is just to the left, though? Is it only to the left or across your upper belly just below the ribs? It is miserable to feel that bad all the time. My heart goes out to you. Make sure your doctor does not skimp on the tests necessary to figure out what's going on - scopes (up and down) may not be enough - you may need a sonogram and/or c-scan of other organs. Bloodwork, too, in case you have an infection. Get to that doctor and good luck!
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Two things that may help to print and take with you to the doctor. 
Ten questions to ask your doctor.
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?li=DIG&articlekey=13683
and
Current Approach to the Diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
http://www.aboutibs.org/Publications/diagnosis.html
Hope this helps some.
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My website on IBS is www.ibshealth.com
Edited by shawneric (03/29/03 01:00 PM)
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Thought I would throw this in for the information on what causes pain in IBS as well.
The Brain Gut Axis
http://www.ibs-research-update.org.uk/IBS/brain1ie4.html
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My website on IBS is www.ibshealth.com
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Make sure you don't have Celiac Disease. Also the next time you are in that much pain go to the emergency room or Urgent Care immediately, even if you have an appt. to see a Gastro. When I have severe pain in the same location as you it's usually my Pancerous and does take several days for the pain to go away. You also want your Gall Bladder checked and be checked for Gastritis. Gastritis can cause constant pain and make it diffcult to eat.
You take care of yourself and get yourself better!!!!!!
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Thank you all for being so interested and supportive. This life of bowel problems gets mighty lonely doesn't it?! I've been calling around and trying to locate the nearest doctor, I've gotten it narrowed down pretty much to two different places, I'll have to decide which I think would be best. Not real sure how to do that. Anyway, I will keep you all informed on how it goes. It had been 40 days and I'd only had 6 small to medium bowel movements, when I had my latest episode. I'm either completely shut down or I'm in hyper overdrive.... Thanks again, Megan
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Tell me more about your problems with your pancreas? How were you diagnosed? I've always felt this could have something to do with my pancreas, for the pain is in the area of the pancreas and it hurts in my back too. My back is hurting terribly right now, just like the front. I'm also having trouble keeping my blood sugar up today too, I have hypoglycemia. Thanks for helping me out here:)
Meg
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If you are that constipated, I would try getting some exercise, and drink tons of gallons of water. Read Heather's section on how to break the cycle of attacks on this website. Just click on dietary guidelines, I think. It can take a while to ease the constipation but you will get there. Hang in there in the meantime.
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Formerly HanSolo. IBS, OCD, Bipolar, PTSD times 3.
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Meg - have you had all the tests (colonoscopy, endoscopy, etc.) to rule out other problems. The endoscopy where they down your throat will tell them if you have gastritis (inflamation of the stomach, which is painful all the time, especially after eating something). So, what you're saying is that bland chicken and rice cause you no pain?
Sharon
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Sharon
"Anything Chocolate"...that is all!
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Meg,
I went to Urgent Care the day after intense pain and blood tests were ordered to check my pancreas levels, liver, CBC and I'm not sure what else. That is how it was discovered. Pancreasitis usually lasts up to 24 hours. The number one cause for pancreasitis in women is Gallstones. In men the number one cause is alchol.
However, my problem is unknown. I had a Hydascan to check my gallbladder function and it is normal. I'm not a doctor, so I don't want to hand out advice. From my reading about pancreasitis it is possible you have gall stones that is causing the pain to not go away. Sharon mentioned Gastroitis, and left untreated it can cause constant pain. I had that too and lost a lot of weight in a short peroid of time.
You need to see a Doctor this week, whether it is a Gastro. or Primary Doctor. Walk into an Urgent Care and be see immediately and be very clear with your symptoms and how long it has been going on.
Good luck and please let us know what happens.
Barb 
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I recently went to a GI, my pains had gotten me to the point where I was no longer eating much of anything and had lost 20 pounds in a couple months time. Not that I minded losing 20 pounds but any more and I'll be underweight so don't want that, I believe in being healthy not skinny! But the point is there were enough red flags that he ordered the colonoscopy and ECG (from the throat down) scopes done, just did it last week. I won't tell you it was fun but it was not bad either. I am waiting for biopsy results from my colon and stomach both, but for now I do know so much more than I did: I had some polyps removed (good to get those out), my colon is so twisted it's practically a pretzel (definitely contributes to my problems with C and cramping, never knew that!), and the main culprit is that I have gastritis (a condition of the stomach sort of like an ulcer, not part of IBS and not something that is going to go away by itself, most likely a bacterial infection that needs antibiotic). So... my point is that if you have tried treating all this as IBS and not seen good improvement you should get pro-active and find out what really is and is not going on, and don't let any Dr just "write you off" without taking you seriously. Good luck and I hope you get some answers and some relief too!!
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Take care,
Michelle
...the greatest of these is LOVE. (I Cor 13)
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I completely agree with Michelle, make sure you see a GI. I too have other symptoms other than those associated with IBS (chronic heart burn) I got an upper endoscopy done and was diagnosed with acid reflux disease (or GERD)
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-Angela
Healed in Jesus' Name
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I cast my vote, too, for seeing a gastroenterologist right away. Do you live near a medical college with a university hospital? They sometimes have excellent diagnostic facilities (that's not to say that non-university docs aren't great too - they just usually don't publish papers, or get the peer review that teaching docs do). I emailed a pediatrician at the Children's Hospital here in Cincy (they have a world-class pedes research and treatment facility here), and asked him to recommend some adult GEs - and he did! You'd be surprised how generous some of the "best" doctors are with their time. I hope you find a caring, thorough doctor very soon!
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I have a lot of the same problems with you. I can tell you it will get better but it is a very rough road. I'm still struggling everyday and feel like there is no hope at moments. I finally had a coloscopy done and found out not only do I have severe IBS, I also have a severely twisted colon. My pancrease doesn't like to work much either. Maybe we can help each other conquer this. Just don't give up. Keep your chin up. If you get too stressed and worried it will only make it worse. I would
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I have a lot of the same problems with you. I can tell you it will get better but it is a very rough road. I'm still struggling everyday and feel like there is no hope at moments. I finally had a coloscopy done and found out not only do I have severe IBS, I also have a severely twisted colon. My pancrease doesn't like to work much either. Maybe we can help each other conquer this. You might want to make sure you don't have any problems with your colon. Just don't give up. Keep your chin up. If you get too stressed and worried it will only make it worse.
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Meg~
I was having the same problem a couple of years ago, with pain in the same place you are having it. I really couldn't eat anything, even jello or applesauce would upset my stomach. I was very nauseous, had vomitting and d. I had some blood tests run and they found that my pancreas enzymes were elevated, but a GI doctor I went to in Cincinnati said that vomiting can cause an elevation in the pancreatic enzymes. He ordered all kinds of tests, especially for the pancreas, but all came back normal. There was one test that he did himself to check the pancreas, but he said he didn't want to do that because it could cause pancreatis and once you get that, you always have it. I will try to find the name of the test that he didn't want to do and also the name of the one that they did on me to look at the pancreas. The doctor told me there was nothing wrong with the pancreas and I had IBS. He said I should be able to eat anything I wanted to. He sure doesn't know much about IBS. I came home that same day and found out everything I could about IBS on the internet. Heather's web site has been extremely helpful. Once I started following some of her diet suggestions, I began to feel better. I also think going on Wellbutrin (an anti-depressant), which the doctor gave me, helped a lot too.
I'm so sorry for all you're going through right now. I really do feel for you. I will try to email the name of the test that they did to look at the pancreas if I can find it on the internet. I'll sure say a prayer for you.
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Meg~
The test that the doctor did not want to do was an ERCP on the pancreas and the one that I had done was an MRI.
Good Luck!!
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Joylyn,
I live in Cincinnati! Wouldn't it be funny if we had the same doctor? Oh - wait - you said "he" - my GI doc is a woman. We are so fortunate to have so many excellent doctors in Cincinnati (although I'm still crying about my gynecologist going to Cleveland!) The Digestive Diseases Department at the U. of Cincinnati is one of the best in the country, and Children's Hospital here has one of the best clinical research & treatment facilities for children with GI disorders / diseases (a doctor there recommended GI docs for me - so that was a blessing, too). Anyway, just interesting to "meet" someone from Cincy on the board! No more "Skyline" or "Gold Star" chili, no more ribs from Montgomery Inn - no more "Frisch's" - that's the worst!
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HI KaybeeC~
I'm from near Portsmouth, but have a cousin that works at Bethesda North Hospital and recommended Dr. Shakoor. If I had known about the Digestive Diseases Center at University of Cincinnati, I would have probably gone there. We usually go to Columbus or Cincy if there's something wrong that we're not sure about. I hope you find out what is wrong with you. Are you going to have tests run soon? Sure hope you're feeling a little better today. Take care~
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Joylyn,
I live within shouting distance of B-North - and that's where I chose to have my gallbladder surgery several years ago. My surgeon practices only at B-North - and he's great! Dr. Shakoor did his GI fellowship at Case Western Reserve - and they don't hand those out to just anybody - sounds like you're in good hands! (Just an aside: if my FedEx job doesn't work out, I will probably apply at Tri-Health, which includes B-North. I would love a 2nd shift job at B-North, especially because I'm comfortable in a medical office setting. Just not sure I can take the pressure at FedEx). My diagnosis, currently, is: IBS + "mild acute colitis" - all my gyne tests have come back okay (still waiting for one, actually). So, I guess I do know what's going on - praying the diet & antispasmodic helps the IBS-d, and the meds will help the colitis. So much fun! (Are you near the Hocking Valley? I've heard it's gorgeous!)
Blessings,
Kaybee
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