Help! In Excruciating Pain....
#64734 - 04/26/04 09:03 AM
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Vicam
Reged: 02/24/04
Posts: 1955
Loc: Ontario, Canada
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Ok, I need some words of encouragement or advice or something. This morning, as I'm in the process of getting ready for work, out of nowhere I was hit with these terrible abdominal cramps, not like anything I've ever had before. They were so bad I was sweating all over, on the verge of vomiting and just shaking like a leaf. I haven't eaten any triggers or done anything that i thinnk could have provoked this, and I don't know what happened.
I was stuck on the toilet for over an hour and even as I type the pain still has not subsided.
Does anyone have any tips? It's weird, it almost feels similar in "type" of pain to period pain, but the intensity if far more severe, I was literally knocked off my feet.
And now I'm stressed because I ended up having to call in sick to work only 1/2 hour before my shift was starting because I was unable to get to a phone any sooner (couldn't leave the bathroom) and I have to miss tomorrow too to have another barium test.
How can one be expected to lead a normal life like this? I'm petrified I'm going to lose my job, not to mention the fact that I haven't left the house in four days because I've been stuck in bed, with this morning just being the worst of it.
Anyone with any suggestions, would be great...I'm so depressed right now 
Kelly
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Aw Kelly, I'm so sorry you're having such a rough time right now. Sounds like your body is not liking those barium tests, which is a catch-22 since you need to rule out other problems that your body really wouldn't like.
I would climb back into bed with some peppermint tea and a nice heat pack. Rest and heat is going to help bunches, especially since you're very worried about your job. The stress is probably just adding to the pain.
If you haven't reverted back to Breaking the Cycle, I'd suggest doing so until your body calms down from all the barium tests and stress.
Hopefully this helps and I hope you feel better! Keep us updated.
- Jennifer
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- Jennifer
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Hi Kelly - I'm sorry you're having such a tough time. Try not to worry about work. Do they know about your IBS? Just wondering....
So, how come you've been in bed for 4 days? I'm confused because you said this came out of nowhere, but that you've been in bed for 4 days with this the worst of it?  Have you had a tummy virus? Or have you been unstable for the past 4 days?
Try relaxing with some herbal tea and a hot pack. Kick back and relax and read a good book or watch a movie or something to try to get your mind off things.
I hope you start feeling better soon.
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Kel, what on earth is going on with you!?!?! i'm really concerned about you. this is terrible...
i hope you've clearly expressed to your docs the disaster that is your health right now? sometimes i think they just don't listen to how bad it really is!
does your company/boss know about your health? how do they react when you have to take time off?? (my company is terrible about it.)
i know you know all the "rules" so i'm not even going to waste my breath, but geez... i wish there was something i could say or do to help!
hang in there. as horrible as this is, hopefully you're getting closer to an answer. we'll all think positve thoughts and send good vibes your way...
SMOOCHES.
*j
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Hey Mags,
Sorry I guess my post didn't make too much sense. I've been stuck in bed for the past four days ever since my Upper GI because I have been unable to stop the D and cramping; however, it wasn't intolerable cramping, it was just I was exhausted from all the D and wanted to be near a toilet 
The pain today was what came out of nowhere. I've basically been unstable since the Upper GI, and since I have another barium test tomorrow I'm having a hard time being optimistic. I have been following the What to Eat When You Can't Eat Anything and drinking lots of tea...but it's still very frustrating.
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Hey Jen,
Yeah, my work knows about the problems, and they're pretty understand, but since I don't have an "official" diagnosis yet there's not much I can tell them...and I figure they're only going to be patient for so long, what good am I if I can't be at work?
I think they're being so good because they assume that I'm missing so much while I wait for a diagnosis, and that once it's figured out I'll get treatment and be better...which may or may not be the case depending on what they find.
And I have stressed to my doctors how bad it is, but sometimes it just seems like they don't care. They just keep offering notes for work, and I've explained that they don't want their notes, they want me back at work! For example, I went back to the doctor Saturday after the barium test because my tummy was so bad and an old abdominal scar I have had started swelling and bleeding (ver strange) and I was trying to explain how sick I've been and that I'm not sure about the wisdom in having another barium test so soon when this one obviously upset me so much, and the doctor was just like "ah, get it over with, it'll be better that way."
It's just frustrating, I know they're trying to help, but when you have to wait months and months for tests and then the tests make you worse, how are you supposed to feel?
Also, I can't believe I'm still having attacks when literally *ALL* I've had in the last 4 days is water, fennel and peppermint tea, plain bread and potatoes. That's it, and the pain won't stop.
GRRR, sorry, I'm just venting here...thanks for your input!
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Diverticulitis?
#64775 - 04/26/04 10:00 AM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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Kelly, are they real sharp stabbing pains (that won't go away) in the far lower abdomen, down by your ovaries? Are you doubled over, having to hold onto the furniture?
If so, it could be diverticulitis. It would show up on a catscan. Nothing to freak out over; antibiotics will take care of it. I've had 2 attacks so far. That what it sounds like.
Call your doctor.
Bev
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Yes Bev, that's very much what it feels like! Very similar to period pain in location just sooo much more severe. Does that go away on it's own (i.e. does the pain subside). Because this pain has been waxing and waning (i.e. really bad, and then I'll get about 10-15 minutes with no pain and then it gets really bad again).
I was definately holding onto furniture! Are there other symptoms of that? I don't think I could even make it into the doctor today without help (no one's around to take me) and he doesn't take phone calls
I will be at the hospital tomorrow for a small-bowel follow-thru, do you know if it would show up on that?
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what IS that, Bevrs dear? 'cause i had those pains a few times last year REALLY BADLY and no one ever mentioned the possibility to me... 
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When we age, we develop little "pockets" that protrude off our colons. That's called diverticulosis. The older we get, the more pockets, and by the time we're 80, all of us -- that's 100% of the American population -- will have diverticulosis. You don't know you have it unless you have a colonoscopy.
When these little pocket get infected, then it's called diverticulitis. The pain is excruciating, stabbing pain in the very lower part of our gut, down by our ovaries, and it's so bad you're doubled over and have to hold onto the furniture. No IBS medication will help, not even Donnatal. When you have diverticulitis, you know it! You just wanna go to the hospital, that's all you care about. They give you a catscan, which locates the infected pockets.
When you develop a lot of these pockets, and they get infected more than, say, four times, the GI wants to surgically remove the portion of your colon where these pockets are located. After only one attack, my GI pushed for the surgery. When I refused, that's when he was no longer interested in my welfare and showed me the door -- and I never heard from him again; he even refused prescibing medication for me.
Me thinks perhaps some GIs just like to operate.....
Any-who, antibiotics kill the infection, so the diverticulitis goes away, but the diverticulosis is always with you, just waiting for the next attack.... The only resource you have is to cut all all seeds and nuts from your diet; those things love to get stuck in those little pockets (or "diverticuli").
Lovely subject, ain't it?
Ew.
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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ok, well mine wasn't that severe, painwise. i never went to the hospital for it....
just goes to show, just 'cause the pain is in the same place don't mean it's the same thing!
i am glad i don't have that. sounds miserable...
thanks, Bevrs.
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WHOA, Kel, your description of the pain attacks sounds a lot like what I was doing just before I was diagnosed with intestinal blockage caused by Crohn's. And it wouldn't matter what you ate or didn't eat if that's what it is. Do you have someone who could come over and play nurse for a while? Bring you tea and keep you company?
Also, you said your doctor doesn't take phone calls? Really???? I'd find a new doc for sure. And for what it's worth I don't like that attitude, either, about the barium "let's get it over with" idea. If you don't want to then you don't want to, it's different if you're in critical shape in the hospital and they tell you you have to have one, but you're not in that situation, right?
Barium tip: Tell them you want some Verced before you go in there and tell them you ain't going without it.
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Hello Kelly,
Thanks for the info, I appreciate it!
What's Verced btw? I've never heard of it...
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Let us know how it goes tommorow as I for one am worried about all that your body is going through right now. In fact, I think they ought to check you as an in patient to observe you after that test. I really hope your system comes around soon Kelly. Keep those fluids up. Keep us posted.
Sending good thoughts...
Cindy
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Verced (pronounced ver-SED) is a drug that's often used in combination with morphine or demerol for procedures that are nasty or painful but during which they want you awake and helpful (a bronchoscopy or colonoscopy, for example). The verced causes a bit of short-term amnesia, so if you do experience pain, you won't remember it, so it's like not experiencing pain at all. I first learned of the stuff in 1996 -- my son had had a couple bronchoscopies and it was pretty much torture. Our new doc was all puzzled like WHAT?! and said the procedure should be a piece of cake -- if you use Verced. She was right. Tell 'em you're not going in there without it. It won't be bad at all if you get that administered before you go in.
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Hi Kelly,
Sorry you are having such a tough time. Sometimes just having people understand what you are going through helps.
It sounds to me like you have more going on than regular IBS. I'm glad you are having tests done so they can finally get down to what's causing your problem. Don't know if this pertains to you but my son had severe abdominal pains - even had to go to the emergency room and they gave him morphene. After several bouts of this, he finally had some tests done and it was his gallbladder. He had it taken out and now feels great. You will feel better again, too!
Best of luck & keep us posted
Barbie
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