Nauseated 24/7 and don't know why

[jillstras]

Since May of 2009 I have had 7 surgeries.  I have been in and out of the Hospital more than 15 times.  I have had part of my small bowel removed twice.  I have constant nausea daily, 24/7.  I have been to more than 7 doctors and no one can tell me what is going on. I have had blood tests, CT scans, X-rays, etc. with no avail.  I have upper abdominal pain right under my rib cage on the left side.  I pass horrible smelling gas and have horrible smelling, oily stools.  It looks like there is a layer of grease on the top of the water when I have a bowel movement.  I have been on home care IV fluids since December to keep me alive.  I have had zofran, phenergen, reglan, different muscle relaxers, pain medicines, and anxiety medications, but my nausea and vomiting do not ever go away.  I have had 2 endoscopies, 1 colonscopy, and an upper G.I. scan.  The test results have all been normal.  

I have recently started having horrible headaches sine the beginning of January and I have never had headaches before in my life.  I have had pregnancy tests and I am not pregnant.  The only thing that gives me a little relief is when I go to the ER and have phenergen injected through an IV but the nausea soon returns.  No doctor I have seen has been able to help me or find out what is wrong.  I am wondering if any of you medical professionals out there have any ideas of what this could be.  

I know my body and I know something is wrong.  I feel as though the doctors are just masking the symptoms (or trying to) but they are not finding the root problem.  I don't have a gallbladder and I had gastric bypass 6 years ago.  I continue to lose weight because I can't eat and really don't want to because it makes me sick.  I am 5'9, 25 years old, and 148lbs.

If anyone has any suggestions or helpful guidance please help!  I need to know why I am feeling this way.

[TrudieC]

We aren't medical professionals here, just people who can share our knowledge and experience.  

It doesn't seem to me that what you are suffering from would be crohn's or ulcerative colitis since you aren't having diarrhea or bleeding.  

I do know that when you have your gallbladder removed that you can still have issues if you don't reduce the fat in your diet.  And, I have had issues with nausea and my doctor put me on a proton pump inhibitor.  I don't have an ulcer or GERD but taking NSAID's has caused some problems.  The meds reduced my pain and nausea.  You might want to look into that.  And lastly, have you been tested for celiac?  Your symptoms do sound like a gluten issue.

Good luck.

[jillstras]

I got a CT scan yesterday but my doctor is gone for 2 weeks.  I went to the Hospital and got the results.  It showed a loop in my small bowel of 3.8 cm.  It is the upper left quadrant exactly where my pain is.  I just don't know what to do about it.  I don't have any doctor to help me and now it's the weekend and all offices are closed.  I am so extremely nauseated and can't speak and in pain.  I'm just a little frustrated right now.  Thank you so much for responding.  I appreciate your input.

[TrudieC]

Oh my.  What did they say in the ER?  Are you at risk of it blocking?  Can the ER doc's talk to you?

[jillstras]

These are my CT Results:

History: Left Upper Quadrant Pain

Comparison: CT from 17 December 2009

Technique: CT Abdomen pelvis with IV and oral contrast

Findings: Lung bases are clear. The liver, spleen, pancreas, adrenal glands and kidneys are normal. There is postoperative changes from the gastric surgery, similar to previous. There has been a cholecstectomy. The apparent there is mild distention of a small bowel loop left upper quadrant measuring 3.8 cm. This is similar to the prior study.

CT pelvis shows a normal urinary bladder. Uterus and ovaries are normal. There is no free fluid. Appendix not really visible.

Impression:
1. Postoperative changes left upper quadrant, similar to previous. Mildly dilated small bowel loop upper left quadrant anteriorly is also similar to previous.
2. Status port cholecystectomy.
3. Otherwise normal.

Trudie-
Yes I am at risk for a blockage, but the ER doctors think I am faking to get medicine because I have been in so many times and they have not taken a CT since Dec 17 2009 and I have been in 6 times.  I don't have any idea what to do.

[TrudieC]

My God, the results say there is an issue.  Did you just pick up the results?  You need to have a discussion with a doctor about them in order to understand the urgency.  Can you try another hospital?

Once you get through this crisis you might want to look at trying ball rolling to loosen some of your adhesions which can help to prevent future problems and reduce pain.  If you go to the Ovarian Cyst forum and then to the health pages attached to them there is an excellent article about this and I highly recommend you try it.

[jillstras]

Thank you so much.  I have an endoscopy and colonoscopy on wednesday and I am also meetihng with pain management, so things are coming along.  SLowly but surely.

[jillstras]

I just wanted to give an update of what is going on with me.  They have finally figured out what is wrong and it's going to require major surgery.  I had gastric bypass 5 years ago and with the scopes I had done last week they were able to see that it was closed badly and is leaking.  I have extreme bacterial infections throughout my intestines because of this, and many other problems.  To fix it they have to go in and do a complete gastric bypass revision.  They have to start from scratch and it will be as if I have an entire new bypass with all new parts.  My entire digestive system is going to be rebuilt.  I will have 4 feet of small intestine removed, a new stomach pouch made, and then they will connect everything back up.  They said that if I don't have this I will die a slow death, but there is no doubt that it will kill me.  They are 85% sure that this will fix me and also about a 94% chance that I will live.  Those are not perfect guarantees but it is either that or die, so I'm choosing to fight.  I go in for surgery in 2 weeks and we'll go from there.  They are planning on a 12-14 hour surgery, a 1 1/2-2 month Hospital stay, and about a 6 month recovery.  This is a huge process, but to save my life it is something that I absolutely have to do.  So thank you for all your concern and support!  Please keep me in your prayers and I will continue to keep you all updated.  Thank you so much again!  I feel like I have truly made good friends on this site.  :)

[DebPHS70]

I am wishing you the very best!  You have a tough road ahead of you but I have a good feeling about your outcome................please, can someone get one here for you and let us know how you are?

Deb

[jillstras]

Deb,

I will make sure my husband gets on here and makes updates on how I'm doing and then when I get a bit better I will keep you updated with my laptop in the hospital.  Thank you for your concern!

-Jill-

[DebPHS70]

Good deal, Jill...............since I have Crohn's and know some things you've been experiencing, I empathize.  I had 12 inches of my colon removed in 1996 (8 inches on my right side and 4 inches on the left because of adhesions).  Before my surgery, I had a partial blockage that caused me to be in bed more than I was out and "I" finaly called the shots and asked for the operation.  I don't think anyone understood what pain I was in.  Nobody ever suggested a colon resection to me and I to this day, do not understand why not.  I became a new person afterwards and needn't have suffered as much as I did.  I had more tests than over a 10 year period with no diagnosis which only served to make me feel worse about my condition.  

Believe it or not, I came to have the surgery when I was watching TV one day and saw that little girl that was in the movie "Poltergeist".  The one that sat in front of the TV and said, "They're back!!"  Remember?  Anyhow, I ran across an article about how she died and it was from undiagnosed Crohn's disease and I got SCARED!  I knew something was seriously wrong with me and no doctor ever suggested surgery to me.  I WILL NEVER understand that!

10 years after the surgery, I started to feel little twinges of discomfort on my right side again and I still have my colonoscopies just to make sure of other possible problems and I will soon be going back to the doctor because it bothers me a little more each day and I probably should be on some meds.  The only thing I ever took was Prednisone and it didn't do much for me.  I know there are more modern meds out there and I'm wondering if anyone could fill me in on them.  About 5 years ago, my gastro doctor told me about a new one but for some reason, I wasn't a candidate for it insurance wise because it was for patients with severe symptoms which mine were not at that time.  Anyone who could fill me in ?  

Thanks,
Deb

[jillstras]

Deb,

I'm not sure what you are wanting treatment for, but I'm assuming it's the pain that is getting to you.  I completely understand.  You can't live a normal life when you are in pain all the time.  It is the absolute worst feeling ever, beside nausea (that's just my opinion).  I know that for a time I have been seeing a pain management specialist.  I did not want to take pain medication any longer and I did not want to be in pain, so I spoke to him to see if he could help.  They did a treatment on me where once a week I go in and have certain nerves deadened with lidocaine or something like it.  It is amazing.  I went and saw my GI today and she said that I look like a totally different person, which I do.  I feel like for the last 2 weeks I have been able to live.  I have been able to get out of bed and cook a meal and fold laundry, and normal every day stuff that was taken away from me because the pain was so intense.  It's amazing to sleep a full night and not twist and turn because I hurt so bad.  

It was so incredible; the first time I had a treatment I got up off the bed and stood up straight for the first time in I don't know how long.  I know that sounds small, but it was a miracle for me because for months and months I have been unable to stand straight because of the pain.  I was able to walk out of the office without being bent over in the middle.  I'm so grateful that we have found something that works for me without pain medication.  I am so glad that I get to have these treatments until I have my surgery so I don't have to live in pain anymore.  

I don't know if you have ever tried anything like this, but I would recommend it to anyone in chronic pain because you never know what will work.  Plus, no one wants to be on pain meds 24/7 and not be able to drive or sleep all the time or get addicted, any number of things really.  Pain meds would be my absolute last option.  If I could have found something that worked that didn't take a pill that I hated anyway, I would've been willing to do anything.  Luckily for me, this treatment has worked and soon enough I won't need them at all because I will be fixed!  It's nice in the meantime though.

I so hope you get feeling better and that you find the help you deserve.  Like I have said to people before, no one should have to live in pain.  It's not right and it slowly ruins your quality of life and causes severe depression.  Next to nausea 24/7, pain is the absolute worst thing to deal with.  Please know that you will be in my thoughts and prayers.  I wish you the best.

Choose to be Happy!  :)

[Pedie]

I live with this everyday. I too had 9 surgeries for infections in my bowel, and my gall bladder removed. I still feel nauseated with everything i eat even dark greens. I live and try to work with crohns everyday. I have lost one job after another for not being able to get to work on time because i constantly have to stop and go potty. The major problem is, i dont have medical insurance and the pharmacy is still filling my meds for pain, and crohns and migraines without a doctor's attendance. I'm scared about what you said about the "slow death". What do you suggest?