Digestive system problems

[idkwia]

I have had a colonoscopy, gastroscopy, CT scan, ultrasound scan, several blood tests, barium meal follow through X-ray, 2 stool tests and lactose breath test; all tests came back as negative. I have been tested for H Pylori and Celiac disease and again these were negative.

The above tests were carried out under the direction of a Gastroenterologist.

My diet is healthy and I eat a lot of fruit and vegetables. I do not drink alcohol or smoke. I have been keeping a food diary for the past 3 months and I have not identified any food that appears to bring on my symptoms.

My symptoms are as follows:- I feel unwell every day. I often feel as though feces are stuck in my rectum as though I need to open my bowels. This feeling will remain for hours on end. This feeling may or may not be relieved by opening my bowels. If it is relieved it will often return soon after. When I go to bed I will often immediately feel as though I need to open my bowels which usually will pass after time. If I wake up in the night I will feel fine but if I get up to urinate in the night as soon as I return to bed I will get the feeling that I need to open my bowels - if I go to the bathroom usually nothing will happen. I open my bowels between 1 and 3 times per day. My stools generally appear normal. I also often feel nauseas and this will last for hours on end. I have not vomited. I will also often feel discomfort in my abdomen in varying places, but not really cramps.

The gastroenterlogist has stated that he does not know what is wrong but has also said that he does not think it is IBS.

I am currently taking mebeverine and probiotics. I don't know whether these help but they do not make htings worse.

Do you or anybody else here have any suggestions as to what is wrong please?

[Banned1]

Hi there:

I've responded to your email and I hope you'll find everything okay.  If not, please don't hesitate to write or post again!

All the best,

Sam

[idkwia]

Many thanks for your comments. I have looked at all of your suggestions and will look at the Yahoo groups also.

[idkwia]

Thanks for your response. It is very interesting to find someone who has almost identical symptoms although I do not have any belching. Good luck with your acupunture. Please, please let me know if you get a diagnosis for your condition as this may help me; I will do the same. Good luck.

[sand68]

i to have all the systoms as you i had mine for 7 months i had all the yest you have had done as well with the results being neg as well i have excessive belching with mine do you my specialist said he can not do any thing so i am trying acupuncture it has helped a little i try taking day by day but feel like giving up but dont so hang in there and take care

[Banned1]

Hi there:

I'm really sorry that you are suffering.  I absolutely understand.  I'm not a doctor and I know next to nothing about this stuff but I'm learning through my own illness.  Your symptoms could be so many things.  

Doing your own research can only help.  Check out the "First Principles of Gastroenterology", http://gastroresource.com/GITextbook/en/Default.htm.  I would take special note of the biliary system, Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction and pancreatitis.

If I were in your shoes, I'd ask for a referral to another Gastroenterologist.  A second opinion can't hurt and might make all the difference in the world.  It sounds like your GI was pretty thorough but there are a few less invasive tests such as the Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) and MRCP-S (Secretin) that can image the whole thing including pancreas and ductal system.  If you like the GI you are seeing, s/he might be willing to try an EUS or MRCP-S

Are you taking Metamucil or a similar daily fibre product?  This is a great help for MANY people and might help your symptoms.   It does not make you go, it makes you regular by adding fibre to the watery stools, making them firm.  

Many people have great success with digestive enzymes and pancreatic enzymes.  This is something you can talk to your Doc about.  I'm told that they won't do any harm so really - unless you have side effects - there's not a downside to trying them.  Your Doc might even have samples.

It helps to keep a journal or a blog and your welcome to read mine if you want but I write a lot (can you tell).  :)  It's a great way to review your situation objectively and identify patterns in your foods, symptoms, medications, bowel habits and pain level.  Hindsight is 20/20 and keeping a log might help you look at things more objectively over the longer term.  Also, when you do go into Emergency, you can say, this has been the pattern...

You are not alone!  Try to stay positive and reach out for support when you need it.  Talk to your Doctor, family, friends, co-workers, church or social service volunteers or anyone you feel safe with.  

I belong to a support group [SODP] that is wonderful.  To find it, search the web for Yahoo! groups.  Once you have the page where you can search the Yahoo! groups, search or "sphincter".  There are about five of them.  Only two of them are really worth joining.  Michele's is by far the best as she is a registered nurse and an uncommonly kind, empathetic and supportive woman.  Maddi's is wonderful, too.  Just put in a request to join and within a day or two, they'll let you know that you've been accepted.  Hopefully, if you join, you'll say "Hi" to me there?

When you do find answers, it would be wonderful if you could let us know the root cause(s) and how you got rid of your pain.  It gives people on this site hope to hear success stories.

Take care of yourself.  Good luck and Godspeed.  All the best,

Sam