Chronic D – Any Ideas?

[redbee]

I have had every major invasive exam to determine the cause of chronic diarrhea that started in October. Everything has come back normal. I have come across Habba Syndrome and Dumping syndrome. Any other ideas? Here are my details:

I have not left the house except to go to a doctor or test in 6 weeks, and my husband has driven me as I feel too weak. I have chronic diarrhea with severe gas after eating. I and am afraid to eat anything that will cause distress and have lost 40 pounds in 4 months (20% of body weight). Constant nagging abdominal pain ULQ whether I eat or don't, I also have anxiety, sweats (no fever), tremors, and lower back pain. Symptoms were occasional at first (after eating fatty foods or drinking too mch alcohol) but are now almost daily. I wake up in a sweat (which seems different from a hot flash) and fell sick until I have a stool. First stool may be semi-solid, about an hour after eating throughout the day, stools are watery and yellow.

I force myself to eat as I have no appetite. I feel only weak, feint, pain (and anxiety), not hunger if I don't eat something every 2-3 hours. Daytime seems to be worse, Evenings are better (or I'm just starving), I can usually eat a small meal. I have avoided most dairy (have eaten yogurt and cheese), alcohol (I was a heavy drinker), all caffeine. I have also eaten bland, cooked, low-fat, soft or liquid foods, avoiding raw veggies/fruits, or fatty/greasy foods (rice, potatoes, oatmeal, bananas, chicken, jello, etc). I added Boost High Protein for nutrition. Many foods I can eat one day I find unpalatable the next. Sometimes water upsets my system.

Tests done December and January include abdominal CT, chest x-ray, barium swallow upper x-ray, barium swallow intestinal x-ray, gastroscopy, colonoscopy, pill-cam intestinal, and various stool samples. All appeared normal or were negative. Liver, AC1 and thyroid blood tests done at my family practitioner in November were normal.

I have had previous DVT episodes (unexplained cause) so am taking Coumadin for life. Complete hysterectomy in 2005 put me into menopause but I cant take most supplements because of the DVT. Had a Nissen fundolication  to repair a para-esophaghal hernia in March 2006. I also take Prilosec (20mg/day), Lexapro (5mg/day down from 20), Singulair (10mg/day), and Ambien CR (12.5 mg/day or I can't sleep AT ALL). I'm wondering if one of my meds is causing some of these symptoms (since I quit drinking). I also wonder if I may be having vision problems and seem to be light and color sensitive. I wear new prescription glasses (I got about the time this started) and have some blurred vision.

I have suggested Habba and Dumping syndromes to my GI but have not been tested yet. He's ready to send me to Mayo or Iowa City. Wants me to do a 72-hour stool test for fat digestion.

I am desperate. I have been away from my job on unpaid leave for over 4 weeks now. I am afraid to drive or leave the house for fear that I may soil myself in public. Anxiety and depression are worse. My friends and family offer to stop and visit but I don't want to see them like this.

[chichi1]

I have been on coumadin too since 1996 for protein c deficiency and a dvt while on ocps at that time- you can see my post elsewhere , but for the past 6 years I have suffered from a chronic dumping syndrome- it occurs after every meal - including dizziness, palpitations, hypogllycemia several hours after a meal and also occasional diarrhea and stomach pain shortly after eating- gets better in the evening- worst in the morning - sound familiar>  I went to the Mayo too to have it evaluated by Dr. Camelieri a gi motility specialist- found I definitely have the dumping but he does know why since I have never even had GI surgery-  I wonder if it is related to the long term coumadin therapy?

[ruthu]

My mom has been "Horrible Plaqued" by IBS,  we have tryed sooooo many ways to control this and for her to be happy and "Movable" again.  Is is possible that this beggan when she began taking AMBIEN to sleep?  Noting there is NEVER and oversose as I dole out the meds at night (she lives with my family and is beginning to take a toll in some ways  PLEASE HELP

[purpleshammrock]

seems like some kind of infection with your bowels. does it hurt when you press it or even breathe? I had this pain on the upper right of my abdomen after eating in december of last year for a company lunch. the pain got worse that it was so painful to walk, breathe or climb into bed. I also had the chills and was sweating in the middle of the night. On the fourth day, in the morning I had 4 bowel movements and it was all blood and this black/red jelly substance, then I felt clammy cold, sweating and then dizzy and fell down. My parents called 911 and was taken to the hospital. They did lots of tests, ultrasound, ct scan, etc. Said I had inflammation to my colon and was given antibiotics, cipro and metronidazole(generic for flagyl). They don't know exactly what I have cuz some of my symptoms but not all was either that I have Diverticulitis or Inflammatory Bowel Disease. During this pain and treatment, I had tremendous back pain, couldn't sleep at night for 3 weeks. The back pain is a little better now and am able to sleep, but I don't feel like eating too. Even after taking all the antibiotics, I can sometimes feel the pain in my right abdomen like someone is pinching me. Doctors don't know what exactly is causing me to have these symptoms and just termed it as an infection since my hematocrit level dropped nearly 50%.

I didn't have diarrhea, but was constipated so I think you might have Inflammtory bowel disease, it matches the symptoms you are having. Hope you feel better soon.

[redbee]

Thank you, I will ask my doctor and I am off to a new doctor  as well. I haven't taken antibiotics any time recently. I wonder if the barium and colon-cleansers I've used could also cause destruction of the good bacteria? I have started taking Sustenex, a probiotic. I'm wondering too about hypOthyroidism or IBS. thanks for the input.

[girlvet]

Hi Redbee, sounds like you've had a full round of tests, but I always toss out my standard C Diff speech.  Have you taken antibiotics recently?  You may want to google symptoms for clostridium diffiicile (C Diff) and see if your history and symptoms match, as frequent "false negatives" on the stool testing occur.  Ive been recovering for over five months, and have only had one positive test for the nasty infection, and many relapses, so it may be worth a google.  Best of luck to you in finding your culprit, and feel better soon!