Running out of options, miserable in pain PLEASE HELP

[Lizzyb1919]

I am a 28 year old female who has been suffering MISERABLY with serious stomach issues the last 3 years. I have severe alternating constipation and diarrhea. I cannot touch ANY TYPE of fried food, butter, coffee, fast food, alcohol or anything too caffinated. The last time I had touched any of these, requires me to literally take off of work, and be dying in pain with severe diarrhea that lasts up to 24 hours. I had a colonoscopy done last year and the doctor found NOTHING. He said I was also negative to gluten. However, I went on to continue a gluten free diet for 8 months just in case, when I got back on gluten nothing major happened, and therefore I don't think I have an actual celiac deficiency. This is my problem, in between diarrhea or very soft stool, versus constipation, I will wake up with a life altering, mind blowing stomach ache. It just sits there deep in the pit of my stomach. It is not cramps, it is just a severe ache. I have described this to my Dr. millions of times and he put me on a constipation relieving medication called Amitiza although I will often have diarrhea - against my will I tried it and found no results. I am giving up and starting to be depressed. This pain is just there in the pit of my stomach a constant ache that will not go away or subside, it is a severe ache nor sharp nor dull that is there 24 hours. My doctor had found nothing will stool sample testing, colonoscopy, numerous cat scans etc. and I'm desperate. I don't want to wake up and go through with this anymore. I feel so miserable and was wondering if anyone has any advice or help?? I feel like I am not living my life because of all this pain and discomfort. I went to a gynecologist out of desperation to see if it was endemetriosis and got no where with that Dr. and soon lost my insurance. Could that be it ? SOMEONE PLS HELP

[Matthew007]

Hey Lizzy -

Umm.. just some ideas, but I'm fructose intolerant and I never heard of it before but now I"m like an expert in it..

Some ideas to try (no risk)

Go on a food diet like... allergy/intolerance diet.  Could be anything from nightshades to fructose to lactose...corn...whatever so.. what I DID...and it took years to figure this out because I thought I was celiac too.. is just eat nothing but protein and spinach/white rice for like 3 or 4 days and then go back to eating what you are now and see if there's a difference.  You might be fructose or... intolerant to something like one specific food (like oats..) who knows... there's a reason your gut is going bezerk..

I've heard the saying, the thing you crave is the thing you are intolerant to (because your body wants it REALLY bad but can't absorb it...) so something to think about there..

I had a discussion with an allergist and he said the ultimate diet is just pears and turkey for 3 or 4 days.. (which by the way is not fructose free..) but that might lead you to an answer...and then just add one item into your diet every couple of days..

OR... another idea is ...fiber brings people usually back in balance weather you have IBS-C or IBS-D - I'm sure you've heard this routine before but with constipation I had some luck with soaking up ground up flaxseed overnight..(like 1 or 2 teaspoons...start low..) and then just drain the water and drink the nutty stuff... high in fiber..

psyllium husk is usually the only way to go...

OR you could just fight it with supplements as you do trial and error...have a bad IBS-D day?  Take some calcium supplements... have a bad IBS-C day?  Take some magnesium...

you could be dealing with a gallbladder that's not working right...possibly.. you could do trial and error and eat oily greasy foods for a few days and then go super lean and eat low/no fat no oil foods and see if you're having issues there..

lastly it could be an ulcer (if it's like right below your ribcage..where they meet in the middle..) so you could do trial and error there and eat some smarties or... eat something super acidic...salsa...whatever and see if you double over in pain... and you could try taking calcium pills or drink milk to see if you improve then that will give you hints...

and like msnnova74 said, you could try some probiotics/enzymes.. lots of people swear by that brand she mentioned.  Takes a good 2 weeks or so for the full effect but that's usually at the grocery store and worth a shot!


(and if you really do have celiac...it takes months before you feel better I'm sure you already know this..)

ANYWAY good luck... :( hang in there, some ideas for you to try...

[msnova74]

Have you tried probiotics?  I have diagnosed IBS and have dealt with the extremes for years. After my aunt nagged me nearly to death I agreed to try them although I was not convinced. I had to try a few but the Phillips brand has been a life changer. Although I still have some occasional issues it is 1-2 times a month vs a daily problem. And I saw a shockingly quick improvement about a week. I would say try different ones until you find the brand that works for you