Please help!!!!

[rismomma]

I am 29 years old, a single mother who has my son 24/7 and have had chronic pain in my stomach for almost 15 years. In the last 15 years I have seen doctor after doctor and have never been able to actually be diagnosed with something. Went to pain management for the first time a year and a half ago and was taking over 100 10mg percs and over 100 10mg morphine a month until I switched to my current PCP who put me on the fentanyl patch, I have been on it for about 10 months and currently I am on between 100-125mg every 48 hrs. A couple months after I started the patches I went to see a specialist who told me I have gastroperesis. After a bunch of tests and putting Botox inside my stomach( which was just awful for almost two weeks after the injections I couldn't stop puking), he decided he wanted to do a complete gastrectomy, which means he would basically remove my whole stomach and it's almost like gastric bypass surgery in a way. I went to get a second opinion and that dr told me that he didn't even see enough proof to determine for sure that I have gastroperesis let alone remove my whole stomach! So, I have seen about 5 other specialists since but the last 2 have blamed it all on my pain meds. The first one said that my pain has nothing to do with my stomach and that I have scar tissue that's causing the pain and then told me to get off the pain meds. I should mention really quick that about 6 months ago I dropped about 15 pounds within one month and haven't been able to weigh about 95 pounds since and have stayed at a steady 88 lbs in for the last week. So, that same dr told me that I lost weight because of the patch and I can't gain weight because it's the patch that makes me nautilus and throw up constantly. EVEN THOUGH I HAVE ONLY BEEN ON THE PATCH FOR 9 MONTHS BUT HAVE BEEN NAUTIOUS AND THROWING UP WITH SEVERE PAIN IN MY STOMACH FOR ALMOST 15 YEARS. The thing that upset me the most about that guy was he told me to start getting off the patches NOW as he was walking out the door, like he had done something to decrease or fix the pain. Then I went to another dr a week after that who told me I have opioid induced gastroperesis and once I get off the pain meds my pain will start to decrease and then go away completely...... Again, very confused as to how this pain i have had for 14 years is being caused by something I have been on for less than a year. Why won't doctors listen to me and just assume things. Why am I any different than someone else who is in legitimate pain? I mean, I have 14 years of medical records to show that this is a real problem. Would appreciate anyone's input as this is so frustrating especially since I already have to deal with being someone who can't live a normal life because of my pain which completely takes over my life at times. I'm so sick of being judged by doctors and nurses and pharmacists and phaacy techs etc...

[rismomma]

The same dr who told me that he thinks it's scar tissue and has nothing to do with my stomach ordered to have an MRI done and after six whole weeks of waiting for my insurance to authorize the test I finally got approved and am getting the test done in Thursday. The dr did tell me that there's only a 50% chance they will be able to find anything through the MRI so we will see what happens! I saw another dr a few days ago and he is starting a whole new series of tests because he believes that it could be an idiopathic autonomic disorder(I believe that's what it's called but could be off by a couple letters!) my current dr who I have my pain contract through tried to raise my patch dosage but my insurance will only pay for 15 patches a month so i have to cut and ration my patches depending on the level of pain. I think if my pain keeps increasing then my doc will want to give me something for breakthrough pain but I would almost rather just deal with the pain then have to go back to taking pain pills.... Thank you for your input, I appreciate it more than I can express and will continue to update as time goes by and more tests are done!

[Jinx_777]

Have you ever been to an OB/GYN??  I only ask because a lot of what you have described could be endometriosis.  I am NOT a dr, but just saying that it won't show up on regular xrays, CT scans or even MRI's.  they need to actually go in and look for it.  If you read the section on this site you will see a lot of similar posts as well as great people who could talk to you more about it.

I am on the patch as well.  I HATE it, but if you have only been on it for 9 months then it is not the issue. it is true that:

The brain responds to the pain medicine by increasing the number of receptors for the drug, and the nerve cells in the brain stop functioning

The body stops producing endorphins (the body's natural painkillers) because it is receiving opiates instead

The degeneration of the nerve cells in the brain causes a physical dependency on an external supply of opiates, and reducing or not taking the pain killers causes a painful series of physical changes, known as withdrawal.

but, this does not mean that you are not in real pain.  there is such paranoia about pain medications these days that doctors are increasingly refusing to help people who are in REAL pain.  I think in your case, because they cannot find the real source of the pain, they are blaming the pain medication on your pain.  as if it is your fault that they cannot find the issue.  That is why I asked about endometriosis.  that causes REAL pain, yet many doctors will miss it because the only real way to see it is through surgery.  

If I were you I would keep looking for a doctor who is willing to help you.  
are you only on the patch???  do you take break through meds as well??