Tag / pain

by findingbackroads

Is it really IBS?

Blood Sample

An update about my health.

The chronic stomach pain continued after I published my last post. I spent Friday night waking up to pain, TWICE. Saturday was ok, Sunday was not, Monday not…I’ve lost count.

I’m so tired.

The gastroenterologist ordered complete blood test and liver function test along with full abdominal scan to know what it happening with me. He prescribed medicines for IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome – because doctors, they resort to this diagnosis when they are not too sure!) the last time I was there and there had been some improvements – I still have pain attacks but milder though the duration is longer. One time, it started at 9pm and I was only relieved of the pain and slept after midnight.

The blood test revealed I have high count of white blood cells and Eosinophils – a type of white blood cells that will indicate if a person has inflammation or infection. The main functions of eosinophils include involvement in defense against parasites, allergic responses, tissue inflammation and immunity. It is associated with so many diseases that it’s difficult to pinpoint what without further tests.

The scan – they asked me to fast so I did but what they didn’t tell me was that I needed to arrive with a full bladder. I was already very hungry (my appointment was 12 noon and my last meal was 7 pm the previous day!) and on top of that, I was required to chug huge amounts of water to fill my bladder. I drank 10 glasses and waited.

That was one of the shittiest feeling in the world. I almost wanted to throw up!

The nurse said, “Let me know when you can’t really, really hold your pee anymore.” Man, that instruction should include an adult diaper!

My scan showed nothing wrong with my gall bladder (I thought there would be stones or something because that runs in our family), my liver was clean (the radiologist was surprised it is not fatty despite me being overweight, ouch), kidneys fine, spleen ok. “All your organs are beautiful.”

I’ll take that as a compliment, thank you.

Now because it was a full abdominal scan, the ultrasound technician discovered something else: bulky, enlarge uterus and possible PCOD (polycystic ovarian disease). But she said this could not be related to my stomach pain because I’m not feeling the pain in my lower abdomen but upper, right below my rib cage. I need to see an ob-gyn soon.

I can’t have a break. Stomach pain and now, problem with my lady bits. Urgh.

The gastro doctor looked at my test results and only told me to continue the IBS meds. That was it. And to not to take too much stress. I am still in pain, in fact, I am in pain while writing this.

My stomach still reacts badly to a lot of food items that I normally ate before without any problems: raw nuts, coconut milk, or anything with coconuts most especially. And…CHOCOLATES.

So now, I’m to continue taking the medicines for IBS and if there is no improvement for a month (is the doctor insane or what? I CANNOT live another month like this – pain attacks almost everyday!!), I will have to undergo endoscopy and stomach biopsy.

But first of all, I may need to find another doctor!

I feel like I only spent a fortune to be told, “your organs are beautiful” and nothing else. No proper diagnosis, no probable solution.

P.S. The funny thing is, the doctor asked me: “Are you eating lots of food from tin cans, drinking milk, soda, eating processed food like sausages and deli meats, high intake of carbohydrates? Because that could cause stomach issues.” I don’t eat any of those foods.

by findingbackroads

Chronic stomach pain that won’t go away

Stomach-Pain

Hello. How are you? I’ve not been keeping well. It’s been THREE grueling weeks of pain and discomfort for me and I’ve been to 3 doctors who keep on guessing and giving me different diagnosis and meds each time. I am tired of being in pain, being immobilized and powerless at home when I needed to tend to my children after work. I want to be there for them after work.

But lately, I’ve not been able to and I’ve missed important events, I’ve been a bit unproductive at work and at the blog front.

I have been trying to figure out a stomach/GI issue that I have been dealing with for the past couple of weeks. When it started a couple of weeks ago, it only occurred every once in a while. Then it started happening a couple times a week. Well, in the past few days, it has been occurring every day and has become progressively worse.

It’s easy to say this painful condition has almost taken over my life.

I’ve seen doctors and have been on medication but nothing seems to help so I took the matters to my own hands. But you know what happens when you consult the internet doctor? It magnifies the worries and speculations. The possibilities are endless like sweets on a buffet tray: I could have as simple as hyperacidity to GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) to IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) or parasites (Giardiasis…yuck!) to SIBO (Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) to Diverticulitis to Ulcerative Colitis to Candidiasis to a more scary Autoimmune Diseases of some sort.

I am baffled because I’ve been eating clean and there’s nothing I can pinpoint as to what triggers it but lately, my stomach reacts to nuts (I used to snack on these), almond milk (I use this in my morning smoothies), coconut (oh no, God don’t let me become intolerant to coconut!! I LOVE anything with coconut!!) and this – CHOCOLATE. You know it’s time to panic when even a small piece of chocolate wreaks havoc with your life. I ate a small bar yesterday and felt my stomach bloat as if I am 5 months pregnant. It started with those until it doesn’t matter what I ate – I wake up with a flat stomach (I mean not bloated) but it worsens in the afternoon to evening and I come home crying asking for medication, back massage as the pain radiates through the back and a hot compress then I fall asleep crouched in pain, leaving my poor children to themselves until their father comes home. I burp a lot and pass gas (sorry TMI!). I also feel gnawing hunger all the time an hour or so after eating, so I eat again. I’ve even succumbed to eating wheat again just to try to fill me up and see if the hunger goes away…a bit but then I become bloated and my stomach become tight and painful again. Plus, I’d get headaches as that is the usual thing that happens to me when I eat something with gluten.

Has any of you experienced something horrible like this? I’ve read forums where people mention they suffer from the same symptoms for MONTHS, some, for YEARS. Today has been better with only a bit of pain but I cannot imagine living like this, living with this fear of “maybe if I eat that, I’ll be in pain” because that’s what’s happening to me right now. I cannot sit down and enjoy most food in the fear that I’ll suffer after.

And imagine if I really can’t eat chocolate again anymore. That would be the end of me. Seriously.

I will go to Rashid Hospital once and for all if the pain does not subside in the weekend. I read that they have a good Digestive Disease Unit there. I hope to find a doctor who don’t do hit or miss anymore and end this misery of mine!

* In case you’re wondering, I will still be doing my fitness challenge (I start tomorrow!) as I don’t see it as something that will make my condition worse. If at all, regular exercise should help. And I am doing it in the morning when I am always in good condition. Let’s see.

Hope you all have a great weekend! And if you know some solution, please share. Thank you!