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Hello,
New to the site and think this is where I post for newcomers. Here goes. I read the undiagnosed illness webpage and felt some similarities, some differences in terms of the actual symptoms, but mostly resonated with all the pushed aside feelings and frustrations of doctors and having that rather paradoxical optimism of being told there's something wrong with you.
Anyways, I've had bowel problems at least since I was 12, probably longer but know for sure since then because it was the first time I ever saw a doctor. I hadn't "voided" for 2 weeks and mentioned it to mom (she was concerned). The norm for me is actually diarrhea. Lack of voiding is much less common now, but happens sometimes when I've been sick a while. The diarrhea is embarassing, annoying, triggered by stress, not really related to specific foods (although sometimes specific restaurants which is weird). No, that's not really what bothers me.
What bothers me is the double over squeeze your eyes shut pain I get in my left side behind my ribs when I have an attack. If I'm lucky, it will only last a few minutes, I'll be sweaty and feel very ill, then I hear and feel my stomach area gurgle and shift, have diarrhea, and feel better. Other days I don't get diarrhea and just have random cramps in my side with alternating dull pain. Mornings are always the worst. I'm currently diagnosed with IBS, and I take a cholesterol medicine that induces constipation and dicyclomine for the spasm pain, but they only reduce frequency. I still get diarrhea frequently, sometimes bloody (which my GI doctor was quick to say no big deal), and always this left side pain. I also can feel a pea shaped something, but it doesn't really change and the pain feels more internal than that.
I should say, I don't have debilitating pain. I can function on a daily basis, but it will interfere with work and social life. Going to a restaurant with friends only to leave after everyone else ate while you spent the entire time in the facilities is rather depressing. I don't know how many times I've told my husband I want to stab myself in the stomach just to have it looked at properly. But, I know other people have things worse.
So, my hit and misses:
Helico bacter Ab negative
Ulcer meds no help
Colonoscopy clean
No parasites in stool
Celiac test negative
Diabetes test negative
Liver enzymes negative
Blood tests indicate cancer not likely
Probiotics don't help
*I once took this non-absorbing antibiotic and thought it helped for a few months, then got bronchitis and took broad spectrum and went back. I tried the non-absorbing antibiotic again, but it didn't help. I don't know if the two were so close together that the first time ever truly worked.
I'm tempted to try other theories: nutcracker syndrome, hiatal hernia, weird allergy to common forms of yeast (yeah, even I think that one's a stretch), but mostly I've been dealing with this for 16 years now and don't know what I do and don't want to try anymore. I've moved several times, so sticking with one doctor hasn't been an option. Transferring medical records is a nightmare and some doctors take one look at a 60 page file and say they don't see anything in there of interest (or are probably just skipping it all together). Maybe I just need to switch doctors, but that's just depressing as well. (SIGHHHHH)
It's nice to hear other people feeling similar frustrations that I'm not alone, not to say for all of your sake I wish I were :)
Anyways, thank you for posting this site.
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