I'm going to apologize for posting this again but I'm still suffering.
I'm awfully nauseous and having trouble eating. The pain is right where the ribs curve in the middle and to the left. Sometimes a cramp or two on the right side.
My back hurts in the middle of the spine and to the right, sometimes left.
Eating makes it worse, sometimes a little better. The pain usually starts at about 2-3 hours AFTER I eat and if I don't eat, then I get a gnawing pain in my stomach.
The pain is pretty constant tho under my left rib.
My gastro has diagnosed me previously with "chronic and severe IBS" and "splenic juncture syndrome" and gave me Prevacid solutabs and elavil 10 mg at night.
I have an appointment with him next Tuesday at Noon. He's run ever test imaginable except an ERCP which he says is too dangerous as it causes acute pancreatitis and he does not want to risk it. He says there are only handful of gastros qualified to do that test anyway and they ain't in DFW.
I've lost from 197 down to 189 now and am still dropping cause frankly guys, I can't eat. I'm either afraid or sick.
I am terrified, absolutely terrified of having chronic pancreatitis. What with lyme, I just don't know if I could handle that....
Could gastritis cause this many problems????
BP is normal, stools normal (no floating, no tan color), but burping and farting, and food is coming up in my throat. Mostly pain tho...
Posted by AZURE WISH (Member # 804) on :
cant they look at bloodwork to diagnose pancreatitus?
I know that one time when i went to the er i was told i had it (my gallbladder was misbehaving and caused it).
Did you have an endoscopy done?
I have gastroparesis (delayed stomach emptying) it was diagnosed through endoscopy. It has caused pain, nausea and vomiting for me.
Do certain types of food make it worse? Do certain types make it better.
Have you been tested for celiac? Food sensitivities?
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
They can do an ERCP - MRI. Ask him about that. I'm not sure it would tell you a whole lot though.
I hope your dr can help you. Be sure to tell him how bad it is!!
Posted by ByronSBell 2007 (Member # 11496) on :
I suffer from chronic nausea and it is my worst symptom.
I have a spastic GI tract and of course alot of the nausea is from the chronic overload of toxins from the borrelia and other co-infections.
I figured the only way to get rid of it was to start IV antibiotics to get rid of this disease. I also take some small amounts of ativan to calm anxiety in the gut. You might want to give ativan a try...
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
OK, had gallbladder out in 97 so that's not it.
I can eat oatmeal, cream of wheat, crackers, plain rice,tapioca pudding, slimfast, boost, that's about it....
Anything fried, greasy, heavy, spicey, a big meal, sets me off big time...no hamburgers, french fries, homecooked, pasta, tomatoes, etc...chips, junk food, you name it...
I need to loose a ton of weight but, man, not like this....
Posted by AZURE WISH (Member # 804) on :
have yo been checked for gastroparesis?
I just ask because the things you list are some of the easier to digest things ... the harder to digest things aggravate the condition.
Maybe if your dr isnt willing to test you he could give you some reglean (its a prescription to make the stomach move the food faster). I take before i eat and it does help some.
Posted by klutzo (Member # 5701) on :
Have you had a CAT scan with contrast of the abdomen? The area you describe could be the pancreas acting up, and it does not have to be acute to cause major trouble.
If enzyme output from the pancreas is too low, you will not be able to digest much. I got to where the only things I could digest were hot cereal and canned fruit.
I lost 35 lbs. before being correctly diagnosed with chronic exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Unlike most who get this dx, I do not drink alcohol at all. I blame the Lyme. I now take prescription enzymes with all meals and eat a low fat diet.
One sign specific to this problem and only this problem is clear oil floating on the water in the commode, seperate from the BM. You don't need floating or change in color.
Also, MRCP is a safe alternative to ERCP in most situations. If the gastro suspects Sphincter of Oddi problems, then I belive it has to be ERCP. Otherwise, I think MRCP can be used.
Best of luck to you. I hope you find help soon. Klutzo
Posted by METALLlC BLUE (Member # 6628) on :
Have you tried using Nexium for a trial of about 7 days? I've seen significant problems improve with this simple treatment. Gastritis, acid reflux, ulcers, and gastro paralysis of the stomach isn't uncommon with Lyme or Bartonella, and in some cases this can do the trick.
It's an idea to consider with your doctor if you're interested in experimenting before going into more serious directions.
Posted by jocus20 (Member # 11576) on :
Hey Randi,
Im dealing with similar issues as you right now. Im haveing bad cramping pain, gas, bloatinng and nausia that started last week. I suspect it is something with my gallbladder annd/or pancreas. I get pains in the upper left and upper right sides of mt abdomen just below the ribcage.
For me i noticed dull pains on my left side as early as a few months ago. I want really sure what it was and it eventually went away.
Then a few weeks ago after eating my breakfast i had a sudden bout of nausia, cramping pain and terrible gas as well as having to make BMs a few times within an hr. Things eventually calmed down and i thought at the time i had eaten something that didnt agree with me.
Well, same thing happened on monday only worse. And, after the initial nausia and having to make a BM the cramping pains inn my abdomen stayed for days after. I had pain again inn my upper left and upper right sides of my abdomen from time to time and eventually lower back pain in the kidnney areas. I was really unable to eat much for 3-4 days. I just felt so sick and full.
I am scheduled for an ultrasounnd this week. I too am afraid of something going on with my gallbladder or pancreas. I have yet to get any real answers yet but i will let you know what turns out.
Good luck, Joe
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Klutzo... I think I meant to say MRCP.. is that the one they do with an MRI?
That's what I had .. and a CT with contrast.
jocus... Try eating low fat and see if that helps.
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
I had another bad night last nite. I swear if I don't get any sleep, I'm going to go crazy, er, crazier..
The pain was not as intense as it was on last Monday but it was still there. I can't sleep on either side as it causes a very uncomfortable feeling, like having someone stick their hand in your side. I can actually feel ropey muscles or something in my upper abdomin.
The nausea is terrible. Most of my pain is on the left side under the rib.
I almost went to the ER but mike has taken the car and I don't have transportation, so I'm going to try and tough it out until Tuesday at noon when I have my appointment with a gastro.
This has got to stop.
Well I have to be positive. I have to loose about 75 pounds but gads, not by ending up in the hospital with pancreatitis!!!
Posted by lymebytes (Member # 11830) on :
H.pylori can be fairly common w/Lyme - of course testing is NOT reliable. I had symptoms almost exactly like you describe, I lost 20lbs because I just couldn't eat. About 6 weeks of Amoxi/Biaxin/Nexium worked wonders. This trio is used for h.pylori and I had a negative test too.
All of this very likely lyme related, not seperate issues like IBS, that is often a misdiagnosis for Lyme.
After my LLMD got my intestines back in shape on this trio above I could eat again.
The ribcage area pain is a common one, probably most of us get or have had that for some reason.
Hope you feel better soon.
Posted by Angelica (Member # 15601) on :
Besides the good advice in the posts above maybe have an acupuncturist check your pulses to see how your spleen is doing.
Ginger caps, aloe and fresh pineapple might be helpful too.