[rawr]

Hi,

Well...um, for starters I'm 17 and have been suffering with IBS(I'm C...like...hardcore C, lucky me, eh?) since the 9th grade. It started after I had strep, two bouts of sinus infection, and the stomach flu. I started having more stomach flu like symptoms, until one night I ended up in the ER looking like I was 6 months pregnant due to bloating and extremely sick. I guess you could say ever since then my life has been turned upside down. I've been on tons of laxatives, all of which stopped working, and I now have melanosis of the colon due to laxative erm, "abuse?" :P Most medicines(i.e. Zelnorm and Amitiza) stopped working and made me feel more sick than usual. I'm kinda stuck here. My pain, bloating, and constipation are pretty debilitating. But my pain in recent weeks has been a lot different than usual.

First of all, I have this really sharp kinda stabby pain under my left rib. It feels more stabby when swallowing food or liquid, but seems to sorta have less edge after I eat. Usually, after I eat, I do feel extremely full no matter what I have eaten(usually not very much) and sick, but since I've had this pain its been worse. I have to sit there for around 30-45 minutes keeping myself from feeling very sick and bloated. I also have a burning, gnawing, acidic pain that feels like it's centered in the pit of my stomach. I normally do have acid, especially with bad flare ups, but I usually don't feel this bad. This pain is constantly there, and I feel sick and bloated with it. Since this whole thing started, I feel hungry often, like very bad hunger pains, and very acidic. Eating sorta helps with that, but I usually never have an appetite, and when I do, I don't get bad pain like that. Plus, this all seems to be worse at night, and when I wake up. Whenever I'm about to fall asleep, I get sharp pains that keep me up. A few days ago I went to the bathroom without any help(hey it's a milestone, what can I say), and even tho it was still small, my stool was very dark and kinda tarish looking. I know this could probably be because of the constipation, like the stool being in me for so long, but I'm not sure.

Any ideas? Thanks! :]

[Kathleen M.]

Black tarish stools along with the upper GI problems makes me think gastritis or an ulcer, not IBS-C. While constipated stools can be quite dark black and tar-like is what blood from the upper GI tract looks like when it comes out.

I would report all of this to your doctor, especially since this is new.
K.

[vikram]

Hey,

I do have discomfort and pain for 1 year. Finally i checked the urologist. He identified that i have a block in my kidney. So better visit urologist.

rawr, on Aug 11 2007, 01:50 AM, said:

Hi,

Well...um, for starters I'm 17 and have been suffering with IBS(I'm C...like...hardcore C, lucky me, eh?) since the 9th grade. It started after I had strep, two bouts of sinus infection, and the stomach flu. I started having more stomach flu like symptoms, until one night I ended up in the ER looking like I was 6 months pregnant due to bloating and extremely sick. I guess you could say ever since then my life has been turned upside down. I've been on tons of laxatives, all of which stopped working, and I now have melanosis of the colon due to laxative erm, "abuse?" :( Most medicines(i.e. Zelnorm and Amitiza) stopped working and made me feel more sick than usual. I'm kinda stuck here. My pain, bloating, and constipation are pretty debilitating. But my pain in recent weeks has been a lot different than usual.

First of all, I have this really sharp kinda stabby pain under my left rib. It feels more stabby when swallowing food or liquid, but seems to sorta have less edge after I eat. Usually, after I eat, I do feel extremely full no matter what I have eaten(usually not very much) and sick, but since I've had this pain its been worse. I have to sit there for around 30-45 minutes keeping myself from feeling very sick and bloated. I also have a burning, gnawing, acidic pain that feels like it's centered in the pit of my stomach. I normally do have acid, especially with bad flare ups, but I usually don't feel this bad. This pain is constantly there, and I feel sick and bloated with it. Since this whole thing started, I feel hungry often, like very bad hunger pains, and very acidic. Eating sorta helps with that, but I usually never have an appetite, and when I do, I don't get bad pain like that. Plus, this all seems to be worse at night, and when I wake up. Whenever I'm about to fall asleep, I get sharp pains that keep me up. A few days ago I went to the bathroom without any help(hey it's a milestone, what can I say), and even tho it was still small, my stool was very dark and kinda tarish looking. I know this could probably be because of the constipation, like the stool being in me for so long, but I'm not sure.

Any ideas? Thanks! :]

[rawr]

Hm. I was thinking about ulcers, because I know one of the main symptoms is the burning, gnawing pain around the centerish area of your stomach. I talked to my mom who has had one before and she thinks I'd possibly be more sick with one. I haven't thrown up, nor do I have loss of appetite. Er, well, I'm still having those bad hunger pains that now don't go away with eating. I don't even know if they really are hunger pains, that is the closest thing I can associate them with. All I know is that I couldn't eat hardly anything yesterday due to the pain. :\ I'm not quite sure what gastritis is, I think inflammation of your intestines, right? In any case, hopefully I can get into see my doctor soon. I do have a physical, but that would be two weeks of waiting. In the meantime, is there anything I can do or anything I can take to at least take the edge off my symptoms? My mom and boyfriend suggested getting some Prilosec.

[Sophie22]

yeah you sound like you have an ulcer - i get those major hunger type pains now and again, where you literally have to put something in your mouth and start eating becaus eit reallu hurts! but i dont think i have an ulcer.

[rawr]

Just a quick updateeee.

I went to the doctor a week ago, and I do have gastritis. I do know that it can be caused by excessive use of alcohol and caffine, NSAIDS, and stress. None of which have been a problem. I do drink quite a bit of caffeinated tea, but I wouldn't say an excessive amount. I usually don't take any NSAIDS unless my pain is really bad. I have been having some really bad flare-ups and have to take Vicodin occasionally. I know it can also be caused by bacterial and viral infection, but my doctor didn't order any tests or anything. He just pressed on the center of my stomach and said it was gastritis. The whole app. wasn't very thorough. :\ Anyway, he prescribed me Ranitidine, which helps with the buildup of acid and prevents ulcers, I guess. I have to take it twice a day for six weeks. The burning, acidic pain in the center of my stomach has gotten a little better, but it still hurts me very bad to eat and drink. Plus, I still feel really sick. I've been living off crackers, ramen, scrambled eggs and bagels, all in small amounts. The other day I was able to eat half of a bagel with cheese and chicken slices on it. It just sucks, seeing as I feel very weak. Anyone have suggestion of what to eat? School starts next Monday and I'm hoping my symptoms will be less noticeable by then, and I'll be able to eat at least a little more than what I'm eating now. During this whole thing my probs with IBS seemed to be better, and I actually went to the bathroom 3 times, by myself. Which is more than I have in like, 7 months. Needless to say, I was pretty excited, but now it's bothering me bad again. Oh well.

Thanks for all the help! :]

[postmortem]

your life sounds like mine and we have similar symptoms and started at around the same age. except i'm a year younger than you. high five.