19 replies to this topic

[Fairy1]

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Thanks for your reply. I was given AD's also and tried to take them twice but they made me feel very agitated. The Dr.prescribed Lexapro. Maybe I should ask him for another one. I know I am under stress but no more than usual. I have also started acupuncture to see if that helps. Thanks for your reply its good to know I am not alone!!

[overitnow]

I know this will seem off the wall but my wife and I, along with a few from the Board and some personal friends have all found success with a flavonoid complex called Provex CV. I can't say what an antioxident and cardiovascular protectant does for reflux and diarrhea; but it has saved my life.If you are open to anything but PPIs, antacids and ADs, drop me a line and we can talk about it.Mark

[Fairy1]

It started in December with what I thought was a bout of food poisoning ot tummy bug with severe diahhrea and upper stomach pain. It lasted 4 days. I coud not eat just hold down liquids. The pain eased off and the diahhrea continued on and off up to 5 times a day. I went to the GI Dr at the end of Jan. Before he took blood work he told me I had IBS. I have alweys had a nervous stomach under severe stress but never ever pain. I still had upper stomach pain. Bloods came back normal, then colonoscopy and endoscopy came back normal. The pain continued to get worse the diahhrea improved. I ended up in the ER with the pain. They thought Pancreas or Gall Bladder, Blood, xrays and CT scan came back normal except for bowel distention. THe GI Dr said IBS. He took stool samples all normal. That was 5 weeks ago. Now the pain is worse than ever severe upper burning pain all day that radiates to the my back on the right and left sides. I have not had diahhrea in 4 weeks. The Dr Said there is nothing he can do to come back in 6 months. He gave me Nulev it does nothing.I have been taking Prilosec, did not help, now Zantac.. Pepto Bismol, enzymes from the health food store! I cannot eat except smoothies or rice or plain pasta. Some days I have to go home it is so bad. I am so tired of feeling like this every day is a dread. I am finding it hard to do my job. The only time the pain goes away is at night when I am asleep. The pain in agrivated by sitting and eases when lying down. Is this IBS or do I have something else going on are am I just loosing my mind!!!!!Any insight would really be appreciated.

[Cherrie]

Hi, Fairy1 --I was given Protonix for it. But a side effect of Protonix is diarhhrea, which is why I don't use it unless absolutely have to -- but I have other limitations at the time so the dr. thought it was my best choice -- so, you might want to ask for another one if you tend to have D and are diagnosed with reflux. They'll do an endoscopy to decide whether it is acid reflux or something else... From what you describe, I feel that it's very likely you have flux... You may want to talk to your dr. and get a diagnosis first.Best of luck!

[mmasseychase]

Hi Fairy,Sorry to hear you are in such pain - it sucks doesn't it Reading your entry I would have been inclined to say gastritis as I have suffered this twice. But if your upper endoscopy came back fine, that would rule that out. You mention you've not had diarrhea for 4 weeks - do you suffer constipation or any type of bowel irregularities such as gas, bloating or abdominal pain now? If not, I would rule out IBS as well. Most of your symptoms are upper GI and while IBS can cause upper GI pains, the main problem is usually with your bowels. You've had all the right tests and if they're all come back clean I would start looking at stress and/or anxiety in your life. I know it sounds like a cop-out because ppl have been telling me the same thing since the beginning of the year, but I was convinced that while anxiety could make me feel nauseous or shaky, there was no way it could create pain like this! I'd tried antacids, Pariet (a proton pump inhibitor), stayed away from all the bad foods, eaten the right foods and nothing seemed to work. Finally I agreed to jump back onto some AD's (was on them back in 2003/2004) and voila, all my upper GI symptoms have all but disappeared. Took a few weeks to get through the initial side effects of the AD's but these days I have no upper pain, burning or nausea. If I do, I know it's entirely anxiety related so I take some time out to relax. I am still experiencing some bowel problems though so I'm not sure if the AD's will help that in the long run or if I am really stuck with IBS.Hope this helps you somewhat - hang in there, you're not alone!

[ticktock]

you have ibs, and it sucks.... lying down helps me too, sitting hurts my back. i suffer from more bloating.... every morning on the way to work it is a race to the toilet. sometimes i win, sometime the ibs does.... oh joy

[overitnow]

Well, in many cases it has been an absolute surprise and delight. Hopefully it will work as well for you.I have sent you a Private Message with more info.Cheers,Mark

[overitnow]

ticktock, I don't think so, unless the back pain is tracable to GERD. (I have bad discs. Exercise is the only thing that has freed me from the chiropractor.)As far as bloating, I think I have always had a mild case of that; but I was never one to necessarily look like I was 6 months preggers, although if I let it just hang out, I could.The Provex stops D and GERD and Pain, that I know of, but certainly not all cases of it. If you want to see if it can have an effect on your bloat and back, I can certainly get a bottle to you. (I am always surprised at the number of problems that can be rectified with this increased circulation.)Mark

[ticktock]

overitnow,thanks so much for your response... i guess it is worth a try. where can i get it??mike

[ticktock]

hi overitnow, just wanted to see if this flavonoid complex called Provex CV would help with bloating and back pain. i am pretty desperate

[ticktock]

over it now, does this flavonoid complex provex cv help with bloating and back pain??if so where can i get it??

[Cherrie]

Hi Fairy1 ~Sorry you're having such a rough time...Since you mentioned that you have burning upper stomach pain, I was thinking -- maybe it's GERD (acid reflux)? I had a pretty severe attack of that a year plus ago -- burning upper GI pain that wouldn't go away no matter what I eat (and esp. after eating sweet potatos and pizza, still can't) and it feels a lot worse if I lay down. Then it got so bad that i had diahhrea and unbearable pain and had to go to the ER on X'mas day... Anyways, if this seems silimar to your case, then chances are you have acid reflux. And do you also wake up with a sore throat and/or having an acidic taste in your mouth? It also can be a symptom of acid reflux.Hope you feel better soon.

[Fairy1]

Cherrie, thanks. I do wake up with a sour taste sometimes. What are you taking for acid reflux? How did they diagnose acid reflux? I had an endoscopy would it show up on that?Fariy1

[jaizblessed]

I used to have severe pains as well. I just recently found out that peppermint helps relieve stomach pains. I drank peppermint tea the moment I felt that I was bloating and had the first notice of burning in my stomach.Lo and behold, the peppermint tea, after drinking it and lying down, really did help the pain.Sometimes the simplest and most natural things really help.

[Fairy1]

Yes, I am now on Nexium also for the past 3 weeks and it has taken the burning away. But the upper stomach pain is still there. I have my last test tomorrow an upper small bowel series and spinal xrays to see if it is referred pain. After that my second GI Dr said he cannot do anything else. Did they ever check your pancreas? I have had a CT and ultrasound and they were clear. I know the feeling I don't have pain when I sleep. I have now been prescribed Librax it has not done much either only make me sleepy.I feel like the only pleasure I get anymore is going to sleep! Sad!Fairy

Hi Fairy1I sympathise with you as I also have chronic upper abdominal pain, no D or C - my BMs have always been normal and regular. I have had all manner of investigations over 3 yrs, and all that was found was severe gastritis, for which I have been taking a PPI (Nexium). The Nexium has brought the acid pain under control but has not touched the upper abdo pain, which is due to spasms in my diaphragm which spread up my chest wall and give me breathing problems. I have tried painkillers, H2 blockers, herbal remedies including peppermint, Buscopan, Merbentyl - nothing makes any appreciable difference. I was also given amitryptiline, very small dose, but found the side effects completely intolerable, and it did not help with my pain anyway. I have tried hypnotherapy, which did not help. Reverse Therapy, and the Alexander Technique do help a bit, only in the sense they help me cope better with the pain - they do not get rid of the pain.I also have multiple food allergies, and am on a restricted diet.The only thing that eases my pain is sleeping, but I can't spend my life sleeping...... best wishesAuburn

[NinaTX]

Fairy1,I have the same symptoms as you and have undergone the same tests. I've been on Nexium to eliminate acid reflux and taking every over the counter med for the burning sensation I have. My GI Dr put me on Zoloft and it helped to a gnat degree. The AD held off the burning sensation til about 11 or so in the morning and then the burning would come right back. The only time I have relief is when I wake up in the morning for about an hour. I recently stop taking the Zoloft b/c I gain 25 pounds and became depressed over the weight gain. This burning has become so intense that I can no longer fall asleep on my own. I am now dependant on Ambien the strongest time released dosage to fall asleep. During the day to take the edge off the burning I take 1/2 of Vicodin. This is not how my life used to be a year and half ago.To be honest I didn't believe my Dr when he told me I had IBS and Zoloft was my only answer to this problem. But after reading blog after blog and info on the Internet I'm not sure what I believe anymore. My symptoms don't sound like IBS, I have no diarrhea or cramping or nausea, which are common symptoms. Now I'm just looking for people who I can relate with to see how they manage day to day with this. If you have experienced success with managing your symptoms please share your knowledge.ThanksNinaTX

[Fairy1]

NinaTX, sorry I was out of the country and just got back on line. I know how you feel. But I get more depressed each day with the pain. It is now going on 7 months. Have you had your gallbladder or pancreas checked? I had my gallbladder but it came back normal and all scans of my pancreas. ( CT & Untrasound) BUt I heard that these do not show the pancreas sometimes? I was just wondering what your GI says? I am being referred to a university hiospital who deals in "difficult" cases. I am convinced it is a pancreas problem but the Dr's say no. I take panadol with codine and sometimes at night xynax to get to sleep. The only time I do not have pain like you is for a few hours in the morning and when I sleep. I went on vacation and still had the pain!! So it is not stress!!! as they all think.Let me know how you are doing. I am finding it very very hard.Take careFairy1

Fairy1,I have the same symptoms as you and have undergone the same tests. I've been on Nexium to eliminate acid reflux and taking every over the counter med for the burning sensation I have. My GI Dr put me on Zoloft and it helped to a gnat degree. The AD held off the burning sensation til about 11 or so in the morning and then the burning would come right back. The only time I have relief is when I wake up in the morning for about an hour. I recently stop taking the Zoloft b/c I gain 25 pounds and became depressed over the weight gain. This burning has become so intense that I can no longer fall asleep on my own. I am now dependant on Ambien the strongest time released dosage to fall asleep. During the day to take the edge off the burning I take 1/2 of Vicodin. This is not how my life used to be a year and half ago.To be honest I didn't believe my Dr when he told me I had IBS and Zoloft was my only answer to this problem. But after reading blog after blog and info on the Internet I'm not sure what I believe anymore. My symptoms don't sound like IBS, I have no diarrhea or cramping or nausea, which are common symptoms. Now I'm just looking for people who I can relate with to see how they manage day to day with this. If you have experienced success with managing your symptoms please share your knowledge.ThanksNinaTX

[Fairy1]

Auburn, yes I have had a colonoscopy & endoscopy. I was at a Nurologist yesterday and he is testing me for a blood disorder called Porphyria. It causes stomach pain, back pain & gastro probelms. After that they are at a loss! Let me know how your test goes.Fairy1

Fairy1 - Sorry to hear you are still having problems with pain. I am in the same position - have had constant pain for 3 years and it has gradually got worse. Just like you find, the only escape from it is when I am asleep.Next week I am due a colon scan. I already had MRI or CT scans of liver, spleen, pancreas, kidneys, bladder, gallbladder, small bowel and stomach. All were normal apart from stomach, where I have lesions & severe gastritis. The gastroenterologist now thinks my diaphragm pain is referred pain from the colon, caused either by diverticulitis, or an umbilical or diaphragmatic hernia, or a stricture caused by scarring after years of infections. The colon scan is my last hope of something being found, as the doctor will not be doing any more investigations after that. Have you had your colon investigated by scan or colonoscopy ?The pressure in my diaphragm got so much worse in the past 3 months that now if I do anything that involves bending, or using my arms much, or lifting - my diaphragm goes very tight and I get severe breathing difficulties. Twice this has resulted in emergency hospital admission.I had to stop the Nexium - I had bad wheezing, tightness in my chest which turned out to be an allergic reaction to Nexium. The doctor had kept me on the drug for 2 years non-stop, even though the manufacturers recommend only taking it for 6 weeks. I know plenty of people do take it longterm though. Since coming off the Nexium I am not taking any regular meds for the stomach and I feel no worse without it. For me the best way to control stomach acid is through diet, and occasional use of antacids in emergencies. I follow a strict diet avoiding eggs, corn, gluten, chocolate, caffeine, soya, alcohol, cruciferous veggies, nuts, sugar. Also I avoid all foods high in histamine, as they raise acid levels in the stomach. This means avoiding all fruit except pears and melon, and avoiding tomatoes, aubergines etc. This seems to be keeping the acid under control. Though of course it makes no difference to the diaphram pain, which is not caused by excess acid.all best to youAuburn

[UTSophie]

You are definitely NOT losing your mind! I can't tell you how many people's posts I've read where they feel alone and I can actually relate! I have spent so long feeling like I am "the only one" having the strange stomach pains, and here I find that's not the case. I can relate to you as well. I have had severe burning in my gut since around Jan of this year, the doctor put me on a variety of acid meds--none of them helped. He found out I had gallbladder disease, so I had my gallbladder removed, but I'm still not in luck. Do you notice that you get more bloating with the burning? I've read that large amounts of stomach acid can cause diarrhea, have they tested your actual stomach...I think there's a test they can do to see if you have low/hi levels of acid, but I don't remember what it's called. I really feel like gas is related to my burning, since it usually follows the burning...and gas is related to IBS. Do you burp a lot, or do you primarily have diarrhea? I know the burning is horribly uncomfortable, and I do notice that putting pressure on my stomach (like sitting up as opposed to lying down) makes me feel worse. Let us know what the doctors say, and I hope for the best!

[UTSophie]

Overitnow, I am also interested in finding out more about the Provex. I have IBS-D sometimes C, burning in my gut, and so much bloating/nausea/belching/gas! I have tried so many things; my mom took lemon bioflavonoids and said they helped her, I took the citrus ones without much luck. But I really need to get back to work and am willing to try anything without horrible side effects that'll leave me feeling worse!