Stomach Problems

I would keep going to a Doctor after another till you find out what is wrong with you. That is not normal and I would not accept them telling you nothing is wrong. Seek help until you are helped. GL!

Hi B.!

I agree that Celiac Disease is a strong possibility. Another might be a corn allergy. It acts the same and is really hard to diagnose without an allergy test because there are so many corn derivitives in EVERYTHING. Milk is one! I had my gallbladder out and still suffered for years and then stumbled upon the food allergies. They had diagnosed me as lactose intolerant at one time because milk gave me such a stomach ache and diahrea, but I could eat cheese and ice cream. It's because most milks have to be fortified with vitamins that have been stripped out of it and these vitamins are bound to a corn product. An allergist or naturapathic doctor can test you for this. Good luck.

Have you been tested for a gluten allergy? Your sypmtoms fit and that may be your problem. Do certain foods make you sick, like wheat? The disease is called celiac disease and its treatable(if that is what you've got, talk to your doctor and ask for the tests) You might also be allergic, or sensitive, to dairy products. I had a friend, who at around 32 or so, started having symptoms similar to yours and now she's on a gluten free diet and doing well. Good luck.

Hi B.! Sorry to hear about your GI problems! You must be miserable. Have they ever tested you for Celiac disease? Its an intolerance to wheat, barley and rye? The symptoms you are experiencing can be classic. People can also be lactose intolerant until the small bowel heals. This is just a thought. I am a dietitian and Celiac for over 8 years now. Its amazing what a gluten free diet can accomplish. I had been sick for YEARS before I finally got the answer. Good Luck on your medical journey to find answers. C.

I'd go see a Gastrointerologist. Irritable Bowel Syndrome and/or Celiac (wheat intolerance) are pretty common issues that can cause your symptoms. Also, eating tons of fiber (30+ grams/day) should help. It's almost impossible to get that much in a natural diet, but the Fiber One brand of cereal and granola bars have a ton of fiber per serving. Increase the fiber intake gradually, doing it all at once can give you bad gas.

I find that drinking Crystal Light gives me stomach problems. (I have IBS) I've heard other people say this too. As a matter of fact artificial sweeteners in general can mess up your stomach. I hate to say it but you should cut that out of your diet too.

It may be worth your while to check into Celiac Disease. It is an autoimmune disorder - basically a celiac is allergic to Gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley products. I was recently diagnosed with this. In my body, it manaifested in the form of a skin rash, called Dermatitis Herpetiformis, but many celiac's have gastrointestinal problems that range from upset stomach to bowel problems. Many celiacs go YEARS without proper diagnosis or are mis-diagnosed with lactose intolerence, IBS, etc when in fact, if they just cut Gluten out of their diet, their symptoms go away. Celiac Disease can cause damage to the villi in your small intestine, which are responsible for the absorption of nutrients...this can cause you to show signs or anemia, osteoporosis, etc b/c your body doesn't absorb the nutrients it needs....also, lactase (needed for the digestion of lactose) is made in the villi, so if the villi are destroyed, a person can become lactose-intolerent due to that....anyway...I would ask your doctor about it and see if you can be tested...could be eliminating gluten from your diet will fix all your symptoms :)

Hi B.,
I agree to get checked for Celiac's but in the meantime you can pick up a probiotic - Culturelle works well for many - this should help with the bowel issues and maybe some of the other symptoms you have been having. You can get it at Sam's Club Pharmacy or online at Drugstore.com or Vitacost for much cheaper than CVS or those places.
Good Luck!

I have a friend that has colitis and her husband has chrons disease. Your symptoms sound like different symptoms my friend has complained about. Her husband was hospitalized for simular problems. I am not a doc. so I don't really know, but you could ask your doc.

This sounds like my sisters problem, She had recurring paulups inside her stomach.I have no idea how to spell it.And had constant loose stools to the point of being sore.They were removed from her stomach and she started gaining weight again, then suddenly she was sick again 3 months later and after more tests found more in her stomach.She is in her mid 40's .None were cancerous Thank God.She had her gall bladder out 2 years ago and it did not help. At one point the family thought she was loosing it and pretending to be sick all the time.But I had her go to a specialist at columbus state and she really was very sick. She had been a very sickly child growing up and I still wonder why, I am almost never ill.We have the same Mom and Dad , but we are total oppisites.
You really need to not drink soda's of any kind and try water , fresh clean water , it flushes the toxins out of your system.Stay away from fried foods and all those fast food places that use so much oil.Frozen meals are almost as bad with all their chemicals to preserve them. If I ever get constipated all I have to do is eat out and boom my bowels will move almost diarrhea.sadly because my sister works away from home she eats out a lot, but has to stay near a bathroom afterwards cause it just goes straight through her to the point she was getting malnutrition.

I don't know what all you have cut out of your diet, but it might help to make sure you eat no fried foods at all, nothing with fat contents. A Pain as you skin the chicken and bake or boil it, you can microwave it.
I would cut out all raw vegetables and fruits as well. Only cooked ones.
No carbonation.
Paxil is known to help.
I am sure they have checked for colitis, Chrons disease, Celiacs, etc. all ready. Make sure nothing you ingest has asper. in it as well.
I would consider having them look for things like a growth behind your stomache, intestines, etc.
I will be praying for you.
P. R

Hi B.,
I to have a lot of stomach problems. I have seen several doctors and had several procedures done (DNC, endoscopes, colon scopes and Laparoscope’s), with no help. My doctor recommended a hysterectomy but I'm not ready for that just yet. I have not had my gull bladder removed but I'm wondering if that is causing my problems. I even went on the depo shot which helped short term but I gained 15 lbs in 3 months. Now that I have not renewed the shot I'm in just as much pain as before. One doctor did say I had a Hiatal hernia and a cyst burst on my left side. Which could be true because I do have pain in my upper stomach area but also in my lower stomach area as well that no one can explain. They keep checking and there have been no more cysts develop but they think that could cause the continued pain. All of the responses have been great because I will look into them as well. If you find out anything, please share, I would love to feel better as well. If is an everyday occurrence and I'm sick of being sick. I have a 2-year-old, work full time and attending on line classes. I feel there is no time to be sick at least I would like some relief. Good luck in feeling better, keep you faith and I know one day they will find out what is wrong. God Bless.

Sounds to me like you might be dealing with celiac disease. A few people I've known have been diagnosed with it following a gall bladder removal. I pray you figure out soon what is causing the problem!

Hello, I have also had my gallbladder removed, about 7 years ago, and have not been the same since. The one thing that has helped me is to eat smaller more frequent meals. I have noticed that if I skip breakfast and eat a big lunch, well I better be close to home! The primary function of the gallbladder is to store bile (which helps digest and breakdown fat in the stomach) which explains the loose & fatty stools. Im not sure how often you eat fried foods, but I noticed it helped when I pretty much eliminated that from my diet; lettuce is also a food to keep to a minimum. I have had many friends that have had thier gallbladder removed, and they have experienced the same symptoms. Unfortunatly I dont think that there is alot to do for this other than finding a diet that works for you. I could go on forever about this!! I hope this helps!

Dear B.,

Since you have been fooling around with doctors who didn't solve the problem maybe it is time to go a different route. I'd suggest you book an appointment with Dr. Merkle ###-###-####.) He will take the time to figure out what is going on and help you get healthier. On his web site are radio shows you can listen to or directly on WHIO (1290AM/95.7 FM - 11:00 AM Saturday.) www.3000health.com

My friend Becky is a nurse and she had a bleeding colon for 40 years that nothing worked on. Dr. Merkle had her feeling better in six weeks. Worth a try given that you aren't doing better.

God Bless,

S.

Sounds very much like CELIAC DISEASE!!!! Please Google it - and insist on testing!

B.,

So sorry to hear about your stomach problems. First of all, I know of a couple people who had gall bladder issues that turned into acute or chronic pancreatitis--have your lipase levels checked in your blood work and other blood work will help your dr rule out pancreatitis. My niece was hospitalized three months with this!

My husband had stomach problems similar to yours and had a gall bladder scan done and an endoscopic search and neither showed a problem--he was ready to give up when a personal trainer friend gave him some mangosteen juice to try for his arthritis. To our surprise the juice helped his stomach within 3 days! We thought it was a coincidence but when we ran out his stomach problems came back and when we got more they went away again. It took about 30-60 days to help his arthritis, but helped his stomach right away. I encourage you to try it. We now buy and sell it wholesale if you would like to try it out. My e-mail is ____@____.com.

I'll pray for you, too! That's the best thing of all, right?!

~~L.

It does sound like Celiacs Disease. BUT....it also can be poisoning from Aspertame. Your Crystal Light contains it.
I was going to search the problems caused by aspertame, but the net is bombarded with it. You don't have to try very hard to find all of the problems that it causes in people.
You need to cut that out of your diet & if the soda that you drink is diet soda, that needs to go to. It's in there as well.
We can poison our bodies without even realizing it. Reading lables is so very important.
I also have IBS, which you may have also. I know that it can be very uncomfortable. If I were you, I'd have a colonoscopy. They aren't fun, trust me I had one last year, but it made me feel so much better to know that my body didn't have cancer in it.
Also, I was tested for Celiacs. I was negative.
Anyway,
PLEASE take care of yourself, your children need you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I sympathize with your health problems. Nobody likes to be sick. I believe I may have something that will help. It's called Mona Vie. It's a juice that's made with the acai berry & 19 other fruits. It has been known to help many sufferers of digestive problems. I don't have these problems myself, but it has given me more energy, helps me sleep at night, cleared my mind & I don't have to pee every 5 minutes. It has anti-inflammatory qualities that have helped the pain I've had in my foot for 8 years. Nothing else removed the inflammation. Besides, this is natural & won't harm my body more like medicines can.It's worth a try.

I know you're getting a lot of different suggestions here, but please do not stop your search for health without researching the need for probiotics. The Maker's Diet is an easy-to-read book that explains how the gut is the "second brain" and how the symptoms you're mentioning reveal problems that will get more serious over time, not less. A website with great info and resources is: http://www.bodyecology.com/.

You will find from these sources (and countless others) that there's an overwhelming recommendation to take a high quality probiotic, eat naturally fermented foods, and eliminate sugars and artificial sweeteners from your diet. I'm in complete agreement that the soda should be the first thing to go.

I disagree with the person who said to go from doctor to doctor until you find the answer. Personally, I'd avoid setting myself up to take a drug with side effects to alleviate symptoms of something without addressing the root cause. Instead, I'd look into the natural options. If you need more direction as to where to start, just ask! I have a whole library now about stuff like this. :)

Yes I agree, go back to the doctor! you may need to see a specialist like a gastro. Do you take something for your upset stomach if not why? or if you do take something does it work? you really need to talk to a doctor. I am sure it is something they can control. dont except anything but the best when it comes to your health! good luck and let us all know what happens. S.

It sounds like you might have IBS (irritable bowel symdrome) My sister has it. I'd talk to your doc about it. Good luck.

Could Aloe vera juice help you? It gives gastrointestinal support. Health food stores carry it.

Hi B.,
I to had my gal Bladder removed years ago, and I have the same troubles you have, when we go out to eat we have to site there awhile because no matter what I eat it runs right threw me, most of the time before I am ever done eating.
Stomach cramps are horrible, and I too have been to alot of diffrent doctors and test after test...only to be told this is normal .....normal to have diahrea, cramps and all.
It sucks.

Have you had a colonoscopy? If not you need to get one! I am not trying to scare you, but a girl I went to high school with, Meredith Holbert Rankin, just passed away from colon cancer at the age of 25 I believe. She was told for awhile by many different docotrs that she had IBS. When they FINALLY did a colonoscopy she was diagnosed with Stage IV Colon Cancer. It is worth it to have it done and find out exactly what is causing you all this pain!

Don't even look at IBS!! It is NOT a diagnosis it is a description. You know you have an irritable bowl. What you need to know is what is causing it. Not just take a pill for the rest of your life. It could be almost anything. You can start yourself out by doing elimination diets. 4 weeks without one of the following: dairy, gluten, soy, nuts, eggs, fructose (fruit sugar) and yeast. Those are the most likely targets. Then add the offending agent at the end of that time. If you don't feel good you have a problem. Only cut out one at a time. You can do it. Best of luck.

HI B.,

Have you ever been diagnosed with Irritable Bowel? I had the same problems and they said it was IBS. I also have a problem with my stomach not working properly, but it would have been found on a scope (my stomach was still full after eating 9 hours before). My stomach burns and sometimes when the pain is so bad I vomit. I just had a test today called an "gastric emptying scan", to verify that my stomach wasn't emptying itself out fast enough. I think it can be treated with medication. I don't know if this helps or not, but thought I'd mention it. Good luck to you :)

Hi B.,
My name is M. V. and I have the very same problem. I also had my gallbladder out in Jan.2000. After many tests not showing anything, the drs. told me I have fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome and acid reflux.I do find eating smaller portions and high fiber foods do help some.
Melalueca,is a company with many wellness products...and they have some wonderful cereal, crackers, breakfast bars, cookies and snack bars high in fiber and overall health. If you would like more information, just e-mail me and good luck.
M. V.
Melalueca-The Wellness Company

P.S.-I'm 41...Married for 20 years and together have 3 boys and a 1 year old grandson.

You could be having a sensitivity to food or drink. Keep a food diary. If you are having a really bad day, look at what you ate for the past 24 hrs and see if it happens to be a pattern. It could even be a spice(salt), an herb, an oil, nut products, even food dyes. Good luck.

HI! B., You may be allergic to artificial sweeteners. I am and if I eat anything with artificial sweeteners in it. It is like a freight train in my intestines. Hope this may help you. M.

A cousin has very similar symptoms and was recently diagnosed with Crones Disease. Just a suggestion..lots of luck to you and prayers for health.

Hi B.
I went through the same thing---they told me it was depression that caused it. I was put on and anti depresant- it cleared up. You might check with your doctor..and ask him if that could be your problem.
good luck.

P. S. It helped me!!!

I would try MonaVie juice. Someone I know who's had stomach problems said when he was taking it his stomach had never felt better. With the #1 superfood ( acai berry) knowm to man as the main ingredient, it provides the fruit you need in your diet, which you normally don't otherwise get. I've also experienced many other positive changes in my own body... I pray the Lord will give your body healing...

I have had stomach problems my whole life and they finally said ibs. After having my daughter and changing my eating habits because she had a milk allergy, I realized that I haven't had near the issues that I used to have. I don't eat milk. I have switched to soy milk and didn't realize how much better my stomach was until I read this post and the responses. I have been through all of the same things as you have and my doctor was at a loss. Take the advice you have gotten here and do the elimination diet while keeping a food diary. It is miserable going through life with stomach issues.
I hope you feel better

B.,

I was just speaking to my Mom about my Grandfather and what he had when he was living. Mom said that he had colitis and that he had to take Castor Oil periodicaly when he felt so bad. He would make the comment that there seemed to be more mucus than stool after he would take this.

I know I have it in a lessor form of it and it a lot of times has to do with my nerves. But I have the problem of constipation, but at times I also have the loose stool.

But my Mother says that they finaly diagnosed him without a stomach lining. And this would give him stomach problems. Plus the bloating with certain foods. But she also mentioned that he didn't get enough roughage in his diet. But she seemed to think it was more his nerves than anything.

Maybe you too should at least try the Castor Oil or something that would give you a good cleaning. If it helps, then do it before you get to feeling so bad and maybe this will help you with your stomach troubles. Because I for one know what it is like to have stomach trouble. And I feel for you.

I hope this helps or gives you encouragement to speak further with your physcian about treatment for it. Take care and please let me know if any of this helps. :-)

K.

You've just described classic symptoms of IBS...or Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Talk to your dr. about it, there's medicines that you can take, that will help you be able to go regularly. You may have to alter your diet even further, as well...eliminating some dairy products, fresh fruits & veggies, and acidy-based foods, like tomato sauce. I'm not saying eliminate them completely, but you'll have to find the right balance for you, to see how much of each you can handle, and pair them with foods that aren't a problem for you. And even then, you will still go through flare-ups...especially if you're under a lot of stress. Odd, but true...our bowels seem to be tied into our emotions. I've had IBS for about 12 years now. My Mom has had it since she was a teen. At first, they thought she had Crohn's Disease...closely related to IBS. Crohn's is a lot more severe though.
But I'd definitely speak to your dr. about this. I completely understand what you're going thru. You're not alone in this!! It's frustrating, especially when you have to make plans around your stomach!

have you been checked for irritable bowel syndrome? if not have them test you, this is exactly what i went through after having my gall bladder removed, they gave me this powder stuff to mix in liquid once a day to slow the diahrrea, also artificial sweetners( like in your diet coke) irritates it. hope this helps

Hi This is K. I was 50 when I had my gallbladder taken out. I have the same problems with diarra and sometimes it feels like somebody hit me in the stomach. They say that goes with the territory. I just know after I have a really good meal like Outback Steak the bathroom better be close in about 45 minutes. So I really hate going out to eat when that happens. I know I get heartburn sometimes but I take prevacede otc. It helps. Sorry you have to feel so bad and you are so much younger then me plus your kids are still at home and mine are all gone . Good Luck

Hi B.!

Have you done any research on Irritible Bowel Syndrome (IBS)? Or your doctor mentioned anything about it? I was finally diagnosed with IBS after 2 years of tests and major stomach issues. Some of your symptoms sound a lot like mine.

There's not much you can do for it. I was prescribed special pain medication and told to make sure I get lots of fiber to regulate my system. I ended up taking fiber supplements. My doctor also suggested keeping a food diary to see if I could notice what foods upset it the worst; it ended up being tomato products, cheese, and leafy green vegetables.

Unfortunately, IBS is also a psychological/stress problem. I stopped having problems as soon as I graduated! They recently started back up again when my position was elminated at my job. I would do some research on IBS, and then maybe talk to you doctor about how to manage it if you think you have it. There's a lot more information about it now. Back when I first had symptoms, it wasn't very well known. Good luck! I hope you find some relief soon and get your life back.

I too have had my gallbladder removed and it seems that my stomach has gotten worse. I have a week where I have loose stools (I call them stomach attacks) and then the next week I seem to be constipated. I don't know which is worse. My doctor told me I have IBS but there wasn't much I could do about it. I try to drink lots of water and stay away from fatty foods. I have a love/hate relationship to fried chicken. I guess it is always good to keep up on your doctor visits but I think if you are like me we just have to live with it. The women in my family has a history with IBS so I think my daughters will have to deal one of these days too. Good luck.

PRESCRIPTION FOR NUTRITONAL HEALING and PRESCRIPTION FOR DIETARY WELLNESS ...both by Balch

In addition...TRY TRY TRY to find any newsletters or info from Hallelujah Acres. There is documentation of people, INCLUDING doctors, who've overcome such issues NATURALLY.

I know what your going through. After having my gallbladder out I developed what is called Bile Salts Diahrea. My family dr. gave me everything he could think of. I finally was referred to a GI dr. and right away, after testing, he knew what was wrong. He started me on Questran powder once a day and for the most part I am back to normal. Questran is a medication for lowering colesterol but the side effect of it is constapation. So there for it acts as a binding agent. Talk to your dr. about this. It's worth a try. I mix mine in Hawaiian Punch as it doesn't taste to good by itself. Good Luck!!
Becky
Auburn,Ind.

Have you looked into getting gluten (wheat) out of your diet? Sometimes gluten/wheat allergies can look very much like other things... You might try to eliminate for three months and see if your symptoms clear up.

One thing though, the tests for gluten allergies or Celiac disease are not always accurate as they apparently lack the sensitivity. The best way to tell is to actually stop eating any/all wheat products for a few months and see how you feel.

Also, I agree about the aspartame that's in your diet drinks and Crystal light. It's bad stuff.