Please help - so fed up and been ill for months - is it an ulcer/ibs/gallstones or what?

[kuckingfunt]

I am waiting to see gastro specialist after 6 months of hell.

These are my symptoms:

dizzy/lightheaded
pain that I get under both ribs (just under boobs)
vomitting
pain goes into back
2 stone weight loss
occasional pain in chest towards right breastbone
constipated a lot

I can't see a pattern with it being worse after eating anything in particular, it just seems to be anything can set it off. It also isnt horrendous every minute of the day, it comes and goes.

I am getting desparate now though, had every blood test you can think of, had brain scan, had ultra sound for gallstones. My next step is to see the gastro specialist.

I have thought it could be a peptic ulcer, a duodenal ulcer, gallstones, ibs.

Anyone any idea and can any of the above make you feel dizzy?

I'm really getting down about this now - I can't plan anything as I never know how I will feel, I can't work as I am ill almost everyday. I had to cancel a holiday as I wasn't well enough to go, I can't even plan to even go and see friends as I just don't feel up to it. I feel like my life is on hold until I find out what is wrong. Today has been a bad day, pain and vomitting and I have spent most of it in tears to my DF - it has been going on 6 months now and I am so fed up of it.

Anyone get a pressure feeling on bowels? I feel like I'm completely full beyond normal and sitting down is impossible because it is so painful. It's not like a stabbing pain, just feels like I have been kicked x1000

Hello, how is everyone? I'm just updating as I feel scared, I always get down in the evenings when the symptoms get worse, I've lost some more weight and my stomach is swollen - if I press on it (above and below navel) I can feel something move around inside, not sure if I said before its like being pregnant. So what I am saying is no matter how positive I feel during the day, when I feel this "thing" moving I can't help it, I just think that's it, its got to be the worse possible news.

Went to GP yesterday to review meds and look at the gastro report and she was sceptical as well which was both refreshing and worrying - ok so the endoscopy showed up my old ulcer, but its been there years, she doesn't understand why its causing all the new symptoms now, for what reason, and also she said if the gastro consultant is blaming it for most of my symptoms, then he needs to write up a plan of treatment for her to prescribe, and set a date for review. I think he was rather hoping he could just sign me back over to GP.

The ultrasound still seems like a long way away, 31st, and I just wonder if it will simply leave me asking more questions. So basically, I am feeling a bit sorry for myself. I do really appreciate being able to post here though as my friends are sick getting blow by blow accounts of it all, and don't even get me started on DH! I put on a Chanel (copy) jacket the other day that I haven't been able to wear for 3 years and it was loose. Perhaps you'll know how I feel when I say there wasn't an ounce of pleasure in it. Cross with myself for being so negative but that's how I feel.

Hi Burning, osrry I missed your post, i have been away.

How are you feeling now? I understand about being down when the symptoms are worse, it plays on your mind a lot more doesn;t he.

I lost 2.5 stone really quickly when I first got ill and although I wanted to be thinner I just didn't feel good about it at all, infact quite the opposite - I knew I was dropping weight becuase I was ill so can understand what you are saying about not feeling any pleasure in it at all.

I do hope you are feeling a bit better now. Only a week to go until your ultrasound.

I went back to see my specialist - I had a Hida scan and am now waiting for results of that. I am still dizzy though and nobody can seem to work out why, or how to stop it.

Oh Hello RichTea, nice to see you. This dizziness business is all over Mumsnet, everyone seems to have it either on its own or with other things, I have had dizziness since I was 21 (now 49) and this year since all this started its got steadily worse, I reckon its just a sign that something is wrong, its body's way of telling us bit like getting a temperature. Anyway, not that that helps!

I'm afraid I am a bit worse. Lost another pound or two, but wait measurement stays the same. My abdomen between boobs and navel has swollen up like I am wearing a tyre, and is now hard. It hurts to touch it anywhere really. I am still awake at night an hour out of every two. Could be liver? Its not good whatever it is. I realised earlier this week that I could have had the ultrasound the same week of my last post - 2nd week October. It was a misunderstanding on my part, so really regretting it now. Another 10 days to go. I range between thinking its nothing too serious and will get sorted soon to thinking its a massive tumour that has spread and by the time they ultrasound me, it will be too late. Even typing that sends a chill down my spine. My Mum didn't make it past 54, why should I be any luckier?

Bet you're glad you asked now, cheerful eh?!

So, how was the Hida scan, was it difficult? Did you get that done in local hospital or did you have to go to teaching hospital etc? When do you expect results?

Hi burning, I think just like you - my dizziness is the result of something else going wrong - it is happening for a reason but I dont know what the reson is and it is worrying.

Sorry you are still dropping weight, It could be anything really - I feared the worse when I was quickly shrinking and worried it was something awful - they tell me it was a hernia, although I am amazed that a hernia causes weight loss like that.

The hida scan was ok really - I hope to get the results in a couple of weeks. They did it at my hospital where they had a new scanning machine. I am almost hoping it shows up something wrong with my gallbladder so they can whip it out and then I should feel better, but who knows.

The worst for me is the dizziness, a year now and no closer to sorting it. There must be 'something' wrong to make it happen, although they seem to be at a loss to find it.

I am sorry you are so down and so worried, its awful isn't it. Not long though until your scan, and then hopefully you will have some answers.

just checking in to see how we are all holding up.
Pain is in my back again :(
I have an appointment with cardio in Nov, so am going to ask if this is all linked.

Hello again Lisa, was that your referral - to a cardio - not a gastro specialist? Or have you got both?

I'm still sitting around going mad 3 months after (the worst of) this all started, ultrasound and seeing consultant again on Monday. Funny thing is my GP wrote my original referral letter, telling my consultant that although she'd told me that NICE guidelines say I should have waited 8 weeks on lansaprole she was referring me at 6 weeks because I was "anxious". Which is odd because NICE guidelines also say that unexplained stomach pains, with or without back pain (it says that) should be referred to a consultant within 2 weeks. Anyway.

I am still bloated and swollen under the ribs on the left, when I push it feels hard, just don't know what to do with myself. Sometimes I am calm, the pain is there 24/7 but its not bad, just a constant reminder. But other times I sort of stop and think how can this be ok? Its not going to be OK, why should it be ok. That sort of thing!

Oh and probably the scariest thing is that I hurt under the arms, in the armpits, where the lymph nodes are so I am convinced that means cancer. As you can see I am not the most together of people at the best of times!!

Glad I've found this thread - I think! I'm another stomach pain sufferer; am currently waiting for an h. pylori test and an ultrasound of the gallbladder.

I have had a pain between the bottom of my ribs like someone's rabbit punched me for a long time now. But these days can't eat as much, and if I have a meal then go and lay down within an hour or two it's like someone has taken a cheese grater to my innards; mostly midline but I've had it off to both sides. No pain in back, but it does take 2-3 hours to subside when I get it.
The last time, I'd only eaten a yoghurt!! First time it happened I was on omeprazole so not acid reflux.

Have had stomach problems/reflux for a couple of decades. But this is a whole different level.

I am hoping (!) it's a hiatus hernia, since my dad's got one and they can be a hereditary weakness. I do tend to get breathless when I get an attack as well; if it's a hernia pressing the lungs, that would fit.

I just want a scan that will tell me once and for all what it is! Ironically I work in a scanning dept but they can't just scan us without the proper referrals, and it's a long, slow process.

Shall keep an eye on this thread, best wishes to all folk here...

I'm under cardio already and seeing gastro in dec. cardio have done every test they can to find out why my heart runs too quick but still no idea.

I hope they can find something soon Lisa - the waiting is a nightmare and you've been at this for - well - how long? Months? Years? How do you manage day to day? Do you sort of forget it if you are having a not too bad day, or is it on your mind a lot, or do you struggle to cope with physical symptoms?

And welcome moonbells, yes I think we all want that scan - but what scan might that be?! I get the funny feeling I'll be none the wiser after my ultrasound as I've heard its only 75% accurate, and I am so fat when I had the DCs they kept saying oh we can't see everything because of "obese habitat" (?!) so I wonder how they are going to spot a lump or gallstone in me now?!

I just grit my teeth and get on with it. I have two girls with SN, so don't have time to be ill
Th heart stuff I'm fairly used to but hate the bowel stuff, and it's not so easy to hide.

Ouch this pain is bad tonight, have ended up calling out of hours GP as too bad and can barely move.

Oh no Lisa, that's not good, hope you get it sorted. Where is the pain tonight? Let us know how you get on with GP.

The ultra sound of the gallbladder is not reliable at all. I have had one and it didnt show anything. I have now had a hida scan which is a lot more reliable - it shows if the gallbladder is functioning correctly. Apparently it may not be even if I dont have any stones. I am still waiting results.

Welcome moonbells and hope you are a bit closer to a scan. I have a hiatus hernia too but I dont believe it is possible that it is causing this many problems.

Burning, I know we have spoken but I hope you are feeling ok after your day, you must be mentally exhausted.

white cells, blood and lukicetes (spelling?) in urine, so GP thinks its a urine infection thatmay have gone to kidneys :( now on antibiotics for a week

oh no

Rest as much as you can and hope antibiotics work quickly for you.

I have had my ultrasound. I definitely have gallstones! Ouch!

Now to see what the GP's going to do next...

All in will say is ouch!!

Hello all, another update from me. So after ultrasound on Monday when apparently there was "nothing", I've been contemplating what's next. At the scan itself the sonographer said nothing, I thought they weren't allowed to anyway so I didn't ask anything. When I got to the consultant's room he said "did they tell you?" and I said no, I thought you would so he looked at his screen for about 10 seconds if that and said "nothing. You have costochondritis like I told you last time". So both my husband and I said what about the the swelling, the weight loss, pain in the groin, etc big list of what abouts, and he said look I'll examine your stomach. Oh good, thinks I. Nurse put me on bed, I pulled my top up a bit and he came over and pulled it down. He then poked me in the ribs and said does that hurt, I said yes, he said "there, I told you. Costochondritis". And that, readers, was the end of it - he said he would rather stick pins in his eyes than see me again I was discharged back to GP now as he reckoned there was not much wrong.

The next day I rang consultant's secretary and asked if she could include a copy of the ultrasound results in the letter to my GP. Anyway, today I got a copy of the letter he'd sent to the GP. He said I had chest pain. Fucking chest pain? Where did this come from? Not only has he ignored all my other symptoms, he's actually made one up that fit his diagnosis of costochronditis!! But worse than that, no where does he mention that I had an ultrasound on Monday. This was the big event, the big fat scan I'd been waiting a month for. But he didn't even mention it casually in passing. Have to get on to GP/hospital etc on Monday morning and start making a right nuisance of myself. I have to see that report.

Am I beginning to sound like someone you'd move away from on the bus?

LisaD, hope you are feeling better soon - but surely this something new, it doesn't explain away all your symptoms?

Moonbells - I see there are quite a few gallstone threads on the go at the moment, is it a good year for them?! Let us know what GP recommends.

It is new, still feeling in a fair amount of pain but GP did say its a bad infection. Been bleeding again today too

might be getting somewhere, i hope. Saw different GP today as still in a fair amount of pain, couldnt even moved on saturday evening :(
He was new, very young but clearly trying to help rule out what it could be. I think i worried him a little as this pain is all fairly new, but there is a long history of bowel pain, feeling full, diahorra and Im also under the cardio team for a racing heart.
He has now asked me to have bloods and some i dont remember having, so maybe will get some answers.
Oh and my urine is crystal clear (looks like flitered tap water), I mean what the hell is that about!!

Hello again,

Got my ultrasound report. Its all normal - big list of normal things. Although it doesn't mention stomach or intestines, and I thought it would have at least said they were present! So anyway, that's my latest conspiracy theory shot to hell, am now reading about people who were told their scan was normal only to find they had stage 3 cancer or something like that 6 months later. I definitely need drugs. Off to GP again on Friday. I am now back to square 1 with no leads.

My understanding is the us scan doesn't give full picture and you can only be clear with MRI scan