Digestive problems,but which? Gallstones?Gastritis?Celiac?IBD? any ideas?

[l4k]

Hello there,
this contains TMI so not for everyone!
Could anyone shed any light on my digestive problem? Been to gp,said stomach is inflammed.So,I'm waiting for an endoscopy and ultrasound to check for gallstones.
But - loads of other stuff going on too;

Have always been constipated but occasional diarrhea started last summer and now I have days of violent diorrhea (how the hell do you spell that word?)every week.I even had an accident in M&S last week!!

The upper abdo pain is fairly recent,7 months or so on and off but much more often since gyne op in November.Have had episodes of agonising upper abdo pain with stabbing in upper back.

I have had blood (and moucus)in stools infrequently for at least 4 years,has always been red but past 4 months or so has been dark and mixed in(sorry,gross)

About 16 months ago went on restrictive diet and lost 3 stone but when I tried to eat any wheat containing foods after that I would get pain and major bad wind(smelly farts like you cannot imagine!!)
I try to eat gluten free now.

If anyone can shed any light ,I will be grateful.Sorry its so long.

I had to reintroduce gluten for a month prior to testing. I then had blood tests, biopsy (definitive test for coeliac disease) an endoscopy and colonoscopy. Full on, but I got the right diagnosis. It was only in that month prior to the tests that my symptoms truly matched those of UC, which I still put down to wheat, but my consultant says there s no proven link between diet and Infammatory Bowel Disease. I needed 2 runs of steroids, and the drug of choice made my colitis worse & I was nearly hospitalised... Am now on immunosuppressants, wheat free and feeling considerably better!!

I look forward to hearing how you get on

A sore tongue is a symptom of B12 deficiency - a common feature of coeliac.

Your constipation and then occassional diarrea sound like coeliac symptoms too. Your wind sound like lactose intolerance. Your pain running up to the back to the shoulder sounds like a blocked bile duct - that is the 'classic' pain symptom.

I am coeliac and had gall bladder problems too. You absolutely must see a gastroenterologist.

Hi again
Another update if anyone is still interested!!
Have had;
Scan. Which showed one smallish gallstone

Endoscopy(without sedation, not nice) which showed nothing
abnormal apart from bit tight pyloric sphincter

Ulcers and sore mouth were much better by then although
I usually do have a sore tongue. Didn't get a chance to discuss
anything with the gastro doc who did the endoscopy.

Will see my gp next week but not sure what she will suggest.

Still having diarrhoea most days, every 10 days or so will be all day
from waking (x6)
Not had blood for a couple of weeks so a bit better but this has been
going on for 3or 4 years now.
Maybe it's not important
Any thoughts?

hello,I'm resurrecting this to ask a question,
GP said she'll refer me to gastroenterology for a specialist but thechoose and book letter has come for colorectal-surgery dept.
Is that right,do you think?
any advice gladly recieved.

Possibly not as your GP seems to be making a complete Horlicks of this. As others have said, this referral should have been done weeks ago, along with a stack of other blood tests.

Probably best to give the hospital a call and speak to the consultant's secretary. She should be able to answer your questions.

I hope you get this sorted.

D

14k - can I ask, what colour are your stools?

Um,yes.I don't think I've been asked that one before!!
they are sometimes orangy/brown and other times very dark brown.Had a couple of occasions last year when they were very pale for a day.That seemed to coincide with the gallbladder type pain but I haven't really had that for a while now.
Current symptoms are gurgling stomach,either diarrhea or can't go for a few days,lower left abdo pain and tenderness,mucous in bm nearly all the time but blood has more or less stopped but give it a couple of weeks and it will be back because thats what has happened in past.
Also,can't eat wheat or oats because of noisy,bubbleing,painfull ,and really stinky results and starting to wonder about milk too.
thanks for your interest.

And thanks to RockinD too,do you mean speak to colo-rectal mans sec? I'll try that tomorrow.

Poor you sounds awful .
Not much to offer but wonder if those rehydration drinks - dioralyte - might buck you up a bit .
All the diarroeha etc will be playing havoc with your electrolyte balance .

I get episodes of - how on earth to describe ? diaarohea ,sort of constipated diarohea , mucus ,violent wind ,feel weak etc .
Anyway feeling cr*p after 3 weeks of antibiotics for some oral problem I shambled into local health food shop and came away with a hugely expensive jar of Udo's choice probiotics .
5 days later and my gut honestly does feel much better - for the first time in memory I'm having normal bowel movements .

Not saying that this will get to the root of your health problems but it might support you a bit ,give you a little more strength to keep fighting the battle with GP and health services .

Good luck .

Not sure if I'm repeating others, but I don't have time to read all the replies - ironically I'm here to post a relevant question myself :)

Have you been tested for HELIOBACTER PYLORI ??? is a bacterial stomach infection & though not listed on the NHS pages, speaking from experience I know it does cove a lot of the symptoms you describe.

I'm on my second lot of treatment for it now - I've had it for YEARS, but it wasn't until my GP went ff on maternity leave & I got a new temporary one that anyone even mentioned it - over 9+ years 2 different GPs, & several others I've seen at the surgery & NONE of them thought of it - it even ended up spreading so much & getting so bad its caused sore throats & loss of voice, & bleeding sinuses due to acid seeping out & burning my throat & even sinuses whilst I slept - along with other symptoms that got me an M.E. diagnosis

Its a simple blood test & then a 3 pronged antibiotic treatment - the first lot I had did make a HUGE difference to my general health - in a week my usually bloated stomach lost over 5 inches - but seemed it only killed most of it off, not all & has gradually built up again.

I would certainly ask if you have had this test

14k - sorry if it seemed like an odd question. Pancreatic problems can cause pain at the top of the stomach (I think you mentioned that) and pale, really smelly stools.

Oooh you poor thing. DD is 26 and diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis 2 years ago. It was mis-diagnosed as IBS for 4 years because no one took it seriously enough and she didnt insist on asking for a second opinion. Im no expert but what you describe sounds similar to some sort of inflammatory problem in the bowel. DDs symptoms include blood and mucus in stools, diarrhoea/constipation, severe stomach pain, fatigue, bloating, feeling sick, aching joints, generally unwell. She has things a lot more under control now she is on proper meds and has a great consultant and access to a UC nurse. I would recommend that you really insist on more tests/ being referred. Nobody should have to suffer such painful and distressing symptoms any longer than is absolutely necessary. Hugs

That's ok moggie,thanks for the suggestion

Gp did mention H Pylori but then didn't do any blood tests!!
Ginger- have done the probiotics from holland and barretts and it didn't cure all.
My tongue is so sore and cracked again. Sores up both sides and patchy over top.
So who do I need to see, colorectal consultant or gastroenterologist ?
Thanks again

Hi tunaday. Xposts!
I do have all the symptoms you discribed your poor daughter has but not all the time and not all extreme I suppose I'm wondering if they are bad enough to be IBD.

Could you tell me if your daughter saw a gastro or colorectal person to get diagnosed?
Thanks so much and glad she is getting on better now

Hi 14K. Will check but pretty sure dd saw/ sees a colo-rectal guy but I shall ask her and get back to you. The sore mouth could be a deficiency because of the malabsorption caused by all the diarrhoea. DD was very anaemic before she was properly diagnosed which i suppose isnt surprising. You do sound as if there are quite a few things that need ruling out such as gallbladder or allergy problems. I really hope you get some answers and treatment soon so you can start feeling tons better.

• My own DD has similar stomach problems too - thankfully I've worked out her triggers & so far has an IBS diagnosis - though after yet another very bad flare up without any obvious triggers & other worrying symptoms - we are seeing the specialist again soon - in the past he's mentioned the possibility of chrohns for her too, but explained he couldn't test unless in a flare up, which she wasn't by the time we got to see him he is a GASTRO - so I suspect thats who you need to see - I see a Colo-rectal Doc for other unrelated problems

DO push for the H.Pylori test though - your tongue could be Vit deficiency - Iron or B12 been the most likely culprits - BUT my tongue is very also sore & cracked as its been affected by stomach acid

B12 defeciency can be perniceous aneamia, which might be something else to look into - that too affects the stomach, along with all sorts of things & gets worse if left

Xcuse typos - not sure if I'm on this earth or fullers right now

Thank you tuna , and you too rockinhippy.Hope you are better and back on this planet now
Have spoken to gp's sec who said get on and book with the colorectal guy so I have and if that's not right I'll get my private healthcare sorted to see a gastro private because I'm sick of waiting.
Have had some episodes of just passing mucous on its own and last 2 days and back to painful diarrhea.
Will def ask for H.pylori and vit tests when I go,but appointment not for 2 weeks.