Hi Everyone,
I'm new here and thought I'd jump right in and join the undiagnosed club!
I've been sick for 10 months. It started with looser than normal stools, then abdominal pain that felt like a "lump" in my lower abdomen. My lower belly swells almost constantly. I have bouts of watery diarrhea, sometimes stabbing lower right side pains, major menstrual pains and irregularity, lower back pain, my hair seems to be coming out in clumps, a dry itchy scalp and dry patches of skin on my face. I've lost 20 pounds.
Last July I had a colonoscopy that came back completely clear, then a barium swallow with small bowel follow (clear), numerous ultrasounds (clear except liver cyst and kidney hemangiomas), a CT scan (showed a very slightly distended appendix, which apparently is nothing)... and then I kindof gave up. Unfortunately, my symptoms didn't.
From the beginning my doc felt that it was Crohn's... infact he still feels that we'll eventually find Crohn's. Crohn's it may be, but in the mean time I not receiving any treatment and pretty uncomfortable.
Next steps... I'm scheduled for a laproscopy to look for endometriosis mid February. The Gynecological didn't think it was endo because I don't experience pain during sex, but said he'd check anyways.
I've also seen a rather neat private doctor who specializes in immune diseases. He's working with me to order tests for Addison's Disease and Lyme Disease.
I've come to the conclusion that I have "something" and that whatever it is, it's not going to be easy to deal with. I'm trying to cope with the idea that I may feel like this forever.
Any/all of this sound familiar to you others who are banging your heads against walls?! My poor health is consuming me. I want my life back.
Thanks for listening.
Michelle
I'm new here and thought I'd jump right in and join the undiagnosed club!
I've been sick for 10 months. It started with looser than normal stools, then abdominal pain that felt like a "lump" in my lower abdomen. My lower belly swells almost constantly. I have bouts of watery diarrhea, sometimes stabbing lower right side pains, major menstrual pains and irregularity, lower back pain, my hair seems to be coming out in clumps, a dry itchy scalp and dry patches of skin on my face. I've lost 20 pounds.
Last July I had a colonoscopy that came back completely clear, then a barium swallow with small bowel follow (clear), numerous ultrasounds (clear except liver cyst and kidney hemangiomas), a CT scan (showed a very slightly distended appendix, which apparently is nothing)... and then I kindof gave up. Unfortunately, my symptoms didn't.
From the beginning my doc felt that it was Crohn's... infact he still feels that we'll eventually find Crohn's. Crohn's it may be, but in the mean time I not receiving any treatment and pretty uncomfortable.
Next steps... I'm scheduled for a laproscopy to look for endometriosis mid February. The Gynecological didn't think it was endo because I don't experience pain during sex, but said he'd check anyways.
I've also seen a rather neat private doctor who specializes in immune diseases. He's working with me to order tests for Addison's Disease and Lyme Disease.
I've come to the conclusion that I have "something" and that whatever it is, it's not going to be easy to deal with. I'm trying to cope with the idea that I may feel like this forever.
Any/all of this sound familiar to you others who are banging your heads against walls?! My poor health is consuming me. I want my life back.
Thanks for listening.
Michelle