Hello! I'm new to this forum, but I've actually been lurking for a little while now. I've been thinking about joining and as you can see I've finally done so. I hope I'm posting this in the right place and correctly-- I really apologize if not!
I also apologize in advance for how long this post will probably turn out to be. I would really, really appreciate any type of advice or help at all as I'm just at my wit's end... :yfrown:
The symptoms I'm experiencing are nausea (constant, no vomiting), abdominal pain that takes place in the mid upper part of my stomach. It can also sometimes happen in my lower abdominal region, and towards the left of the abdomen. The pain can be dull, stabbing, sharp, or knawing.
I've lost an extreme amount of weight, and I continue to lose weight every week. I really can't afford to lose anymore so it's very concerning... As well as losing weight, I've also lost my appetite. However, when I have those occasions where I do have an appetite I'm very limited on what I can eat. I have some food that I call my "safe food"-- they're plain bread (like bagels, toast, etc), yogurt, and oatmeal. I absolutely cannot eat anything fried, fatty, greasy... it's like an invitation to pain. I'm okay with drinking most things-- not some types of smoothies depending on the fruit in them and what's all involved in them-- but I can't drink too much at one time.
I get cramping at times that becomes so bad that, if I'm standing, I have to hurriedly reach onto something or actually fall onto the floor it's so painful. The cramping sensation is one that I can't really pinpoint where it's at. It's mainly towards the left part of the abdomen, but I do believe I've felt it in the lower mid section of my abdomen as well.
I'm constipated... pretty severely... but I can't tell if that's because I don't eat very much or if I really am just. well. Constipated! When I do manage to go (which is once every blue moon), the stool is very dark and I've seen blood.
Some other symptoms I experience, which I'm not sure are related or not, are extreme fatigue, joint pain everywhere-- I have arthritis in my back-- and general body weakness.
I also do not know if this is important, but I'm deficient in some vitamins such as D and B12, so I get weekly B12 injections that help at least a little. I also take multivitamins and vitamin c gummies because they're easier to get down than pills.
I got the colonoscopy and the endoscopy both done back in July 2015, but my symptoms were not quite as severe as they are now. The results came back fine, however there was some bleeding in my colon. I was prescribed Prevacid. A few months later as my symptoms persisted, my gastroenterologist ordered a gastric emptying study which also came back normal. The CT scan of the abdomen came back fine, and I am due to now do a barium XRAY of the lower intestine, I believe...
It's the last thing they can think of, and frankly I do not think they want to help me anymore. I've asked them if they thought it could be Crohn's, since they aren't offering up any ideas as to what could possibly be wrong with me. I was told by a physician's assistant today that it was not possible because the colonoscopy back in July 2015 would've shown inflammation, and it can only show up there. Is this true? Couldn't I possibly have a different type of Crohn's, Gastroduodenal Crohn's? I've been researching every possible stomach disease, and I've identified with it so much. But I was told flat out that Crohn's was impossible by her and no one is offering any ideas as to what it can be. I'm just feeling so lost.
I know that so many people go through this, just like I am, and it's so frustrating! I've read so many stories like mine... so I know I'm not the only one at least. I hate how others go through this so often. I'm 19 years old, and when I see others my age doing "normal" activities that I should be able to do, and eating normally... it makes me feel horrible even though I know it's not my fault! Even worse when I don't know the cause!
I'm sorry this turned out so long! I hope I provided enough information and didn't make this confusing at all. Thank you for taking the time to read it, I really appreciate it so much.
I also apologize in advance for how long this post will probably turn out to be. I would really, really appreciate any type of advice or help at all as I'm just at my wit's end... :yfrown:
The symptoms I'm experiencing are nausea (constant, no vomiting), abdominal pain that takes place in the mid upper part of my stomach. It can also sometimes happen in my lower abdominal region, and towards the left of the abdomen. The pain can be dull, stabbing, sharp, or knawing.
I've lost an extreme amount of weight, and I continue to lose weight every week. I really can't afford to lose anymore so it's very concerning... As well as losing weight, I've also lost my appetite. However, when I have those occasions where I do have an appetite I'm very limited on what I can eat. I have some food that I call my "safe food"-- they're plain bread (like bagels, toast, etc), yogurt, and oatmeal. I absolutely cannot eat anything fried, fatty, greasy... it's like an invitation to pain. I'm okay with drinking most things-- not some types of smoothies depending on the fruit in them and what's all involved in them-- but I can't drink too much at one time.
I get cramping at times that becomes so bad that, if I'm standing, I have to hurriedly reach onto something or actually fall onto the floor it's so painful. The cramping sensation is one that I can't really pinpoint where it's at. It's mainly towards the left part of the abdomen, but I do believe I've felt it in the lower mid section of my abdomen as well.
I'm constipated... pretty severely... but I can't tell if that's because I don't eat very much or if I really am just. well. Constipated! When I do manage to go (which is once every blue moon), the stool is very dark and I've seen blood.
Some other symptoms I experience, which I'm not sure are related or not, are extreme fatigue, joint pain everywhere-- I have arthritis in my back-- and general body weakness.
I also do not know if this is important, but I'm deficient in some vitamins such as D and B12, so I get weekly B12 injections that help at least a little. I also take multivitamins and vitamin c gummies because they're easier to get down than pills.
I got the colonoscopy and the endoscopy both done back in July 2015, but my symptoms were not quite as severe as they are now. The results came back fine, however there was some bleeding in my colon. I was prescribed Prevacid. A few months later as my symptoms persisted, my gastroenterologist ordered a gastric emptying study which also came back normal. The CT scan of the abdomen came back fine, and I am due to now do a barium XRAY of the lower intestine, I believe...
It's the last thing they can think of, and frankly I do not think they want to help me anymore. I've asked them if they thought it could be Crohn's, since they aren't offering up any ideas as to what could possibly be wrong with me. I was told by a physician's assistant today that it was not possible because the colonoscopy back in July 2015 would've shown inflammation, and it can only show up there. Is this true? Couldn't I possibly have a different type of Crohn's, Gastroduodenal Crohn's? I've been researching every possible stomach disease, and I've identified with it so much. But I was told flat out that Crohn's was impossible by her and no one is offering any ideas as to what it can be. I'm just feeling so lost.
I know that so many people go through this, just like I am, and it's so frustrating! I've read so many stories like mine... so I know I'm not the only one at least. I hate how others go through this so often. I'm 19 years old, and when I see others my age doing "normal" activities that I should be able to do, and eating normally... it makes me feel horrible even though I know it's not my fault! Even worse when I don't know the cause!
I'm sorry this turned out so long! I hope I provided enough information and didn't make this confusing at all. Thank you for taking the time to read it, I really appreciate it so much.