Ill for a year, still no answers

[imported_%TEAM JACOB%]

Hey.
So in about April 2009 I started to feel really unwell. It started with pain in my stomach and diarrhoea. This lasted about 4 months and throughout that period I felt incredibly fatigued, but not your regular tiredness, I found it difficult to get out of bed some days, I actually couldn't on a couple of occasions and had to get my brother round to make me something to eat. The only way I could describe it would be to say I felt like I was infected with something. During this period I went to my GP on many occasions. I had blood tests (I don't know what they checked for), stool sample, temperature, ultra sound, H Pylori breath test but they didn't find anything, I didn't even have a temperature. So after about four months of this, the fatigue went, but the pain in my abdomen remained. But it moved from being in my stomach, to a sharp pain either side of my stomach, under the ribs. I was eventually referred to gastro, and they did a small bowel investigation and a colonoscopy (with Biopsy), but they still didn't find anything. I still have this pain now, after nearly a year. My GP is suggesting it may be IBS, and I'm sure this is what gastro will diagnose when I go back to see them. But that doesn't explain the first 4 months of feeling like death, it was easily the most physically unwell I ever felt, but like I say, this went.
I've found that stress makes the pain worse, if I even get the slightest bit irritated I can feel the pain increasing. Also, for the past few months I've been getting quite a lot of discomfort in my armpits, mostly my left one.

I feel pretty confused about it all, I find it difficult to stop thinking about the pain, and I know this makes it worse. I'm think I'm becoming a hypochondriac!

Is it possible I had some sort of virus and the stress and worry have caused me to develop IBS? Any suggestions/thoughts/hypotheses welcome .

 

[icybitter]

Hi there,

Sorry to hear you've been feeling so unwell. I also have been having stomach pain on and off for the last few years. I know I have a hiatial hernia and acid reflux, had endoscope done. Did you have one done?

But like you I also have been having bad pain lately, not my usual high up in the stomach hernia pain but a lot of pain to the right of belly button and in right side and generally all around bowel area. I know this seems like appendicitis but surely it can't be going on like this for so long,under my ribs ache and my back aches, but no temperature either! I also know what you mean about that dreadful fatigue Where exactly do you get the pain?

Hopeful

 

[Luchea]

Hey there, thanks for your reply

I haven't had a endoscopy, just small bowel investigation and colonoscopy thus far.

Initially the pain started in my stomach, it was more of a sore burning pain to start with, I was put on lansoprazole for a few months and that seemed to help a little. But then it changed, it moved to either side of my stomach, high up, it almost feels like it's under my ribs at times. I have tried to see if there is anything in my diet that is contributing to my symptoms but no luck so far. The only thing I've found that without doubt has an impact on the pain is stress. I find if I keep my mind occupied the pain decreases. Yesterday I was put on 30mg Mirtazapine, my doctor suggested that if I get my mind right, my body might follow, I hope he's right.