Hi Friends,
I went in for my endoscopic ultrasound and they found no cyst in one area that showed up on the CT scan but found two in the other. Unfortunately couldn't tell if they were benign or precancerous. The good news about this is that if they were determined to be cancerous they would be able to surgically remove them. So, I just wait a year to have them checked again.
I got home last night from the procedure around 5pm and had a light meal where I promptly got terribly ill with the worst pain in my gut. I'm sure I told you about the stomach pain I have gotten 2 or 3 times a year since I was a teenager....but haven't had in about 3 years since I received the iron infusions. Well it was back in the an extremely painful way.
So after my procedure they told me to come back if I had abdominal pain and gave me the name of the GI fellowship on duty that evening. So I was trying to wait until am to go to the emergency room but around 5am couldn't take it any longer. So we headed to the emergency room where they said it was a 4 hour wait. I tried to get them to locate the GI I had the name of...but he never answered. So we get back in the car and headed to our local emergency room....no wait. They did an xray to see if any perforation occurred...negative. Took blood and it showed a slight increase in pancreas excretion??? but nothing significant. I have had these attacks since forever and they can never find anything.
They also looked at my gallbladder during the scope and said there were no cysts (CT scan had shown one) and no stones or sludge.
If I had to guess at what is going on I would say that my gallbladder gets stuck in the on phase were it continues to dump bile salts in my digestive track and that is were I get the burning pain and volumes of gas...many times that of a reaction. About 3am I had about 10 rounds of D. They just pumped me full of pain medication and since I couldn't even stand upright because of the pain they gave me a prescription for morphine.
The episode has now passed and you'd never know I went through this hell last night. The doc says they can't measure how much bile is being pumped into the system...so I have no way of knowing if my theory is right. No one has ever come up with anything to explain what is going on. I'm guessing that the procedure pissed off my gallbladder somehow and it did what it has done in the past. I'm thinking next time I may experiment with taking some cholesteramine?? powder since it is supposed to absorb excess bile.
Thanks for all the prayers and good wishes...I'm beginning to think I must have been a very bad person in a previous life. Am still waiting to hear back from the breast surgeon...hopefully soon so I can get it over with.
I did have a glorious week before the procedure GI wise. No pain and wonderful BMs....am extremely grateful for that.
Love,
Cristi
Test Results
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
I wonder what others feel as well:
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=5483
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=5483
Hi Cristi,
Thanks for the update, and I'm glad that it went smoothly, even if it didn't completely answer all the questions that you had. At least now you can begin to relax a bit with the answers that you did get.
Wow! That was a vicious GI episode that you had. It's really a heck of a note that no one in the medical profession seems to be able to figure it out. I guess that sorta goes along with the experiences most people have with MC - most doctors just don't do very well with diagnosing "rare" ailments.
Do you suppose that stress could be triggering those episodes, or maybe setting up your body so that something else can trigger it?
Love,
Tex
Thanks for the update, and I'm glad that it went smoothly, even if it didn't completely answer all the questions that you had. At least now you can begin to relax a bit with the answers that you did get.
Wow! That was a vicious GI episode that you had. It's really a heck of a note that no one in the medical profession seems to be able to figure it out. I guess that sorta goes along with the experiences most people have with MC - most doctors just don't do very well with diagnosing "rare" ailments.
Do you suppose that stress could be triggering those episodes, or maybe setting up your body so that something else can trigger it?
Love,
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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barbaranoela
- Emperor Penguin
- Posts: 5394
- Joined: Wed May 25, 2005 6:11 pm
- Location: New York
Cristi----what an awful time for U---including the *wait* for a GI
--I hope U R feeling better---
I hear that the ER's are filled to the gills ---
They are having the same issues here in AZ.-----
Im curious as Mike---can U Xplain the pain and the where a bouts--
Take care Cristi~~~
luve Barbara
--I hope U R feeling better---
I hear that the ER's are filled to the gills ---
They are having the same issues here in AZ.-----
Im curious as Mike---can U Xplain the pain and the where a bouts--
Take care Cristi~~~
luve Barbara
the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control
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harvest_table
- Rockhopper Penguin
- Posts: 1509
- Joined: Wed May 25, 2005 6:29 pm
- Location: Fergus Falls, Minnesota
Hi Cristi,
Wow, what a tough and emotional day for you....thinking about you too.
Hoping you get a good nights rest and feel refreshed in the morning.
Love,
Joanna
Wow, what a tough and emotional day for you....thinking about you too.
Hoping you get a good nights rest and feel refreshed in the morning.
Love,
Joanna
THE GLUTEN FILES
http://jccglutenfree.googlepages.com/
http://jccglutenfree.googlepages.com/
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MaggieRedwings
- King Penguin
- Posts: 3865
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 3:16 am
- Location: SE Pennsylvania
HI Cristi,
So sorry to hear about the horrible night you had but glad to hear that your test gave positive results, even though they might have triggered a reaction.
Please take care and I hope the breast results are just as positive.
Love, Maggie
So sorry to hear about the horrible night you had but glad to hear that your test gave positive results, even though they might have triggered a reaction.
Please take care and I hope the breast results are just as positive.
Love, Maggie
Maggie Scarpone
___________________
Resident Birder - I live to bird and enjoy life!
___________________
Resident Birder - I live to bird and enjoy life!
Mornin' Cristi!
Another test showing inconclusive results. RATZ! I would take it as a good sign, however, that one of the cysts seen on CT scan is no longer there (assuming that they were looking at the right area). Maybe your pancreas deveops temporary cysts - ones that later disappear? If so, that would not be typical of cancer.
I have a suggestion. Take it for what it's worth. Maybe it would be worthwhile to discontinue the pancreatic enzymes you have been taking. I know of no evidence that taking these supplements would stimulate the pancreas to form cysts, but it could happen, IMHO. I have learned to think out of the box since getting MC! Also, I think that you said in another post that your pancreatic enzymes were OK when tested, so you probably don't need to supplement.
Also, your bile salts theory is interesting and plausible. I have great faith in peoples' ability to diagnose themselves, to know intuitively on some level what is happening to their bodies. And you seem like a very intuitive person. Just because your doc does not know of any medical condition like this doesn't mean it isn't happening. Just look at all we have learned here about MC that GI docs are clueless about! HAH! I would definitely agree with a trial of cholestyramine for you. Good idea!
As for your "bad" past lives, don't worry, you have lots of company! LOL!
Seriously, though, I have done much reading about reincarnation. Are you interested in it, or did you just use it as a figure of speech? If you are really interested, send me a PM and I will share a very interesting personal experience with you.
Hang in there.....you WILL get to the bottom of this.
Love,
Polly
Another test showing inconclusive results. RATZ! I would take it as a good sign, however, that one of the cysts seen on CT scan is no longer there (assuming that they were looking at the right area). Maybe your pancreas deveops temporary cysts - ones that later disappear? If so, that would not be typical of cancer.
I have a suggestion. Take it for what it's worth. Maybe it would be worthwhile to discontinue the pancreatic enzymes you have been taking. I know of no evidence that taking these supplements would stimulate the pancreas to form cysts, but it could happen, IMHO. I have learned to think out of the box since getting MC! Also, I think that you said in another post that your pancreatic enzymes were OK when tested, so you probably don't need to supplement.
Also, your bile salts theory is interesting and plausible. I have great faith in peoples' ability to diagnose themselves, to know intuitively on some level what is happening to their bodies. And you seem like a very intuitive person. Just because your doc does not know of any medical condition like this doesn't mean it isn't happening. Just look at all we have learned here about MC that GI docs are clueless about! HAH! I would definitely agree with a trial of cholestyramine for you. Good idea!
As for your "bad" past lives, don't worry, you have lots of company! LOL!
Seriously, though, I have done much reading about reincarnation. Are you interested in it, or did you just use it as a figure of speech? If you are really interested, send me a PM and I will share a very interesting personal experience with you.
Hang in there.....you WILL get to the bottom of this.
Love,
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
Hi Friends,
I had another attack last night...unlike MC where most of the worst symptoms occur in the morning, this usually begins right after dinner and builds and is at its worst around 3am. My GP had never seen me in the middle of one of these but came into the ER while I was there and witnessed how much pain I was in (some things words can't quite capture) and while he has no idea what is going on he did prescribe morphine (in the past he said to try tums) for me to get through it. So, I tried it last night and it really helped me deal with the pain. Since in the past I only get this a few times a year I don't feel bad about taking morphine.
The pain I get with this is predominately in the upper middle of my abdomen right below where the rib cage separates and to the right. It begins with what feels like a gas hose is on gurgling in the upper right part of my abdomen. My abdomen starts bloating and I look 4 mos pregnant and my intestines start cramping. Then I start burping like crazy, but the gas hose is still pumping away. In addition to the bloating , my stomach feels rock hard when I touch it. Then it all starts to feel burning. Then my back and rib cage start aching with the right side hurting more. There are no words for how painful this stuff is. Around 2am I start pharting (the feminine kind like grannyh HAHA) and I had multiple episodes of D.
I have had these attacks since I was a teenager...no one has been able to figure this out. The usual response is that it really isn't that bad or I need antidepressants. This was the first time my MD has witnessed it so I am not being accused of exaggerating this time.
I have tried to figure out what if anything triggers this stuff and have never been able to tie it to anything. About 3 years ago I started getting iron infusions for my anemia and I haven't had these attacks since then and was hoping somehow the anemia was responsible even though no one could explain how that was possible. I would think that this attack happening after this test has narrowed the culprit down to either the gallbladder or the pancreas.
I have never had any feelings of having been here before but I do keep thinking that I am supposed to learn something from this pain. Maybe it's being a first born, but I feel responsibility for everything even when it's not in any way my fault. I think I am here to learn and that I am just not getting the big picture. My logical side says that pain is random and that if there is something to learn it is that we can't control nearly as much in life as I would like. However, my logical side rarely wins...so I keep trying to figure things out.
I am feeling good this morning and while I am not a pill person I am loving morphine at this moment.
Love,
Cristi
I had another attack last night...unlike MC where most of the worst symptoms occur in the morning, this usually begins right after dinner and builds and is at its worst around 3am. My GP had never seen me in the middle of one of these but came into the ER while I was there and witnessed how much pain I was in (some things words can't quite capture) and while he has no idea what is going on he did prescribe morphine (in the past he said to try tums) for me to get through it. So, I tried it last night and it really helped me deal with the pain. Since in the past I only get this a few times a year I don't feel bad about taking morphine.
The pain I get with this is predominately in the upper middle of my abdomen right below where the rib cage separates and to the right. It begins with what feels like a gas hose is on gurgling in the upper right part of my abdomen. My abdomen starts bloating and I look 4 mos pregnant and my intestines start cramping. Then I start burping like crazy, but the gas hose is still pumping away. In addition to the bloating , my stomach feels rock hard when I touch it. Then it all starts to feel burning. Then my back and rib cage start aching with the right side hurting more. There are no words for how painful this stuff is. Around 2am I start pharting (the feminine kind like grannyh HAHA) and I had multiple episodes of D.
I have had these attacks since I was a teenager...no one has been able to figure this out. The usual response is that it really isn't that bad or I need antidepressants. This was the first time my MD has witnessed it so I am not being accused of exaggerating this time.
I have tried to figure out what if anything triggers this stuff and have never been able to tie it to anything. About 3 years ago I started getting iron infusions for my anemia and I haven't had these attacks since then and was hoping somehow the anemia was responsible even though no one could explain how that was possible. I would think that this attack happening after this test has narrowed the culprit down to either the gallbladder or the pancreas.
I have never had any feelings of having been here before but I do keep thinking that I am supposed to learn something from this pain. Maybe it's being a first born, but I feel responsibility for everything even when it's not in any way my fault. I think I am here to learn and that I am just not getting the big picture. My logical side says that pain is random and that if there is something to learn it is that we can't control nearly as much in life as I would like. However, my logical side rarely wins...so I keep trying to figure things out.
I am feeling good this morning and while I am not a pill person I am loving morphine at this moment.
Love,
Cristi
Cristi, I forget, did you ever get a small intestine bacterial overgrowth test done? If so what did say?
Given what I know and some of the symptoms my first guess would be bacterial overgrowth, and you ate something the bacteria is having a food fest on and producing a lot of gas as a concequence.
What exactly did you eat those days, how much and when did you eat them?
Mike
Given what I know and some of the symptoms my first guess would be bacterial overgrowth, and you ate something the bacteria is having a food fest on and producing a lot of gas as a concequence.
What exactly did you eat those days, how much and when did you eat them?
Mike
Sorry another few questions. How many inches would you say below and right of the botom of the sternum would you put the pain?
When you have the bloating, where does the bloating occur? Any specific areas of the abdomen, the entire abdomen?
When you far... er phart... ;) is it a lot, or is it only a bit more than normal?
When you have the bloating, where does the bloating occur? Any specific areas of the abdomen, the entire abdomen?
When you far... er phart... ;) is it a lot, or is it only a bit more than normal?
Christi,
The symptoms you describe, especially the location of the pain, and the fact that it seems to radiate through to your back, (including the fact that they begin right after eating), are an exact match for classic gallbladder disease.
I'm puzzled as to why the scan didn't show any problems with your gallbladder, but based on your description, I would be very, very suspicious that this is your problem, regardless of what any tests might show, or any doctors might "think". You described the condition to a "T". Even the fact that the symptoms resolve on their own, after 12 to 18 hours, is a match.
Surely your doctors can see this, (after all, the symptoms practically scream GALLBLADDER DISEASE), but the lack of supporting evidence from the scans, probably has them totally confused.
I think the odds are very high that this is your problem, but something is confounding the tests.
Love,
Tex
The symptoms you describe, especially the location of the pain, and the fact that it seems to radiate through to your back, (including the fact that they begin right after eating), are an exact match for classic gallbladder disease.
I'm puzzled as to why the scan didn't show any problems with your gallbladder, but based on your description, I would be very, very suspicious that this is your problem, regardless of what any tests might show, or any doctors might "think". You described the condition to a "T". Even the fact that the symptoms resolve on their own, after 12 to 18 hours, is a match.
Surely your doctors can see this, (after all, the symptoms practically scream GALLBLADDER DISEASE), but the lack of supporting evidence from the scans, probably has them totally confused.
I think the odds are very high that this is your problem, but something is confounding the tests.
Love,
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.