Abdominal discomfort

[sharkeatyou 5]

I was wondering if anyone was or has gone/going through what I am going through. For the last year, I have been unable to eat almost anything. I have severe Constipation and thusly am taking a rediculous amount of bowel protocol. That said, my tummy has been so sensitive. Even smelling food gets it growling rediculous and I feel like I could throw up instantly. I have tried every antiemetic and am really struggling to eat anything. In a day, I can barely get in 500-900 calories. I pretty much tolerate nothing. I have tried Fiber (hardest on tummy), Protein shakes, smoothies, Protein, carbohydrates and there is nothing that doesn't make me want to throw up and lay down in agony waiting for the food to pass.

I had surgery 3 years ago. Gastric bypass. My surgeon doesn't know what to do and all my doctors cannot figure out what is wrong. They have even suggested that this was psychological.

This all began after 2 car accidents last January, and since then life has not been normal. The first year after surgery it was difficult and I struggled to eat, but it eventually settled. It has never been this bad.

Despite barely eating anything, my weight has not decreased. As such I have had several small bowel obstructions and I feel the doctors are not looking at the right things. They keep saying my issues is constipation and send me home with laxatives. Which I believe I am having a small bowel issue, not just a large bowel.

It seems like food is not leaving my stomach, and takes a long time to move through my bowels. I have even wondered if the car accident caused vagus nerve damage. After all my heart rate is over 100 almost all the time (used to be 50-60 at rest), and I sweat profusely after eating.

It takes at least an hour after eating 2 small bites for the pain to go away.

I had a colonoscopy and it was fine. I had an endoscopy and my stomach had to issues, no ulcers.

After dealing with this for a year, I feel so depressed. I have no energy to work anymore and my relationship is suffering.

I know I am complicated by I cannot help but think the doctors have tunnel vision and are not looking correctly. Fortunately I can drink peppermint, ginger, fennel tea without issues, so I am and least able to stay hydrated. But the pain and nutritional deficit is really starting to show.

Anyhow I have seen all the right doctors and professionals, but no one is doing anything anymore. I really want a barium follow through, so they can see what is wrong with my small bowel, but my gi specialist won't do that. Won't give me a reason either.

Oh well, thanks for the vent anyhow. I know the car accident caused some issues, but I feel my bariatric surgery and rearranged bowels have contributed to this issue. Thanks for the ear <3

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[sharkeatyou 5]

Sooo, just as an update, I am still sick. It has been 1 year and 8 months since my car accident(s). My go specialist has diagnosed me with IBS. I still don't believe that this is the issue. I was given dice yep and baclofen and it actually made the pain worse. I am so tired of people telling me that I am "constipated". However, that said I take polyethylene glycol almost daily which softens stool, but it still takes about 9-10 days for food to pass.
I am still maintaining my weight, but not losing. How is this possible. My highest known weight was 340 pounds and I currently weigh 163 pounds. So I guess that is still a win.
My family doctor agrees that I likely have vagus nerve damage, but I feel like something is still missing.
It really doesn't make sense. Yesterday, I ate 1/2 c yogurt and 1/8 cup meat. That is it. My pain has improved a bit, such that I am not dying after eating. I have been on tramadol tid for almost 2 years now.
After doing more research, I am planning to speak with my family physician about the possible late complication of rny of candy cane roux syndrome. I have never heard of this before. But I have all of the symptoms. This however may not be the answer, because I cannot verify how long my roux blind limb is, if at all. But I would be even open to having surgery to remove more of my small intestine to just "see".
It is so hard because almost 2 years ago I was running marathons and loved my life. Although my surgery was not easy, it made my life better. 1 month after my car accident my life became unlivable.

Last november I was very low mentally. I have survived that, and am hopeful I will get better. It has improved my nursing practice amazingly. Unfortunately I don't feel like my coworkers can count on me. I have called in sick because of pain more in the last year than I have in my entire life combined.
I have spent most of my time in bed and my muscles have atrophied. I work and stay in bed. The only thing that got me out of my depression in November was my husband and dog.

I have lost a lot of friends, and am still mourning that loss.

I am determined, I will figure this out. I will find out what is wrong with me and I will let you know as I know. I know this is vagus nerve damage, which was worsened by all my abdominal surgeries (4 surgeries now). I know the car accident caused abdominal trauma. I know I have slow sluggish bowels, but i am not "constipated".

The slow bowels, the persistent nausea and post-prandial pain, constant fullness, may be related to poor peristalsis of my manipulated bowels.

I will keep you posted, because I do not want someone to go through what I have.

[hmills653 365]

wow. Sorry. I how they can figure this out for you. Are they considering some sort of alternative nutrition like tpn or tube feedings temporarily until you are able to eat?

[Berry78 4,261]

Of course, since you are not losing weight, they don't think you need tpn. Are your clothes getting looser?

You didn't mention whether you had a ct scan or mri.

We had a cat once that had a problem. Didn't realize it until he was obviously sick and we took him to the vet. Turned out he had 10 pounds of fecal material backed up that he couldn't pass. He never lost scale weight, but his ribs were prominent by then. (Barn cat, so we didn't see him as much as if he had been an indoor cat).

Of course if you are retaining, an imaging study should pick up on that.

[sharkeatyou 5]

Definitely great feedback. I have also had I think 5 cat scans. Similar to your cat berry, I was told I had 10-15 kg of stool backed up. The current theory was that it was so heavy it was compressing my roux, such that I couldn't eat anything. So I was sent home with a laxative. At home I took the laxative, was cleaned out of stool, and the pain continued. I definitely think the stool backup is a contributing factor and a major symptom of what is going on. Perhaps this is still the issue. Perhaps my bowels have been distended for so long that they don't work anymore.

I have considered TPN as well as a g/j tube. But like you mentioned Berry, no weight loss = no problems with nutrition

I have lost weight, my face looks very thin and my muscles have atrophied like crazy. My stomach has become very bloated and distended centrally.

[Berry78 4,261]

22-35 pounds of fecal material is no joke! Since your belly is getting distended, it's clear this is a continuing problem.

It sounds like an exploratory surgery might be in order. They could find the source of the bowel trouble and go from there. It would have to be an open procedure, and potentially very dangerous. That's probably why your docs aren't wheeling you into the surgical suite as we speak.

[sharkeatyou 5]

My exploratory surgery just showed fecal matter, nothing else. They said if it continues to be a problem they might need to look at the remnant stomach unfortunately like you mentioned, the risks are so high, so they are quite reluctant.
I have even wondered if being converted to a duodenal switch would be the answer. It would bypass a lot of intestines. This however is very risky as well. Even though I am 163 pounds, I am only a size 6 (average 4-8), and that would make the malnourishment worse.
One of my biggest fears regarding getting a gastric bypass was stomach cancer. When I asked my surgeon about this pre-op, he said "don't worry, we will monitor your remnant stomach closely". Now I am told that they cannot look at my remnant stomach for issues because they cannot scope it.

Berry, thank you for responding. This certainly has not been easy and your voice is comforting. I am certainly not giving up. I think I have just fallen through the medical cracks a bit.

[LifeChangesLori 79]

Oh man, sorry your feeling bad. I would get a tube feeding or tpn if you can. Feel better!

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[blondie66 271]

So sorry to hear of your struggle. I know now at 2 years post op Constipation is something I have to deal with constantly. It never was an issue at the beginning. My experience has shown a really good probiotic helps such as HMF neuro powder. You have it in a cold drink 2 x a day. It has helped with my digestion and being regular. Also Triphala is a good supplement for stimulating the vagus nerve. You can take for a few months then take a break - I'm in a month off now. And when all else fails Milk of Mag helps. And Water and daily walking always beneficial. I hope you can find an answer to your issues. Wishing u all the best.

[blondie66 271]

http://www.gastroparesisnaturaltreatment.com/

[blondie66 271]

Just wanted to add u cannot take Triphala when pregnant or trying to get pregnant.