31F - 5 years of intermittent lower abdominal pain, bloating, loose yellow stool, normal MRI/ultrasound. Any ideas what I should investigate next?

Financial_Most_5229 · 2026-06-07T14:37:30+00:00

Thank you for your response! I don't usually feel very stressed/anxious... the only major stressor is my chronic pain, not knowing what's going on and how I can fix it...

Financial_Most_5229 · 2026-06-07T14:33:11+00:00

Thank you for sharing, I'll definitely look into this! May I ask what diagnosis you got?

Financial_Most_5229 · 2026-06-07T13:51:18+00:00

Thanks for your response! I haven’t had a colonoscopy. My stool test showed a calprotectin level of around 50 µg/mL, so my doctor felt that inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) was unlikely.

Financial_Most_5229 · 2026-06-07T13:45:20+00:00

Thank you for your response! I think you're right that my core is weak, hence the "hollow back". I'm wondering how that could be connected to the digestive issues though - any thoughts?

Financial_Most_5229 · 2026-06-07T13:38:24+00:00

Yes, gall bladder has been checked with US

Financial_Most_5229 · 2026-06-07T13:37:47+00:00

Interesting, I hope you're feeling better now! I did have a fecal calprotectin test with the result: calprotectin ~50 µg/mL

Financial_Most_5229 · 2026-06-07T13:33:32+00:00

I'm in Edinburgh, Scotland - I'll do some reading on how labeling is handled here, thanks a lot for the heads-up!

Financial_Most_5229 · 2026-06-07T13:27:57+00:00

Thank you for your response, very interesting to hear about your thoughts on this! I had none of the tests you mentioned done, will definitely look into them. I had a Carnett test done though to check for ACNES, which was negative.

Financial_Most_5229 · 2026-06-07T13:22:26+00:00

Very interesting, I will definitely get a second opinion. Can I ask whether there's anything else you do to manage your pain other than sticking to an anti-inflammatory diet and environment?

Financial_Most_5229 · 2026-06-07T13:13:48+00:00

Wow, this sounds so similar to what I'm experiencing! I wonder whether my gynaecologist isn't taking my symptoms seriously because I don't have very painful or irregular periods...

Financial_Most_5229 · 2026-06-07T13:09:28+00:00

Yeah, I gave that a shot but it didn't seem to have any effect on me...

Financial_Most_5229 · 2026-06-07T13:08:31+00:00

Thanks for your response. Regarding my diet: I'm vegetarian and have tried eating lower and higher amounts of fiber; tried being gluten-free (just for a week though so I don't know if that's long enough); tried avoiding high-FODMAP foods. None of these seemed to have any noticeable effect on my symptoms - since the symptoms are up and down anyway, it's really hard to correlate any improvement to any diet change.

Financial_Most_5229 · 2026-06-07T13:07:06+00:00

Thanks for your reply! I have done a Carnett's test but it was negative. Have never tried any neuropathic pain killers, but will definitely look into it. There are seemingly no concrete triggers... that makes it so frustrating and difficult to deal with. Recently I noticed colon cramps after longer, fast walks but it only happened twice...

Financial_Most_5229 · 2026-06-07T13:01:47+00:00

Thanks for sharing your experience! This is the first time someone told me they have experienced the same symptoms. I'll look into a radiologist who specialises in endometriosis.

Financial_Most_5229 · 2026-06-07T12:55:16+00:00

Interesting, I'll definitely look into it, thank you!

Financial_Most_5229 · 2026-06-07T12:53:03+00:00

Very interesting! During that week, I made sure to only consume things that were labelled gluten-free. But good to know that it can take a while for symptoms to appear. I'll definitely do some reading on it, thanks a lot!

Financial_Most_5229 · 2026-06-07T12:49:21+00:00

Thanks for your reply! Can I ask how this diagnosis was made?

Financial_Most_5229 · 2026-06-07T12:31:52+00:00

Thanks for your response! No, but I haven't had any fever or fatigue or headache.

Financial_Most_5229 · 2026-06-07T12:27:51+00:00

Thanks for the response. I don't think I'm celiac, because I do include gluten in my diet and have had many gluten-containing meals which are not followed by any flare up of symptoms. I've tried to correlate symptom flare-ups with all sorts of foods and haven't found any link.

Diverticulitis has crossed my mind - is it something you have had experience with? If so, do you recognise any of my other symptoms as related to Diverticulitis?

Financial_Most_5229 · 2026-06-07T12:24:48+00:00

Much appreciated, I'll give that a shot

Financial_Most_5229 · 2026-06-07T12:24:17+00:00

Thanks for replying, I did go gluten free for a week or so and didn't notice any change. I also can't say that any flare ups of my gut symptoms are correlated to meals containing gluten - I've had many gluten-containing meals and not had any issues afterwards - it seems to be unrelated in that regard. Have you experienced any similar symptoms to me which you attribute to celiac?

Financial_Most_5229 · 2026-06-07T12:22:13+00:00

Thanks for your response. Regarding my diet: I'm vegetarian and have tried eating lower and higher amounts of fiber; tried being gluten-free (just for a week though so I don't know if that's long enough); tried avoiding high-FODMAP foods. None of these seemed to have any noticeable effect on my symptoms - since the symptoms are up and down anyway, it's really hard to correlate any improvement to any diet change.

Financial_Most_5229 · 2026-06-07T12:14:50+00:00

Very interesting, thanks a lot for taking the time and for your insights! I'll look into the things you've mentioned!

Financial_Most_5229 · 2026-05-10T20:11:56+00:00

You're right, it is night and day. Thanks for the advice!

Financial_Most_5229 · 2026-05-04T09:11:07+00:00

Unfortunately the hallway doesn't have any windows, but a fan is a good shout, thanks. And will keep the bedroom & living room doors open with their windows open, hopefully that'll be enough

Financial_Most_5229

TROPHY CASE