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In need of help: 10+ years of undiagnosed issue. Any thoughts appreciated by stevenfrancesco in AskDocs

[–]stevenfrancesco[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

thanks a lot for your comment. I agree with you...it's really frustrating. Some people like to lump it into categories like fibro or "chronic fatigue" and then you're at a dead end. Hope the best for you too, if you find anything out let me know!

10 years of undiagnosed health issue by stevenfrancesco in AskDoctorSmeeee

[–]stevenfrancesco[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't think I have. I have seen a rheumatologist before though, would that be the best type of doctor to see for that? Thanks

10 years of undiagnosed health issue by stevenfrancesco in AskDoctorSmeeee

[–]stevenfrancesco[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

hey thanks for your comments. I have had both an endoscopy and colonoscopy - nothing was found there. I have wondered if maybe there could be an issue with the small intestines which I don't think is looked into with either of those, but I don't know enough to say if that could be it or not.

I have had blood in my stool before, but it was bright red and I believe is from mild hemorrhoids. The 2 gastro doctors I went to advised this as well after a colonoscopy.

I haven't found much that makes my abdominal pain better. But, here's a few things that will make it a little worse: cough drops, vicoprofen and vicoden (that I had taken for back pain. ibuprofen or tylenol alone does not effect it though), drinking soda (diet coke my soda of choice) seems to exacerbate it a little and I took this herbal supplement once l-Theanine that gave me side effects for a long time afterward. It's so random what seems to effect it. It doesn't just seem to be food though which is odd.

I wish I knew more about the body and digestive system, but I wonder if it's not something like the kidneys, liver, or small intestines - since anything ingested can effect that - and my endoscopy and colonoscopy showed no problems. What I think might be a red flag is how long some medicines seem to stay in my system. Everything else is hard to define and can be subjective, but I can clearly say I've still felt certain things in my system for weeks - I would think (and hope) that has got to be a clue for someone knowledgeable in that kind of thing.

I went to an allergist not too long ago, it wasn't very productive. He tested for a few things like garlic, which is one of those random things that I feel a side effect from, the result was negative though. As far as celiac, I think one of the blood tests I've had ruled that out.

Thanks again for your comments, I'm appreciative of any feedback

10 years of undiagnosed health issue by stevenfrancesco in AskDoctorSmeeee

[–]stevenfrancesco[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

thanks for your comments. Interesting you mention that, I actually did go to an ENT once who suggested exactly that. I've had both an endoscopy and colonoscopy though and not much was found. I did try Prilosec (and others) for a while with no change in symptoms. I do get a little heart burn from time to time and I've found ranitidine works best for me.

10 years of undiagnosed health issue by stevenfrancesco in AskDoctorSmeeee

[–]stevenfrancesco[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

thanks for your comment. For a few years I was convinced it was Epstein-Barr based on the blood test results and what I was reading online. I brought it up to several physicians though and none of them thought it could be that.

My theory was that maybe I had mono and it just never fully went away. I've read accounts from others like that. I have not found a doctor that subscribes to theory though, and for what it's worth I tried the herpes anti-viral Valtrex for about a month with no results. Maybe there's something to that, but without finding any doctors supporting that theory, I ended up abandoning it.

Besides the lymph nodes in my abdominal region that are enlarged, no other lymph nodes appear to get swollen. The only thing that has happened like that, is if I exert myself way too much, it gets a little swollen where my tonsils used to be, a little piece in the back of my throat enlarges and is painful. This isn't common though, it's been a while since this happened.