Re: stomach problems with endo. (nauseau, gas, vomiting)??
From: anonymous (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Tue May 24 11:07:37 2005
One of the most important 'tests' you can do yourself to help your
doctor move ahead faster in the 'eliminating the non-causes to find the
cause' of your stomach problems is to put yourself of a bland diet for 1
week. If, while on a bland diet you are completely symptom free then
slowly add back 1 food at a time, the food items you think are most
likely to be causing your symptoms.
To do this effectively and to give your doctor some meaningful
information it is important to keep accurate records of everything that
goes in your mouth. Also make notes regarding whether you are
constipated, gassy, diarrhea, etc.
For example:
Week 1 you eat toast, boiled eggs, non-cream soups (chicken noodle,
etc.) saltine or Ritz crackers, applesauce, plain rice. Basically no
seasonings, no salts or spices and no heavy meats, creams, caffeine,
alcohol or dairy.
Week 2 add back one item from this list: meat (only baked or broiled)
and eat that along with the foods from week 1. If no symptoms then move
to the next list. Fried foods are highly suspect with stomach upsets so
should be eliminated completely from your diet.
Week 3 add back one item from this list: dairy (cheese, milk, yogurt,
ice cream) and eat that along with the foods from week 1 and week 2. If
no symptoms then move to the next list. Many dairy products are
responsible for gas, constipation and diarrhea due to the lactose and/or
milk fats. Try switching to 2% or skim and see if that helps. You may
also try acidophilous milk or the lactose-free milks.
Week 4 add back any other items you eliminated from your diet for week
1. Keep careful track of what you eat each day and when you eat it and
if your symptoms return mark it down. Try to see if there is a direct
relation between the food item (or items) and the symptoms. At this
point you can try adding back cream sauces and seasonings but use the
least amount possible. Many seasonings contain filler ingredients that
are common 'upsetters' and cream sauces are often too high in fat for
your body to process.
If you notice your symptoms return after adding back a food then go back
to the week 1 diet for 2 days then on the 3rd day eat the week 1 diet
plus the most recently added food. If symptoms return again then you
should make note that the item caused your symptoms and similar foods
should be suspected.
If your symptoms do not return then you know it was some sort of bug,
chemical imbalance in the digestive tract or other anomaly that has
self-corrected.
If your symptoms do return and can be related to a food item or the
method of preparation then you'll have to eliminate that food or cooking
method from your diet.
If your symptoms do return and cannot be directly related to a
particular food item or cooking method then you can report this to your
doctor with your log information and he/she can then decide what other
tests to perform to try to get to the bottom of it.
If you've already been through the 'food elimination' test or your
symptoms never stopped then other sources must be considered. Make sure
your doctor knows what medications - prescription and over the counter -
you take and how much. Also include information about any vitamins,
herbal products or supplements you use. If all of these things have
been ruled out then it's time for the more expensive, uncomfortable and
invasive tests such as scans, scopes and surgeries.
hope you get your answers soon
At Mon, 23 May 2005, Tracy wrote:
>
>Hello Lorrie,
>I,ve been having similar symptoms as you. The doctors think it's my
>gallbladder. I go for a gallbladder scan tomorrow. The doc at the ER
>said it was probably reflux but he was an idiot. He tried to tell me
>that I was pregnant just after I told him that I had a hysterectomy. I
>noticed that I feel better if I stay away from greasy foods. It's very
>hard for me but if I don't the food will come out one way or another.
>Hope you find out what the problem is. I know how frusturating it can
>be "not knowing". Take care.
>Tracy
>
>At Mon, 23 May 2005, LORRIE wrote:
>>
>>I am an avid reader here and rarely post. I was experiencing pain in
>>2002 and my gyn thought that it was chronic appendicitis, so I saw a
>>surgeon and was scheduled me for an appendectomy. At that time my GYN
>>wanted to be there as well. Well low and behold when they went in to do
>>the appy I was loaded with endo. My GYN almost had a heart
>>attack...when I had my hyst in 1992 I had no endo so in a period of 10
>>years the endo had taken over. All along my gyn suspected I had endo
>>and from about 1984-1992 I had several laps for chronic pelvic pain and
>>while he didn't find endo, he always suspected I had it, even after 2
>>C-sections in that time period. Anyhow, in 2002 when I had my appy my
>>left ovary was totally dead, it had been strangulated, so my gyn ended
>>up having to scurry to get right equipment to take out the endo and
>>ovary. In 12/02 I had my left ovary removed because I was continuing to
>>have pain and was started on Vivelle Dot patch HRT. I am continuing to
>>have pain, pain with intercourse. The thing that really caught my eye
>>on this post is that I have noticed an increasing amount of gas, that
>>causes me severe abdominal pain--I have kidney stones so I always think
>>it's a stone but one never comes. I'm also noticing that I'm nauseated
>>alot. I wonder if this is all related and if my endo is back?? I need
>>to call my gyn for an appointment and I'm probably going to have some
>>kind of surgery again, I would suppose. I would appreciate thoughts you
>>might have.
>>
>>At Thu, 5 May 2005, m wrote:
>>>
>>>this is interesting bc my GI has done NO test other than endoscopy
>>>actually he barely listened to my symptoms, did not eem to want to
>>>bother dealing with it. it seems time ot look for a new doctor. did
>>>you have nay of the same symptoms as me? yes mine is all worse the 2
>>>weeks before and during my period.
>>>m
>>>ps when you come to ca. im not too close to dr cooks office butif by
>>>chance you are i the berkeley/oakland area im available should you need
>>>some help. i know it will be hard recovering soemplace other than your
>>>home.
>>>
>>>At Thu, 5 May 2005, Shannon wrote:
>>>>
>>>>Perhaps you should get another lap. done. Like I told Belinda, there
>>>>are 4 specific tests that measure how well your intestines are working.
>>>>Air contrast barium enema, defecatograph, anorectal motility study, and
>>>>GI Transit study. I also get a ton of gas in my intestines and it
>>>>causes a lot of pain. Are you stomach problems worse the week before
>>>>and during your cycle? A colonoscopy only tests to see that there are no
>>>>blockages or lumps in the intestines. I have literally had every test
>>>>with my GI done so let me know if I can help.
>>>>
>>>>--
>>>>Shannon
>>>>
>>>>At Thu, 5 May 2005, m wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>ive had an endoscopy done (2 of them) that showed my ulcer and hernia
>>>>>and i did do one other test before that (cant remeber what it was) that
>>>>>didnt show anything--but thats it
>>>>>
>>>>>as far as endo my last lap was 5 yrs ago, at that time my dr. did not
>>>>>see anything on my bowels but maybe thats changed.
>>>>>
>>>>>all my symptoms--the pain and stomach probs.--have been gettign worse
>>>>>and worse every month lately
>>>>>
>>>>>At Thu, 5 May 2005, Shannon wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Has your doctor done any GI tests on you? Do you have endo. on your
>>>>>>bowels at all?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>At Thu, 5 May 2005, m wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Hi all,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>I read the thread about bowel problems and have a question of my own
>>>>>>>about stomach problems and endo.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>For the 2 weeks or so that I have pain, I also have stomach problems
>>>>>>>including nasuea, vomiting, burping alot, some diarhea (sorry about my
>>>>>>>spelling). I dont think its the med. bc even when i havent taken any
>>>>>>>in a while i feel the symptoms. it feels more like the pain is actually
>>>>>>>causing the symptoms. is this possible? has anyone else experienced
>>>>>>>this?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>i had an ulcer and hernia that supposedly have healed but i know that
>>>>>>>that might be a factor too. but the part of the month that i dont have
>>>>>>>pain i dont have these stomach symptoms either.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>--
>>>>>>>my docotr has not been too helpful. he said hell give me soemthing for
>>>>>>>the nausea but the other med he gave me is for constipation and i dotn
>>>>>>>even have that so im not sure how that will help me??
>>>>>>>
>>--
>>Lorrie Paulus
>>Cincinnati, Ohio
>>
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