Severe stomach issues, could I be a hypocondriac?!
Question: Long story short is that all my life(or the first 25 years at least) my mother called me a hypocondriac. I complained of basically the same things over and over. Diarrhea, constipation , abdominal pain, sulphur burps, fatigue. Over the years I have gone to doctors who pretty much either didn't believe me because of no weight loss, or just didn't take me seriously for some other unexplained reason. There were only 2 doctors that I saw during the first 30 years of my life. Now I have lost approximately 55lbs without trying. I have currently started seeing a new doctor who did a small bowel follow through about a week ago but still hasn't called me with any results. I did call his office once but still hasn't called me back. I seriously can hardly eat. I eat like once a day and just something the size of maybe half a sandwich. I have cut down on what I drink(not alchohol either!) trying to control my symptoms. Is it me? Is it the doctor? What should I do?
Any help is greatly appreciated!
Answers: Long story short is that all my life(or the first 25 years at least) my mother called me a hypocondriac. I complained of basically the same things over and over. Diarrhea, constipation , abdominal pain, sulphur burps, fatigue. Over the years I have gone to doctors who pretty much either didn't believe me because of no weight loss, or just didn't take me seriously for some other unexplained reason. There were only 2 doctors that I saw during the first 30 years of my life. Now I have lost approximately 55lbs without trying. I have currently started seeing a new doctor who did a small bowel follow through about a week ago but still hasn't called me with any results. I did call his office once but still hasn't called me back. I seriously can hardly eat. I eat like once a day and just something the size of maybe half a sandwich. I have cut down on what I drink(not alchohol either!) trying to control my symptoms. Is it me? Is it the doctor? What should I do?
Any help is greatly appreciated!
Hmm, your symptoms sound serious to me. You should be getting scoped to see whats going on down there. You might have something as simple as an ulcer, or something worse(trust me, I know worse). You should explain to the doctor that your worried about these things and proceed from there. I'm not sure where you live, but if you live in Canada you can go to the emergency(your medical will cover it) and tell them how badly your feeling. They might admit you and scope you, but i'm not sure. Good luck, and I hope you feel better.
Try yoga, or something that works on controlling your mind and body.
You have symptoms, and whether they are psychosomatic or not, the symptoms can be alleviated. The key is to work on the emotional, psychological triggers. Your cure isn't going to work. Get back to the doc and get into a yoga or relaxation or visualization class ASAP. You may be a hypochondriac, you may have something undiagnosed. Doesn't matter. You need to take control of your life, your body.
'small bowel follow through!!!!!!!!!'
You'll have to teach me that one.
Mine all seem to be far too big.......anyway..................Mum's right. Get a grip...(No pun intended)
I doubt it. You can't fake diarrhea. Go to a gastroenterologist. Losing that much weight by eating so little is a problem. Is the small bowel follow through a virtual colonoscopy or just that they make you drink the radioactive liquid and take X-rays( upper GI series)?
You should go back to eating normally and keep track of everything that you eat, so you can show the doctor when the symptoms occur.
I speak from experience. I lost 25 pounds with diarrhea problems, gas, and ab pain. After having a battery of tests, some not too comfortable, I kept track of what I ate and when symptoms occurred. Found out that I was lactose intolerant (eating milk products caused the problem). I started taking lactase pills with the milk products and that solved the problem. I eventually gained back the weight since I was too skinny.
I will also tell you that in addition to lactose, MOST women have some intolerance to gluten. That can cause all of your symptoms. See if you can go to an allergist... and go see another gastroenterologist. Don't stop until someone takes you seriously. There could also be something wrong with your bile or how you digest food that it's not digesting properly.
There is definitely something wrong that needs to be dealt with. Go search for specialists in or around your state. Be prepared to travel, but find SOMEONE that will listen to you. See if you can email any of these docs with your symptoms and see what they say. Don't take no for an answer.