Spryte Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 I have a friend who's been in misery for months. She's finally got a doc looking into what's going on, but can any of you throw out some ideas? She's miserable, and the testing is going slowly, and it's stressful. Here's the basics: Watery pale yellow stools up to 20+ times a day, no appetite, unexplained weight loss, itchy skin all over, nausea, vomiting. No cramping, gas. Feeling full after just a bite of food. No blood in stool. Dark urine unless drinks a ton of water. Taking probiotics. Starting to feel fatigued in the evening, just in the last month. Progressively gotten worse since end of May. No gall bladder. Doc has ruled out IBS, liver issues, Hepatitis, diverticulitis, Crohn's, anything contagious. Waiting on a test for Celiac disease to come back. Colonoscopy to be scheduled next week. Doctor vague about looking for "growths and/or abnormalities on pancreas" but super detailed about everything else. Any ideas? She's worried. I think the vagueness about what he's looking for re: the pancreas is most stressful. Does this sound like it could be Celiac? What about a bile duct obstruction, even without the gall bladder? How would they check that? Thanks for any thoughts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnificent_baby Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 Sounds like she needs an upper GI test as well. My mom had a colonoscopy and upper GI all in the same morning. I would push to get both of them during the same appointment if possible. I would also push to have these done sooner than next week. Can she get into a GI specialist ASAP? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spryte Posted November 10, 2014 Author Share Posted November 10, 2014 Sounds like she needs an upper GI test as well. My mom had a colonoscopy and upper GI all in the same morning. I would push to get both of them during the same appointment if possible. I would also push to have these done sooner than next week. Can she get into a GI specialist ASAP? I'll suggest that. Poor thing. She feels terrible, and the not knowing is the worst part. A GI specialist is a good idea. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spryte Posted November 10, 2014 Author Share Posted November 10, 2014 Any more thoughts? Just got more bloodwork results - she's negative for Celiac. Is that blood test reliable? She's not keeping any food down. Any ideas on how to keep something down? GI specialist appt is a few weeks away, so she's looking for support/ideas how to get through till then, and any BTDT thoughts on what it could be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnificent_baby Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 Any more thoughts? Just got more bloodwork results - she's negative for Celiac. Is that blood test reliable? She's not keeping any food down. Any ideas on how to keep something down? GI specialist appt is a few weeks away, so she's looking for support/ideas how to get through till then, and any BTDT thoughts on what it could be. She must be miserable, she'll be in my thoughts and prayers, how frustrating! No other ideas, but if I were in her shoes, I wouldn't hesitate to go the ER and/or ask for a direct admission from her primary. I would be worried about electrolyte imbalances, dehydration and other serious complications of non-stop diarrhea and vomiting. She needs a full workup and I'd be hesitant to wait any longer. Poor lady! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Um_2_4 Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 I'm sorry to say I would look at going in via the ER if needed. Some of those symptoms are the same my dad had and it was, well, not a good diagnosis.... esophageal cancer. I would not wait "a few weeks" for any appointments. I mean how much nutrition can she be getting at this point? My dad did lots of soups, ensure type drinks when he had that full feeling after a bite or two of "real food". Did she have a full CAT scan yet??? I think she may need a doctor who is taking this a bit more serious. My dr has gotten DH a specialist appt the same week for a much less serious problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hornblower Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 Um, my dear, these are some of the symptoms of pancreatic cancer: The weight loss, pale stool, diarrhea, itching, nausea, dark urine - it's all on there.http://www.webmd.com/cancer/pancreatic-cancer/understanding-pancreatic-cancer-symptomsShe needs to be seen asap. I ditto going to the ER if she can't get the full tests any other way right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoPlaceLikeHome Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 She should go to hospital and get second opinion. My aunt had those symptoms and had pancreatic cancer:( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbgrace Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 I, too, think she needs the ER and/or a hospital admission. I'd pick a major hospital that would have the appropriate specialists on staff. I'm confused about why her doctor doesn't think lack of intake and that many stools a day is an emergency or potential emergency. Does she have jaundice? I have known 2 people with pancreatic cancer, so a small sample, but both had noticeable jaundice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whereneverever Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 My fil just died from pancreatic CANCER. Please have her go be seen asap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alessandra Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 I am so sorry. I agree with all the above that long term, multiple serious symptoms need better medical attention than what she is getting. She needs to cut that doctor loose and get to a hospital that has specialists in a variety of fields. If ER is the only way in, that would be the way to go. No one should be miserable for months. It sounds as though the doctor has been trying one test at a time? Your friend needs everything asap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trulycrabby Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 My first thought was pancreas, but the getting full with just a bite of food part and a few other makes me think she also needs to see her gynecologist to rule out ovarian cancer. She needs a transvaginal ultrasound and a full abdominal CT upper and lower abdomen. Does she have a bloated or round looking belly? She needs an upper GI work up, rule out pancreatic cancer, and rule out ovarian/ peritoneal cancer. If she has any family history of ovarian cancer, please contact me via pm because we need to talk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livetoread Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 Gall bladder cancer is another possibility, though I certainly hope not. Your poor friend. I too am wondering why this doc isn't all over this given those symptoms. Hugs to both of you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spryte Posted November 10, 2014 Author Share Posted November 10, 2014 :( I'm so worried about her. Going to go suggest the ER. At least they could give her some fluids. This is horrible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: I'm sorry she is feeling so badly. Yes to the ER. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catz Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 She should definitely try the ER. Get a upper and lower endo and a abdomen ultrasound if she hasn't and rule out all the worst possibilities. Had she had her Urine tested? Blood? She really needs a full work up If all that comes back negative, I would do a HUGE elimination diet and maybe start working with a more holistic practitioner. I had almost a year of unexplained bowel issues that really was IBS combined with stress and poor nutrition with many of the same symptoms. I'm not sure how they can rule out IBS. Usually that is the default when everything else has been ruled out. The dark urine is worrisome and unusual though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindy in FL. Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 I really hope that she can get a proper diagnosis and treatment ASAP! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirty ethel rackham Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 She has been dealing with this since May?!?! And no diagnosis and no direction ?? She should fire that doctor and go to the ER. She is probably too run down to even attend to her medical needs and probably needs help advocating for herself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingersmom Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 Has she been checked for parasites? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plansrme Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 Has she been checked for parasites? I was going to suggest this as well. I had a friend years ago who had years of some sort of undiagnosed intestinal disorder. A new doctor started off with some sort of anti-parasitic concoction, and her issues cleared almost immediately. Giardia alone, which is fairly common, can cause similar symptoms, though maybe not for six months. In any event, I agree with everyone who says that this is too many months of pussy-footing around. She needs some answers or a doctor who will look harder (and faster) for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spryte Posted November 11, 2014 Author Share Posted November 11, 2014 Has she been checked for parasites? I'm not sure about parasites. They did check for Giardia, e. Coli, C. Diff, and a bunch of other things along those lines, but I'm not sure about parasites. I will ask her. Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiramisu Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 You said she was waiting on results of a test for celiac. If this was only a blood test, I think it could be helpful to for her to have an endoscopy at the same time she has the colonscopy. At this point I agree that she should be seeing a GI doctor and not a regular GP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 :grouphug: I'm sorry to hear your friend is suffering so much. I hope she gets some answers soon. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamakelly Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 Sounds like parasites to me. I had most of those symptoms several years ago. My dr rolled her eyes at me when I asked, but ordered the stool test. 4 days later she called me back sounding shocked and saying I had a parasite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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