Hello ladies!

I don't have a female figure in my life to discuss this with, so I'm hoping you ladies could point me in the right direction.

I'm 46, in full menopause. Breast and Colon cancer have taken my Mother and Grandfather, I worry about getting either.

For the past few weeks to a month, I have been experiencing severe bloating and pain in my pelvic region. It hurts so bad that I tuck my underwear "under" my lower belly flab so I can let go of the expansion of my stomach. Wearing pants is pretty hard on me. It's very much like the feeling of pregnancy. (I've never actually had a baby though) It's affecting my every moment

The pain has radiated to my lower back and hurts like a mother. The pain is unbearable.

As I am losing weight, 40 lbs so far, my upper and lower stomach have actually gotten fatter. I notice no change in my size even having lost weight. Is this normal?

I have not been following my diet as close as I did before. I feel nausious when I think of food or attempt to eat. I'm living off Greek yogurt. I get this sensation of heartburn (doesn't last but a minute or two) when I take my first bite of something. I can barely eat. I weighed myself and had gained ten pounds over two days. Drinking is not a problem. I feel sick at the thought of food most days.

I went to see my PCP twice this week. Had a papsmear that came out normal, had a pelvic exam, normal too, but the Doc ordered a CT scan on my pelvic area. That showed nothing too. A few days after seeing the PCP, the pain wouldn't go away so I went to the ER (oh, that's where I had the CT scan) They did a lot of bloodwork, and took a urine sample... fit as a fiddle. They sent me home with Lortab's for the pain.

The hospital ordered a mammogram, a colonoscopy and an upper GI. My Mom died of Breast cancer, and my grandfather died of colon cancer. My PCP and ER docs are looking for cancer.

I can't eat, when I do I get heartburn (esophogeal?) and can't eat the food. I'm walking around feeling very full, but I'm totally empty. When I eat, it's greek yogurt, an apple, hummus, eggs, chicken, veggies, etc. I'm eating right, just barely. I do have good days where I can eat a little something and I don't feel nausious. I'm having normal bowels.

Aside from looking at the test results from the mammo, colonoscopy and upper GI for cancer, I would like to know if any of the things I'm experiencing are signs of something wrong with my band. (i.e. nausea when eating food, or not eating food, esophogeal heartburn) and I'm not noticing it. Are there things that I should go see my WLS surgeon about? I could add him to the list.

I'm very sick, am following up with Drs, I'm so scared.

Thank you laurigee...You described your experience as if it were mine, to a point. I'm sorry you had to go through all that, but happy that your hysterectomy went well.

I was/am feeling a constant dull pain in my lower stomach that hit me with sharp pains every now and then. My lower back is causing the most distress, mainly on the right side to middle. I can't walk when I wake up in the AM until I take my Lortab (not keen on having to rely on them to function, that's when addictions start to form) and wait in bed for it to kick in. The pelvic pain has moved up into my lower stomach, I'm wearing my baggiest shirts to work so I can let my bloated stomach out. I don't know if that rules out OC.

I have an appt tomorrow with my PCP, who is also my OB/GYN. I had my mammogram today, don't know the results yet. And tomorrow I will be scheduling my long over due colonoscopy. I'm writing down all my "symptoms" for the doc because I lose my thoughts when I'm in a Dr.'s office.

Your description of your experience really helps me to "list" my symptoms, and take my situation more seriously.

Thank you!!!

Missy,

My PCP is also my OB/GYN. I'm just so scared to put my life in the hands of a young, new Dr. I see her tomorrow, where we will discuss how progress is not being made.

I had my mammogram today, and am scheduling my colonoscopy tomorrow. I don't know what else to do! The pain that I'm in, and the unknown cause of my symptoms occupies my every thought. Do I have this? Do I have that? I'm praying my PCP will take my info and lead me to the right direction towards healing. It doesn't help that my Mom died of Breast Cancer over a year ago. And my Grandfather died of Colon Cancer. My mind is swirling.

I'm sorry you were diagnosed with MS. I actually don't know what it is, but I'll google it.

No, I'm not giving up! Though I do feel like it all must be in my head sometimes. I have Medicare, so I can see who I want, when I want, that helps. What is an Internest? I will google "abdominal hernia" and find out more about that.

Thanks for helping me out. I know I will always find sanity when I'm on LBT.

Missy,

Haven't looked up MS yet, but I did google "abdominal hernia." I have all the symptoms, but I do not have anything protruding from my stomach. The Dr first searched my belly bt hand, nothing. Then I had a Pelvic exam, nothing. Then the ER did a CT scan of my pelvic area, nothing again. Wouldn't they have found any type of hernia then? Am I too fat to feel it?

back to the google....

Missy,

Haven't looked up MS yet, but I did google "abdominal hernia." I have all the symptoms, but I do not have anything protruding from my stomach. The Dr first searched my belly bt hand, nothing. Then I had a Pelvic exam, nothing. Then the ER did a CT scan of my pelvic area, nothing again. Wouldn't they have found any type of hernia then? Am I too fat to feel it?

back to the google....

If you had a hernia, it would've showed up on a CT scan. So, it's highly unlikely that's what's wrong.

My other thought is to request an abdominal MRI. CT scans don't show nearly as much as an MRI will. In fact, in most diagnostic processes an MRI would be the next the step if the CT scan showed nothing.

An internist would also be called internal medicine.

I feel just awful you're going through this. It's heartbreaking. Just please, whatever you do, don't give up and don't stop bugging these doctors for answers until someone finally figures out what's going wrong.

Just saw my PCP tonight (Not the best V-Day celebration), she got a cancaer free result from my mammo. Big YAY!

While I waited for an hour for her, I was crying because my back hurts so much. Didn't take my Lortab today, bad idea. All in all, she still doesn't know what's going on. Took another urine sample, it was fine. She told me to see a gastroenterologist for the colonoscopy ASAP. Not sure how soon I can get the appt. Doc said that if the pain gets any worse to march right back to the ER and have the colonoscopy there. She's trying to rule out the colon cancer that runs in my family.

She asked me if the pain in my stomach was "floating like", yes. Well there's some thing (I can't remember the term) that cause's air to accumulate in the upper and lower intestines. She gave me something to put under my tongue to stop the spasms. We'll see if this works.

Has anybody ever heard of this? Could this be related to the band? I reminded her that I'm banded five years and that I eat small portions, chew very well and mostly eat the best foods. She said that was even better.

Again I am grateful for your ear, I feel incredibly alone in this scarey world of diagnostic testing.

_________________

Missy, My gastroenterologist is also in Inyernal Medicine, was that what you meant?

Just saw my PCP tonight (Not the best V-Day celebration), she got a cancaer free result from my mammo. Big YAY!

While I waited for an hour for her, I was crying because my back hurts so much. Didn't take my Lortab today, bad idea. All in all, she still doesn't know what's going on. Took another urine sample, it was fine. She told me to see a gastroenterologist for the colonoscopy ASAP. Not sure how soon I can get the appt. Doc said that if the pain gets any worse to march right back to the ER and have the colonoscopy there. She's trying to rule out the colon cancer that runs in my family.

She asked me if the pain in my stomach was "floating like", yes. Well there's some thing (I can't remember the term) that cause's air to accumulate in the upper and lower intestines. She gave me something to put under my tongue to stop the spasms. We'll see if this works.

Has anybody ever heard of this? Could this be related to the band? I reminded her that I'm banded five years and that I eat small portions, chew very well and mostly eat the best foods. She said that was even better.

Again I am grateful for your ear, I feel incredibly alone in this scarey world of diagnostic testing.

_________________

Missy, My gastroenterologist is also in Inyernal Medicine, was that what you meant?

I am so, so relieved your doctor is following up on all this!

And yes, a gastroenterolgist would be the same the thing.

Please let us know what happens, ok? I'm very worried about you.

((hugs))

Thank you very much Missy! I'll keep you posted as this melodrama continues....

yrs ago' date=' when i was having intense pain, i kept going to the er as it hurt so bad..finally one night, hub told them you are keeping her til you fix her (turns out i needed emergency gallbladder surgery)..like the one poster said, stay on them..its your life and your health.[/quote']

I see these kinds of symptoms in my athletes! My first thought was gal bladder! Although ovarian sounds possible because of your menopausal state. Keep on your docs! They care about you but sometimes when they can't see something obvious they try to explain it as something minor.

Try to track when\if your eating and your activities. Logging is a great diagnostic tool!

**hugs**

Thank you JBooze, I've been googling myself to death looking for reasons for my malady. I searched gallbladder attacks and gallstones, I don't think I fall into any of those categories. But thanks for caring!

I was told to have a colonoscopy by my PCP-OB/GYN. I go for them every two years, as colon cancer runs in my family. But I stopped having them done in 06. I had to boss my med team around (something I am NOT accustomed to!) to get me a colonoscopy ASAP, the Gods weren't having it. I booked with two different gastroenterologist's, just to see who could see me first. I now have an appt for an office visit in mid April, and an an appt for the test on April 19 (I think ) with my fave gastro...! Not looking forward to it, but I was told to do it, I should have been doing it all along and I want to know the results. The test isn't so bad, but the prep is not fun at all!

IDK, my problems shift, sort of. My abdomen still hurts and is still bloated most of the time, my stools are inconsistent (TMI?) and my back pain has broadened and the pain is through the roof! If it weren't for the Lortabs I'm on, I'd not make it through my easy, pt work day, or very mild housework!

I'm so disillusioned and wondering if I've lost my mind. I never get sick, not even colds...but this? Wow.

OMG I'm so sorry you are in so much pain..Hoping and praying that you find some relief and answers soon (((hugs)))

Thanks kazjim... I LOVE your clip art!

This video clip keeps me going, I never get tired of it!