Hello. I'm a somewhat healthy, about to turn 31 year old male. I say somewhat healthy, because I picked-up the smoking habit in college ad it took me 10 years to quit. I've only been done a short time, but I am done.
About two months ago I started having some breathing issues (this prompted me to stop smoking). I went to my Dr. who took a chest X-Ray and asked about heartburn. As it turns out, I had already been on Prilosec from a previous Dr. (who retired) due to heartburn. We changed the meds to Aciphex and the burning and asthma went away, but I began to notice that my stomach was feeling full and very bloated. There didn't seem to be a particular time (i.e. after eating), it seemed random.
After a business trip in which I forgot the Aciphex but still had Prilosec from a previous trip, the extreme bloating went away. We decided to stick with the Prilosec.
Only a couple days after that, I went out to dinner and had a large meal. I noticed something was up because I didn't finish the meal. Immediately after arriving home (inside of 30 minutes after dinner), I had severe cramps and diarrhea. That night, I woke up, and was kept awake, by severe shivering...much like the chills.
I discovered the next day that I had no appetite at all. I couldn't even force down a single cracker. In addition, I noticed that my bowel movements were loose and floated. This lasted through the next day, prompting a call to my Dr. We scheduled an ultrasound (gallbladder), which came back normal.
I was able to get in for an EGD of my esophagus, stomach, and small bowel, which was also normal. During this time, the loose bowel movements (that floated) continued, along with the absence of my appetite. Perhaps more concerning, was that I began to lose weight. By the end of the week, I lost close to 8 pounds...again, in one week.
The following week I had a CT scan, which came back normal, and a colonoscopy, which yes, came back normal. I have a touch of diverticulosis, but the GI said that was unlikely causing my symptoms.
What do I do now?????? Nobody seems to be able to provide answers.
The good news is that my appetite does slightly come back from time to time...just not as often or as much as I would like. Also, when I do eat, I live in fear of indigestion. For instance, yesterday I had a sandwich...almost 20 hours later, it felt like I ate an entire 7 course meal ten minutes ago! Almost 24 hours later, I still feel bloated, but at least feel hungry...not a normal hungry, a very intense, almost painful feeling...but I don't really want to eat. In general when I do get indigestion, it seems like it lasts for at least the 24 hours.
The diarrhea has taken a slight hiatus...two days prior to the colonoscopy (4 days ago) it was "normal", the day after (yesterday) was diarrhea, and today it was normal again. The weight loss seems to remain, though it seems to be occurring at a slower pace now that I have at least some appetite sometimes. All told, I'm down about 11 or 12 pounds in 2 and a half weeks.
Sorry for the rambling, I am very scared. I keep getting tested, but no answers are forthcoming. I try and follow-up, but I'm told to wait until the next test.
The indigestion and the loose, floating bowel movements led me to believe something was wrong with my pancreas, but blood tests indicate normal enzyme levels and nothing was picked up on the CT. What should I do? Is it possible that something was missed on the CT scan??
I am somewhat confident that at least a portion of my indigestion feelings may be due to nerves, which still doesn't make me feel any better. Also, the chills seem to be tied into the nerves too, but either way, it is very scary waking up in the middle of the night shivering uncontrollably!
Help! Any advice, suggestions, direction would be MUCH appreciated!!! I like my doctors and they have been very accommodating, but obviously I'm not their only patient and I can only talk to them so much at any given time.
Thank you.
