Christine: sort of off topic

Dear Jane,

I am so sorry to hear this and it is not off-topic at all, for generations of women have had their appendix removed as a "prophylactic" adjunct to hysterectomy. This procedure is based upon the fact that more people die from a ruptured appendix than from the preventative surgery to remove it. However, no one talks about the "morbidity" of the operation - something that you are now all too familiar with. I am certainly not suggesting yours wasn't a necessary surgery, for it sounds like you were very ill, but there is much in the literature to suggest that it is reasonable to wait a bit - with antibiotics running - to see if the inflammation subsides and the condition clears on its own. There are many things that can cause inflammation of the appendix, for it is an organ with strong immune properties. Sometimes the layers of immune cells become too dense, causing obstruction, and other times it may be a tiny piece of fecal matter that gets stuck. These problems are amenable to change - but the usual response is immediate and rapid surgery.

The reason why adhesions are such a huge problem for many, if not most, post-surgery people is because the fascial layers that surround the abdomen and pelvis also have immune properties and continue to be active after everything is cut and stitched neatly into place. The tissue actually grows and moves to surround the site of injury - but unfortunately causing all sorts of havoc in the process - including chronic pain and intestinal blockage. Alternating bouts of constipation and diarrhea are classic signs of obstruction, but it could be any number of other things - I have no way of knowing.

If it were me, Jane, I would explore the world of energy medicine. I don't know what's available to you in Ohio, but I live in the land of "alternative" and we have access to some pretty amazing modalities created by people who have been practicing with such things as polarity and cranial-sacral therapy since the early seventies. We hear remarkable stories from real people in our community. This, of course, is where I believe medicine of the future is going. We will always need surgical specialties, but they should be reserved as the very last course of treatment and our care givers should know and have access to all the things that might turn around an acute situation, instead of forcing patients to live with the consequences of a rapid surgical response.

You are in my prayers.

xChristine

...this isn't to say you shouldn't consult a gastroenterologist as well. It's just that we need doctors and hospitals that heal and we will not get there without the other side of medicine, which is energetically focused and holistically oriented. C.

I have been trying 1 heaping teaspoon of psyllium husk in water every night before bed for the past 2 weeks. I cannot believe how much it has helped. Even the soft diarrhea, it almost just makes it like a good gel. I bought a can at Giant Eagle for $10 and it doesn't have anything else in it.

I am not constipated usually, I usually have very soft/diarrhea. But, it seems to regulate everything.

I've just finished my seven days of Flagyl for the constant soft/grainy/sticky stools. I saw a gastroenterologist and she referred me to the colorectal surgeon. They gave me a ct scan of my whole middle(i guess) and said all looked fine. She thought it may be an outlet dysfunction, but I kept insisting that it is a consistency problem. So, I called her and said 'maybe it's parasites or something' and she prescribed the Flagyl for me along with Align, a probiotic. I've been off the antibiotic for a few days, and haven't had a yuck episode 'yet'. I actually feel constipated a little even though I've been going every day. I feel this right between my ribs at the bottom of them.

I too, was tested for celiac but they told me I didn't have it either. How is your hair? Mine is very thin since I've been having these issues. I've mentioned it to the doctors, but they really don't seem to know what it is.

So far, I've stopped the psyllium husk because it wasn't seeming to help anymore. So, I've just been using the Align that the dr told me to take (btw, I live in Cleveland, so have been to all Cleveland Clinic doctors) and the doctor told me to eat Activia yogurt every day. (which I thought was kind of ridiculous, but now I guess I'll give it a try)

I know the feeling, I can feel the food move though me too. I always feel like I have to go, and can go, but it's sooo sticky that I usually end up with hemorroids, swelling, bleeding, etc. But, if it was just a normal consistency, I would be just fine.

Sorry I've written so much here, I'm just trying to figure everything out as best as I can.

I am worried about you. I have been thinking over your "medical mystery" and so far I have a few ideas but nothing great. I had my husband read over this thread and we talked about it a bit. Things just don't seem to be measuring up.
Since you have erosion of your esophagus I suspect there is something serious going on. You might insist on a few different tests. I know you have had an upper GI scope- but there are many more diagnostic tools out there. I would not allow any further treatment until you have more information. The meds you name are nothing I would want to use with out exact scientific diagnosis. They can mess you up and mask further symptoms of disease.
I would look especially at the lining of your stomach, your gallbladder function, and check for bacteria like h. pylori.
Sometimes a surgery (such as your appendectomy) can trigger strange reactions in the body. And to be totally honest you could have picked up something in the hospital they are just not seeing. You said you have not had digestive problems your whole life so I doubt seriously that it is celiac- and I have a few mom friends who's kids have been dealing with that intolerance since birth. Gluten probably aggravates what ever is going on right now-as well as dairy- but don't let that convince you that they are the cause of the problem.
Schedule more tests.
Look up gastritis on the internet.
Look at herbal support- high doses of betacarotene, vitamin C, and camomile may help alleviate symptoms.
As for the weight loss- I know it is a problem. I can only suggest at this point trying to expend less energy throughout the day to try to conserve.
If I have any brilliant ideas I'll post again. Until then know that I am thinking about you and hope you can get an answer soon. This has gone on too long.

Thanks very much for the steer to the website re the world's healthiest foods.
I found there the info. I was wanting as to foods that may promote collagen:
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=fightdz&dbid=6
And much more useful stuff on the home page to explore - though I find the sound effects a bit disturbing.
I too am struggling to make sense of combined POP + bloating, reflux etc etc. Am wondering if a ring pessary can make bloating worse.
Lots of sympathy and good wishes, Alix.

Oh Jane, this just sounds awful! I am sorry you are so ill.
I agree with alemama--you need to keep the doctors looking. it does sounds like more than a food issue, but...
i was insanely ill for about 7 years starting when i was 21, during a period of extreme stress at Uni. I'd never had stomach issues before. after 7 years of off / on horrible stomach problems and then bladder infection like symtpoms, anxiety etc, i stopped eating gluten and bam, i felt like me again.
So, it can show up at birth (did in my kids) but also can not show up until much later when the body is under stress. Also, one of my children tested negative for coeliac int eh blood test, but is clearly allergic to gluten--so they diagnosed him with a delayed gluten allergy (strikes 12 - 24 hours after eating).

see how you feel w/o it...
re not losing weight on gluten free, when i first started gluten free i did lose weight as i just didn't eat as i didn' tknow what to eat. now i bake a lot, and there are so many g/f foods out there so i have to watch what i eat! do you have a whole foods near you? not cheap, but good choices foods (jealousy oozes--what you get in europe is horrible in comparison). great bread (usually in fridge) (trader jo's does it too), pamela's cookies, tinkiyada pastas--all good stuff (but not cheap). so i bake a lot! especially muffins, as they are easy, fill me up, and are so healthy. if you want one or two recipes email me and i'll send them to you. but i know--another thing to do if you aren't feeling well!

i hope you find an answer soon. it's horrible not knowing what is wrong.
take care of yourself
kiki

For me, they just did the blood test. Since it came back okay, it ended there. The other dr just gave me the Flagyl without doing a stool sample. I have been taking the Align from Walgreens that the dr told me to take. It was around $30 for a months supply, but I do think it has helped. Worth a try, anyway. I just placed an order for something called Intestinal Freedom. It's supposed to get rid of parasites. My dh used to go to an alternative doctor(Dr. John Baron) and he told him to take it everyday. (he died so I can't go to him now.)

I wouldn't doubt that the intestinal flora has been unbalanced from the stress of all this. So, I figure it can't hurt. By the way, if I eat fries and a milkshake I feel it the next day too. I have the constant spasm feeling too. Mine radiates over to my upper left side from the middle.