Stomach problems

[Graciella]

:eek: I have been having ongoing stomach problems for about six months, I had a colenoscapy done and the doctor said there was nothing wrong but I am going to the bathroom so much that I am almost down to hardly eating cause its so painful. I can`t even finish a meal without running to the bathroom. This past week has got to be the worst, cause if I drink water its going right through me. I can`t leave the house anymore I`m afraid, and when I do I stop at every fast food resturant on my way even to the grocery store. Imodium does not work, it only gives me bad stomach pains. I have stomach cramps all day. Does anyone else have these problems and if so could you recamend anything to stop this awful feeling.I havent drank milk in almost a year, cause I`ve become alergic to it, and little by little I have cut out alot of other food that I never use to be alergic to but am now. Thanks Graciella:(

[jhmom]

Hi Graciella :hugbetter:

I am so sorry you are having these problems. I know exactly how you feel and I mean exactly!!! Your story sounds just like mine, to make my very long story short I will share with you what I did over the course of a couple of years and maybe you won't have to suffer as long as I did :(.

First, I think you should be checked for Celiac Disease, Celiac's is also kown as gluten sensitivity. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley and oats and the only treatment plan is to go on a strict gluten free diet for the rest of your life. Here are two great sites to check out: www.celiac.com (http://www.thelupussite.com/forum/www.celiac.com) & www.celiac.org (http://www.thelupussite.com/forum/www.celiac.org) Doctor's think this disease is very rare but it's more common than they realize, they say 1 in 133 americans has it and a lot of the time it is misdiagnosed as IBS! I was told this so many times I wanted to hit someone :mad: !!!

The next step would be, since you are on this site I assume you think you may have lupus or you do have lupus? After I went on the gluten free (GF) diet in Sept 03 I should have been back to 100% within a couple of months, well I wasn't. I continued to have diarrhea every single day and was taking Immodium every morning before I left for work. Many of my symptoms improved after going GF (abdominal pain, cramps, etc) but not all of them. In May 05 I found my 3rd and current rheumy, she has a very open mind and understand Lupus can attack any organ it wants and discovered that was my problem, lupus attacks my GI tract (I am not her only patient that has this problem either), she put me on Imuran and the diarrhea was gone!!!! I couldn't believe it! I still have some problems, I can't eat too much fruit / veggies or red meat but I now know my body well enough to know my limits (so I don't cramp, etc).

I hope I have not overwhelmed you, feel free to send me a private message if you have more questions. Take care :flowery: and feel better soon!

[Graciella]

Thank you so much, I have a appointment with my doctor on friday and I will mention that to him. I hope I can get something to stop this. I can`t take much more. Thanks again :) Graciella