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ktimerding · Jun 4, 2012, 09:33 PM

The medical condition I am describing is not my own, but rather my boyfriends.

I have been with him for a year and a half now, and for our entire relationship he has suffered from a severe chronic stomach illness. I am trying to figure out what it could possibly be, can anybody help me out and give me some ideas? I cannot say if he has had these problems before our relationship or not, but I have noticed it since the very beginning. However, whatever it is is definitely stressed induced, it's gotten far worse in the past 9ish months due to heavy amounts of school work. He almost failed the year from missing so much class.

So the biggest symptom is obviously the intense excruciating stomach pain. It hits him out of nowhere like a brick... sometimes in the middle of the night, and sometimes triggered after eating, but usually he wakes up in the morning with it. On a pain scale of 1-10, he defines it as a definite 10. He can't move because of the amount of pain he's in. The pain is more located in his upper GI tract, in the stomach area... however, the pain used to be in his lower GI tract directly in his bowels. There is no change of stools although rarely his pain is accompanied by diarrhea. The pain is always accompanied by nausea and dry heaving, he isn't always able to vomit though. He also becomes extremely sweaty and trembles. Sometimes he feels a bit dizzy upon trying to stand or sit up while he's having his pain attack. He also has bad gas and bloating frequently, even if not during an attack, as well very bad breath on a regular basis even though he actually has very good oral hygiene. In fact, his dentist told him he appeared to have a thick coat of bacteria on his tongue for whatever reason.

Obviously he needs to get to a doctor, but the reason I am here looking for answers is because my boyfriend is a minor and cannot take himself to the doctor. His mother is single and frequently is at work, and when she is home she simply just doesn't remember to call. We finally got him to a GI specialist a few weeks ago, he said it sounds like acid reflux. Something tells me this is a little more than acid reflux. Now the tricky part is getting him to a follow up appointment with the GI.

Now here are some additional, yet seemingly irrelevant symptoms that come along with his pain episodes. Frequently he will get an excruciating headache in the back of his head. This made his pediatrician wonder if the issue was nerve related, and not stomach related. So now we are looking at GI and Neurologist appointments I guess. He had a CT Scan and everything came back normal. A very recent symptom is his trouble sleeping at night due to a problem with his eyes. He describes it as staring straight into a bright light... even though it is night time, and he is in his room with his lights off and his eyes shut trying to sleep. It bothers him and is robbing him of sleep more than he already is... he has been an insomniac for as long as he can remember as well. Completely bizarre.

Any ideas?

tickle · Jun 5, 2012, 04:30 AM

This is your b/f and he has a pediatrician? How old is he? Yes, all symptoms sound odd. This young man has a lot of issues, as you describe, almost from head to toe. Sounds like he has had extensive work done and has had CT scan done. Amazing he hasn't had an MRI as well seeing as doctor though it was neurological problem.

Impossible to diagnose on the internet, as well we don't diagnose on AMHD for many obvious reasons.

ktimerding · Jun 5, 2012, 10:10 AM

He is 17, and I am aware you don't do diagnosing on AMHD. I am just looking for some theories honestly.

Fr_Chuck · Jun 5, 2012, 10:46 AM

Ulcers come to mind first by what you described, acid relex is another good guess. Also a kidney infection can meet the things happening.

ktimerding · Jun 6, 2012, 04:23 AM

Originally Posted by Fr_Chuck

ulcers come to mind first by what you described, acid relex is another good guess. Also a kidney infection can meet the things happening.

He did mention sometimes it hurts for him to urinate but I thought it was irrelevant. A kidney infection for over a year though? And it could cause headaches and stomach pain?

tickle · Jun 6, 2012, 11:47 AM

Originally Posted by ktimerding

He did mention sometimes it hurts for him to urinate but I thought it was irrelevant. A kidney infection for over a year though? and it could cause headaches and stomach pain?

Everyone experiences different symptoms with UTIs, but if it has gone to his kidneys, that could account for headaches.

If it hurts to urinate, then that is relevant and a symptom of UTI.

The downside is, urinary tract infection ending up in the kidneys. He is not a diabetic is he ?

tickle · Jun 6, 2012, 11:50 AM

Originally Posted by ktimerding

He is 17, and I am aware you don't do diagnosing on AMHD. I am just looking for some theories honestly.

I didn't mean to be rude. Posters tend sometimes to get upset when they find out we can't diagnose.

After posting my last response, kidney stones came to mind. They can be quite painful when the kidneys are trying to pass them.

ktimerding · Jun 6, 2012, 07:39 PM

Nope he is not diabetic

ktimerding · Jun 6, 2012, 07:43 PM

Now if it's a UTI that has spread to his kidneys, what would be the proper way to get attention? Should he schedule a doctor's appoint and wait to get in or is this something in need of an ER trip?

tickle · Jun 7, 2012, 01:43 AM

You indicated he is in constant pain, so yes, a trip to the ER would get attention, and of course, you will go with him so all of these symptoms will be properly attended to.

ktimerding · Jun 7, 2012, 06:30 PM

Well it is not necessarily constant. Kind of random. His GI suggested acid reflux and he's been on a new diet with no spicy or greasy food, no chocolate and no soda. He says he's been feeling better since the diet and he's also started a prescription antacid. I was just not aware that acid reflux could cause that kind of excruciating stomach pain, I always associated acid reflux with heartburn. He says the urination pain has not happened in a while, but when it did it was about once a month, and he said he's noticed it for about a year, which coincidentally is as long as I've noticed the stomach pain. A UTI lasting longer than a year though?

itsimplytruth · Jun 7, 2012, 07:39 PM

A thick coating on the tongue of bacteria could indicate ulcers and yes acid reflux. It is very unlikely a urinary tract infection for over a year he would have become septic and died by now. The acute pain in the stomach and the fact that it occurs after he eats and then moved to the other side may indicate gallbladder problems. Especially if he is having this pain after eating fatty or greasy foods.

His mother really needs to be involved. He really needs to see a physician as soon as possible and if he has seen a GI doc I am really surprised that they did not do an abdominal series or an egd to see what was going on. Usually you must see your primary care prior to seeing the GI Doc. Either way I would say take him back to the doctor and involve his mother!

ktimerding · Jun 9, 2012, 10:02 PM

Just a little update, as stated previously he started prescription acid reflux medication since his GI thinks it might be that. Today he didn't take his medicine and went to my graduation party where he ate a lot of greasy foods, some chocolate and drank a lot of soda dehydrating himself. He ended up with a headache and awful stomach pain as usual. I'm wondering if it IS acid reflux, since the day he doesn't take his medicine he gets sick after eating junk foods.

tickle · Jun 10, 2012, 12:10 AM

I guess he has to take his meds religiously and follow a good acid reflux diet. Have you checked out any of these diets on line? Here is one that may help

Acid Reflux Diet - Myths and Diet Solutions