order to get ample feedback and or suggestions
I have a 37 yrold overweight female…. generally in good health no real
issues until recently. I also have a very low tolerance to
medications.
2008-2009 I was diagnosed with a bulging disk and sleep apnea
(currently I am displaced from my normal residential area in another
state and my cpap is not calibrated to this area so I do not use it –
however, I haven't had any extensive issues that I can tell from not
using it.)
About 1.5 yrs ago we moved to the South on emergency family business
and intend on going back home soon. We eat basically the same way and
foods that we did before but we've continually noticed our bodies
changing we think its because they have increased hormone use here and
probably horrid water supply. My cycle has gone from pretty easy to
extremely painful during the time we've been here and we have all
kinds of stomach issues like bloating and such.
I would say for at least 8 months now I've been feeling like I have a
kidney infection (I've had them before) and I do drink a lot of soda.
So, I would either lay off the soda drink more water or take some
cranberry pills but the pain was still dull there but I was able to
move on.
I am also not a pill taker I'd rather in some cases deal with the pain
than take something for it, although I've had wisdom teeth trying to
come in and migraines so I started taking Motrin, Tylenol, and a Midol
type pill on a regular basis and it didn't seem to really help with
any of the pain. After awhile I stopped because my stomach started to
feel yucky from all the meds.
So the kidney like pains continued I was able to get some relief from
my teeth and I've completely stopped taking over the counter meds at
this point. About 7 weeks ago I started getting very ill extremely bad
back pains and migraines that would not go away in addition to
diarrhea and vomiting. I was to the point that I could not consume
anything without throwing up and the pain was unbearable. During that
I tried Alka-Seltzer and Excedrin, which didn't seem to work. After
about 3 days of that I finally went to the ER, they put me on a IV
stated I was severely dehydrated took a urine sample and blood work. I
complained about my migraine and they gave me Tylenol, which made the
pain in my lower back worse. They explained to me that my urine
results were clear and blood work showed a bit low on something that
indicated I had a virus. My xrays were also clear. I agreed but still
tried to explain there was something else going on but they discounted
the back pain due to vomiting and diarrhea and overall virus. I fell
asleep and when I woke my head hurt so bad I couldn't barely see so I
told them and they gave me what they said was a normal injection for
migraines and it made me feel oddly. I wanted to jerk the iv out and
run it wasn't pleasant at all finally I calmed down and fell asleep
again when I woke my headache still existed but by this time we have
been there for almost 7hours and I just wanted to go home so they gave
me some antibiotics and something for nausea and sent me home. I took
the pills they gave me for about three days and felt even worse than
before and the pain got worse.
I then decided to try to take some Excedrin for my headache and
noticed that it made the back pain worse than before in addition to my
soda consumption we discovered that anytime I consumed caffeine I
erupted in unbearable pain. So, I quit drinking soda and stopped
taking meds all together because most contain caffeine.
About a week after ER visit and still having all these pains and
issues I found a clinic to go to and we went in and they tested my
blood and urine all was good with those again. She stated that she
didn't know or couldn't figure out why I was having back pains and
gave me migraine meds for my headache that would not go away. By this
time we've discovered that some foods especially caffeine and meds as
soon as I consumed them I immediately got horrendous back pain and a
shooting migraine. That night I took her migraine meds and I could
literally feel it being broken down and dispersed in my system as soon
as it passed my stomach I am guessing I had extremely horrific pains
that shot through my abdomen and back like crazy and my headache
immediately got worse.
The next morning we called the clinic and advised of the results and
she said if the pain persisted to go to the ER. I discontinued the
migraine meds at this point and remained on a limited diet.
At this point the pain is just as bad as it had been the nausea was
periodic the pain was continuous and now it seemed what ever I ate or
consumed was causing me extreme lower back pain.
I decided once again because I was barely able to walk and unable to
take anything and barely able to eat to go back to the ER. The doctor
without even examining me wanted to give me narcotics and I refused
them stated I wanted a real diagnoses and this was getting ridiculous.
(he was a real idiot) He decided to test my urine and blood again
however, he tested outgoing and incoming blood and both came back
clear and he verified his results with the previous ER visit and the
clinics and stated there was absolutely nothing wrong with me. I left
again with no resolution and refused to take his narcotics.
By this time I was given advice of friends and family that it may be
my gallbladder and I should seek test to rule it out at this point.
So, I called the clinic back to ask about where to be referred for
such a test and continued to restrict my intake and deal with the pain
the best I could.
Going on four weeks no changes any follow up's with any of the doctors
and just no new information as my health continues to decline I decide
to go back to the ER a different one whom has equipment to test for
gall bladder issues etc. Unexpectedly a few days before planned visit
the pain got worse and I couldn't get out of bed without wanting to
scream and cry. We go to the new ER and advise them of all the above
and what we've done thus far and they do more blood work and urine
test and x-rays. They did however do a full blood work analyses they
stated my kidneys, liver, gallbladder and lungs were all good
according to blood work. Come back and tell me all is clear STILL no
explanation of the pain I am having and the issues. The nurse was very
nice and was able to at least help answer some questions and she gave
us a lead sheet to call upon with a prescription for a ultrasound. I
also asked her if she'd be so kind to ask the doctor for something
that would help with the pain but did not contain caffeine and she
gave me a sample in the hospital and a prescription. She also put me
on a restricted diet of only clear liquids and soft foods. The
painkiller she gave me within an hour of leaving the ER turned my lips
blue and shot pain through my back and lower belly like crazy. I
barely made it home to my bed as I was in so much pain. She also told
us if the pain persisted and we could not find anyone to do the
ultrasound to return to the ER during the day they could not refuse
the ultrasound as I was having huge pains.
Four days later only one liquid diet and still in extremely horrific
back pain and migraines we go back to said ER because no one would
honor the ultrasound prescription. They again take blood and state
that it's all clear and compare it with all my other results. No
physical examination. Give me something for nausea that yet again
causes me additional pain. They kept me for about 5hours then come to
release me tell me there is nothing they can do, by this point I am
hysterically crying because I am in extreme pain and NO one wants to
help or do anything about it. So, they agreed to do a CT Scan as
opposed to a ultrasound. Yet another 2hours go by and the idiot comes
in room and says you have a mass on your kidney but that has nothing
to do with your pain and we're letting you go get a PCP and leaves
room.
We sit there like deer in headlights thinking WTH did this man just
say why is he so damned rude and are you kidding me NOTHING? Is wrong
still?? Now, I'm just getting angry because its quite apparent no one
gives a dam if I die or live. I've been poked and prodded over 50
times at least. I have tracks of holes all over my arms because it
takes at least 6 attempts for the idiots to get blood because I have
problem veins and they hurt me each and every poke. I've had bruises
on my arms for weeks and truly who wants to be poked yet again???
Seriously.
When the nurse returns to release us I ask her what are we supposed to
do care here is awful I feel like if I were home I'd be fixed by now.
I know I am not crazy I am yet again leaving the dam hospital in just
as much pain if not more than when I came in. Taking blood has turned
me into a pincushion and that crap is not cute and I don't like being
poked or walking around full of holes and bruises. She had no solid
advice to give or suggest she said she wasn't from the area! ARGH!!
She did however give me a copy of my CT Scan results.
Here where the plot thickens because by this time I am telling them
until this I am a healthy young woman no diagnosed illnesses other
than apnea and building disk neither of which has to do with this
issue. Only hospitalization was for cesarean and birth of my son 11
years ago. My CT Scan results state I have a mass on my right kidney
could be fatty tissue but it is unknown and would have to be
determined by further investigation with an ultrasound. It also states
that I have sclerotic issues. Stated all my organs were proper and
functional with exception of the above two. The idiot doctor neither
clarified nor explained either and yet that was on my paperwork and
neither did I know about prior too.
So, back to first base we've taken all the paperwork we've gotten and
all the information we've heard and gotten and tried to make heads or
tails of it all and welp not much luck.
With the new sclerotic information that would explain some of my
extreme back pains but not the shooting pains in my predominantly left
side. It does not explain the kidney infection like burning and pain
that I have daily. It does not explain the shooting of pain to my
mid-back area and shoulders. It does not explain the daily constant
migraines. It does not explain the necessity to change my diet and
completely lay off caffeine.
This is where I am no where to go here that will help me we have tried
to find a PCP and most are not accepting new patients. I don't have
insurance and I know this is why we are getting some of the crap we
are but we tried to do it the proper way we tried to get a PCP and pay
cash for my help we had no problem doing that. But we keep running
into dead ends and they keep telling me even though I am in screaming
pain and nothing is wrong.
I feel like my health is spiraling out of control and there is nothing
I can do to fix it I feel like I am going to go crazy. It's very
difficult to keep saying I hurt and no one is listening or gives a dam
and that I know something is wrong with my body. I pay very close
attention to my body due to family history of many medical problems I
monitor changes closely. I know when something is wrong I know when I
am different than I was before. I can tell that its not just back pain
from the sclerotic issues I can tell its my organs hurting. I also
refuse narcotics because where we are there is a huge controversial
issue with them doctors are quick to prescribe them and people here
are addicted to them and well personally I don't care to be addicted
nor to I care to take crap that does nothing to fix me only make me
worse. I don't like pain and if something associates pain with me I
quit doing it unless absolutely necessary.
We are going to try to move back home asap but until then I have to do
something to try and find a resolution. If you have any suggestions or
have experienced what I have please advise I am very curious as what
my possibilities might be. Thanks for reading!
