I live in Meyerland and work downtown. Hoping to stay somewhat central. I need a second opinion.

I'm getting random debilitating pains in my gut. Most often at night. Actually went to the ER a few months back.

Did all kinds of scans for kidney stones, gallstones, etc. Nothing.

Went to GI doc. He did an Endo and Colonoscopy. All clean.

HIDA scan gallbladder function.

Went over a month without any attacks. Then, I had 1 2 weeks ago. Again, last night that was bad enough that my wife wanted to take me to the ER again.

Pain is not exactly in the same place every time. But, it's always the right side of my abdomen. Last night, the center of the pain was about 2 inches right of my bellybutton. 2 weeks ago, the pain was much farther right.

Sounds like your intestine. What did you eat?

Dr Brian Kaplan. Houston Methodist.

https://www.houstonmethodist.org/doctor/peter-schwarz/

Bincy Abraham at Methodist.



pro tip...these good doctors are booked out so far. but if you admit to the ER at Methodist with a GI issue you see one of them immediately.

I use this guy. He's runs through his appointment a little fast for me, but he hasn't steered me wrong.

https://www.houstonmethodist.org/doctor/peter-schwarz/

Dr. Cole Thomson (Gessner and I-10) is really good.

Sounds like your gall bladder to me. Several friends had same issues and symptoms.

Dr. Eric Haas is a colorectal surgeon but handles lots of digestive issues. He will get you fixed or get you with the best person if he doesn't think surgery is the solution.

DDub74 said:

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Dr. Cole Thomson (Gessner and I-10) is really good.

Sounds like your gall bladder to me. Several friends had same issues and symptoms.

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That's been the prevailing thought. Yet all scans have shown my gall bladder is function fine with no stones. Sucks. It sure would have been a hell of a lot easier to just cut it out by now.

Had horrible GI pains for a while between 2015-2020. Elimination diet determined I was lactose intolerant and suffered from toxic histamine reactions when combining seafood and alcohol. Good luck OP.

Dr. Isaac Rajiman

TefIon Don said:

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Had horrible GI pains for a while between 2015-2020. Elimination diet determined I was lactose intolerant and suffered from toxic histamine reactions when combining seafood and alcohol. Good luck OP.

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I used to have a lot of the same and it was due to flare ups of diverticulitis. Though a colonoscopy should have shown that by now.

Quote:

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I used to have a lot of the same and it was due to flare ups of diverticulitis.

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Holy Sheyot!! I'm sorry, man. That sucks.

The real fun began when it became inflamed enough one time that my colon and bladder fused and a fistula (hole) formed between them. I went to pee and it was essentially carbonated.

I'll spare you all the rest but surgeries ensued.

do you still have your appendix?

it's to the right of the belly button

I agree on getting appendix checked, whatever that looks like.

If it's not that, I second investigating the diet/nutrition/gut health route.

Sorry, I don't have any recs though.

IBD? Gluten sensitivity? I've heard those can cause the sort of pain you're talking about.

IBS/IBD is such a catch-all though. What is causing the IBS/IBD?

AJ02 said:

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IBD? Gluten sensitivity? I've heard those can cause the sort of pain you're talking about.

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Gluten would be the first thing I would go after. I know that is the catch all but that is what I would try first. If you can avoid getting your Gallbladder removed I would.

Do you have any radiating back pain as well? That's an additional common sign of gall bladder issues

Yeah, from what I've heard, dealing with "bathroom emergencies" once you take out your gallbladder is no fun.

AJ02 said:

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Yeah, from what I've heard, dealing with "bathroom emergencies" once you take out your gallbladder is no fun.

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Its a fun ride and a gamble for sure. I had mine out in 02. No gallstones, surgeon said it was still showing issues and based on the symptoms it should come out.

Fast forward about 12 years ago I saw a GI and he said to try eliminating gluten for a month and see what happens. Continued no gluten and last year cut carbs and increased fiber and protein and have never felt better.

Diet sucked for a while, but you learn to adjust and luckily over the last couple years there have been some new products to fix the big cravings. There are more gluten free breads and they are actually tolerable now than before when it was absolute trash.

What breads do you like?

maroon barchetta said:

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What breads do you like?

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Carbonaut is my new goto for regular bread. kind of kills two birds with one stone. High fiber, low carb and GF. Their bagels are good too. Not crazy flavorful, but as close to the real thing as I have found. Not a bad pizza crust too, just a little pricey. Breads are in the frozen food section.

Schar has a good pizza crust.

My wife like BFree bread, they have a few different types, but I am not a fan of it.

At HEB they also have New York Bakery Gluten Free Texas Toast. It is good too. Throw a little sauce, pepperoni and cheese.

As far as flour, we use the Walmart brand flour and pancake mix. Their pancake mix is really close to a normal pancake and fluffy. Makes good waffles too.

Also you can get the Red Lobster Biscuits Mix Gluten Free now too. Really good. You can do them as instructed or what we have been doing lately is making it and forming it to about 1/2 thick and cutting them to make real biscuits. We throw in the cheese as well as pickled jalapenos and some of the juice and you have a nice little cheddar biscuit for breakfast sandwiches.

The Milkman said:

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The real fun began when it became inflamed enough one time that my colon and bladder fused and a fistula (hole) formed between them. I went to pee and it was essentially carbonated.

I'll spare you all the rest but surgeries ensued.

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A friend had the same thing happen to him. I cannot imagine.

Furlock Bones said:

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I live in Meyerland and work downtown. Hoping to stay somewhat central. I need a second opinion.

I'm getting random debilitating pains in my gut. Most often at night. Actually went to the ER a few months back.

Did all kinds of scans for kidney stones, gallstones, etc. Nothing.

Went to GI doc. He did an Endo and Colonoscopy. All clean.

HIDA scan gallbladder function.

Went over a month without any attacks. Then, I had 1 2 weeks ago. Again, last night that was bad enough that my wife wanted to take me to the ER again.

Pain is not exactly in the same place every time. But, it's always the right side of my abdomen. Last night, the center of the pain was about 2 inches right of my bellybutton. 2 weeks ago, the pain was much farther right.

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David S. Wolf, M.D.| Medical Clinic of Houston LLP Good doc and will take his time with you to figure out what the issue is. If it is not a gastro issue, he can refer you to a bunch of other specialists within the MCH system and they can do most imaging/testing/bloodwork onsite at their clinic.