Long time undiagnosable abdominal pains

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1

Here’s my story. I’m a 48 year old type 1. I run and work out 6 days a week. My last A1C was about 7.1. I’m taking the following medications:
*Lisinopril. For my blood pressure, which has never been really bad, but started getting a little bad, and docs put me on the med due to that and my age.
*Rosuvastatin. For my cholesterol.
*Omeprazole. This was initially prescribed by docs, thinking that maybe I had acid reflux. I don’t think that’s my issue, but at this point, I’m desperate for anything that might help me feel better, so as long as it’s not hurting, I’m still taking it. Got it at a local drugstore.
*Staminol.

So, I’m not really sure if it’s related to my diabetes or not, but since June of 2024, I’ve been having bad adominal pains. The night it started, right after work (I got off at 5 am), I went to the local ER, where they did blood tests, urine tests and a CT scan and found absolutely nothing. Over the course of the past two years, I’ve had a colonoscopy, endoscopy, ultrasound, stool sample tests, allergy tests, and a HIDA functional test for my gallbadder. All to absolutely no avail.

I have an appointment with my endocrinologist soon, and I’m hoping that maybe it has something to do with switching up my fast acting insulin (from Merilog to something else).

I also feel like I’ve been having chest discomfort. Not pain. Just feels like I’m on a tight rope, and might trigger a heart attack or something if I move the wrong way. Not sure I’m describing that right but it’s the best I can do. I’ve already had EKGs and chest X-rays…also to no avail. I still run and lift but I slowed it down a lot and hold back compared to what I did, prior.

I had found out recently after my first trip to the dentist in YEARS (because I brush and floss daily and nothing was wrong) because of some gum pain and receding gums, I found out that I have bad periodontal disease. I read about how the bacteria can get into your stomach and foul up your gut biome, also how standard medical blood tests didn’t test for periodontal, and thought “Eureka!”. Maybe I’ve found the culprit. They say not to treat periodontal in the gut with antibiotics because they also target the good bacteria, but I also heard that the good bacteria will return, and long story short, I got some antibiotics. Also, long story short, I was probably too optimistic that this was the main culprit for my pain issues.

I’m still hurting and whatever it is, it feels like it’s gradually gotten worse. I feel like it’s an emergency, but the kind that has to be diagnosed by some type of specialist…which puts me at the mercy of waiting on endless appointments until they figure something out.

I have tried cutting out spicy and fatty foods, processed sugars, alcohol & caffeine, and I stuck to wheat bread (which I did before, anyway.

​I did have one incident where (prior to all of this), after finishing a small bottle of Crown Black in 2 hours, I woke up the next night, puking like the child from the Exorcist. I’m wondering if something might have come from that. (Btw, I usually don’t even drink to get drunk except special occasions, though I DID used to have 2-3 social drinks to mingle and get out, prior to all of this.)

It doesn’t even need to be repeated to speak to my doctor. I have been. I’m just seeing if anyone has any advice or maybe something I, or they haven’t considered as a possibility.

That’s all the info I can think to add for now. I’m tired…help?

2

@bradscott6997 Hi Brad, and welcome to Breakthrough T1D Community Forum. I’m not speaking here as a physician offering medical advice.

In reading what you wrote, I can feel your pain and sense your frustration; it sounds to me as if your medical advisors have put you through just about every conceivable test and haven;t found the source. In my 70 years living with autoimmune diabetes I have not encountered “pain” caused by diabetes, and I haven’t heard of anyone else complain of hurting other than what is felt from thousands of needle sticks. BTW, Merilog is NOT a fast-acting insulin formulation but rather is an Aspart bio-similar RAPID-Acting formulation. I have used two Aspart insulins, Novolog Rapid-Acting and FIASP Ultra-Rapid Acting, neither caused me any pain.

What you didn’t mention is what a cardiologist may have found. It may be wise to see a cardio and have a full exam including nuclear stress test, blood-flow, aorta observation, etc.

3

Forgive me if you’ve done this already but I see you’ve consulted with a number of specialists I wonder if you’ve talked with your primary care doctor? Specialists focus on their particular area but a primary has a broader view and - while considering the tests you have had already - may have some suggestions you haven’t yet tried.

4

Which fast acting did you switch to? MDI (which long acting?) or pump?

Has any of your docs suggested a rheumatologist? I’ve heard them recommended because they think different. The rheumatologist may be able to come up with a diagnosis then send you back to a specialist to treat it.

5

Well, I heard from a friend of a relative that he had been having similar issues with undiagnosable stomach pains, and after switching to a different premeal insulin, he said he felt better, so I felt it was at least worth a shot.

I’ll try asking about the stress test and other things. The only things I’ve done cardiology wise have been what they did in the ER. ie: the EKGs and chest X-rays. I’m supposed to talk to a cardiologist soon, though. Also considering that it’s something neurological, from other advice I’ve heard.

6

Yes, I’ve spoken with my primary care doc. She wants me to go to the cardiologist & back to the gastroenterologist. The gastro doc basically threw his hands in the air and said he’s done all he knows to do. Go home and take Aleve.

7

I’ve not switched to anything yet (aside from NovoLog to MeriLog due to provider, which doesn’t count as they’re almost identical). I have to speak to my endocrinologist about switching to something else. The appointment’s in 8 days. I’ll mention the rheumatologist to my primary care doc. Thanks for the suggestion.

8

Brad, if you choose to change your meal-time bolus rapid-acting insulin, it may be worthwhile asking your physician to make a complete switchover. Although the two more prominent analog rapid formulations - Aspart, brand name Novolog and Insulin Lispro, brand name Humalog - can often be interchanged with very little dosage adjustment, they are entirely different from the start. To express the science in everyday terms, Aspart derives from ‘brewer’s yeast’ while Lispro has its basis in killed virus.