Hi, I have been having a problem for about 9-10 months now, and none of
my doctors are able to find anything conculsive. I'll try to be brief.

About 10 months ago I starting showing swelling and leasions on my
hands, ankles, knees, and other joint areas. They never became open
sores, and when treated with IV steriods it went away. My
Rheumatoligist diagnoses that as Erythema Nodosum. That hasn't
recurred. Following that I began to expierence arthritic conditions in
my back, neck, ankles, feet, shoulders, hands, wrists. This would come
and go, and I was taking steriods to manage it. My Rheumatologist
indicates it is a type of Spondyloarthropy, but we haven't isolated
what specific one. Also, every couple of months I would have a GI
episode. It would start with a very foul smelling gas(belch), some
stomach upset and would last 3-4 hours. Following that I would have an
epsidoe of violent and painful vomiting and diarrhea for about 3
hours...what came out of each end was the same smell, texture, etc.
During two of these episodes I was taken to the ER, where xrays,
ultrasound, cat scans, bloodwork, urine samples, fecal samples all
showed nothing wrong, save for an elevated level of bilirubin but
nothing to cause any concern.

this has gone on for many months. The GI episodes began to get more
frequent in the past 3 months, and the arthritis has flared up pretty
bad as well. The GI episodes began to occur on a bi-weeekly, and then
weekly basis. The last episode I had was different then normal, there
was abdominal pain, and foul gas but no vomiting or diarhea. However
the abdominal pain and discomfort did NOT go away this time, and lasted
for 2 weeks. I saw a gastroenteroligist, and he had more fecal samples
taken, more bloodwork drawn, a GI Series, and an upper endoscopy.
Again, the test results are showing absolutely nothing wrong with me!!
The endoscopy showed a small hiatial hernia, and some reflux damage,
but nothing else to support Chrons, colitis, ulcer, parasite, or
anything. the latest problem started 6 days ago. At about 4-5pm,
whether I have eaten or not, I expierence severe abdominal pain (like
doubling over on the floor type pain) that lasts until I wake up the
next morning. Eating and drinking do not seem to help or hurt. This
occurs wherever I am, home, work, etc. the intensity is getting worse
as the days go by.

My doctors aren't sure what is going on. My GI put me on nexium, and an
anti-spasm medication that doesn't seem to be helping. I am taking
Vicoden and Relafin for the arthritis. My Rheumotologist needs to know
what the GI issue is as the arthritis may just be symptoms of a GI
issue. My GI doctor wants to wait a month and see what happens before
any more testing. I know this will not "just go away" and seems to be
getting worse and worse as time goes on. I am at a loss now, the
doctors are finding nothing wrong, yet I cannot eat dinner any longer
due to the abdominal pain in the evenings, and it is effecting both my
work and personal life in a bad way. I don't know what else to do at
this point. I have altered my diet, but that changed nothing.

The most confounding part is that all the tests are showing absolutely
nothing wrong! The only things that came out of the tests are: small
cysts on liver and kidneys, compressed disc in lower back, small
sliding hiatial hernia, and some acid reflux problems.

HELP!!