After struggling with chronic pain and debilitating bowel episodes, I'm still fighting for answers

About 10 years prior - had diarrhea and abdominal pain for months, stopped eating gluten and symptoms went away

August 2025 - I experienced a traumatic event and was in frequent outpatient therapy and increased my mental health medication (Vilazodone). I was overweight. I had irregular periods (which I've always had).

September - November 2025 - I started exercising and changed my diet (focusing on whole grains, proteins, fruits and vegetables, healthy fats) and lost about 10 pounds.

December 2025 - I was vomiting every 2 hours one night, and after that 12-hour period passed, I had loose stools (not diarrhea) for about a week. I never went to the doctor. After this, my periods became regular down to the day.

January - February 2026 - After I recovered and returned to my diet, I started having painful stools that were difficult to pass and large in volume. I saw a nutritionist who put me on a low FODMAP diet but it didn't help (sometimes made it worse).

March 2026 - March 19, I had an episode of diarrhea for 5 hours. I had to take 4 imodium before it stopped. My doctor gave me an antibiotic for diverticulitis (I wasn't tested for diverticulitis). I felt somewhat better after the antibiotic + Voquezna (the antibiotic gave me bad side effects).

April 2026 - April 16, I had an episode of diarrhea for 5 hours. I had to take 4 imodium before it stopped. I had a CT scan which showed minor fatty liver disease, follicular cysts (functional?), no diverticulitis, no appendicitis, otherwise normal.

May 2026 - May 15, diarrhea episode lasting 5 hours. I had to take 4 imodium before it stopped. At this point, between diarrhea episodes, I'm not passing stool at all. Limited ultrasound confirmed fatty liver disease but otherwise normal. Started birth control because my episodes occurred around my periods.

June 2026 - Started having breakthrough bleeding and cramps from Norethindrone. Had first normal, fully formed stool 10 days after starting Norethindrone. Had a 5 hour diarrhea episode June 3 and June 23. I took 2 imodium instead of 4 this time. I was prescribed dicyclomine which helps with stomach and uterine cramps and helps slow diarrhea but it makes me feel dizzy and makes my limbs feel numb. Blood tests show high hematocrit, moderately high Neutrophils, moderately low Carbon Dioxide, moderately high Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, moderately high Albumin, near optimal/borderline LDL, Food allergies and celiac negative. Stool tests normal. Urine specific gravity <=1.005, WBC Esterase Trace, no bacteria in urine. I started Slynd instead of Norethindrone and started having more normal bowel movements between episodes (still painful).

July 2026 - Abdominal ultrasound normal. Laparoscopy recommended by gynecologist. Colonoscopy and endoscopy recommended by gastroenterologist.

August 2026 - Total weight loss so far is 34 pounds because I'm scared of eating more than a few select foods (I don't know if it's connected to food or not), going to get colonoscopy scheduled, waiting for laparoscopy to be scheduled.

Bowel Symptoms - Pain mediated obstructed defecation without urgency - Must actively strain to pass even liquid stool - Dyschezia - Incomplete evacuation every time - Rectal throbbing after episodes - Rectal and thigh numbness before episodes - Mucus stool or no stool between episodes, which has gotten better since starting Slynd but has not gone away - Alternating between no bowel movements for weeks (improved slightly since starting Slynd) and severe episodes

Pelvic And Abdominal Symptoms - Constant abdominal and pelvic pain - Rib to pelvis tightness with cycle (went away after starting Slynd) - Left lumbar pain - Left side pain between ribs and hip - Hypogastric band pain and bloating - Pain in right and left iliac regions - SI joint pain - Severe pain during pelvic examinations

Neurological Symptoms - Leg and thigh numbness with cycle and with bowel episodes - Lip tingling in waves started August 2026 - Dizziness when standing started August 2026

Systemic Symptoms - Significant weight loss - Constant fatigue started July 2026 - Dizziness started July 2026 - Fear of eating outside of select foods because I don't want to have diarrhea or pain

Respiratory - Asthma worsening around period - Chest and rib tightness with cycle - Both stopped since starting Slynd

Urinary - Trace WBC in urine without bacteria

Family history Mother: bowel endometriosis (diagnosed via laparoscopy) Maternal grandmother: uterine fibroids (hysterectomy) Maternal grandfather: colon cancer (colectomy)

I don't know my paternal family history.

Current medications Slynd, Dicyclomine as needed, Imodium as needed, Ibuprofen 600mg as needed, Symbicort, Spiriva, Airsupra as needed, Allegra I stopped taking Vilazodone because it caused diarrhea, which never occurred before all this (I'd been on Vilazodone for months before this).