lower right abdomen pain--flusterated !!

[canady2009]

Hello. I am a 21 year old female, and I have had pain in my right lower abdomen for about 2 years now and no answer as to why. I also have constant low-grade fevers(in the 99-100) range, night sweats, burning/aching pain in abdomen below belly button, and when I feel my RLQ it feels like there is a lump or a swelling there, and several of my family members have felt it too.
I have seen several docs over the past 2 years trying to figure this out and I really haven't gotten anywhere. I have seen my GYN several times, he did a pelvic ultrasound, said I had polycystic ovaries but that it shouldn't cause pain, and another time he said maybe I have pelvic inflammatory disease and gave me antibiotics. I found the PID diagnosis a little hard to believe cause I have never had sex and I did not have a discharge or anything. I took the antibiotics he prescribed anyway, but I don't think they made any difference. I have had my urine tested several times and it always shows microscopic blood. Was referred to a urologist, who did a cystoscopy(endoscope exam of bladder) and a urine cancer test, he said everything was fine. I even went to the ER one night when the pain was real bad, and they did a CT scan of the abdomen, which showed no appendicitis, and they gave me some pain meds and sent me on my way.
The first doctor I consulted about this a couple years ago said he thought it could be crohn's disease, as my RLQ was tender to touch and I had a fever. He referred me to a gastroenterologist but I cancelled the appt. because I had a test(college student). He said I might need a colonoscopy, and I didn't like the sound of that.I didn'y follow up with that Dr. as my life was very hectic at the time.
I have been through all this and still no diagnosis. I am still having pain and fevers and all the other symptoms. The pain is interfering with my work(I am a cashier, and I am active all day). I am planning on going to my GP tommorrow or friday and asking him to do some more tests or ask if he thinks I need to see a gastro. Any ideas as to what this could be, any suggestions as to what I can do would be greatly appriciated, as I am about at my wits end with this thing.

[ghostofyou]

If you still have no answers from your GP, I highly recommend seeing a GI and having the colonoscopy done.  No, the colonoscopy is not the most pleasant of tests but it's not the worst either.  The hardest part it the prep they have you do.  You'll most likely be asleep for the actual test so that parts easy.  I have ulcerative colitis and often have severe pain in the lower right abdomen.  You won't know if it could be UC, Crohns, or if you need to look elsewhere until you have this done.  3 years is a long time to not know what's wrong.  Good luck to you.  Let me know what you find out.

[bellypain95]

Hi,
I have been having the exact same symptoms as you for over 2 years now. I'm 26 male and have been to the doctors several times but they keep giving me various medications for IBS.... i have lost faith in doctors now.

In addition to this I also find it hard to pass my stool which is usually very lumpy, thin and inconsistent. It almost feels like there is a swelling on my lower colon which is constricting my bowel movements and as a result causes the pain, fever, and slight lump on my right lower abdomen.
After trying various diets, keeping a food diary, eating loads of fibre I feel the only thing which helps to relieve the pain and swelling and bowel movements is Aloe Vera juice.
I have another doctors appointment tomorrow, I hope this time the doctor takes me seriously... if not I'll be changing doctors and seeing a GI specialist.

I would like to hear what your findings turned out to be. I have ruled out a Hernia which i  initially thought I had, also IBS.. though the symptoms are very much like it but does not explain the swelling and fever and pain. The only other thing i can think i have is crohns disease which i will mention to the doctor tomorrow.

[canady2009]

Hi. Thanks to both of you for replying. I went to my GP on monday. As soon as he felt the lump in my right lower side, he agreed that I needed to see a gastro. I had bloodwork done that showed that I have elevated white blood cells, elevated platelets and my thyroid level is also high. He said he wanted to re-check my thyroid in a month to see if it had changed. I was able to see a Gastro today. I was surprised at how quickly I got the appointment, but they said they had a cancellation so they could see me today and I took the appt. The GI did some blood work also, I had to give a stool sample(embarassing) and they scheduled me for endoscopy at the end of the month. So I feel like I am getting somewhere. My GP gave me some levsin for the diarrhea and cramps and it has helped some, but not gotten rid of the pain. The gastroenterologist said it might just be IBS but it could be crohns or celiac disease as well and that needed to be ruled out.
Bellypain95, from what I have read about crohn's, strictures can form in the intestine and maybe that could be causing your thin stools. Sounds like you need to see a GI doc too. I hope your appointment goes well and let me hear what you find out too. Sometimes you just have to be blunt with your doctor and tell them straight-up that you want a referral. Good luck.

[kell77]

Hi I have had exactly the same thing on and off for about 10 years now, but doctors keep on giving me conflicting advice, (grumbly appendix, another said no such thing, IBS, female problems etc) all been ruled out. Finally after numerous scans when the lump and pain had gone got appointment with doctor who felt lump and said it was strange, she refered me to gyno. Gyno said nothing to do with her and she told me to get doctor to refer me to the gastro clinic. That took 3 months for appointment to come through. He then asked for a CAT scan and barum meal which took another month to come through. That was a month ago and still not seen gastro doc again. Let me know what they say as I'm just getting fobbed off.
Kelly

[canady2009]

Well, it had been a week since I had seen the GI doc and had the blood work done and they hadn't called with the results, so I called yesterday afternoon. The test for celiac disease was negative, CRP test for inflammation was within normal limits, my WBC and platelets were still elevated, go figure. I cancelled the upper GI endoscopy because my stupid insurance company was going to make me pay $250 before I could have it done, and I just don't have the extra money right now. I am still having burning pain in my mid-abdomen and acid reflux. I am now taking zantac and hoping it helps with that. My thyroid seems to be a problem too, my TSH is elevated, which means hypothyroidism. I have to  have another TSH done next month, and my doctor said if it was any more elevated I need to start on synthroid(thyroid replacement hormone pills). Thyroid problems run on both sides of my family, so I am not that surprised about it. My doc said that the thyroid problems could be contributing to my GI issues. I have polycystic ovaries, which have been seen on both ultrasound and CT scan, so maybe that is leading to my right lower abdomen pain. It does seem to be worse around that time of the month. I hope you get some answers, Kelly. I know it is flusterating going from doc to doc and not having any answers. Have you had your ovaries checked ? Polycystic ovaries can be enlarged and cause pain, because the enlarged ovaries are pressing on nerves(thats what my GYN said). Just a thought. Good luck and let me know what you find out too.

[coughting]

The GI dr should be doing a colonoscopy including your small intestine.  The fact that it is a lump in the RLQ, pain, diarreha and fever is very symptomatic of chrons in the small intestine.  You need to have a colonoscopy to see what is there.  If it is chrons the symptoms will only get much worse without treatment.  Are you on antibiotics?  Ask the GI dr if he would try this for starters.  And save up for a colonoscopy.

Best of luck.

[April2]

I had the pain on the right side too for a long time. It would come and go in waves that would leave me doubled over and nauseous. Finally, they discovered a mass in my small intestine near the terminal illeum and I had surgery to remove it with a bowel resection. They discovered mine through a CT scan.
When you get a colonoscopy you will probably need an endoscopy too. Talk to your GI and your insurance company. I can't imagine why none of that would be covered if you medically need it. See if your GI doctor can put in a request with your insurance company. I've had to do that more than once. Sometimes my insurance company would start off refusing something but after a couple of doctors put in a request with them they changed their minds and allowed the tests, etc. It's worth a shot. I hope you get some relief soon. Take care!

[utilaman]

I'm NO Doctor, but you seem to have Crohn's
http://www.webmd.com/ibd-crohns-disease/crohns-disease/crohns-disease-symptoms
Click on Diveriticulitis Link in that article to see that you may have ONE below stomach!

Bromelain is a NOVEL therapy for Crohn's
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=2269703
Do searches of it and IBD.   Also Papaya enzyme in vitamin section is SIMILAR!

New Drugs
http://www.everydayhealth.com/crohns-disease/new-crohns-disease-treatment-options.aspx

NOVEL means NEW in the above Abstract!
I take apple cider vinegar, papaya enzyme and garlic and doing great!

HOPE YOU GET IT UNDER CONTROL!

[canady2009]

Hi,
sorry, I know it has been over a month since I posted or checked medhelp.com. It has been a busy month for me with work and school. For a while I thought maybe it was just IBS, but I am still having  problems. I do have an elevated TSH, and my primary doc started me on synthroid, but I am still having GI issues. I am still having pain in RLQ, heartburn and occasional diarrhea and cramping, as well as the low grade fevers and nightsweats.I have not lost any weight, but I have hormonal issues so that could be contributing to that. When I went to the GI clinic, I saw a Physician Assistant and I really felt like she gave me the brush-off. All she offered to do was some blood work, which all came back as normal, and she sent me on my way. My gynecologist says polycystic ovaries shouldn't cause pain, and that mine are enlarged, but not that bad. My primary doc seems to be the one that has helped me the most, so I am going to go back to him this week. I really think I need to have a colonoscopy done to see what is going on in my intestines and if there is any inflammation there. I have also read that a person who has autoimmune thyroid disease is more likely to have other autoimmune diseases, and I know crohns is an autoimmune, so it definately is a possibility. Thanks to coughting, april2 and utilaman for your replies. I will update here when I find something out.  Thanks and take care !!

[Zaklin]

Our daughter had the same pains RLQ and it was puffed out - the intestines have fluid around them and is distended - she has Crohn's Disease in the illeum - where the large/small intestine meet. Definitely get a colonoscopy - she's 12 and went through it with just a sedative...it's not pleasant but it will show if there is inflammation and /or polyps etc..