Upper RT abdominal burning

[marinesmart]

I am a 40yr-old Female, non-smoker 5'2 112 lbs. Avid exerciser(6xweek)I have been a vegetarian for 1 1/2 years although I do eat salmon & halibut 1-2 x a week. Hysterectomy & bladder repair 2001(due to large fibroid), abdominalplasty 2004.I Take 25mg Hydrochlorothiazde for Hypertension that medical tests & imaging could find no apparent cause for(began meds in 6/2004) I am adopted and have no medical history. One month ago had increased need to urinate w/low back pain. Subsided after 2weeks. Then I began to have lower & mid back pain with tenderness in abdomen around naval. This comes and goes.I also began to have lateral upperabdominal burning which radiates to my back.This occurs mostly when sitting down .(this is not helped by pepto, tums or zantac) For past 3 days the burning is now also on upper right side and up/down my right arm.(I have had this type of burning in the past, but did not seek medical treatment.)  The naval area& mid back is also still a little tender and I have some abdominal bloating. I have had episodes of crampy pain and diarrhea in the past, but this has not occured for at least one year.For the past 3 days my stool has white stringly mucuous in it as well as some undigested food. I have no diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss or nausea. I have become more constipated over the past few months but metamucil fixes this problem. My doctor ordered an abdominal ultrasound but says he has no idea what's going on. Do you have any ideas on what types of tests I should be having and what types of conditions my symptoms may suggest?

[nickodemus]

well i think you have a type of crohns disease that is very difficult to detect.most tests will not show any signs other than inflamation in blood tests so my opinion is this get a prometheus first step test ask your doctor to to this it may speed up a colonoscopy, and by the way.try and get as many opionions as possible i would say six colonoscopies is enough testing.your doctors may come up with six different diagnoses so be ready for at least 2to 3 conflicting opinions,also while you are going through all of this start to make appointments to get a new set of doctors and start all over again.always make sure your new doctors no nothing about you.dont tell them what other doctors have diagnosed you with let them find out what it is otherwise they will coast on the work of the others and you will get nowhere quick.i have many more tips if you are or anyone else is interested in

[marinesmart]

I have an appointment with my OBGYN this thursday to check for ovarian possibilities.My abdomen feels tender & swollen today and the burning continues. Does GERD or an Ulcer cause these type of symptoms?

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Pain radiating to the back can be suggestive of pancreatitis or an ulcer.  Other possibilities can include the liver or gallbladder, as well as GERD or inflammation of the upper digestive tract.  Non-GI causes can include an ovarian cyst or kidney disease.

The ultrasound is a reasonable test to obtain - this can look at the liver and gallbladder.  You can also consider an upper GI series to look for ulcers or GERD.

The pancreas can be evaluated by obtaining blood pancreatic enzymes as well as a CT scan.

These options can be discussed with your personal physician.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
http://www.straightfromthedoc.com

[marinesmart]

Had my ultrasound today. Negative for Kideny stones, gallstones or abdominal hernia. Radiologist suggest abdominal & Pelvic CT scan. What about the GI tract? Should I ask about tests for this as well?