Can Anyone Help Me ?

Hi, I have a problem which no one seems to be able to help me with. I am male, 44 years old, and for the past 16 months have been having some very strange feelings. I say 16 months because here in the Uk, the waiting time to even see anyone is a complete joke. It all started with what I can only describe as a burning sensation in my right kidney. After a telephone call to my local GP, an appointment was made for 10 days later. I went for my appointment (taking a urine sample with me) and my GP suspected a kidney infection, after being amazed that I`d took the liberty to bring a urine sample, he gave me some anti-biotics, and told me to ring the surgery in 3 weeks time to recieve the results of my sample. By the time the 3 weeks had passed, I was feeling some pains round my front, around my lower right quarter, and sometimes just under my ribs. I told my GP this on the phone, and was advised to make another appointment (16 days time) oh, and by the way, your test results came back, and your urine is OK. 16 days later, I go back and describe the pains I am feeling, and this time he checks me out more thouroughly, Again the pains have changed somewhat, and I am now starting to feel nausious,and sometimes quite bloated. This time he suspects maybe a kidney stone, so arranges for me to have a CT scan, which was to take place in 3 months time!! Meanwhile, the pains I was getting were constantly moving, sometimes lower right, sometimes lower left, sometimes upper right, sometimes upper left, sometimes shoulder, neck or lower back, pretty much anywhere. Eventually, the day for my scan came, and I went to my local hospital, (which I might add that I am absolutely terrified of), and had the scan done. I was told to get back in touch with my GP in 2-3 weeks time to recieve the results. 3 weeks later I again phoned my GP, only to be told that my scan was absolutely clear. I told him that the pains were now moving about all over the place, but this time, all pains, nausea, bloatedness etc would simply vanish if I stood up!! these pains only occur if I am sitting! I have never once been sick with these pains, nor have I ever been off my food. I have no trouble sleeping, and as long as I am standing, walking, even just moving, I feel nothing !!
I made another appointment to see him. Only 4 days later, I was back in his surgery, and after describing my symptoms, he had me on the table and poked and prodded me all over, and suggested I bring in a stool sample, and also give a sample of blood. You guessed it, 3 weeks later all the test results came back clear. Another 2 weeks later and I am back in his surgery, where he suggests that he thinks it is something muscular, and that it is coming from my back. A few years ago I put my back out pretty badly, and in the following years have had to visit the osteopath on a regular basis. To be sure, he thinks I should also go back to the hospital, and see the gastro consultant, who seemingly is one of the best in the country. Another 4 months later I am with the consultant, who also pokes and prods me all over, takes a blood sample, and asks me to bring in another urine/stool sample.He also gives me the option of having an endoscopy, but is 99.9% certain that nothing will show up. Seeing as how the thought of having to go in for an endoscopy, and having to endure a 4 month wait for it would almost certainly be a living nightmare for me, I decline, and decide to take his word that nothing will be found by having it. He also thinks that it is muscular, but can`t think what can be done about it. He gives me "buscopan" which he thinks should help, but if not I should get back in touch with my GP. I might add that the "buscopan" done nothing!!
I would be grateful if anyone here could shed even the smallest amount of light on this problem as it is starting to to really get me down. Even finding someone else who had the same symptoms would help me. As you will realise, nothing happens too quickly over here, and to be quite honest I don`t really know if I can be bothered with the NHS anymore. Up until the present day, I can get rid of all pains by simply standing up, or moving !

[Kevin Pho, MD]

You are reporting right sided kidney pain.  CT scan was negative for stones.  Stool and urine tests negative.  

Other possibilities would include the liver/gallbladder, inflammatory bowel disease (specifically Crohn's disease, which can affect the small intestine) or irritable bowel disease.

I would agree the endoscopy would be the next step.  However, with pain the the right side, the possibility of small bowel disease should be evaluated and the endoscope won't reach that far.  An upper GI series with small bowel follow-through can also be considered to evaluate this.  

I would also consider an abdominal ultrasound to evaluate the liver and gallbladder.  

If every test is negative, a GI or urological cause is less likely.  I would discuss these options with your personal GP or specialist.

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.
Medical Weblog:
kevinmd_b

[aliaat]

Hi,

I'm also in the UK (student) and had similar complaints, except with haematuria.  I was told (after blood work, ultrasound, urinalysis) that it was probably 1) an infection which did not turn up on analysis, or 2) small stone(s) which did not turn up on scan.  So it's basically a wait-an-see situation for now.  The thing that puzzles me most it the 'migrating' pain (which hit so hard one day I passed out).  I would be quite interested to see what it turns out to be in your case.  Just a thought, I found that the NHS has great dr's compared to other coutries I have lived/studied in, but they are so overwhelmed that it is frustrating how long it takes to get anything done.  Let's hope they can reduce the workload on individual hospitals so people like you don't have to wait so long for answers :)

All the best,
AT

[yoshi]

what does buscopan meant to do??
did anyone mention gall bladder??
When you said it all went away just by moving and walking and not sitting,how about sleeping or lying flat??
If this is too much gas ,can you try neutralising it??
when you said you were bloated and then this bloatness went away,it cannot be water retention,so it could be gas.
after reading your post,this sounds like the Canadian healthcare system,wait forever to get an appointment,i wonder if someday we at US will face the same problem??

[needleworks]

Buscopan is a drug to stop muscles from going into spasm, I think it is usually prescribed for people with IBS ? and, yes, when I am lying down I feel no pains whatsoever, therefore getting to sleep is not a problem. I might also add that in 15 months the pain has never got any worse. I think I can also rule out gas, due to the fact that I only sometimes feel bloated, not all the time.

[yoshi]

you did not mention what you have been eating,your diet may be causing the bloatness.
Here in USA,patients who have stomach problem get tested for that nasty bacteria,Hector Pylori found mostly in water and food.

[chellosage]

I too have had similar symptoms and difficulty with extensiive NHS waiting time. I first went to may Gp with lowerback pain, bloating and acid reflux back in Feb 2004. For some reason she focused on my kidnedys and after months of faffing around and being treated for kidney infection plus neg scans for kidney stones, i tested positive for helicobacter (I was tested by  another doctor). Unfortunately my symptoms have not gone away even though I have had treatment for the bacteria. I suspest years of extentive use of antibiotic has left me resistant to most of them. Like you mine symptom are eased by walking and standing. Because my stomach is inflammed and i have diarrhea and constipation it is likely to be some form of inflammatory bowel disease. As i have to waith another month before I see a gastroentreologist all I can do is rely on these sites for help. It may be helpful to keep a food diary. I find that any form of carbohydrate inflames my stomach and I'm yet to find out why.  Good luck

[needleworks]

I feel that I should add that, whatever I eat, makes no difference whatsoever, there is nothing that makes these pains any better, or any worse ! I have also never had any diarrhea or constipation in the 16 months that I have felt like this. All of the GP`s, including specialists, seem to be stumped, and are saying that all these symptoms are a result of putting my back out ! Surely someone else has heard of, or are suffering similar ?

[Pylori]

First of all, please be more clear on where you think your right kidney is. Most people I talk to are dreadfully wrong about where their kidneys are.

Most people point way to low. Your kidneys are about halfway up your back, just below your ribcage, and partially within, but posterior. The thing is, if you were truly having kidney pain, you'd be pointing to your middle back.

Having said that, and assuming you were correct in the kidney area, it could be a kidney stone, or honestly - it could be anything. Why?

I call that area a cluster of organs. They are so interconnected that a pain over here might really be coming from over there. This is why doctors need to do extensive tests to make sure you are not being misled. A good doctor will make no conclusions in your first visit. A good doctor will ALWAYS order tests before making an assumption, although he surely will be thinking one way or the other, based on experience.

Since this is more of a complaint about how long it takes, I have to say, I am an advocate for self-help. I believe that intelligence is a scale, and unfortunately only some people get it. Those that do can research problems on their own.

For example, I had the most bizarre filmy sensation on the upper roof of my mouth that the doctor could not figure out. After research on the net, I discovered I had a fungal infection. The causes were few and scary to consider.

Only if I had HIV, diabetes or was slightly immunocompromised would this have happened. I ordered an HIV test immediately. Negative. I have no diabetes, tests show that. So I Sniffed around the house.

Sure enough, we had wet carpets in the basement. What was underneath? Colonies of black mold so thick... lets just say it was expensive to clean up.

I did all this research without the help of my doctor. Dont get me wrong, I told him every step of the way what was wrong and what I intended to do, and he supported my efforts (Like any good doctor would). And I solved the problem myself.

What cured it was a liquid banana flavored diflucan swish.

So, im using that as a point to illustrate that in 4 months time you can go back to your doctor and tell HIM what the problem is.