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Gastroenterology (Expert Forum)
Pain Upper Left Quadrant - have had every test - DOC stumped as usual ..
This forum is for questions regarding Gastroenterology issues such as Acid Reflux (GERD), Barretts Esophagus, Colitis, Colon/Bowel Disorders, Crohn's Disease, Diverticulitis/Diverticulosis, Digestive Disorders, IBS, Stomach Pain.
Pain Upper Left Quadrant - have had every test - DOC stumped as usual ..
by Rob, Apr 08, 2000 12:00AM
Same old story gang---recently had ABDOMINAL
SCAN, endoscope down the throat, didn't have colonoscopy this time...ahhhhh lets see anything else.... DOC is stumped---constant pain in upper left side,,,,, everything looks ok I keep hearing.....pain is always there and sometimes gets REALLLLLLLLLLL uncomfy...
On the prilosec which I guess is OK for heartburn etc;;; not really a problem with that anymore.... but not this mysterious pain..... ahhh about 5 years of frustration now----with no end in sight-----kinda like gurgling, pulled muscle, twitching feeling inside that drives me crazy....I'd like to reach in & grab it out if I could....
something is being missed.... some pancreas inflammation type thing ?? spleen ??? scan says all is fine and blood readings OK...
hmmmmm DOCTORS you are missing something...
arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh !!
frustrated Rob ....take care all.....
someday maybe someday I just wanna double over real bad & not get up & say SEE DOCTORS I told you there was something wrong---ya just couldn't find it....!!!!!!!
take care
SCAN, endoscope down the throat, didn't have colonoscopy this time...ahhhhh lets see anything else.... DOC is stumped---constant pain in upper left side,,,,, everything looks ok I keep hearing.....pain is always there and sometimes gets REALLLLLLLLLLL uncomfy...
On the prilosec which I guess is OK for heartburn etc;;; not really a problem with that anymore.... but not this mysterious pain..... ahhh about 5 years of frustration now----with no end in sight-----kinda like gurgling, pulled muscle, twitching feeling inside that drives me crazy....I'd like to reach in & grab it out if I could....
something is being missed.... some pancreas inflammation type thing ?? spleen ??? scan says all is fine and blood readings OK...
hmmmmm DOCTORS you are missing something...
arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh !!
frustrated Rob ....take care all.....
someday maybe someday I just wanna double over real bad & not get up & say SEE DOCTORS I told you there was something wrong---ya just couldn't find it....!!!!!!!
take care
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Good luck with yours (and post if you get 'fixed')...
I've been diagnosed with ALS and am hoping info from above site might help me as modern medicine won't. Many illnesses can be related in treatment methods.....Bill
Yesterday it was every 15 mins for 12 hours, When can i expect to eat again and what should i eat
See some of the previous posts below re. upper left quadrant pain without a diagnosis. Pretty discouraging. Some of us women suffering from these same symptoms have thought maybe it could be due to female hormonal changes, but I think your case just ruled that out as a possibility. Oh well...
Have they (the Drs.) ever given you any clue? Your sympotoms sounds so exactly like mine ("kinda like gurgling, pulled muscle, twitching feeling inside"). I have started seriously thinking that It's some kind of nerve related sensation. I actually had a second opinion by a Dr. appointed through the short term disability insurer for my employer. He was kind of a jerk, but his theory was that it was some kind of "localized neuro - mechanical" problem -- mayb esomething pressing on a nerve, but offered no ideas as to what. He also thought I could've had shingles with no outward sign of skin eruptions because I was fighting the virus and it never made it out to the nerve endings. But that doesn't explain why I still have the pain 4 months later (for you, 5 years later!) Nice try.
have you found anything that helps the pain? Do you experience it all the time? Have you ever had a back problems/pain? How about gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)? In my case, I'm now wondering if either of these conditions could be causing the ULQ pain/sensation.
Thanks for any info -
Carol D.
Yepper---pain is all the time---always there---sometimes somewhat tolerable---sometimes makes me wanna scream...
what frustrates me about local doctors is they say--well Rob,,, the scans, tests are OK etc... gee ya must be fine..nuttin wrong..... we don't see anything--- BAD ANSWER... go to the next level DOCS....... don't ya got any other ideas.....for God's sake....
Yes---we just live with it like most; but it would sure be nice to get ride of... Not a clue what really kicks it off---food, stress never had a pattern to anything.....
i just don't know...................
the search goes on & on & on... I have a checkup/follwup next week where the DOC always pushes on my gut & says is that tender ???
Y E S I say--that's tender !!!..well stay on prilosec---come back in a few months BOOOO !!
arghhhhhhhhhh
take care,,,,rob
Regarding shingles, it is possible that the nerve damage from shingles could last for a couple of years. From what I have read, it usually heals eventually. Fibromyalgia has no cure.
Good luck to you. Hope the phazyme helps. If you want to chat more, drop me an email at ***@****.
have you thought the side pain was your heart? My symptoms are definately stronger during my cycle!!
***@****
I am going for a scope of my upper GI to biopsy a "Polyp" found during a barium x_ray. I don't think it is connected to my pain but who knows.The Polyp is adjacent to my stomach spincter and is 1 cm in size. I am 45 weigh 180 exercise and am a non smoker. I do have gerd and am on Prilosec as of last week. Has anyone ever been told they have a hiertal hernia with a polyp it it? I'm scared but my doc says polyps are common. Does anyone know what the liklyhood is that something like this is cancer?
THAT'S FUNNY CAUSE I JUST WENT TO THE DR'S THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE SAME EXACT THING, XRAYS CAME BACK FINE, BLOOD WORK STILL WAITING, THEY CHECKED MY KIDNEYS AND PANCREAS, ALL FINE. IT FEELS LIKE A PULLED MUSCLE ON MY LEFT SIDE AND ON THE LEFT SIDE OF MY BACK. THEY JUST GAVE ME ZANTAC, WELL WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS. TAKE CARE
It occurs to me that in trying to find the cause we are wasting valuable energy. The point is to assist the body in doing
what it does so well: which is heal itself. It's been called the wisdom of the body among other things. Eliminating bad foods,
negative thoughts, eating healthy, whole foods, trusting ourselves above doctors, cleansing and detoxifying the body,
healing our pasts, are all positive things that we can do to allow the body to have the energy it needs for self healing.
Modern medicine is terribly inept at helping anyone with any kind of chronic or degenerative diseases. That's where the
common sense healers run circles around the doctors. Check out any number of alternative healing sites, you might find
some of what you're looking for. A friend said "Diseases are the cure for what needs to be healed."
When that statement becomes meaningful then none of us will need to be sick anymore.
I believe it is some type of ulcer(but I could be wrong. The doctor said an ulcer would be on the right side not the left.
As a fluke, I came across some Pepcid AC, after tying it the pain went away in 5 minutes or less. The pain comes back put the Pepcid AC knocks it out or 80% or more of it. Also tums seem to work also.
My friend told me about his aunt who had every test done and they couldn't find anything. Later after several stomach xray's
the found a pin hole ulcer in her stomach that was causing her the problems. You may or may not have something like this, but I thought I would let you know in case it helps. Good luck and let me know if it helps.
Your liver is on the right side. Everyone has told me that fattly liver is not a problem and doesn't cause pain. Do you have more info?
special occasions, and feel like I will definately loose my mind
if something isnt done. AT least youre all out there, and that is definately a help. Thanks, and if anyone knows any more......
It's worth a try! Ask your doc to at least consider the possibility!
To Rob and all with this mysterious pain - some of you may have any number of conditions which may be otherwise diagnosed and treated. However, for some, if not most of you, I definitely agree with Debbie G's post on 4/25 about SHINGLES. I had this very same pain on the right side. It grew to to encompass the lower right also, including the inguinal region and around the back at waist/kidney level. At times the pain was cycles were so long and excruciating, I was border-line suicidal. Breathing was difficult, digestive tract was "inflamed, irritated", etc., etc., in general my entire body and mind were sick. I also had over $30,000 in medical expenses, including a needless surgery to remove my ovaries. I had 5 GI Doc's and 3 Neurologists either fired or give-up. I also took Elavil, it worked for a while, but since it's a narcotic the dosage must be continually increased, then replaced by stronger medication. I took all the prescribed GI med's and heavy pain killers (kinda cradictive treatment, huh!), was even on MORPHINE pump for a week, all to no avail. I had so many upper and lower GI exams, I could have sold tour tickets and made a fortune. I donated enough blood for tests to supply the local Red Cross for a month. The horror stories could go on, including epidurals of the inguinal region using lidocaine and cortisone, from which I suffered cortisone rebound.
My pain was also caused by SHINGLES, which never (or just slightly) errupted in the tell-tale rash or blisters. More specifically, I had a severe inflamation (inflammation) caused by the shingles virus in the intercostal nerves of two ribs on the right in the region of the waist. My fix was by a genious doctor in MEXICO, a gastroenterologist and surgeon who used no sophisticated equipment or tests to diagnose my problem. He just listened to my description of symptoms, examined me with his fingers and pinpointed the origin of the pain. He gave me an epidural in one of the intercostal nerves, and within seconds I was 90% pain free for the first time in 20 years. Eventually he deadened the two nerves completely, and that was 8 yrs. ago! The pain has not recurred, nor have I suffered any adverse side affects since then. If those nerves have regenerated, they has done so without developing any further problem. As Debbie said, please consider this a very viable explanation to your problem. For those of you that don't know, shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chicken-pox and herpes, and can be agrivated by stress. How much stress does one experience with chronic pain? Once that virus invades a nerve path it can cause an unbelievable amount of pain. Ask your doctor about this possible solution and a permanent epidural as treatment. Why spend your life taking medication which is taxing (and toxic) to your liver and body!
Good Luck!
Take care all..
Rob
When I had shingles across my right eye, I never had to take more than 50 mg. each day of Elavil. I will admit there were some days when I had break through pain and I had to pop some Advil, but for the most part the Elavil took care of it.
So far, with this new diagnosis of Shingles in the left abdomen and back area, I have been on 50 mg. each night for almost 2 months now, and have never felt a pain....yes, the pressure of the pain is still there at times, but no pain. You can even take higher dosages if you need to, but consult your doctor.
The only side effects that I have noticed are constipation (use stool softener) and your heartbeat is a little faster.
I really think you should all consider this diagnosis and at least try the Elavil. I obtained relief in 24 hours.
I also was practically suicidal from the pain. Talk about stress causing shingles....after you get it and can't get diagnosed is when the real stress begins. The scary part of this is that I am an RN and still got jerked around by the medical system. Talk to your doctors!!!!!
My doctor put me on Prilosec 2 years ago and recently upped the dosage to 40 mg. twice per day. I now have burning sensations in upper back into front below center of ribcage and stomach. I am nauseated and vomit thick orange/yellow bile. The doctor said they found nothing on MRI scan. Yesterday he prescribes METOCLOPRAMIDE 5 MG 4x per day for nausea.
Any ideas?
Thanks, and God Bless, Bob J.
But wouldn't a blood test have revealed this type of viral infection?
Also, some other questions for those with the Shingles theory: has your pain been primarily surface pain, or does it sometimes feel intestinal or like a pulled abdominal muscle - or sometimes just like pressure inside pushing out? My pain also moves around from day to day and changes in intensity. Are these symptoms true for you all as well?
Debbie G: you said when you take the Elavil, the pain is gone but the pressure of the pain is still there. What do you mean by this? Is it that uncomfortable feeling like there's not enough room in your left side for your organs?
I also thought Shingles primarily affected the elderly: I'm 39 years old (and had chicken pox when I was 4). Can anyone explain further?
This is the closest I have been to getting somewhere with this medical mystery! Thanks for allo fo your information and input.
Carol D. :-)
My pain was very deep within my abdomen. The way I would describe it is something was in there trying to literally push it's way out. That's why I thought it had to be Gastrointestinal in nature and because of my nausea and inability to eat at times. It was not surface pain. And, I had no rash at all. The way my family doctor finally figured it out is that the pain never crossed the midline in the front or back. It was totally on my left side from my spine around to my sternum, with pain in my left arm as well. Shingles is always unilateral in nature or one-sided. I don't think there is a blood test to determine shingles. I have read that they can detect it in the cerebrospinal fluid but don't know for sure if that's true. The best way to determine if it was shingles is to try the Elavil. When I say I feel pressure, it's not painful or even distracting. It's just that I know my left side feels different than my right side. And I don't feel that all the time; sometimes it feels as if I'm totally cured. The pain that results from shingles is due to the inflamed nerve that it runs along. Again, shingles, itself, goes away in a few weeks, but the remaining inflamed nerve can last for years! I know shingles is supposed to be an elderly person's disease, but I have now had it twice in 6 years and I am only 42. Each time I got it, it was a result of severe stress (once in nursing school and this time when my husband lost his job). Hope this helps. After experiencing the four worst months of my life due to this illness that was undiagnosed for just as long, I pray I can help others by suggesting that they check this out with their doctor.
Shocked to here that so many people are having the same medical problems that I am. I had my gall bladder removed Feb. 26th, 2000 and have had pain in my left side and back and some in the left front. Was hospitalized for 3 days, 3 weeks ago for dehydration. They did abdominal CT scan and checked all organs and an endoscopy to no avail. They have said it is excess bile, muscle inflamation (inflammation). Treated me with prylosec, levcin, several anti inflamatories all to no avail, just makes my neasua worse. The pain seems to be around my ribs, feels like something trying to get out. They even put me in physical therapy and shot electron currents in my back which seemed to make it even sorer. I'm at a loss as to what this could be. Could it be shingles with no rash? Some of your responses make me think so. I've had colon problems 15 yrs ago but saw a gastrologist today and he says it's bile excreations and put me on something called Cholestyramine Powder but said it could make me really neasuaed which is why I went in the first place. Mine seems to get worse after either sitting or laying for a while thin getting up and moving around but there is still a constant nawing all the time, sometimes bearable and other times not so bearable. Let me know if you have any answers, we've all got to do something, I believe we are all just going to have to depend on God to heal these bodies and I pray that he will just heal us all real soon. 10 weeks is a terriable long time to be in pain and neasuated. If anything changes I'll let you know, you do the same.
Thanks and God Bless and Heal You,
Teresa in Tennessee
My very first diagnosis by a GI doctor was excess bile production. He put me on Carafate and I got so sick I threw up for a week. Then another GI doctor treated me with Aciphex due to my inflamed stomach. She totally disagreed with the first GI Doctor about excess bile in the stomach. She said everyone has bile in their stomach. However, all she did was treat symptoms without ever finding the real cause. Apparently shingles, itself can cause an inflamed GI tract, but no GI doctor even considered it. This pain that I experienced was like something was trying to punch its way out of me! Burning, searing, throbbing pain...but only on the left side. That is the key to whether or not this might be shingles. It should be limited to one side or the other. Hope this helps. I am starting to think there's a lot of us out here who have this wierd strain of shingles virus...because there is no rash...and you usually have a rash with shingles. My doc (who finally diagnosed it) said there is no rash in 15% of cases. Take care and I pray you'll find an answer.
I am now strongly considering going back and asking the Dr. to perscribe Elavil for me. If it works, than it must be shingles, right? (because I to have been convinced that it's somethaing gastrointestinal but they find nothing.)
Would you mind answering a few more questions about the Elavil?
-- Do you take the it as needed or on a regular daily basis?
-- Again: how long before you experienced some releif from taking the Elavil?
-- How much is your dosage?
-- Have you noticed any side effects: particulary nausea, fatigue, dizziness, dry mouth. Has it negatively affected your libio/sexual functioning?
-- Has your Dr. mentioned how long you'll expect to have to stay on the Elavil?
I am concerned about all of these things because I would almost rather live with the pain and discomfort than have to experience some of these side effects of the medication.
I, too have been wondering if we all have been experiencing some strange form of Shingles or other virus that hasn't shown up on the skin but affects the nerve endings in the abdomen, side and mid back.
PS I also have pain into my groin area that sometimes feels like I've pulled a muscle there when I haven't done anything physically that would've caused it. Have had the left arm pain too (a feeling of swolleness and hypersensitivity like it hurt to have my arm at my side, around my underarm area.
Thanks so much for all of your help!~
Carol D.
I, too, have experienced the groin pain! Everything you have said has been my experience, too. And, yes, there were good days, but the bad days were horrible and I just couldn't live like that, so I kept going to the doctor until I got an answer! Now, for the answers to your specific questions.
1. The elavil must be taken everyday! The doctor will usually start you on 25 mg. at bedtime each night, and in two weeks bump it up to 50 mg. I experienced relief within 24 hours and had no pain for the first two weeks. Just as I was ready to bump it up to 50 mg. I had a pain attack for about 4 days. After that attack and being on the 50 mg. tabs I have not had another episode(and it's been 2 months). So the 50 mg. is controlling it completely! I had shingles before about 6 years ago, and I have to be honest and tell you it took about 5 years for it to completely go away (the inflamed nerve, that is.) During that time I weaned myself off the Elavil from time to time when I thought it was gone and was able to be off of it for sometimes 1 year. But it seems any type of high stress situation will bring it back with a vengeance; so then I'd have to go back on the Elavil. At this time, I wouldn't even consider trying to go off of it, because I've only been on it for 2 months and because I can still feel that pressure feeling at times that lets me know it is still there.
2.My only side effects have been constipation (which I take a stool softener for every other day) and a little dry mouth.
Sometimes my heart beats a little faster, as well. Compared to the horrific pain I was in, this is a small price to pay!
I hope you can convince your doctor to try the Elavil. I think you'll be glad you did. It has truly saved my life. For four months I thought I was dying. Actually there were times that I prayed to die, because I had no quality of life. Couldn't plan anything, because I never knew if it would be a good day or bad day. If you want to e-mail me personally, my web address is
***@****. Let me know how you do!
I started taking Elavil (20-30 mg) at night about one month ago. I am feeling much better now. The foggy concentration problems are gone and most of the pain has diminished. I am sleeping better. I would say I am at least 70% improved. I am also taking effexor (75 mg) everyday.
I often wondered if it was shingles.
Some people have problems with weight gain on Elavil, but I have been watching what I'm eating and have not gained. No sexual side effects with this dosage.
Another question for those of you who've decided it must be shingles: did you or do you experiencing any bloating of the abdomen? I feel like I'm a bit bloated, so I'm wondering of the shingles aftermath could also cause some intestinal symptoms besides the feeling of pain, pressure and discomfort -- perhaps like IBS without the diarrhea or constipation? Again - since the abdominal CT scan and 2 pelvic ultrasounds turned up nothing, I don't think there's anything in there that can be causing me to appear bloated. I do experience some bloating with my period, but now I feel (and look) a bit bloated even when I'm not bleeding (about the same amount of bloat as I experience monthly.) I can't tell if I just didn't notice that I had the bloat before the pain started 5 months ago, or if it is something new.
Thanks again to all for the info and recommendations. I'm keeping my fingers crossed the Elavil works for me.
Carol D.
I hope you figure out what your required dosage of the Elavil will be soon. I took 25 mg. each night for 2 weeks and thought I was cured, but then had a flare-up for 4 days. Then I went to 50 mg. and have not had a pain since! Your body will adapt to the Elavil...I was very sleepy in the beginning, as well, and used to be in a panic if I didn't take my pill by 9:00 pm the night before. Now, I take it as late as 11:00 pm and I'm fine the next morning. It takes awhile for your body to adjust.
Yes, I definitely experience GI problems with this. I still feel these wierd gas bubbles in my back! The endoscopy showed that my esophagus and stomach were extremely inflamed. I did some research and read that shingles can cause these symptoms.
As a matter of fact the doc put me on Levbid (antispasmodic for bowel) at one time and I did experience some relief from that.
So whatever nerve or nerves are involved, they are definitely connected to my stomach, bowel and esophagus. Yes, I remember extreme bloating in my left upper abdomen.
I still think that Elavil is a wonder drug, despite the side effects. After being sick for 4 months, I don't care how long I have to be on the Elavil as long as I can be well and have a normal life. Take care!
I still intend to investigate the gastrointestinal route, however, just in case. I've had irritable bowel syndrome for years (stress always makes me have to go) so it's not surprising it's acting up during these pain flare-ups because of course I am stressed about the pain. But I want to make sure it's not cancer or something blocking my colon and trapping gas. The fact that I had the flu right before this, which could have made me run down, may have been a precipitating factor for shingles. This particular flu definitely had a nervous system component anyway, because after the flu it took me a month before I could smell or taste anything normally. I could stick my head inside a piping hot pizza box of onion pizza and not smell a thing when it first happened! My sense of taste came back gradually. So I wonder if the flu could have somehow affected the nerves or caused shingles. I've had no rash but according to some of you, it apparently is not required! Thanks for posting all this, it's given me a lot more peace of mind to know I'm not alone. Any further advice would be welcome - I've had a CT scan of my left kidney and if the stones are big enough I'm going to have them zapped with sound waves to get rid of them (I go back to the urologist next week to see what the results are). I figure that would at least eliminate one possible source of pain.
Good luck to you all!
Miriam
Yes, it is important to rule out any GI problems. I had every test imaginable (to the tune of 30,000 dollars). You have to be tested in order to be sure it's not something serious or life threatening. If they don't find anything, then definitely consider the shingles diagnosis. When my symptoms first occurred, it was just pain and it lasted for 1 week and went away as mysteriously as it came. 2 weeks later, it came back with a vengeance and accompanied by nausea and vomiting. I couldn't even keep liquids down. I lost 18 pounds over the next 2 months. Because of the weight loss and nausea, everyone automatically assumed it was GI related and thus gave me all the tests. When 2 different GI docs couldn't find anything, then I had to go back to my Family Practice doctor and start all over again. That's when he guessed it could be shingles. Is your pain confined to just the left side? That's what tipped off my doctor. A stitch in the side is exactly how I would describe my pain at times. At other times, it felt like something was trying to punch its way out of my back (around my kidney area).
Take care and I hope you have an answer soon!
I too am having this same problem. Last week the Doctor sent me for an ultrasound of my Pancreas, Liver, Kidney, and Gallbladder.
I have yet to hear the results of that test. On 4-24 I had the Upper GI, and a week following that procedure I started having the twitching under the rib on my right side. My Right shoulder aches and the Doc can not explain why my body is full of bacteria. The biopsy results from the upper GI and blood work have proven H Pylori bacteri, and the urine test last week showed bacteria as well. The Doc is not sure why I would be having this bacteria as I was on heavy doses of antibodics because of the H pylori. If you or anyone else that reads this has an answer please let me know by responding here.
And I know what you mean about wanting to reach in and pull it out.. it is nerve wrecking to say the least.
The pain in the upper left quadrant is often mistaken for pendicitis but i can't beleive none of your doctors knew it was diverticulosis which usually occurs from the 40's on up.for more info look it up. Ruben out
My name is Sue. I suffered with chronic and acute pain for years before being diagnosed with pancreas divisum. I was born without the main duct for my pancreas. I went several times to the ER and finally gave up. It was sheer luck that this was diagnosed when I insisted on having my Oddi spincter released (it had been found to be very tight years before). While the specialist was in there for that, he told me I had a problem with my pancreas. I have written a story which explains a little about it. You will need to type in the address to access it. I don't know if it will help you any but it is a start. The best advice I can give you is not to give up. Be your own advocate and try different doctors until you find one that will listen to you. We know our bodies best and we know when something is wrong. Good luck and please don't hesitate to write back.
www.insulin-free.org/stories/rebello.htm
Sue Rebello ***@****
I hope u have this confused with the propulcid, which is being taken off the market. However, if one qualifies, I believe their Dr can get it for them. I am on prilosec and so far no notification has been given.
I have exactly the same thing going on as you. i'm 29 and I've taken Senakot and it has helped before. I just can't believe all of the tests that show nothing. I'm just wondering if you think it can be anything else. My pain is right under my left rib cage and if i press under it it feels like there a bubble there that when I press it it's tender. My gastro-guy says it's the colon not emptying sufficiently.
Had a *very* intense case of chicken pox about 4 years ago (at age 42) and wonder if shingles could be a possibliity. I still have strange nerve sensations on my eyelid and nose in the same spots where I had the chicken pox.
I've seen several physicians, most recently a GI specialist who did colonoscopy and endoscopy. He found irritation in the stomach and small amount of bile in stomach from intestine. Put me on Carafate and Previcid for three weeks (carafate helped a little with stomach irritation but not with the strange pains). Previcid had several side affects including stomach pain(!), GI upset and swelling of legs and ankles. He changed Previcid to Aciphex. I take Aciphex 1x day and Carafate 3x day instead of 4. After 2 weeks, I've felt better but today the pain is back and I've noticed the leg and ankle swelling again. I don't like taking these types of drugs.
My doctor seems genuinely interested and takes a lot of time with me to answer questions and listen to my compliants. When I asked him why I have the bile reflux he said that it could be viral related. I'm going to ask him about the shingles theory and see if he will prescribe Elavil. I read an article about abdominal pain in June Good Housekeeping (I know - its not Harvard Medical Review) that suggested endometriosis, stress, IBS, pelvic congestion and posture problems as possible causes - alone or a combination - of abdominal pain. It stated that low doses an antidepresant seemed to be beneficial. Without knowing it, could they be treating the shingles?
Prior to my colonoscopy, I had to drink that awful stuff but the pill I took to relax my stomach before hand made my abdominal pain go away! In fact, the day after the procedure, I did not have that "alien" pain for two days. Could that have been a result of, first, the pill to relax my stomach and, second, the drugs during the procedure?
What are the symptoms of shinges beside the rash and pain? Could there be any other symptoms that could help in the diagnosis? I know when I just contracted chickenpox I had spells of lightheadness and have that sometimes still - especially during period of high stress of fatigue.
Thanks to all of you who are trying to find out what this pain is and for sharing your experiences. Glad I found this site!!!
When I first came down with the actual shingles virus, I had very acute symptoms! Couldn't eat because stomach was so inflamed, tremendous pain throbbing under left ribs through to the back, etc. Doc tried me on all the GI meds, including Carafate because he discovered bile in my stomach when he did the endoscopy. Another GI doc told me we all have bile in our stomach, so that should not be a concern. Who knows? All I know is that I tried everything, and the only thing that worked after 4 months of hell was the Elavil. Which brought us to the conclusion that it must have been shingles and now I am left with the resulting nerve inflammation which can last for years (if not the rest of your life). I did not have the typical rash that shingles usually exhibits, which to me means it travelled along a deep nerve within my abdomen. Remember, one of the most telltale signs is whether or not this pain in one sided...does it ever cross the midline in the front or back? Mine did not.
This is characteristic of Shingles. I too have the gas bubbles at time in my back and don't know why or how the shingles can cause that, but it is there as well as the inflamed stomach and esophagus that they found. I did some research and found that shingles can indeed cause esophagitis. Hope this helps.
Well - I've been on Elavil for a little over a month now and I can say that it has definitely helped the left-side, near-the-lower-ribs pain. I've posted here a number of times with similar frustrations over lack of diagnosis and was reluctant/skeptical about the shingles theory and Elavil. At first I was started on 10MG of Elavil -- after about 10 days on it, I noticed that I didn't notice the pain so much anymore. It wasn't completely gone, but it wasn't there as intensely or as constantly as before. I was still somewhat skeptical, but had been feeling good for about 3-4 days when the pain returned as per its usual manifestation. The GI Dr. told me after 2 weeks if I wasn't finding the Elavil to help, that I should increase my dose to 20 MG. I've been at that level dosage for the past 2 weeks or so and the pain has definitely subsided again. This isn't an instantaneous reaction, but,rather, a gradual one. I have had one or 2 instances where I feel the pain returning a bit more intensely, but for the most part, these past 2 weeks have been good ones. I still have a sensation that my left side feels different from my right side - but it is more of a sensation (sensitized?) than it is pain like it had been.
The down side to the Elavil is that it can slightly constipate you if you don't drink lots of water and it also made me drowsy at first (I take it only at bedtime, but I found I was waking up in a bit of a fog and not feeling clear headed until aroun 11am or later. I was also ready to pass out at around 9:30 -10pm -- but I do think it improved my sleep pattern - I'm a lot less restless and feel more rested when I wake then I had felt before.) Also am craving sugar big time and have put on about 6 lbs in the last month (I had also quit cigarettes, so I think the combination of the 2 things accounts for the weight gain.)
So - ultimately - I do think I probably had shingles without the skin eruptions. I also have poor posture and mid-back problems which I think continue to irritate my side and nerves at times. Maybe it was all connected? I guess I will stay on Elavil for a few months to see if it has a further effect. At the very least, my close friends say I "seem happier." So there's a positive "side-effect!"
Carol D.
I am thrilled for you. I know the nightmare you have been living. The doc started me on 25 mg. of Elavil at bedtime and that controlled the pain for a couple of weeks. Then I had about a 4 day attack. Bumped me up to 50 mg. and haven't had a pain since...and it's been 3 1/2 months. As much as you don't like the side effects of the Elavil, being painfree is heaven and I'm willing to put up with the side effects. I, too, have put on weight due to the Elavil because it substantially increases your appetite. If you can make it on 20mg., stay with it, but if not, don't be afraid to talk to you doctor. I wish there was some kind of medical journal we could submit our case studies to, because I think this is out there and GI docs are totally missing it! Take care!
According to my doctor and some research I did online, you can have shingles without the rash. About 15% of cases do.
I guess because of that statistic, doctors don't automatically think of it. I had every test imaginable along with every medicine prescribed and nothing worked. So my diagnosis came simply by process of elimination. Elavil is an antidepressant, but was discovered to have anti-nerve pain properties. I guess it blocks the nerve pain. Which means, it doesn't cure anything, but allows you to live pain free without narcotics.
The nerve is inflamed and has to calm down on its own which can take several years. I hate taking any medicine long term, but I was so incapacitated for 4 months that this drug has given me my life back, so I can't complain! I can't say which diagnosis would be better because I don't know anything about costochondritis. I only know what I've experienced. Talk to your doctor and tell him what you have discovered online.
It would not hurt you to try the Elavil just to see if you have any relief. I started out with 25 mg. each night at bedtime and then went to 50 mg. I am having complete pain control with that.
Good luck!
You do not "catch" shingles. Anyone who has had chicken pox has a potential to "develop" shingles. After chicken pox, the herpes zoster virus (also known as shingles) lays dormant in the body and just waits for a time of extreme stress or immunocompromisation to pop out and surprise us. I have had it twice in the past 6 years in two different places. Each time I developed it, it was due to extreme stress. The first case was when I was in nursing school (trust me, there is no stress like it!). I developed it across my right eye, but did NOT have the accompanying rash that went with it, thus it took Doctors 8 months to diagnose it and that was in retrospect of course.
The symptoms were extreme pain and numbness,fever, sagging eyelid,and tearing. It was only when I went to a dentist and got a novacaine injection that he hit a nerve and I felt the exact path of my pain. I mentioned this to my doctor and the light bulb went on...it was initially the shingles virus and now the resulting inflamed nerve (which can last for years and the only medication to combat it is Elavil). It lasted for about 4 years, and at times would come and go, so I would go on and off the Elavil. This time, it started back in November of 99. I felt this throbbing and swelling in my left upper abdomen, under my ribs, and eventually radiating to the back left side. I never even thought of shingles because it seemed so gastrointestinal in nature. I couldn't eat, was in bed for days with the extreme throbbing pain, felt feverish, lost 27 pounds over the four month period. Kept going to docs and getting tests all of which were negative for anything GI related. The only thing they ever found was an inflamed stomach and esophagus, but could never explain what it was from. I have since done research and discovered that shingles can cause this.
Finally, my family doctor examined me and really asked me to describe my pain completely. When I did, the light bulb went on.
He said,"Do you mean the pain never crosses the midline of your body in the front or the back?" I said no. He said it has to be shingles. I did have burning and numbness in my left arm.
I had pains shooting up my spinal cord into the back of my neck.
The virus is located in the spinal cord and when it erupts, travels across a nerve coming out of the spinal cord.
Hope this explains everything well enough for you to either consider the possibility or rule it out. I also had pain in my left hip/groin area at times, as well. Take care.
I'm not a doctor, but from researching my own condition I did come across the fact that herpes zoster, which is Shingles, is not the same kind of herpes infection that would cause sores on your mouth or lips, nor is it the same thing as genital herpes.
Shingles without skin eruptions is referred to as "zoster sine herpete."
Good luck!
Carol D.
The pain is so intense at times. I am currently on disability and my job is not to happy with that but I can't go a day with out pain my doctors so far seem baffled. I've had several blood tests, stool tests, upper gi, and I've also had a laporoscopy because my gyno was so sure that I had endometiosis but found so sign of it. I am constipated, have bloating pain, gas, acid reflux, sharp stabbing pain in my stomach, excrutiating periods which they are trying to releive by putting me on the pill(it's not working) i get extremely dizzy at times, naseous, and I am extremely tired all the time. I was waiting to have and endoscopy for 1 month and now it's being rescheduled because me gastro has family problem so now my appt is postponed I am so tired of waiting, some days I get so deppressed and frustrated, I was thinking of seeing a therapist to help with the stress, but I'm so tired of these doctors. Any medication that is given to me is horrible. My body is extremely sensitive to most medications. I always end up taking it once and never again because of all the side effects. It just seems to add to the problems not help. I never considered shingles. I do find it hard to beleive but most of you seem to have the same problems as I do. it's just so damn frustrating. Any suggestions would really help. I am litterally in constant pain and it is annoying how the doctors seem to constantly shrug you off and try to convince you that it is all in your head. help!!!!!!
I too have been prescribed prilosec because of this (but the side effects wasn't worth it.)
I have been having this problem (off and on) for about 9 yrs.
Recently it has been a daily thing.
From what I have been reading, this seams to fit some ppl. You might have your doctor test your blood for elevated lvls of (excuse my spelling) amalyse and lypase.
I don't want to get to techy since many may think I am way off. But you can do a search for Pancreatitis via internet.
Anyways, hope this helps some of you.
Dave
I went to the emergency room because I was having chest pain, pulpitations, and prickly sensations. They did a chest x-ray and blood work. I was fine. All they found was a high level of white blood cells in my urine. They thought I pulled a muscle in my chest. The doctors gave me anti-inflammatory and pain pills for my chest, and antibiotics for a urinary tract infection.
A week later I went in to see my doctor. I don't think I pulled a muscle in my chest, because there is no localized pain in my chest. I do have constant pain in my left side, behind my lowest rib (in the front and back of my body). Sometimes the pain is just a dull ach other times I feel almost nausous, but have never thrown-up. My ribs seemed really swollen. They appeared to be jutting out. The lowest floating rib on my left side is poking out (it has never been like this). It feels like someone has blown a balloon up under my rib cage. It feels like pressure to put a bra on. I don't have a hard time breathing normally, but if I am singing (OR LET OUT BREATH -- NOT TAKING IT IN) I HAVE terrible pressure in my chest. I have no problem with my bowel movements, but I feel like there is a lot of gas in my chest and stomach, but there is no release of it. This feeling is always constant (DO ANY OF YOU FEEL LIKE THIS???)! I feel bubbles in my chest. I am always tired. It is uncomfortable to lie on my ribs -- either on my back or stomach, or on my left side. I can only sleep on my right side.
ANYWAY, I told my doctor about my emergency room visit and about everything I told you. He didn't even examine me! I had to force him to look a my ribs. He told me they looked normal. But they weren't! Since my doctors visit my ribs have gone back to their normal position and aren't poking out (except the lowest floating rib on the left). My doctor gave me xanax for anxiety.
I've taken the medication and all it really does it my me feel extreemely tired! But I still have the pain in my side.
Today the pain in my side is dull and not profound, but I have I have pangs of pain in my chest. What should I do? Should I see my doctor again? Is this what you are experiencing?
Help.
(Sorry about my terrible spelling!)
Traci
Thanks so much for responding!
Do you know what would cause spasms of the intestines?
Neurontin is a nerve medication probably much like the Elavil that I'm taking for my eventually diagnosed illness of shingles (without the rash). My guess is you probably had the same thing and that is why the Neurontin is making you feel better. I was on all the meds you were on as well, and none worked until they tried the Elavil (which is for nerve pain).
I'm sure you have read through the other letters and mine are in there explaining the horrendous ordeal I went through for 4 long months. Debbie G.
What antidepressant are you on? To my understanding, Elavil is the only antidepressant that works on Shingles pain because it has specific properties to deal with the nerve itself.
There were days too, that I would have rather died than go through the pain another day! Good luck...and no, you're NOT crazy! Debbie G.
Thanks
Cindy
Since I have now had shingles twice (once across my right eye and once in my left abdomen) I can tell you that while Elavil does increase your appetite, you still have the ultimate control over what you put in your mouth. I have dieted while on Elavil and lost weight, just as I have gained weight if I haven't been careful about what I eat. In other words, the medication itself doesn't make you gain weight...it just increases your appetite...so you have to make sound decisions about what you eat.
Isn't it amazing that we have all discovered this "thing" that's out there and the docs just don't get it! I never did get a rash, but the bump and pus pocket you talked about sounds like a shingles' bump. I did experience itching in my left back, but no rash. The conclusion we all came to was that the nerve that it ran along in my left abdomen/left back was deep within. Tell your doctor that shingles without the rash has a name...it's called Zoster Sine Herpete. I have looked it up, as well as Carol D. who has also had entries on this board.
I have told one of the GI docs that saw me about this in hopes that it will come to her when she has another patient that she sees with these symptoms.
As far as I am concerned the Elavil gave me my life back.
I was in bed for four months! Couldn't work...had no quality of life...often wished I was dead! Don't hesitate to try the Elavil. I call it my "wonder drug."
I, too, had inflammation in my stomach as well as my esophagus and was put on Aciphex for a couple of months, simply because they had no real answer, so they wanted to treat "the symptoms." Apparently, shingles can cause an inflammation in the esophagus/stomach, or so I read. Once we figured out that it was shingles, I threw the Aciphex away. Try the Elavil...if you obtain relief, then you have your answer.
Some of you may want to try for the pain , however its not gone and especially at night it wakes me .
Im going to look into the shingles virus more .
See you all soon
I had pain similar to yours for a year-a dull recurring ache which turned to a burning sensation about two inches left to the belly button. I had a sigmoidoscopy, which was fine and the doc said it was probably irritable bowel, which I doubted because at 40 , I never had this problem before and had no other symptoms. I also checked out the possibility of a spigelian hernia and ovary problems to no avail.The problem disappeared by Thanksgiving. Then last Christmas, I experienced severe nausea,discomfort, bloating and pains in the central and upper left abdomen. I had ultrasounds, bloodwork and then an endoscopy in January. The doc removed stomach polyps , which he said were unrelated to the pain and found irritation of the esophagus and stomach. He had no explanation of why I would get this- I thought it may have been caused by Baycol or Lipitor, but, now ,after all these months, I still have to take 300 mg Zantac daily, still have some ulcer-like symptoms that get worse if I try to lower the dose.Make sure you get complete tests done. Even then, it can be frustrating when you get no reasons for why you have the pain. The shingles angle is interesting and I will check it out.
Take care.
Continuing on the hypothesis that I had herpes without the skin eruptions, I have bveen taking Elavil in low dosage since May, starting with 10mg for 2 weeks then upped it to 20 mg.
The ULQ pain pretty much disappeared on this dosage with the exception of occasional slight hyper-sensitivity/soreness in that area (not nearly as bad as it had been and only on occasion, not everyday.) I did put on about 8-10 lbs. because the Elavil definitley increased my taste for sweets and I have little self control (never had a weight problem in my life). Again, had I watched more closely what I ate and excercised more frequesntly, I doubt I would've put on any addtl. weight.
Anyway, a few weeks ago I decided I would try to get off the Elavil and so reduced my dosage back down to 10mg for about 1 1/2 weeks, then 10mg every other day for about a week, then stopped taking it completely.
Within 3 days of stopping the Elavil, the old pain returned with a vengenece: constant, irritating, traveling down into my left hip and groin, ribs sore/ tender, especially to the touch. Also my left upper arm began feeling fat and numb-ish again.
So I went back to 10 mg. of Elavil, which has helped some, but I think I probably need to go back to the larger dose of 20mg. I need to make an appt. with my dr. becasue my prescription runs out and I want to let her know how things have been since I've been on the medication. (Elavil was prescribed by a gastro doc I was referred to, not by my primary care doc.)
Also, have since learned that Elavil which is a tricyclic antidepressant was found to have a positive effect on nerve pain, and also their is an anti-seizure medication (not sure of the name) which also produces the same positive benefit.
For the person who asked about how they might've gotten shingles and if there is a test: you can only "get" shingles if you've had chicken pox in your past. Shingles IS NOT contagious from another person. It is usually brought on by a weakened immune system or stress. The virus which causes chicken pox never entirely leaves your body, but lies dormant at the root of your nerves., When activated again it usually rtravels along the nerve pathway and out to the skin where the nerves end . (But not always! that is when you've got the "zoster sine herpete" OR shingles without the rash). I believe the only way they can test to see if you have shingles is by doing a spinal tap becasue it will sho up in teh spinal fluid.
Personally - I'd just rather take the Elavil and if it works, assume that shingles was the culprit, because spinal taps can be extremely painful (a friend who is employed by a reputable hospital here in the Boston area suffered 2 botched spinal taps at that hospital and was in terrible spasmodic pain in the entire lower half of her body, so much so that she had to be on a morphine drip in the hospital for 2 weeks.)
Hope this answers some questions. I am still just as baffeld as everyone else as to why doctor's don't seem to think of Shingles as a possible culprit.
Best -
Carol D.
chest pains in the upper left quad of my chest. It scared the heck out of me the first time I had it. All the web sites tell you to contact your Doctor promptly if you have chest pains after a gastroscopy, when I called the Doctor he said it would not be from the gastroscopy and for me to try Zantac for heartburn. Reading all of the other stories on this site that sound similiar to each other it must have something to do with the endoscopy. Just one last note: I've also read that Gastroentrologist will often expand a muscle while putting the scope down to increase air flow and other minor reasons. If they are doing something like this, I could see how it could result in chest pains. They say the muscles in the chest are extremely sensitive.
many thanks in advance.
Sometime the fustration is so high I just deal with the pain and vomiting and diaharea and don't say anything....it goes away as quickly as it comes back and I go back to my normal routine....I just had a sonogram done to see if gullbladder (gallbladder) and liver are ok...we will see...Thanks for sharing your stories its helps to know I am not going CRAZY or lacking attention.....Good Luck to all....
Andrea S.
***@****
Even though the Elavil takes away the pain, I still often feel a kind of pressure where my pain used to be. When that pressure feeling has gone away, then you can probably try to wean yourself off the Elavil. If the pain comes back then you will know it is not time. When I had shingles the first time, across my right eye, there were periods that I could go off the Elavil for months at a time. Then when I would have a lot of stress, the pain would come back with a vengeance and I would have to return to the Elavil. It's complicated, but you have to listen to your body. It will tell you when it is time to try to go off of it. I, too, take 50 mg. a day. Sounds like the surgery was the stress factor for you that brought this pain on.
Carol
Carol
surgery. She died two months after surgery due to an undetected blocked pancreatic vein. If pain persist, remember to press your
doctor(s) to use a little common sense.
I have just found this sight by typing in Lower esophageal spincter syndrome. I have had chest pain for five years. It has slowly taken over my life. I have the pain on one or the other side. It is never on both sides at the same time. I have had many tests for heart problems. My pain becomes inflamed when I exorcise. But I also have it when I wake up,when I bend over alot cleaning house or just for no reason. I burp alot with pressure when I'm in pain. I have only found relief taking a laxative called citrate of magnesia. I feel better after it takes affect. Like the other letters I have been to many doctors and have often considered suicide. The pain feels like something in my chest pushing to get out with a knife. I keep living because I am a widow with a young son. I don't want to leave him without anyone. I keep going right now only for him. I'm sorry to sound so pitiful but I'm in pain right now. I am thankful to know that I'm not alone. The doctors made me feel like I was.
I've tried Prevacid, Librax, prelosic, and I find this interesting, one of the first doctors I went to was an older gi guy and he put me on elivil. I never took it because I thought he was brushing me off as a kook! He said he wasn't sure why but that people with my problem seemed to imporve on it. I have not been dignosed with shingles but I have had severe pain on my eye and face(one side) I thought it was herpes and never saw a doctor. Maybe the shingles track is worth trying.
I was originaly convinced that I had LESS. The lower spincter problem. Seems to match my symptoms. Extreme pain after exorcise in the chest. Gas feeling and pressure. This is when the valve between stomache and esaphogus does not close. Allowing gas and acid from stomache to burn and put pressure in your chest. Does anyone else burp alot? But I'm courious because the pain never crosses the middle line. Its either one or the other side. esaphogeal spasms are supposed to feel like angina, a doctor told me it was because their are shaired nerves in the chest area. Anyway I hope we each find relief from this pain.
Mine started about a year ago in the middle of my wife's pregrancy and we were in the process of building a new home so I think that stress definitely played a major role in the development of this problem. Here are my symptoms: I start off in the morning (having rested fairly well usually) feeling decent, as I am in the shower I feel my stomach, just below my left ribcage, start to rumble. At this time I have an empty feeling in my stomach also. Then about an hour after that my ribs on the left side and my middle left back start to ache. By 10 am the pain has increased to where I am constantly stretching and twisting to try to loosen this feeling up. Sometimes when the pain is really bad, I feel like I can't breath very good. As the day goes on, the pain usually stays constant with slight peaks and valleys in the consistency. After work the pain seems to subside somewhat, although it is still there untill I retire for the night. I have been to the emergency room 2 time with this with the thought that I was having a heart attack. I have had ekg which was normal every time, I have had ct scan which was normal, I have had an upper GI which showed mild gastritis, I have had a breathing test which was normal, I am scheduled to have an endoscopy in a couple of weeks. My gastroenterologist thinks it could be an ulcer or Hpylori. My regular doctor has diagnosed my symptoms as anxiety related and I have taken xanax which does help me to relax with the pain thruout the day. I stopped taking it because I didn't want to get addicted. I am really fed up with this ****! I am a 33 year old male who is a picture of health. I have worked out my whole life, am not overweight, don't smoke, etc. My wife feel bad for me and wishes that she could help. I feel bad for her having to hear me complain alot. I am tired of feeling like this. The pain just drains me down to nothing and I haven't worked out in several months. I am even turning down fishing trips because I don't feel like going. My life is going into the crapper.....
My face feels flushed much of the time, my right cheek under my eye twitches alot when I am having these pain episodes. Also, when I am having alot of the rib/back pain I have heart palpitations which worries me. I know from doing research that heart palpitations are common with some gastro problems. I have had my heart checked and everything was good. Does anyone else experience any of these symptoms?
I found an old posting of yours on ulq pain and wondering if you ever found what was causing it. I have had upper right pain just like yours and I am also emailing a copy of this to all the other people I can find on-line that have this problem. If you have time, let me know if this has helped you with a return email to ***@****
I had SEVERE upper-right quadrant (urq) pain for 4 months, and was reduced to taking 12 narcotic pain pills a day and giving my resignation at work. However, I have just discovered what was causing it and I am awaiting my physician's call so I can tell him (I am home on a leave of absence to try to figure out what is wrong.)
I was taking Allegra D, which is a Histamine receptor antagonist. Many allergy medications have the same H1 receptor antagonists as part of their mechanisms. My thought is that some people who have urq pain are experiencing side effects of allergy medications with this type of antagonist.
Just last week, after 4 months of taking Allegra D and 4 months of extreme pain, I missed my Wednesday morning dose. I went to work, took my narcotics for pain, and had a fair day. That night, I took Allegra D again, and then again on Thursday morning. I was "sicker than a dog" all day Thursday.
Allegra D is meant to be taken twice a day, morning and evening. However, after only 1 week on the medication, I kept forgetting to take the nightly dose and my sinuses were doing great so I just quit taking the evening dose. This means I was only taking half of the prescribed medication with all these disastrous side effects!!
So on Friday morning, after being so sick Thursday, I forgot to take my meds again in the morning and I felt pretty good Friday. Saturday was the beginning of my week off of work so I decided to sleep in, not take any meds, and just see what happened. I ended up taking only 5 pain pills that day, and only 4 on Sunday. Sunday afternoon I went to the pharmacist and asked for a printout of the medications I had taken in the past year. I started Allegra D the first week of May, 2000 and had my first pain/vomiting attack 2 weeks later. I asked the pharmacist what the half-life of the medication was (meaning how long it stays in the body) and she said it should be 80% eliminated in 3 days.
As an FYI, my pain was CONSTANT after just 5 weeks of taking this medication. The constant pain, now, Monday morning, is gone! This is after three full days of being Allegra D free! I still have a little discomfort after meals, but it is probably because my body is re-grouping and getting back to its normal processing. My prayer, of course, is that I have no permanent damage as a result of taking this medication.
So, all this because "I feel your pain" - I know, it's not funny when you are still in pain. But, feel free to print this out, take it to your doctor, request that s/he take you off all histamine antagonists and brave the allergies for a week or so and see what happens. I wouldn't be surprised if even over-the-counter meds could cause the same thing. Our bodies are all different so the severity of symptoms will vary with each. But it is too easy just to quit taking allergy meds for a week and see if this eases the pain.
By the way, I am not in the medical profession, so this is not “medical” advice. However, it is personal, friendly suggestions to attempt to help.
Blessings!
Sandra Williamson
P.S. I am sneezing and had a sinus headache last night, so Allegra D was working for that anyway!
Thank you
I will keep reading
I have had all the test that my doc. could do found some problems and fixed them .
But I am still in pain all the time and I have gotten to where I won't eat in the day, because I swell and have pain so bad i can't work if i eat.
So I eat at nite so i can lie down in pain .
Thanks for listining
Jennifer
Did they ever find the source of your pain? My 16 year old daughter is having the same symptoms, and she has had every test, and yet no answers. School work is suffering.
Thank you for any help.
Janet
I was so relieved to read your post. I have the exact same pains as you, and am scared I may have something terrible going on in my stomach. I,ve been taking prilosec, but it doesn't really seem to help. On Tuesday I'm having a scope done, I too am hoping they find an ulcer,so atleast they could treat it. I quess if it were an ulcer, prilosec would have helped ? Did you ever inquire about the shingles theory? This constant gnawing in my gut is just sapping me of any interest to do anything. I hope you find that you are feeling better. Would you let me know if you find out anything else. Jeanne
removed nine years ago and for the past 3 - 4 years have been
experiencing a lot of pain in my right side. I have also been
put through a lot of tests with no explanation why. I also have
nuerogenic bladder and some arthritis in my back but the pain in
my side causes me the most problems especially at night. I just
started taking elavil about 3 days ago so will have to see if it
will help. I will have to ask my Dr. about the shingles theory.
I have not heard of that before. I guess we will all have to
hang in there together and hope for the best.
"hollow," "pulled," "stitch" feeling that makes it sometimes hard to take a breath. I too have a small hiatal hernia, and have a good deal of stress in my life and a strong tendency to be a worrier, but not really IBS that I'm aware of. Waking up also often is accompanied by what feels like a racing heart (though EKG tests have never shown) and sometimes spates of arrhythmias (the racing heart feels much like a car with an automatic choke that will not "kick down" - for any of you who used to go out and start your car on cold mornings by setting the accelerator pedal based choke and leaving the car running until it heated up and the engine started running high and you had to go out and tap the accelerator to kick down [turn off] the choke). I don't think that the racing heart stuff is necessarily related to the stitch in my side, however.
I too have had a whole bunch of tests - CAT scans, ultrasounds, etc. - with no findings (except some fatty liver also). The shingles suggestion seems interesting because I suddenly remembered when reading this that I've had two or three occasions in the past year or so where I've suddenly had a few very itchy spots on my hands. They felt almost like poison ivy, but I hadn't been near any poison ivy that I could recall, and they didn't quite have a poison ivy type rash (and I had lots of experience with poison ivy as a kid!). When I scratched them, they got even more ferociously itchy, and one or two seemed to break open eventually and sort of ooze. The strangest thing I found about one of these, was that it spread a discolored line across my knuckle and across the back of an ajoining finger. The discolored line turned the skin sort of a brown color - like a tan from the sun - and wouldn't go away. Another way of describing it is that it was almost like a scar. It's sort of faded now (about a year later), but there is still kind of a scar line there. I was amazed how persistent the discoloration was, and also how persistent and ferocious the itching was.
I couldn't figure out at all where this had come from, but now I'm wondering if perhaps these spots have been shingles eruptions. If the disease goes with stress, this would make some sense.
Anyway, for what it's worth, that's my offering of symptoms and info. If anyone else has this left-side stitch come on during sleep, I'd be interested to hear.
me know. It's a bacterial infection. I nearly were nuts with
a stomach pain.
I pray that you've found your answer. I remember when it hit me, I was so sick, very much like you described. I thank God that I found the answer...4 months was enough for me...can't imagine how you've endured the pain for 9! Good luck!
It is absolutely a recurrence of the nerve pain! It can flare up for many years to come! I have had shingles twice...the first time, I was on and off the Elavil for 5 years!
Now with the second occurrence in a different location, I have been on the Elavil for 7 months and know I can't go off of it yet, because while I feel no pain, I know there is a pressure there that would feel like pain if I wasn't on the Elavil.
Hooray for your doctors who originally diagnosed it! The antiviral might help lessen the nerve inflammation if it is in the early stages of the shingles virus...otherwise, it won't do a thing. Good luck!
Bill
And then it was on and off until just this last May when I hit another very stressful time in my life and kicked in and has not stopped except for 2 weeks in July when it totally stopped, then kicked in again.
I had my heart tested last Oct. it was fine, thank god.
Had my gallbladder out June 1, 2000. Was full of stones.
Still had the dull pain and pressure.
Started seeing a chiropractor July 1, 2000, he relieved the chest and upper back pressure, but the stomach pressure and bloating remains and the knot in the back still remains. Along with the overall unwell feeling. 2 weeks ago I developed this pinching like feeling in my lower left ribcage.
He will probably want me to go through alot of gastro tests, which is fine, but I think I will ask him for the Elavil just for shits and giggles while I wait on the gastro tests.
Pleaes e-mail me today no later becaus eif you don't then I'm sueing you page maybe you.
Bye
Pleaes e-mail me today no later
Bye
I'm glad I found your notes and hope that someone can help shed light on my problem as well.
Over the past three years I have been dealing with a growing abdominal "cramping" in my right side just below the belt line. It tends to be worse about 1 hour after eating, and espeically after eating really filling meals, i.e. pasta and chesse are the two worst, but caffine and chocolate are bad too.
I've had many of the tests, Endoscopy down the throat, ct scan, kidney x-ray, blood tests, upper GI, nothing.
Over the past two months I have had a swelling of my tonsils and that doesn't see to want to go away. Lots of various pills, now on Prevacid, thinking the throat issue may be reflux related, but so far no help. The prevavic seems to make my stomach cramping worse as well.
The stomach issue is worse when I sit, and is almost not noticeable when walking or standing. It feels like presure, and the best results have been to use heat combiined with massage in that area for about 1/2 hour.
I would love to talk to anyone who has similar issues so please write: ***@****
Has anyone gone to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN to see what they can find? Looking at getting an appointent in December....
Wayne
Maybe the shingles thing is applicable here. Twice, in the last 6 months, I broke out in a strange rash (sort of an intricate red design) on my thigh.
I don't know. I guess it could be some sort of nerve damage. I was taking St. John's Wort before this, for about a year, until I started noticing prickly feelings in my fingers (nerve damage) and found out St. John's wort can cause that. Maybe I've experienced some sort of lingering nerve damage.
The thing is, it's not "painful" just annoying and nagging, so I almost feel if I went to a doctor, they'd blow it off. They seem to take full blown pain more seriously.
But I am going to mention it to my doctor when I see her in a few weeks.
He has prescribed Elavil 25mg at bedtime for the next 2 weeks and then he wants to see me again.
Keeping my fingers crossed. =)
I could sleep thanks to Normacol.
After finding Helicopbacter Pilori, my doctor ordered me OGAST + Zeclar + clamoxyl.
After that, pain has disapeared (!!!!)
I have acid reflux, and a great deal of heart papitations for three years now. At first the doctors didn't know what is was from...thought maybe a heart attack. Then I was the one to say that about two hours after I eat, the heart races. I turned out to be right...digestion is taking place I guess and all that air builds up in my chest and pow! the heart starts going. it's very scary...but I'm used to it now.
I have a question? I'm having tremendous nerve problems....twitches in leg, numbness almost over entire body. anybody taking Prilosec experiencing this? Just curious?
Thanks for all the info I feel better just knowing I am not alone!
Tina
Rob,
I started developing something similar while serving in Somolia. The doctors thought it was parasites and told me to take care of it when I returned to the states. Let's cut to the chase, after a year of almost every test possible, they decided to do an upper GI. About 15 minutes after drinking this fluid that weighed about two pounds, I thought I was going to die. The doctor at the hospital did the upper GI and could not find anything. I went back to my doctor doubled over in pain. That night they performed emergency exploritory surgery. They found adhessions that were attaching my colon to the abdominal wall. The next day no less than 5 doctors came to tell me they never would have found that. Their test were all focused inside the digestive track rather than outside. This is just food for thought. Have you ever had a blow to the abdomin (abdomen) or prior surgery?
Good luck,
Mike
How much Elavil are you taking? Maybe this could be the shingles virus and resulting nerve inflammation. If you're on a small dose of Elavil, maybe they should try upping it...I have to take 50mg. each night to control my pain.
On August 2, I got what I thought was food poisoning. The severe cramping and nausea lasted for about 10 days, and then disappeared for about 2 weeks.
On Sept. 4, the pain returned. Anytime I ate practically anything my stomach would cramp for hours and I would become very nauseous. The nausea sometimes lasted for days. Eventually not eating anything became preferable to eating. In one week I lost ten pounds.
In addition to the nausea and stomach cramping, I also had a constant pain in the upper left quadrant of my chest. It was clearly centered in the epigastric region. It burned through to the center of my back and extented up to my left shoulder. In the front, it radiated up to the area at the base of my throat (at the notch in the collar bone) and downward just under the rib line. It stopped an inch or so above my waist. This was not a sharp pain, but more of a gnawing one. By far, the worst symptoms were the cramping and nausea that occurred after eating. My stomach also was very acidic. I had no lower abdominal symptoms.
My week of not eating occurred toward the end of September and caused me to realize that I needed to find something I could consume. I began experimenting with different foods and found that I could eat overcooked potatoes in chicken broth and also oatmeal without the usual stomach cramps and nausea. I ate only these two foods for the next two weeks. However not eating protein left me very weak. I experimented a little more and discovered I could also eat poached fish and rice without the dreaded after effects. These four foods were my total diet for the next month.
During the first two weeks of October I had all the stomach tests done: ultrasound, upper GI series, chest x-ray, CT scan, blood work, and finally a sigmoidoscopy and an endoscopy on Oct 15. The results of all of them, of course, were normal. However, by this time I had already found this web site so, when my GI doc declared that what I had was IBS and gastroparesis (his only prescription was for reglan) I knew to go the next day to my GP and ask for a prescription for elavil. Again you all, thank you, thank you, thank you.
I began taking elavil on Oct 16 starting with 10 mg. I reacted so badly to this initial low dosage that I was certain I would never be able to take higher dosages without having unbearable side effects. I was tremendously groggy and worse - tremendously dizzy. But after 8 days the side effects
eased significantly and I gradually increased the dosage over time -10 mg, 20mg, 25 mg, 35 mg, to 50 mg. After each increase the side effects returned and I just tolerated the dizzness and hoped that it would soon go away. It always did. But had I not been so desparate I would have given up on elavil a long time ago.
I have been taking 50 mg for 5 days now and all of my symptoms are completely gone. I discovered I could eat practically everything after taking 25 mg of elavil for four days or so. However, I decided to continue trying to up the dosage because I could still feel an unpleasant-but-not-painful sensation in my stomach and I wanted to get rid of it if I could. The only major noticable side effect that I still experience is constipation. I have an appetite for sweets but I always have. My mouth's a little dry but cough drops take care of it. I'm just so grateful to be able to eat again.
I hope this can be of help to someone. Again, to all, my thanks.
You described exactly what I went through. All the GI docs could tell me my stomach was inflamed, but could never give me the reason. I, too, found only a handful of foods that I could keep down, and became so weak. I lost 27 pounds during my illness. I am so glad that my illness and its eventual diagnosis has helped others. Four month of a living hell for me, but worth it all if it can help others!
I've taken xanx and it releives the pain...And now I'm taking Kava Kava for relaxation. Also, my pains are sometimes so severe that I cry. I don't trust Dr.'s and I think they just guess. It's good to know that I'm not going crazy. I've had blood test, everything is fine, I've had a physical and I'm fine....The burning pain is terrible on my left shoulder. It's always on the leftside..Sometimes my left arm hurts...It's terrible...Delores
I've posted before a few entries up. I am still having the same ol pain. Under the left ribcage and around to my left middle back. Since I posted last I have had an endoscopy which was as clean as a whistle. Ultrasound of abdominal area ...negative...imagine that. This week I had a Cat scan of my abdominal area. I don't know the results of it yet. My symptoms are not only pain, but as another poster stated, I seem to get anxious when the pain is peaking. Does anyone else have this?
When I get up in the morning, I tend to feel the best and as the day goes by pain gets worse. I have also been prescribed alproloxm (sp?) or xanax. It does temper the pain somewhat but it doesn't cure the problem. My gastro doctor seems to be a very understanding doctor and is trying his best to figure out the problem. He did say the elavil is a very good medication and that it is a tranquilizer of some sort. As much as I have dissagreed with anxiety as the cause I am starting to have second thoughts that maybe all this is just tied to anxiety. It seems like when I wake up that I feel so calm, and generally no pain. I'm not saying the pain isn't real, but the problem might have manifested itself thru stress. The last year and half my life has had much change. Have a New baby, New house, job is somewhat stressful ect. None of this **** started before all those changes. Also the pain in my abdomin (abdomen) travels to my chest, back and sometimes arms. I also have experience some depression due to this. I feel as if I'll never be cured of this. MAYBE all this is STRESS related. Does anyone else think this?
Thanks!
I have had shingles twice...once at age 36 and the other at age 42...both times without the rash. It even has a name..it's called Zoster Sine Herpete (I think that's it).
Anyway, don't let the absence of blisters keep you from trying the Elavil. I continue to be amazed at the lack of info doctors have on shingles. Some of them don't have a clue. Yes, shingles is usually seen in the older population, but I'm living proof (as well as many others that have posted on this board) that young people get it too. Especially with the level of stress that we are all living with in this fast paced world.
Good luck. I hope the Elavil works! Don't be afraid to ask for a bigger dose if a smaller amount doesn't work. 50mg does it for me.
You all take care.
Im not about to repeat the symptoms as you all have mentioned same. All I can is that I hope somebody figures this out soon as people are starting to not believe the pain Im in, they say "Well if there is nothing major wrong with you, why are you whinging!" ok so I'll stop whinging!
Ive noted some of the medicines some you guys have taken and will be going to local pharmasist for more advice!
Thanks
Liz
Your body reacts to stress in a negative way. This can cause your body to work slowly and can cause a person to become
constipated. Even though you may go to the bathroom daily, sometime the body does not rid itself of all bowel and can cause the sensation that you have mentioned. Read comment on June 7 from Sheree. Although this may be a problem for some, others may have other problems as well. Check your family medical history and see if other's may have had the same problem.
Talk to your primary care physician and if he/she can't resolve the problem he/she may refer you to someone that specializes in Gastroentology. In this day in time it is very hard to live a stress free life. Take time out of your daily routine for yourself and do something that you enjoy. Take pleasure in the little things that life has to offer. Good Luck and hope you feel better real soon.
I am also a sufferer of pain and I was wondering if anyone else has had high enzyme levels of amylase and lypase?
I've read most of your posts concerning shingles and LUQ pain and the relief you've gotten with Elavil. You say you did your own research on the net and learned of rashless shingles in that manner. Will you please post the link? You also say that Elavil, besides being an antidepressant, is an antihistamine and is anti-nerve pain. The PDR and RxList.com only characterize it as an antidepressent. They caution it should not be used by people with cardiac problems as it's chief side effect is M.I. and stroke. Since everyone on this thread is concerned about chest pain it would be prudent to carefully consider it's use.
However I doubt they will find anything.I also have the episodes of racing heart that some of you have described its a blessing to read that others have the same kinda problems and hope and pray that we can all recover one day if anyone would liek to chat email me at ***@**** sometimes it good to have someone to talk to that knows how ya feel and what you are going through.
However I doubt they will find anything.I also have the episodes of racing heart that some of you have described its a blessing to read that others have the same kinda problems and hope and pray that we can all recover one day if anyone would liek to chat email me at ***@**** sometimes it good to have someone to talk to that knows how ya feel and what you are going through.
the medications i have taken...cipro( for prostititus)
flagellen for a misdiagnosed infection, prilosec for the upset stomach and hiatal hernia, and now protonix for the diagnosed hiatal hernia....
on top of it all my doctor checked my liver enzymes and said they were high enough to warrent a revisit to the internist/ gastro doctor(possibly for a liver biopsy)....I AM JUST SO FED UP WITH IT ALL ....AND MY WIFE THINKS IM CRAZY AND AND JUST BEING A HYPOCHONDRIAC...AND IM WONDERING THAT MYSELF.....ANY COMMENTS WOULD BE WELCOME EITHER HERE OR TO MY EMAIL ADDRESS POSTED IN MY HEADING...THANX
Then I had to have a second surgery after scar tissue from the first surgery caused my small intestine to twist and become totally blocked. They said another 30 minutes and it would have ruptured and I might have died from the infection it would have caused. No sooner than I went home from that, I was back with pain and unstoppable vomiting. This time they said the 2nd surgery had irritated my pancreas and caused pancreatitis.
Things went ok for a few months, then the pain came back.
This time they were thinking pancreas again. Ultrasound showed what looked like calcium deposits on it comparable to a person who had drank booze for 30 years! They wanted to put me through
an exploritory surgery to check it out. I refused and my parents did too. I still get the pain . several years ago , I had a cat scan done of my pancreas and gall bladder. It showed perfectly
normal! I know we all want the docs to do something for us.
But maybe sometimes nothing is better. I hope you can find out what it is but if you can't, try to find ways to handle the pain or lessen it. I gave up on any kind of antacid type treatment.
I dont think it has anything to do with it.I take pain relievers
and it may sound strange but I have found that a big glass of almost hot water drank all at once and then laying down on my stomach for about an hour sometimes helps.
Regards,
BrightLion