Recurring Stomach Pain for 6 months

[CLKAWASAKI]

I am hoping you can give me your suggestion for the next steps and/or tests to do for this.  I have not yet seen a gastroenterologist for this as they are difficult to get into.  I have only seen my primary (GP).

In Nov of 2006 I began to have  a type of stomach pressure  in my upper right area of my stomach.  It felt somewhat like a ball in my side.  I could not feel it physically, it was just inside.  After a few weeks it began (same spot (under my upper right ribs)  to burn or become a gnawing pain.  Sometimes pretty bad.  It was never isolated to only  night time.(as in reflux)   It actually was throughout the day, sitting, standing or whenever.  Some days are worse than others. There seems to be no pattern.  I still have it in the same spot and also now in my upper should blades right side.  My GP put me on priolosec OTC  2x day.  I have been on this for 3 months.  Absolutely no change.  

Tests done:  Ultrasound of my liver, gallbladder and stomach area.  Everything came back okay.  No other tests done.

I am not sure what to do next as I do not want to have unneccesary tests done. It seems to me there must be a reason for this. I am having a hard time getting into a gastroenteroligist.  My GP does not seem very concerned about it.  I am though,  because it has gone on for so long, NEVER changing the AREA  of where it hurts .  It also radiates (burns) in my shoulder blades (right side as well)

Any suggestions or steps to take would be greatly appreciated...

[Kevin Pho, MD]

I agree with the ultrasound, and a negative test would make liver or gallbladder disease less likely.

Looking at the upper digestive tract with an upper GI series or upper endoscopy can be considered as the next step.  GERD, an ulcer, or inflammation of the upper digestive tract can all cause the symptoms.  

Blood tests looking for H Pylori can also suggest an ulcer or inflammation.

These options can be discussed with a gastroenterologist.

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.
kevinmd_

[CLKAWASAKI]

By the way.  I am a 41 year old female .  135 lbs.. 5'8".  

[lizziecee]

Hi - until the Dr. replies thought I would respond. I was dx with Crohn's disease in 1970 - had 11 months of severe weight loss and diarrohea, but no pain.
I was in 5 different teaching hospitals in London, England, until I was finally an in-patient for 3 weeks whilst complex tests were done. There were no colonoscopies or endoscopy tests then, either in the UK or USA.
One night duing that period in hospital, I woke with a weird pain on my right side, just below my ribs, felt like a "stitch" you get after vigorous physical exercise, yet I was bed bound  - told the night nurse, and next morning all hell broke loose.It was an Eureka moment for my doctors.  I had blood transfusions, and IV's. Two days later I had a laparotomy and some 15 different ulcers and crypt abscesses were found in my small bowel, particularly around the terminal ileum. Docs said they could not resect so many lesions and I was put on some 60 mg per day, of steroids, which would be quite unacceptable today.  

Today, one doesn't have to go through a laparotomy, as a colonoscopy and/or endoscopy can diagnose inflammatory bowel disease, either Crohn's or Ulcerative Colitis.

I would strongly suggest you see a Gastroenterologist as soon as you can - they are the appropriate medics to sort your problem out. The doctor on here can't, as you haven't had appropriate testing yet and he doesn't have access to your medical records.

There is a new test for IBD - it is called Calprotectin Assay - I have it occasionally now - you just have to provide a faecal sample, and if IBD is present, it will show on this test. It is simple and inexpensive.

I do hope you get some answers - but you must be proactive, as IBD presents in many different forms. I am doing well, some 37 years later, on a weekly self injected immuno-suppressant, methotrexate. So, even with a bad diagnosis, there is decidedly light at the end of the tunnel. I also have breast cancer, but that is not so difficult to either detect, or treat, as IBD.

Take care.
Liz.

[CLKAWASAKI]

Thanks Liz...I appreciate your input so much.  I do not have consistent diarhea (diarrhea)...but it does come every now and then... Never more than 2 bowel movements a day.  

Anyway, I can't even get into a gastro until july...I am wondering if I should go to the urgent care or ER  so they can ateast do a CT Scan or begin soemthing.  The pressure in the right side (under ribs...right below) is always there, but it is when it start burning that it really bothers me.  I wonder if at that time I should go to the urgent care or ER just to begin the process.  I am SO frustrated...And I KNWO something is going on for it to be at the same spot since then...

[Poboys32]

I just wanted to tell you im having the same symptoms. I have had the pain for about a year. My pain starts about right under my rib cage then gradually moves around to my back. Kind of like a big gas bubble. When I pass gas it feels better for about two minutes. It causes my back to hurt sometimes. I have a constant bloated feeling on my right side and sharp pain under my rib cage. And a bloated feeling and look under my rib cage. They have done CT scans, X rays,  removed my gall bladder and still havent solved it. They have just recently noticed that the last four or five Liver function tests are coming back high for Akaline Phosphates wich has got me worried. Thats where my liver is and I dont drink alcohol. And the web sites are saying that it could be Liver Cancer or a bone disease. Any input?

[CLKAWASAKI]

Did you ever have  HIDA Scan before they removed your gallbldder?  I am having that done on Monday ..I guess this will determine if my gallbladder is functioning properly.. Or even if you liver is not doing its job... I have heard that even if they remove your gallbladder you can still experience symptons..  What about an endoscopy?  Have you had that done?

[Poboys32]

I Dont know what A HIDA is. They did do a Endoscopy and a Colonoscopy both normal. I just got my second CT scan results back and he said nothing out of the ordinary. This is so annoying. I know im hurting and its there so why cant they find it? LOL I can point to where most of the pain is coming from 90% of the time. Any suggestions.

[CLKAWASAKI]

In a HIDA scan they put radioactive dye in you and watch how your gallbladder , liver and stomach (i think) filter things...I think they then can determine if all of those are functioning properly... It is waht the Doc recommended before a endoscopy.  I would think with an endoscopy and a clonoscopy they would be able to see ulcers , polyps or what ever in pretty much the whole thing...But I am not an expert in this as I am embarking on this new..  I know I am also waiting for ersults of H.pylori to see if I have that and it is causing my pain.  Did they check for that?  In all my research of this for me...I have seen that if you have recurring stomach pain in the SAME area for over 3 months that there MUST be an underlying cause...So continue to be persistent...

[Walkingapril]

I have had alot of the exact same symptoms you have and had all the test which came back fine.  Come to find out I found out I had:  http://www.preventcci.com/default.aspx      This has helped me alot!  I hope it helps some of you.

[sexylicious]

A related discussion, Bad stomach pains was started.