intense abdominal and back pain

[davemc]

Months ago I started having events of pretty intense pain that always started in my mid back and quickly moved to my abdomen below the ribs.  An ulrasound found multiple gallstones including one large (1") one.  Though my pain location was atypical of gallbladder problems there was sufficient suspicion of gall bladder problems (intense pain for limited duration) for surgery.  Surgery 2 weeks ago was uneventful.

Almost immediately the pain returned.  It continues to follow the distinct pattern of pain in the back followed by pain in the abdomen, despite surgery.  My doctor is sending me to a gastroenterologist and also recommending a stress EKG just to rule out any heart problems. He also put me on Prilosec in case this was GERD.  These events are frequent and very painful yet aren't accompanied by nausea, sweating, or shortness of breath.  My family doctor is puzzled.

Has anyone experienced anything like this?  TIA !!!

[shurely]

I had the same stress test as you three yrs ago. It didn't show anything thankfully but it didn't help this problem either. I can't remember exactly what it cost but I told my dr. that I didn't have 'stress' until I got the bill!!!

[kaz_22]

could be iodiopathic gastroparesis?
thats what ive got lol.  the pain sounds the same.
it can be diagnosed with a gastroscopy (tube down ur throat).

otherwise, it sounds abdominal.  so try keeping a diary.
everything you eat and when.  when you get the pain and how
long it lasts.  stress also.

good luck. kaz_22

[davemc]

All,

This is somewhat off topic, but funny because of the lengths we have to go to when we're trying to ID our recurring abdominal pain.

My primary care doc is a thorough guy.  To rule out my heart as a source of the ab pain, he scheduled me for a stress EKG.  Makes sense, right?  No big deal, had 'em before.  But for some reason the procedure has changed.  My first clue was when the radiology tech said she was going to get my IV started.  What?  You don't need no stinkin' IV for a stress EKG!!  Well, now they also do a thallium stress test.  They inject you with radioactive thallium then put you under a gamma camera.  Then they do the stress EKG, when you hit the target heart rate, they inject more thallium and it's back under the gamma camera (looks somewhat like a CAT scan device).  The thallium stress test does a great job of finding problems with blocked coronary arteries.  No doubt it's a useful test and if I get good results I'll be elated to know I'm not a bypass or heart attack waiting to happen.

But did this help ID the pain in my belly?  I don't think so.  I shudder to think what these tests cost and hope my insurance company never questions why I'm having all this stuff done to me.

I just wonder what's next? About the only doctor I've not seen is a psychiatrist, and one can assume he/she's on the list at some point!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The story continues...   Sometimes I think you just gotta laugh!!

[Destiny4]

boy you are not kidding.  the whole take it out and see if it works.  I have had chronic pain for almost 2 years.  they first said apendix and took that out then it still hurt so they said ovary and took one of those out and guess what it still hurt so they said galbladder and took that out.  bottom line IT STILL FREAKING HURTS>  i REALLY dont think god intended for us to have spare parts to be yanked.  Im done with surgery since that is not working. and I am VERY glad i am not going at this alone all thoe on the other hand i REALLY dont wish it on anyone.  thank you for responding to me that means alot.

REALLY REALLY hope they figure it out.

PS as alternative i have started going to Body talk which is alternative healthy therapy.  it does offer some pain relief but is a big kicker on the wallet.  

Des

[davemc]

Des,

Hang in there!!  

We're all out here in these forums looking for answers, folks who share our pain, and maybe a little sympathy now and then.  Do you feel guilty of shopping on the Internet for disorders and diagnoses?  I sure do.  

I'm with you on "wish I hadn't had GB surgery".  It galls me (no pun intended) to still have horrible abdominal pain after surgery to eliminate that pain.  

One doctor told me that treating a problem is a form of diagnosis.  We'll yank your gallbladder out, and if the problem doesn't go away, well, we can eliminate the gallbladder as a source of your problems.  That's fine up to the point that they start removing organs as a way to diagnose your problem!!!!  :-)

Take care and know that you're not alone!!

Dave

[Destiny4]

I too had my galbladder removed just 2 weeks ago on March 5th.  I am having some of the same actually most of the problems you are having.  I wish with the surgery things went right.  They havent yet figured out why for me but i REALLy hope they do for you. just know i REALLY know how you are feeling.  they gave me a script for some powder you put in water and drink forget what its called dont have it handy its at work OOPS.  it hasnt really helped yet. i had a colonoscopy and that came back good so here i am back to square 1.  I think had i talked to people like you and me before the surgery i would of opted to not have it as my pain is worse now than it was before.  I wish you the best of luck and let me know if they figure anything out.

hugs and prayers
des

[davemc]

Endoscopy and MRCP are both scheduled for next week.  The GE is pretty good about getting results back, so I should know soon.

I don't know much yet about stomach spasms, other than they are different from esophageal spasms.  I don't know how you diagnose them other than process of elimination?  

Before my GB surgery the doctor did explain SOD to me but I thought he said the ultrasound didn't show I had SOD problems.  I would think the MRCP should show that as well as if there are gallstones still lingering in the bile ducts.

Other than the pain, the biggest problem of all this is these multiple doctor appts. take me away from my job.  Between this and a blood sugar problem that's suddenly popped up, I'm at the doctor or the lab multiple times per week.  And the co-pays and charges not covered by insurance are not insignificant either.  But now I'm just complaining...   :-)

[shurely]

I hope that your tests provide answers to this! Stomach spasms? Is that the same as SOD? I've read alot of stuff about that on here. Are you gonna have the MRCP with manometry? I had one of these attacks after drinking some Mt. Dew on an empty stomach one time. Usually though mine occur about 3 or 4 hrs after eating. Did your dr. say what could be done if it is stomach spasms? Sorry to ask so many questions but I too would love to find answers for this. I still haven't made another appt. with my gastroenterologist because I have so many dr bills that I hate to go anymore! I've had three surgeries in the past 18 months and it adds up even with insurance!
When is your endoscopy scheduled? Soon I hope. Thanks for posting after your appt.

[reddawg]

The pain I experienced was exactly as shurley was intese pain under breastbone, radiating to jaw, tightening of chest for about 20 min. When my doctor said I had heartburn I was very surprised and doughtful. I didn't have the normal acid reflux.
Since I had multiple gallstones, they removed my gallbladder. But still diagnosed with gerd and hiatal hernia. That was three years ago, and have experienced those symptoms only twice since.
However, I never have recovered from gallbladder removal. I have HepC and cirrhosis and believe that this operation was to hard on my liver. I have been sick eversince.

[davemc]

Saw the gastro doc today and he ruled out GERD as a source of my pain, took me off Prilosec.  He did blood tests for liver and pancreas function, has scheduled me for an endoscopy and an MRCP. Coincidentally I had an episode later in the day, seemingly triggered by eating a piece of fruit on an empty stomach. Last 3 episodes have been exactly like that -- eating something and then immediately having a 30+ min. pain episode.  The doc suspects stomach spasms.   Judging by the type and intensity of the pain, I wonder if he's hit the mark????

[shurely]

Your symptoms sound so much like mine! I did have an endoscopy in 2/06 and dx as esophageal stricture (which they dilated) and GERD. I have been taking prilosec for yrs. and don't have heartburn any more. Just mainly these terribly painful attacks. Let me know what you find out. I've been discussing these and other problems on this forum under the question about bloating and shortness of breath with boron. Have gotten some really useful info. Check it out and see if any of it sounds familiar.
Let me know.
Good luck!

[davemc]

Thanks for the reply.  Good to know someone shares your pain (literally!!).

Actually I've yet to see a gastroenterologist for this.  My primary care doc scheduled upper G/I and ultrasound tests for me, which found multiple gallstones.  He sent me directly to a laparoscopic surgeon.  Now the family doc wants me to see the gastro doc.  Seems like he should've been my first stop.  The gastro doc will stick the endoscope down my throat and see if I have esophageal or stomach issues.  

I see the gastro doc in 2 weeks and I have pretty low expectations.  Is he just going to attribute all of this to GERD (which I've been diagnosed with)?  Meanwhile I take Prilosec, and have had 2 attacks since I started it.  Maybe it takes some time to build up in your bloodstream. Hard to relate GERD to my symptoms though.

Meanwhile I've significantly changed my diet, probably because I'm freaked out that anything I eat triggers one of these attacks.  So it's now almost a no-fat diet.  Well, did need to lose a few pounds...  :-)

In your case, pain in your sternum that goes up into your neck and jaw has to be frightening.  I think most folks that have GB attacks feel like they're having heart attacks.

Today I got the statement from my insurance company -- it's got to be discouraging to them that they spent $15,000 on surgery that didn't work!!!!!!!

Good luck to you.  I don't know, maybe these attacks just go away one day...

[shurely]

I have and do still experience almost the same symptoms except it feels like it starts underneath my breastbone and hurts up into my neck and jaw on the rt. side. I had a stress test for this problem about four yrs. ago and it was fine thankfully. I also have been taking Prilosec for 4 yrs also. Had gb removed sept. 07 and my pain was back within two weeks. I haven't returned to dr. yet. I keep thinking theres no use. I do suffer bloating and shortness of breath (thats another story) but not during one of these attacks. Hope that you can find some answers. It's discouraging to have surgery and still have the same problems afterwards isn't it?
When do you have another dr. appt.?