Pain Left Side under Ribs

[livnlrn]

I am going to type out my history to give a better understanding of my situation.

In Feb 09  I started to have pain under my right ribsRib cage pain, hida scan showed low % fuctioning rate, so they removed it. (MAY)    1 week after surgery I awoken with screaming pain.  Lasted for 6 hours then went to ER.
They told me it was inflammation from the surgery and sent me home.  The pain has not went away since!!!

Went to a Gastro dr, in which he sent me for many tests: Colon, EGD, MRI, CT scan, ultrasound, blood, the whole works.
According to him,  he said I had some swellingAbdomen - swollen
Ankle sprain swelling
Breast - premenstrual tenderness and swelling
Foot swelling
Foot, leg, and ankle swelling
Gums - swollen
Joint swelling
Mastoiditis - redness and swelling behind ear
Scrotal swelling
Swelling in the stomach, and acid reflexBabinski's reflex
Infantile reflexes
Moro reflex
Urge incontinence,  small ulcer, and some how, he mentioned GERD
So I was taking NexiumNexium
Nexium i.v..   Pain never went away.  So I went back to him a few times after surgery.
Last month, he literrally said "I dont know!!"   so he sent me to a pain management center.

They put me on EtodolacEtodolac
Etodolac er for arthritis inflammation, and the FentanylFentanyl
Fentanyl citrate patch.

The next month I am STILL in pain, so I decided to see another Gastro Dr.  He says he needs to study all my previous test results and go from there.  He also put my on Hyosyamine for antispasmatics.

To this date,  I have dealt with this pain.  Some days are better than others but I still walk around like a zombie feeling and looking sick all the time.

The pain is from the center towards the left under my rib cage.  Hurts to be touched.  I really cannot describe the pain but just as it hurts

Please let me know if you have been through this.....Researching on the internet I mostly found my symptoms to match up with:  Crohns, Gastritis, Pancreatis, or Fibromyalgia  

Please help me,  I miss my active lifestyle with my kids, and they miss me.  All I want to do is lay around and baby this pain!

[NoMoMeth4me]

Perhaps I was missing something but I didn't see in your original thread it saying you stopped your medication? Please excuse me if I'm wrong here.

I must say I disagree with concerned621 with regards to increasing your medications making your pain/symptoms worse. I do agree that a possibilty of that exists there is much MORE chance that finding your therapeutic dose of opiate pain medication could very well help your pain ease.

I was titrated up from the 25mcg patch rather quickly to the 100mcg patch and got the best pain relief that I've had in years. It's worth a million bucks to me!!

Please DON'T rule out the possibilty of discussing with you Dr the option of increasing your meds to help you find your therapeutic dose. If in fact you end up being one of the minority and it makes you worse you can always cut back down or eliminate all together.

I have gone both ways, started on the lesser strength opiates and progressed up to Methadone and Percocet for B/T, went to an inpatient Pain Management Program and decided I wanted OFF ALL opiates and got off them, it was fine as long as I did next to nothing physically and even was almost unbearable at times.
When I returned to work I couldn't amke it one hour without opiates and I'm now on Fentanyl 100mcg, with Percocet for B/T.

I would just encourage you to investigate ALL options right now.

Please let us know how you progress.

Warm wishes.

~ Brian.

[livnlrn]

I had to quit the Reglan

[livnlrn]

After a terrible bout with constipation this weekend, dr now wants to call it IBS as well!

[livnlrn]

Finally got done with all my testing and they come to the conclusion that I have:
Gastroparesis.
They gave me reglan so we'll see how it helps or reacts.

[concerned621]

I really believe this is diet related I went through the same exact thing just months ago.  I actually refused further tests.  They didn't  know what it was so they kept sending me for more tests. I am NOT recommending that because I can't.  But I am positive looking at diet will help you dramatically.  Also I forgot to mention.  Get to a health food store or even a good pharmacy that sells vitamins and herbs.  Get "essential enzymes" and take with food. Start asap.  I take one with each meal.  I read so much research on enzymes.  My husband is diabetic and there are numerous protocols using enzymes for diabetics.  I won't claim it cures anything but there are case studies that enzymes which so many of us lack because of the foods and medicines we ingest needs to be added back to our system.  Another great thing to take is Astragalus. It is a chinese herb that boosts your immune system.  Always look up interactions: do a search on what medication you take and how a natural product interacts.  I highly recommend getting the enzyme today!!!!! I'm so sorry I forgot to mention that.  And stay away from soy for now. Some people do fine with soy I do not and you may have the same issue.  Soy is in a lot of things so read ingredients. I was drinking those soy protein drinks daily.  Within weeks my stomach was so bloated, I had pain around my pancreas/galbladder.  I really thought I was sick.  My family was so upset and worried.  And like a said, the nurse from the 2nd gasto opinion said it may have been nothing more than diet/something I was eating or drinking at the time.  She was really mad that they didn't ask that question because I went through weeks of such worry.  I go on and on about looking at the "whole" picture but I am living proof since 1992 that foods, what we drink, the environment we are in affects some people more than others.  If I smell someone that has been smoking I get an instant migraine, nausea, and I get an FM flare up.  I don't like being that way and it has caused problems with my siblings, they all smoke.  But I have to take care of my health and make sure my life is on the right track.  So this is making more sense to me where you are concerned.  You also mention loss of your mother. I lost my mother January 2005.  It's still so hard and causes a lot of sadness for me especially this time of year.  Allow yourself that time to be sad, get it out of your body. If you don't your body will hold on to it and manifest it other ways.  Take care and keep us posted.  

[livnlrn]

Thanks you all for responding to me.  I am sorry for all the mumble jumble in the post, I have no clue how it came about like that.

I had taken the step of a 4th opinion from a Dr.  He is my 2nd Gastro, which is requesting more test from me.  Yesterday, Ive done uppder GI & small bowel.  Next week, I will do the gastric emptying, and also 3 days worth of collecting urine. (checking for metals and chemicals)   I wont get to see him until after christmas with all the test results.

I have not seen an RA because previous blood test showed I didnt have it.
My mother had it 100% (already has passed from medication she took)
My father has it 80% right now.

I have stopped taking the Etodolac & Hyomax as directed by my Gastro dr.  He said that if it didnt help by now, then it wasnt working.

TUCK- I dont have scrotal,  somehow when I post my comment, it added a whole bunch of things I didnt type-  but thanks for your info,

concerned621-  Wow, I too was doing the Medifast diet which is Soy Protein Shakes!!!!!
been doing that for a few years on and off.
While doing this diet I have occured stomach pain quite often.  It was this year that I had a gall bladder attack,  which is from losing too much weight too fast.
After seeing a commercial on TV last night about Fibro,  it doesnt seem I have most or all of the symptoms required to have this....?

[concerned621]

Hi, I was censored when I orignially tried to respond to you. So here goes agian. I have fibromyalgia. I have pain just like you described. I too was put through similar testing. They said my pancreatic duct was enlarged which could mean cancer. I was beside myself with worry. I went through weeks of tests then all of sudden they said it wasn't anything.  But in doing my own research about it  and seeing another gasto doc the nurse asked  one question the other gastro doc might have asked and never did and that  was about my diet. At the time I was drinking soy protein shakes. Soy is very hard on some people and I already have issues with digestion.  I stopped drinking the protein drinks, changed a lot of things about my diet and my stomach problems, started a mild exercise program and it all calmed down.  I think possibly the medication you are on could be casuing a lot of side effects, I am not a doctor however I am very sensitive to medication and get all kinds of side effects not the least of which can be swelling.  In addition it takes the body at least 1 year to recover from having anethestia in the body and to recover from surgery.  
I am a huge advocate of looking at the whole picture. Having had fibromyaglia since 1992 I've had to. So foods like bread, white flour, white pototoes, rice, tomotoes all aggravate my pain.  And so many of these foods make my stomach bloat, swell and hurt.  And the pain you are experiening sent me to the doctor several times. I never thought it could be fibromyalgia but I actually read it could be part of FM pain.  There are days I can't even touch that area.  Now I would think you would have pain in other areas if it is fibromyalgia. If you have not seen a rheumatolgist that might be another route to try.  Adding more medication in my opinion and this is NOT a medical opinion only actual experience, can make your symptoms worse.  Don't stop what you are currently taking always listen to your doctors but listen to your body and start looking at patterns: are there foods you are eating or things you drink that make your symptoms worse.  I know this is a lot when you feel awful I'm with you.  Some days I can't even think and don't want to hear any of this. So when you are up to it try to investigate a little further.  Please also check with a rheumatologist.  Take care and my thoughts are with you.

[Tuckamore]

Hello livnlrn,

Welcome to the Pain Mangement Forum. I am so very sorry to hear about your pain and all the chronic pain induced problems you are facing.  We know how very disruptive chronic pain can be to a normal lifestyle.

I am trying to get the entire picture of your symptoms. Help me understand how you are experiencing premenstrual breast tenderness and swelling and also have scrotal swelling? The two just do not go together.  

The conditions that you found while searching the web, Crohn's, Gastritis, Pancreatitis, and Fibromyalgia are all possibilities. Discuss this with your physician.

I suggest that you request an gastroendoscopy and a colonoscopy. These exams will rule out or in, Gastritis and Crohn's.  You did have a CT scan of the abdomen which should have examined the pancreas and checked for gallstones, duct problems or gland destruction. In my opinion Pancreatitis has already been ruled out. It would have also revealed itself in supporting blood work up. That leaves Fibromyalgia which as you know is a diagnosis of elimination.

As Mollyrae suggested, seek a second opinion if your physicians are at a loss for a diagnosis. If your current medications are not controlling your pain discuss this with your PMP.  Medications work differently on different ppl. None of us that suffer with chronic pain are pain free but for the most part your pain should be tolerable.

We know how frustratingly long a definitive diagnosis can take. Don't give up. Keep searching. We are here to support you. Please keep in touch. Feel free to post additional information or questions.

Take Care,
Tuck

[Mollyrae]

Hi Livnlrn:

Please, please don't stop taking your medication because someone tell you to. That is very unsafe and could cause you harm. You should always listen to your Doctor and trust what he says. There are second opinions though. have you thought about that?  It is never a good idea to try and diagnose youself from the internet. Let the Doctors do there business. It may take time to come to a diagnosis but they will find one.
Please take care,
Molly