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New Symptoms are Scaring Me
Hi- I'm new here, but you all seem to be very nice. I am a 23 year old female and I have been diagnosed with Crohn's Disease for 3 years, so I know what the symptoms feel like. Prior to being diagnosed with Crohns, I experienced severe pain and they removed my Gallbladder. When that didn't stop the pain, I had a liver biopsy that was abnormal. My Dr. was pretty sure I have Sclerosing Cholangitis and put me on Actigal. The pain disappeared and my liver hasn't been mentioned again except that I have to be seen every 3 months for the Crohns so he checks my liver enzymes at the same time. They're normal.
However, for the past 6 weeks approx., I have been experiencing pain just under my left breast that goes into my back and chest too. Sometimes it's all over at the same intensity, but it is often very centered on the left. It also goes down my left arm. They did an EKG that was normal as well as a blood test that showed I have low magnesium. I've been taking mag. supplements for 3 weeks, but it isn't better. Also, I've been experiencing these periods of heart racing and "fuzzy" spells, as well as headaches (which maybe is just stress?). For the last 3 days and today, my diarhea is seriously worse and more frequent than normal - which is really saying something since the Crohns really does me in normally. Also, I have eaten next to nothing because I feel constantly full and bloated, which is odd considering all the bathroom issues I'm having. I'm really scared and the pain is sometimes unbearable. I have an appt. next Thurs. with my doc, but do you guys have any thoughts?
However, for the past 6 weeks approx., I have been experiencing pain just under my left breast that goes into my back and chest too. Sometimes it's all over at the same intensity, but it is often very centered on the left. It also goes down my left arm. They did an EKG that was normal as well as a blood test that showed I have low magnesium. I've been taking mag. supplements for 3 weeks, but it isn't better. Also, I've been experiencing these periods of heart racing and "fuzzy" spells, as well as headaches (which maybe is just stress?). For the last 3 days and today, my diarhea is seriously worse and more frequent than normal - which is really saying something since the Crohns really does me in normally. Also, I have eaten next to nothing because I feel constantly full and bloated, which is odd considering all the bathroom issues I'm having. I'm really scared and the pain is sometimes unbearable. I have an appt. next Thurs. with my doc, but do you guys have any thoughts?
My first thought would be that this could be indicative of a problem w/the pancreas. The left-sided epigastric pain radiating to the back may be suggestive of this. While this may be a stretch, if you are experiencing any sort of pancreatic disorder, malabsorption of nutrients (such as magnesium) is possibly a result. I don't recall you mentioning nausea, vomiting, or weight loss, but between the pain, bowel problems, and potential malabsorption, you may want to ask your doctor to examine the possibility of pancreatic dysfunction. If you can talk him into ordering a spiral CT,EUS, or ERCP, this may help locate (or rule out) a problem. You mentioned you were 23, I was 27 when I started having symptoms indicative of pancreatic dysfunction three months ago, and it's been difficult to get doctors who will take my symptoms seriously due to my age. With that in mind, I'd just be aggressive in letting the doctor know you're in pain and want him to rule out any possibility, including the pancreas. Take care!
what is a spiral CT or a EUS? I had 2 ERCPs a few years ago at the beginning of this mess, and I certainly don't want to go through that again!
The Spiral CT is considered by many to be the best non-invasive diagnostic tool for checking out the pancreas, and it's really simple. I had one in September, and it simply involves drinking a couple of bottles of contrast (kind of like bad grape juice, but not awful), then laying down in the CT scanner for about 12-20 minutes while an IV pumps contrast fluid into your arm. It's completely painless. The Endoscopic ultrasound is an invasive procedure, but as I understand it (and I have not had one), less so than an ERCP. For the actual details on the EUS, I'd recommend you go to www.google.com and search under "Endoscopic Ultrasound" as I'm not sure if my clumsy explanation would do much good.
You mentioned you've already had a couple of ERCPs - these have been known to trigger attacks of something called pancreatitis. Not sure how long ago you had these, or if that's even possibly related (this is complete speculation).
In any case, if you have a decent GI who you can get an appointment with, do so, otherwise, if you have a good general practice doctor who listens and will be willing to order test, strongly consider asking him for the Spiral CT w/pancreatic protocol. Again, this is just a suggestion, but based on what you're experiencing (which isn't too far off from what I'm coping with), it might be a helpful one.
Take care.
You mentioned you've already had a couple of ERCPs - these have been known to trigger attacks of something called pancreatitis. Not sure how long ago you had these, or if that's even possibly related (this is complete speculation).
In any case, if you have a decent GI who you can get an appointment with, do so, otherwise, if you have a good general practice doctor who listens and will be willing to order test, strongly consider asking him for the Spiral CT w/pancreatic protocol. Again, this is just a suggestion, but based on what you're experiencing (which isn't too far off from what I'm coping with), it might be a helpful one.
Take care.
I also should mention, I encourage you to look further down on this forum, as there are a number of people who've posted here who've had a host of problems following gall-bladder surgery, many whose stories closely reflect your own.
the magnesium might be causing the D (remember, they use magnesium citrate as a prep for scopes!). talk to your doc about it. maybe you can try a different preparation or lower doses.
and since you have crohn's, you might need an EGD to check out your stomach and duodenum. you might have gastritis or CD in that area. I do and the bloating, fullness and pain are similar to when I had pancreatitis. I'd definitely talk to your doc about the PSC, cause that could be flaring up and causing problems in the surrounding ducts.
good luck and take care.
and since you have crohn's, you might need an EGD to check out your stomach and duodenum. you might have gastritis or CD in that area. I do and the bloating, fullness and pain are similar to when I had pancreatitis. I'd definitely talk to your doc about the PSC, cause that could be flaring up and causing problems in the surrounding ducts.
good luck and take care.
If there is something wrong with my pancreas, should I be going to the ER or anything, or is it okay to wait? I am going to see a walk in care PA tomorrow morning, but I doubt he will take me seriously. My Gastro doctor isn't available until next Thursday. Is it okay to wait? I've been having these symptoms for several weeks, but they have gotten worse in the last couple days. The thing is, it has gotten so uncomfortable that I don't really want to wait until next Thursday anymore, but the only other choice is the ER and I feel stupid going there.
If you feel you need immeditate care, then head for a hospital emergency room as quickly as you can. This is not the time to worry about what other people may think, but it is the time to take charge of your life and your body.
If you have not been tested for food allergies, you may want to go down this path, particularly being allergic to wheat and gluten products (diagnosed as Celiac Disease). This is a dietary disease and, staying on a strict diet will resolve the digestive problems associated with it. My wife had CD for 20 years before they finally diagnosed it and was going through test after test and problem after problem all that time. They have now all subsided. It's a relative new diagnosis in the United States but England and Europe are very familiar with it. There are also sites on the internet you can find --the main one being www.celiac.com.
But, for now, get yourself to the hospital!
If you have not been tested for food allergies, you may want to go down this path, particularly being allergic to wheat and gluten products (diagnosed as Celiac Disease). This is a dietary disease and, staying on a strict diet will resolve the digestive problems associated with it. My wife had CD for 20 years before they finally diagnosed it and was going through test after test and problem after problem all that time. They have now all subsided. It's a relative new diagnosis in the United States but England and Europe are very familiar with it. There are also sites on the internet you can find --the main one being www.celiac.com.
But, for now, get yourself to the hospital!
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