Constant Mid Upper Abdominal Pain

[amc776]

I am a 27 year old female who has been having pretty constant mid upper abdominal pain-moderate for 3 1/2 weeks now.  It started when I was on Zithrmax for a sinus infection.  It is usually worse at night.  I have a history of hemangiomas(largest is under 3cm) and possibly 1 hepatic adnemoma which my doc says he is not concerned about.  I had a CT scan done in October.  My general doc sent me in for an UGI which came back normal and have had numerous blood work(pancreas, liver, CBC and h.pylori) all came back normal.  When pain is at its worst, it sometimes travels to my back, below my shoulder blades.  I also had my gallbladder out 2 years ago and had an ERCP the day before the surgery.  The pain can sometimes run to either the left or right side under my ribs, but mostly its in the middle.  It is located high in the upper abdominal region.  I have also tried Protonix which has really done nothing.  Like I said, the pain is usually worse at night but I do have "tenderness" almost always.In the last 3 1/2 weeks, I've had 2 days without any pain.  When I lie down at night, I sometimes have an empty stomach feeling.  I even have a hard time taking deep breathes although I do have a history of anxiety.  I feel very bloated and distended all the time.  I also tend to drink a lot of pop(not caffefine free) and I do  smoke about 10 cigarettes a day.  My general doc told me to make an appointment with an internalist which I am in search of. I have no fever or nausea and otherwise feel fine, only stressed.  Could something be related to the antibiotics?  Or is probably just a coincidence?  Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.  I have had 2 CT scans done in the last 2 years since they found the tumors on the liver ( found incidently from ultrasound on gallbladder).  Showed no growth on hepatic adenoma and possible 1 cm growth on hemangioma but general doc had tests ordered and there was never a side to side comparison done.  Liver doc thinks there may have not even been growth.  I had just had a baby 4 months before having the 2nd CT scan and I know hormones can make them grow.  Is there also a chance it could be anxiety related?  I had moderate pain tonight, ate pizza which then made it worse, took 2 tums and then pain subsided somewhat but that is not always the case. There feels like there is always a heaviness as more so than pain during the day. I know I gave you a lot of info but I thought the more the better to explain to you.  Any input would be greatly appreciated.

[tuff case]

Adam,
I am so sorry to hear that your mom is not doing well.  Having a Dr. that sticks with you and believes that there is something wrong and works with you to resolve the issue really helps to maintain a positive attitude.  I have three only 2 right now are convinced that the nausea is IBS, however I am working on convincing them otherwise.  My PCP that changed my medication to the Reglan has really helped me maintain a posistive attitude lately.  As for the reglan after my first day without nausea after 1 year and  5 months I was literally in tears I was so happy.  However since I stopped taking an Anti-depressent that I was on for the IBS I have found that I have good days and bad days.  Taking an Anti-depressent with the reglan is a recommended treatment for my motility issues.  The Dr. however is took me off the anti-depressent because of side effects I was having to the Anti-depressent.  However I have since found out that the other nerve medication (for dizzy spells) I was taking (topamax) was contraidicated to take with the anti-depressent so they may start me back on that next week, we will see.  I also do still have pain.  My original pain was URQ to the point that I times I could not lay on my right side.  My pain since the 2nd ERCP is LUQ under my rib cage to my back.  In fact it has been worse also since I now stopped the nerve medication and the anti-depressent.  Last night for instance I could not lay on my left side.  
I do not know if a combination of the 2 drugs might help your mom but if she is upset it may help in more ways than one.  Have her check with her GI.  The theory behind the anti-depressent is that since the digestive system is a 2nd nervous system, when you are depressed, stressed etc you digestive system is effected. Mine is effected because of my other nerve condition.
Which motility test is your mom considering? Please keep us posted on your mom. LOL TC

[tuff case]

Have not heard of stomach muscle spasms? Is this something new you are experiencing since the endscopy or was it a diagnosis from your endscopy?  If it is something new what exactly are you experiencing? Pain where? how long? what meds were you taking? take care TC

[krisg]

just thought I'd let you all know that "spasm of the gut" was one of my many diagnoses that a "not so good" doctor told me long ago.  It also goes along with the "IBS" diagnoses.  If I had just settled for those diagnoses 4 years ago, I would still be fighting the "unknown" and going out of my mind with pain.

[mymomissick]

TC I find it a tad odd that after a sentence like "keep us posted on your mom" you put "LOL" which stands for "laughs out loud." I don't know, just seems out of place, or something, though I know you have only good intentions. so I know you don't put it there DELIBERATELY to seem out of place, therefore Im just letting you know, it seems a tad out of place, just sorta FYI. I mean, the status of my mom isnt something I feel too "LOL" about, you know?

   Motility tests? Im not sure. Ill ask my dad. It something that tracks her digestive system, though she already had something like this, this one will be more detailed and specialized, done in the big city, not here in our town. I know it's a non-risk procedure. I forget what it's called, I'll try to find out and let you know.

   Yeah depression ABOUT her pain CERTAINLY ads to the pain itself. Im sure of that. And my mom is certainly depressed. She is scared every night when she goes to bed that she'll wake up in the middle of the night extremely sick. Her fear is adding to whatever gut problems she's having. I showed my dad your writing, TC, because most of the medical stuff is over my head. He said with the whole diabetes situation, you and my mom are in pretty different categories. Oh yeah, about low fat and low fiber, yeah, my mom has been doing that. She always ate EXTREMELY low fat and high fiber most her life, but now she's cut out most of the fiber. Im here in their house today, 11:36 am CA time, and she's not here. That means she got up this morning and went to work. That's a good thing. Hope she's feelin better, Im going to go by their office now and check. I'll check the forum again tonight.

  Kristen, how you feeling?


  ADam

[tuff case]

Adam,

I guess it depends on where you are raise for the LOL.  Here it could either mean "Lots of Luck" or "Lots of Love".  Never heard of your expression before and definitely not my intention to laugh because I know this is definitely not a laughing matter.  Also about the diabetes I know we are different in that regard.  They do prescribe the Anti-depressent to those that do not have the Debiates but for things like IBS although I am not saying this is what she has because it does not sound like it at all.  It was just a thought because I believe it may have been helping me a little more than the reglan alone.  You just never know what might help sometimes. Wishing you and your family lots of luck and love!! TC

[mymomissick]

OH, sorry, I've only ever heard LOL means laughs out loud. Now that I see what you meant, sorry about that.

Ill ask my dad about the anti-depressant thing.

Take care,

Adam