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Upper LEFT quadrant pain
I am 31 years old. This past May I had severe left sided upper quadrant pain. It felt like it was just under my ribs, usually in the front but sometimes in my side and when most severe, in my back. It lasted for about 3 weeks and I just let it go, confident that it would just go away.
In the first week of August the exact same pain came back. It was so severe that I called my MD after only 3 days. I had chest x-rays, abd sonogram and blood work. The only abnormality was my amylase which was 397. My lipase was somewhat elevated also. I had an abd CT which showed a slightly enlarged pancreas but was told that was probably normal for my age. I was but on prevacid and told to see what happens. I still complained of severe pain do I had an EGD. All was normal. I then had an ERCP done and while no obstruction was noted I did end up with pancreatitis and was in the hospital for 5 days. The 'pancreatitis' pain has now resolved but my original pain remains. I can now relate some of the pain to after meals but that pain usually occurs on the right side. The left sided pain is ALWAYS there. It gets bad and then eases up but is always there. I do become nauseated at times but I am not vomiting. I lost 10 pounds in the hospital but put 6 back on. No further weight loss has been noted. My GI physician is stumped. He did mention sphincter manometry but is hesitant due to my pancreatitis.
What I want to know is this: Is there a profile of patients who have sphincter dysfunction? Are there certain things that cause it or is the cause unknown? Would that cause LEFT sided pain. With the tests I have had done, would CA be ruled out or would that still be a possibility?
Thank you,
Elizabeth
In the first week of August the exact same pain came back. It was so severe that I called my MD after only 3 days. I had chest x-rays, abd sonogram and blood work. The only abnormality was my amylase which was 397. My lipase was somewhat elevated also. I had an abd CT which showed a slightly enlarged pancreas but was told that was probably normal for my age. I was but on prevacid and told to see what happens. I still complained of severe pain do I had an EGD. All was normal. I then had an ERCP done and while no obstruction was noted I did end up with pancreatitis and was in the hospital for 5 days. The 'pancreatitis' pain has now resolved but my original pain remains. I can now relate some of the pain to after meals but that pain usually occurs on the right side. The left sided pain is ALWAYS there. It gets bad and then eases up but is always there. I do become nauseated at times but I am not vomiting. I lost 10 pounds in the hospital but put 6 back on. No further weight loss has been noted. My GI physician is stumped. He did mention sphincter manometry but is hesitant due to my pancreatitis.
What I want to know is this: Is there a profile of patients who have sphincter dysfunction? Are there certain things that cause it or is the cause unknown? Would that cause LEFT sided pain. With the tests I have had done, would CA be ruled out or would that still be a possibility?
Thank you,
Elizabeth
It is really unbelievable that these doctors are not taking us seriously. Do you think it is because we are of the female gender? Bad enough that we have to contend with that archaic behavior in the work environment!! If you are a woman, and the docs cannot figure out what is wrong with you physically, they assume it is psychological (Hypchondriac) or PMS. It is quite frustating!!
My primary is sending me for a bone scan and another x-ray of the left rib area. He really thinks it is costochondritis, but he is not sure, thus the x-ray.
My workouts (running & biking) are not as painful, I must admit. I am increasing my mileage daily in both my running and biking without any major problems. It is definitely helping not only physically but, of course, mentally and emotionally. The runner's stitch is not as acute. I think it was trapped gas and it seems like the 8-10 tums per day are keeping that under control, so far!
Tell me your latest, Carol.
My primary is sending me for a bone scan and another x-ray of the left rib area. He really thinks it is costochondritis, but he is not sure, thus the x-ray.
My workouts (running & biking) are not as painful, I must admit. I am increasing my mileage daily in both my running and biking without any major problems. It is definitely helping not only physically but, of course, mentally and emotionally. The runner's stitch is not as acute. I think it was trapped gas and it seems like the 8-10 tums per day are keeping that under control, so far!
Tell me your latest, Carol.
Hi Dawn.....Have read your responses in here...be careful with the tums usage....was doing that as well before all of my problems....the thing is, things like Tums only mask the real problem......they make ya feel better for a bit but in the long run you are not fixing anything. Just makes you temporarily feel better...and unfortunately One can sometimes mask a serious condition by use of these otc drugs.
As far as the subject of being taken seriously goes, LOL, my DR is a female and I have no doubt that she believes me..it is just that she is at a loss as well....
Hope you are feeling better soon!!
Tracy
***@****
As far as the subject of being taken seriously goes, LOL, my DR is a female and I have no doubt that she believes me..it is just that she is at a loss as well....
Hope you are feeling better soon!!
Tracy
***@****
Hi, back again. Was hoping that last surgery was going to take care of the diverticulitis, but unfortunately I never really got better. I am still on Darvocet and percocet for pain and the following meds: Bentyl, lomotil, xanac, axcid, imipramine, ambien and celebrex, acidiliopholus, B12, Iron and now the Dr has started me on a 6 month dose of tetracyline for 14 days on and ten days off. They did another colonoscopy and have now decided to add Crohns Disease, IBS, Colitis and still Diverticulitis (even though they removed all but 8 inches of my colon)as well as a problem with my immune system and fatigue (Ithink they add these things when they really can't figure out what the heck is going on LOL) The colonoscopy still showed diverticuli in the remaining part of my colon. Most of the pain they still feel is from extensive adhesions. But, I am still plagued with severe abdominal cramps, constant diareaha, on again and off again low grade fevers and occasional bleeding. I am to the point with all of the meds that I am on, that there is no way that I feel I can go back to work.... and LOL....our government has kindly denied me disability. I am getting ready to actually try some holistic healing and it has been suggested by a friend to seek out some Asian healers, they sometimes have more luck than the DRs with controlling pain. If anyone has any suggestions on how to cope with this I would really appreciate hearing from them!!
Ps. Dawn, from my understanding, the only wa y to certify that one has diverticulits is from a gastriograph ennema and sometimes a cat scan can show it but not always.... I HAVE NEVER, EVER heard of a blood teat to determine it..... I would seriously suggest checking into that!!
Thanks,
Trac ***@****
Ps. Dawn, from my understanding, the only wa y to certify that one has diverticulits is from a gastriograph ennema and sometimes a cat scan can show it but not always.... I HAVE NEVER, EVER heard of a blood teat to determine it..... I would seriously suggest checking into that!!
Thanks,
Trac ***@****
Well - the second opinion vist was somewhat disappointing.
In a nutshell - he thinks I could've had shingles where the virus never erupted to the nerve ending so no evidence on my skin. Or that I had some kind of "localized mechanical" problem going on that caused some pinched nerve and muscle spasming feelings. But now what I was experiencing was a "false sensation." I was really kind of pissed off by this because I was sitting in his office with the sharp stitch happening right then and there and he sort of blew it off as nothing. Oh well -- he was a doc hired by the short term disability insurer - not someone of my choice.
Since then I've noticed some pain in my hip and thigh muscle that got worse right around ovulation and my ribs got sore all over again (like your Mike Tyson analogy!) BUT I hadn't done any sort of physical exercise or anything that would've caused it! I still think there might be some kind of hormonal connection in my case, but also that it could be a combination of things. Still baffled, though.
Thanks for keeping in touch, Diane. Let me know what your doc says this time!
Carol D.
In a nutshell - he thinks I could've had shingles where the virus never erupted to the nerve ending so no evidence on my skin. Or that I had some kind of "localized mechanical" problem going on that caused some pinched nerve and muscle spasming feelings. But now what I was experiencing was a "false sensation." I was really kind of pissed off by this because I was sitting in his office with the sharp stitch happening right then and there and he sort of blew it off as nothing. Oh well -- he was a doc hired by the short term disability insurer - not someone of my choice.
Since then I've noticed some pain in my hip and thigh muscle that got worse right around ovulation and my ribs got sore all over again (like your Mike Tyson analogy!) BUT I hadn't done any sort of physical exercise or anything that would've caused it! I still think there might be some kind of hormonal connection in my case, but also that it could be a combination of things. Still baffled, though.
Thanks for keeping in touch, Diane. Let me know what your doc says this time!
Carol D.
How did you make out with your quest for a second opinion? I went for the IVP, and obviously, everything is normal. My husband & I went for a 3 1/2 mile run on Saturday and did some heavy duty cleaning on Sunday in order to prepare my kitchen for renovations. After those two days of exertion, my ribs felt like Mike Tyson went to work on them. Prior to Saturday's workout, I had only been doing a combo of running and walking. I had been afraid to do anything really exerting for fear of making matters worse. The ribs aren't painful, they are extremely achey, like a toothache!! I discovered the achey side to be a little swollen, also. I contacted my primary about this latest episode, and he suggested another visit with him. He and I will have our little "get together" on Monday afternoon. The trapped gas problem doesn't seem to be as chronic lately. I have been living on about 6 tums per day. I think they really may be working. I take one b/f each meal and one after each meal. I did some research into costochondritis on the net. My symptoms are quite similar.
That is the latest scoop on my end. I'm anxious to find out your
latest info. Keep me posted!!
Diane
That is the latest scoop on my end. I'm anxious to find out your
latest info. Keep me posted!!
Diane
Diane -
The way I understand splenic flexure syndrome is that gas gets trapped in that location on a regular basis (for reasons I don't know). I had thought the same thing as you: after all the stuff they've made me take to empty out my colon (for the IVP -- I didn't have a colonoscopy), I thought anything trapped in there would've been gone; but I think this is more of a regularly occuring event - not the same gas trapped in the same place from 3 months ago.
Now -I'm not entirely sure about my understanding of this. So if you find out anything (like for what reason does gas get stuck there for some people?) please do tell!
I'm off for a 2nd opinion this afternoon. I'll let you know...
As always, thanks for posting!
Carol
The way I understand splenic flexure syndrome is that gas gets trapped in that location on a regular basis (for reasons I don't know). I had thought the same thing as you: after all the stuff they've made me take to empty out my colon (for the IVP -- I didn't have a colonoscopy), I thought anything trapped in there would've been gone; but I think this is more of a regularly occuring event - not the same gas trapped in the same place from 3 months ago.
Now -I'm not entirely sure about my understanding of this. So if you find out anything (like for what reason does gas get stuck there for some people?) please do tell!
I'm off for a 2nd opinion this afternoon. I'll let you know...
As always, thanks for posting!
Carol
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