Very scared, my doctor is unavailable.

[KrystalStefanko]

Hello & Thank you for taking the time to read this. My name is Krystal and I am 31 years old.  Two weeks ago, on a Saturday, I woke in the middle of the night to severe pain across the center and top of my back. the pain was radiating around both sides of my abdomnen. It was horrible. I have a very high pain tolerance, and I do not like going to hospitals so I tried to wait it out. It felt better and i thought oh it must have been gas and didn't think about it again. The next three nights, same thing, horrible at night, no pain by morning. I started a ZERO fat diet. actually i was following the BRAT diet to keep away these attacks. and it was working. No pain for several nights. Last night, severe back pain started around 7pm and I was up all night squirming like a fish, crying, couldn't sit still, couldn't find a position to east the pain. Tonight, here I am, and it is happening again.

I should mention that when I press even lightly under my right rib cage it is VERY tender all the time, even during the day when I am not having an attack. Is this a gallbladder attack?  My doctor is on vacation and I can't believe has NO ONE covering for him. I'm at a loss of what to do, what to eat, because I'm basically eating very little. I'm scared during the pain attacks. And I don't want to run to a hospital either:(

If you have a moment to respond that would be greatly appreciated. thank you very much.

Krystal

[Sarsi]

To me, it does sound suspiciously like a gallbladder attack.....I would recommend heading to the hospital in the next attack and get an ultrasound like the good Dr Christopher R Walters mentioned.....

[Christopher R Watters, MD]

I am sorry to hear of your pain. Although there are other possibilities your gallbladder would be at the top of the list. The intractable nature of the pain would argue for the possibility of having a stone impacted in the neck of the gallbladder making this a more urgent situation. Waiting only makes things worse. You need to be seen and an ultrasound performed. Simple bloodwork should rule out pancreatitis as another possibility.