Abdominal Pain

[cecilseaserpent]

Hi all, I'm having intermittant and sometimes severe abdominal pain. I'm geno type 1 , stage 4 in scarring and swelling at biopsy, non -responder to tmt. Also have a platelet count of 59 last check. Here's my question, I know that pain in the liver area is to be expected at this stage of the game, but my pain is more in the area of my spleen (left side) and right above my navel where my breast bone meets. And sometimes I can actually feel a lump there. If I roll over at night onto my stomach I can also feel a lump in the middle of my abdomin(same Place). The weirdest part is my liver hardly ever pains me. I wanted to know if the pain I'm having is normal for hepc, because in January my husband and I were in a rather bad head on accident and I was hit in that area by the airbag. It didn't hurt that night but started in about three days later. I've had two CT scans since then and they say they see nothing but a border line swollen spleen and a slightly swollen lypm node. I'm starting to get concerned, is this normal with hep c my gastrologist said he didn't know if it was or not. Thanks in advance and God Bless Cecil

[cecilseaserpent]

Hey Cindee, I have Kaiser as an HMO and just last month asked my primary care giver for a hepatologist, she informed me that there was no such thing !!! I informed her she was full of ca-ca. She said that Kasier didn't have hepatologist Only GI. I then asked if there facility in San Francisco did, she said even if they did GI was perfectly acceptable substitute and she couldn't justify sending me to a facility that was futher away. I then asked her what"s it to her how far I have to drive, I wasn't asking her to pay for the gas! I then changed primary's and will be seeing my new one in a couple of weeks. My GI admits he doesn't know that much about my disease. I been fussing with them for 2 yr.s now but the truth is money not patient care is their bottom line. Keep saying prayers kiddo I could sure use em. I'll do the same for you. God Bless Debbie

[cindee]

Hey girl, Just another 2 cents worth of my advise....I would find a HEPATOLOGIST, they only deal with hepatitis. I had a G.I. the first go-round. I now know, that it's better to have a hepatologist!!!! Wish I'd known that to begin with! I think he was using a few of us w/ hep as "lab rats"!!!! I was told I had "relapsed" in his office parking lot...by no-less....his receptionist! And I've never heard from him since! I have also since found out that when my platelets dropped to 9....I should have had my meds reduced, or a blood transfussion!

I also met a lady @ my new hepatologist's office, that she almost died from tx. Was rushed to ER because "her" doctor was out of town. ER doctor took her off all tx meds. When she went back for appt. @ her doctor...he said to her, "well we're all gonna die one of these days." And guess what??? We were seeing that same GOOFY dr.!!!!!!! She and her husband both work @ the hospital, beside dr.GOOFY'S office, so she knew what she was talking about!

Again I will keep you in my prayers. I've learned on this forum...if you don't trust your doctor....find a NEW ONE!!! Much love @ many prayers to you Debbie, Cindee

[cecilseaserpent]

LOL cuteus don't you know it's not nice to confuse the already brain fogged! Seriously thank you for your post and take care of yourself. I'll be praying for you. God Bless Debbie

[lackalustre]

i had swollen and sore painful lymph nodes around my liver/stomach area before treatment for hepc.  it is common from what ive heard.  they showed up in ultra sounds.

[cindee]

Hi and welcome! I have to agree w/ cuteus. I would definately have more test run...it sounds very painful to me. You will be in my prayers and let us know what you find out. Love and prayers, Cindee

[cecilseaserpent]

Thank you all for replying. I'm changeing Dr.s and am definately going to be checked out more throughly. I too have started to suspect hernia. My dad had several. That's how he passed, complications of hernia surgeries (5 in one month). Boy I tell ya I'm going to ask for a new Dr. on the basis that he's the one that told me it was my spleen in that area. I had no clue I flunked anatomy tee hee. It's hard to trust a fella that don't even know where all the parts go. Once again thank you and God Bless you all. Debbie Peerson

[cuteus]

Ok. change drs on the basis that he is not doing enough testing to rule out other disorders...because....it seems that I am the one that would flunk an anatomy test if I was to take one today.
The one by the liver side IS the gallbladder, the spleen IS on the LEFT...way left to be giving you a pain in the middle of the chest/abdomen, in my view. sorry!, I never claim to be an expert...only play one at times...lol.
all these little minor gadgets within, get confusing.  Maybe I'll get one of those t-shirts that have the internal organs pictured and labeled and wear it for a while.
kidding aside, your concern needs to be taken seriously, that second opinion is warranted, as soon as you can get an appt.

[cuteus]

That does sound like a bothersome symptom.
I might be wrong but last time I looked at the GI chart the spleen was in the same side the liver is.  The pancreas and stomach are on the left.
Unless they moved since the last time I looked. ;-}
might you have a hernia of some sort? maybe a hiatal hernia? Have you had an endoscopy and colonoscopy? If the dr does not think is hep c related or car accident maybe they can do other tests?
I hope you get some answers soon, push for the tests to rule out diverticulitis and hernias.
I hope you feel better very soon.