Abdominal/Bone Pain and Fatigue

[JD3333]

For the past couple of years I have been dealing with upper left abdominal pain.  Initial symptom was a crampy/tight feeling just under my ribcage.  That has progressed to a dull to mild ache over the past 2 years.  The pain gets worse if I sit for an extended period (air travel) and if I lay on my left side.  The abdominal discomfort is a constant companion.  No amount of pressing/poking can cause the pain to change.

I also experience bone pains.  The pains occur mostly in my lower legs and lower arms, but I do get them in my upper arms and hips.  The pain can be a dull ache to a sharp stabing pain, rarely lasting more then 5 minutes.  The bone pains appear randomly but are primarily in the right leg.

Tests:
Nuclear Bone Scan - Negative
Cat Scan and Ultrasound of Abdomen - Negative
X-Ray of hands - signs of bone deminerilization
Cat Scan of Chest with contrast - negative for clots

Serum Calcium - typically normal (9.7 - 10.2, 1 at 10.7)
Ionized Calcium - typically normal (5.3 - 5.5, 1 at 5.7)
Intact PTH - normal (40-52)
All Rhuematoid tests - negative
Thyroid Test - all normal
WBC - typically low (3-4 during past 10 years)
HCT - low normal (below normal now and then)
RDW - typically low
PLT - low normal (195 average)
Celiac - negative

My doctor has been aggressive and tested many diseases.  He is leaning towards Rhuematoid Arthritis or Fibromyalgia (I have no tender spots).  I am seeing a Rhuematoligist in a few weeks.

Is there anything else we should be checking?

[JD3333]

I had never heard of costochondritis.  Doing a quick check, I cannot make the pain occur by pressing on my ribs (or anywhere else for that matter).   I have not had an MRI of the abdomen (just my head).

They performed a cat scan with stone analysis in January - it was negative.  Other tests that I had forgotten about:  colonoscopy, upper GI, hida-scan, pituitary gland MRI.  I do have a lump on my throat (visible) near my thyroid, ultrasound showed a small nodule.  All of my tests (especially the blood) are current within the past 18 months.

The one time I was hypercalcemic was during a 2 week period of severe positional vertigo.  I have talked with a parathyroid expert about my calcium readings, he felt hyperparthyroidism was unlikely.

I did forget a few symptoms (concentration problems being a minor one):  Fatigue, weight gain, excessive thirst, frequent urination (10-15x daily), and irritable.  The thirst is nothing new, until recently I thought cotton-mouth was normal.

[SickbutEmpowered]

Have they checked your kidneys thoroughly? Have you ever been told you have costochondritis? This is something to discuss with the rheumatologist for sure. How long ago did you have all the tests done. If it has been a good while, then sometimes they need to be run again to check on possible changes. I see that your calcium levels are slightly high. Perhaps an MRI would be a better tool if these other tests were recent. It might show other tissue damage or things that the cat scan/xrays and bone scan may not have shown since it only shows tissue problems. What about the other blood tests they ran? Do you have the rest of your tests results. Liver and kidney function, bun and creatinine, etc etc etc.  I thought I was having seizures and was being evaluated for MS. Well guess what my kidneys are on the fritz and so is my thyroid. So, be strong and persistent, and write everything down before you see your new specialist. Wish you well