Abdominal and Back Pain

[LauraMBS]

At the beginning of August, I was awoken with pain in my lower right quadrant, that continued to get worse until I went to the ER early that afternoon, and by the time I saw the doctor, the pain had spread to my upper left quadrant, and radiated around to my back. The doctor I saw thought I may have a kidney stone or a ruptured ovarian cyst, and sent me home to rest with some pain medication. To make a long story short, after four ER visits, multiple visits to my PCM, a referral to a gastroenterologist and surgeon, I still have no answers. My pain is so severe yet sporadic that I cannot work, because I have had to leave so often due to the pain, going to the ER straight from work. Any sort of physical activity makes it worse, especially the back pain.

I have had a CT scan with contrast done which revealed slightly swollen lymph nodes, had a blood test done to rule out lymphoma, had a course of levaquin (which made me feel better for about a week until the pain came back with a vengeance). I have had inner and outer ovarian ultrasound done which was normal, I have had many blood tests done which show my liver enzymes are all normal. I have had a stool sample taken which was normal. I had an x-ray done of my abdomen which showed a build up in my intestines, and have started a regimine to try to relieve any symptoms of IBS to no avail, and my gastroenterologist felt it was not IBS. I have had a gallbladder ultrasound which showed small polyps, but my HIDA scan showed a functionality rate of 60% and did not replicate my symptoms other than nausea.

I just had a consultation with a surgeon today and he said he does not believe it is my gallbladder since I have pain in multiple locations, and it doesn't seem to go away. I am going back to my gastroenterologist tomorrow afternoon, and am at my wits end trying to figure out what is wrong with me. I am usually so busy I have a very active life. I am overweight, but none of my doctors have ever said anything to me about my weight causing any problems.

Does anybody have any suggestions for me to talk with my doctor about tomorrow? Has anybody else had pain like this or a similar experience? I am only 23 years old, I am too young to feel this old.

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Welcome to the MedHelp forum!
If you have any bowel problems like heart burn, bloatedness, constipation, diarrhea etc, then it would be worthwhile to follow up with gastroenterologist regarding this. Otherwise ask the surgeon about the possibility of this being due to adhesions and scarring of the tissues of abdomen. This cannot be caught by any diagnostic test except by laproscopy.
  Hope this helps. Take care!

[mdewakan]

There is a condition known as Painful Rib Syndrome.  It mimics gallbladder problems.  A gastroentrologist can diagnose this.  I have this problem.  Stress seems to affect it.  Talk to your doctor.

[MisterLiver]

Have they ruled out all likely cancers? It kind of sounds like you have cancer.