21 year old female, terrified I have pancreatic cancer!
Posted , 17 users are following.
Just putting it out there - I have suffered with health anxiety in the past but I'm so convinced I have something wrong this time.
For a month now I have had left side pain, in my back and stomach between ribs and hip bone. The pain is dull and persistent - not bad. I can continue as normal, working out, running, going to work, etc. It doesn't seem to get better or worse, just stays at around 2/10 in terms of pain. A hot water bottle numbs it. It's worth noting I cannot stop thinking about this pain so I don't know how much is in my head. The other symptoms I have is my stools are yellow and floating and I seem to be going a lot more than normal. My full blood test will come back tomorrow, they are checking liver function, blood count, coeliac disease (which my sister has) and ESR (?) I think that's what it's called anyway.
Other than the pain and my stools, I'm literally fine. Sleeping well, not losing weight and I feel hungrier than ever! No loss of appetite or anything. I'm not jaundiced or itchy, I don't feel sick, can keep food down, good mood except being anxious.
I also realise being a 21 year old vegetarian female (non smoke &a light drinker) who excercises regularly puts me at very low risk. I've looked at stats and only 23 females per year in my age group are diagnosed in the UK annually. All the same I'm so irrationally scared. Do you think I'm just anxious? I know the stomach pain could be just about anything and everything (ovarian cysts have been ruled out) - I'm also aware my yellow stools could be anxiety / coeliac.
What's everyone's thoughts?
Thank you in advance!
0 likes, 35 replies
lacie31869 lucy98147
Posted
what was your outcome? im 24 and so terrified. i have the worst pain under my left rib, feels like something is enlarged under there, the pain is also in my chest and back. it used to come and go but now doesnt leave and gets worse after eating or laying down, yellow stools aswell. i cannot sleep on my left rib as its so uncomfy i feel so sick all the time and have lost appetite lately my doctor says im too young to have anything serious which is actual bull and im sick of hearing it
Shortie79 lacie31869
Posted
There's a lot of doctors who are not educated on the pancreas. Even after my GI specialist diagnosed the Pancreas Divisium she thought my symptoms were IBS related. It wasn't until my pancreas specialist performed an ERCP and diagnosed me with chronic pancreatitis because most doctors rely on blood work to show everything and once you're chronic your blood doesn't elevate, it actually does the opposite. I've done ever treatment possible, six ERCPs, celiac plexus nerve block but due to my two narrow ducts it doesn't stop an attack. I have to go next month for a consultation to speak to my pancreas specialist about removing my pancreas. I will be solely dependent upon digestive enzymes and insulin (I'm not currently diabetic) but I will live a semi normal life (I'm only 38 years of age). I'm very young to have CP but due to the PD it caused the CP. It took the doctors over a year to diagnose me and I was born with a pancreas condition. The pancreas is one of the hardest organ to diagnose what's wrong with it because of its location. However, unless you have a family history of pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, PC or Pancreas Divisium then it's not likely for someone to get chronic pancreatitis at a young age (this information came from my pancreas specialist). The doctors kept dismissing me because of my age and I have other medical conditions. I would journal your symptoms, when does the pain start, what foods trigger pain. It's not just pain you should be watching out for, everyone is different but I had migraines, waking up in the middle of the night vomiting undigested food, clay/pale color stools (this indicates bile is backed up), rapid weight loss (I loss nearly 50 pounds in a matter of months), hair loss, acid reflux, bloating, gas, fatigued and exhaustion, itching, pain after eating so bad you're scared to eat, debilitating pain where you can't even walk and I'm sure many more symptoms (I'm so used to the symptoms I forgets all of them). There's also medical conditions that mimic pancreas issues. There's gastroritis, gastroparesis and there's a blood condition that attacks the liver and pancreas called HH. If you haven't been checked for celiac autoimmune disease, I would get tested, it can be extremely painful and develop at any age. I would stay away from Dr. Google as it's not your friend, and request copies of all your tests. I probably wouldn't have a diagnoses today if I didn't read my tests and research the medical terminology on them. I hope you feel better soon.