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3 Month Ache

Posted , 13 users are following.

Gam
Gam

For 3 months now I've had something going on in what feels like my upper abdomen. Epigastric region.

Started randomly after having a Pizza from a takeaway one night. I started feeling a mild dull ache in my upper abdomen. This has just continued and continued and I was very reluctant to go to the doctors hoping it would resolve itself. It would seem to get intense for a few days making a cramping, squeesing sensation below my sternum and ribs and then I would get days when it would calm down a bit. Over time I have noticed other things come and go. Hunger pangs being one of them.

I did consult my GP around 2-3 weeks ago after putting up with it for 2 or so months. Probably didn't explain in enough detail what I needed to. He pressed around my stomach to check if it hurt or if he could feel anything. Listened to my breathing etc and took my blood pressure which were all fine. Apart from that from my symptoms he couldn't tell what was up and said see how it goes but it's continued to bother me since.

I've tried looking up the symptoms online but I can't make sense of how it keeps coming and going in waves of intensity.

Symptoms:

- Mainly dull ache/cramp/squeesing sensation in episgastric region and below ribs.

- Slight backache at times to go with it.

- Feeling of heavyness in chest.

- Slight pinching type feelings generalised around abdomen sometimes.

- Sometimes strong hunger pains when already ate.

My stools are a normal colour from what I can tell. Sometimes can find it hard to push them out, whether soft or hard. Varies what they are like probably depending on what I've ate. I'm still eating, not lost my appetite or anything. No vomiting.

Any ideas?

 

1 like, 30 replies

30 Replies

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  • erica10691
    erica10691 Gam

    Posted

    Hi, I just came across this article and thought I might be able to help. I had the same symptoms about two years ago and they continued to get progressively worse for about a year, until one day the pain and pressure in my upper abdomen got so bad that I had to go to the hospital. After a sonogram was done I was told that I had gallstones and that I needed to have my gallbladder removed. Since the surgery I have been pain-free and have not had any symptoms since. I suggest you go see your doctor or a new doctor and tell them that you think you may have gallstones and request a sonogram. I hope this helps and I wish you the best of luck.

    Erica

  • david15127
    david15127 Gam

    Posted

    I got checked out for gallstones but none found.
  • Gam
    Gam

    Posted

    Hi Erica

    Thanks for the reply. Gallstones is one of a few things that also crossed my mind. I had been dieting for a good 3 months and lost some weight and had came off the diet eating take aways etc when my symptoms first started. I believe dieting and then coming off one can actually cause Gallstones. It's annoying as abdominal pain can be so many different things. Last night I took a paracetemol as my back just felt so tensed up and sore. Today things seemed to have eased up a little bit again. It's strange how the intensity comes in different waves.

    • erica10691
      erica10691 Gam

      Posted

      Yes, the reason the pain comes and goes, and the reason you may feel pain and discomfort after eating fast food with gallstones, is because when you eat something high in fat your body will excrete bile that is stored in your gallbladder. When you have gallstones, sometimes they will get caught in the tube in which your bike is excreted. The pain and pressure you feel is the stone trying to pass through this duct. The pain gradually gets worse and then gradually subsides as it works its way up the bile duct and then eventually back down when your gallbladder calms down. As time progresses, the stones can grow and the gallbladder and bile duct can get increasingly more and more irritated and inflamed. It's just gets worse and worse until either the stones or the entire gallbladder are removed. At this point changing your diet will not eliminate the gallstones, but it may prevent them from growing larger. However a change in diet will not prevent the gallbladder attacks if you already gave stones that have been causing pain as they will continue to make their way up your bile duct once in a while. I'm sorry to say that if your condition is in fact gallstones, your pain and discomfort will not go away without medical attention.
    • Gam
      Gam erica10691

      Posted

      Do you feel the pain localised around your gallbladder though Erica? As mine seems to change everywhere and I've not noticed any reaction from eating certain types of food. Sometimes I can have aches and cramping around the bottom of my ribs right across and feel it in my chest, other times right after eating I can feel pain right down next to my Pelvis like I need to pass stool and other times I can just feel aching and cramping in my back. It seems totally random as to where I'll be feeling the pressure. Thursday Friday and Saturday this week I have felt it on a scale of about 5 or 6 and now today I woke up and it's almost gone again, like a 1 or 2. I can't make sense of it at all.
  • fae001
    fae001 Gam

    Posted

    Hi Gam,

    Have you ever been tested for h.pylori? It can be arranged at your GP practice with a urease breath test. Symptoms often include churning stomach, nausea and belching.

    Failing that I wonder if you have a stomach ulcer, especially when you describe the pain going into the back.

    If you're still not getting anywhere you may wish to ask your GP to refer you to the hospital where they can do more tests.

    Feel better soon.

  • Gam
    Gam

    Posted

    Hi Fae

    I have never been tested for H.Pylori. I wondered about that a while ago and I was taking Mastic Gum as I heard that does the job on it. Whether I had it or whether it did anything or not I don't know. I have suffered with GERD for years now and have always taking 2 150mg Ranitidine tablets daily so I'd be surprised if it was an Ulcer. Plus it's been ongoing for now for months, since around April last year. I've had no bleeding or anything, and the intensity changes daily. It's a weird one.

  • pam47360
    pam47360 Gam

    Posted

    I also have been having these symptoms, started a few nights ago. I thought gallbladder to. Went to er, treating like an intestinal infectio. I'm going to make an apt Monday to have gallbladder checked. Any news on you, Gam?
  • Gam
    Gam

    Posted

    Hi Pam. No news, I've not been back to my Doctor. I'm going through a stage where it doesn't feel quite as bad any more. I also started taking Acidiphilius ( Spell Check ) just to see if probiotics would do anything.... I don't really know if they have as these symptoms seem to come and go in different waves. Did they give you anything to take for an intestinal infection Pam?
  • kim06221
    kim06221 Gam

    Posted

    Unbelieveable how much your symptoms mirror mine.  I have been suffering (maybe a strong word) since before Feb 15, fist went to the Dr then.  Had blood tests, feel of the stomach and blood pressure taken (which was raised).  Blood results came back fine other than Vit D insufficient and slightly raised cholesterol.  Given stong dose of Vit D and that was that.  Went back as the pains/aches where quite high up, feeling like the whole lower part of my ribs were bruised (not constant) and sleeping on my left side felt really strange.  Very tired as well.  Dr sent me for an ECG, which was all fine.  Like you GAM i bascially have started to feel a bit of a hypochondriac but I know I don't feel right.  I am not in agonising pain every day, but pretty much every day I have something from back ache to this upper abdomen ache to headaches, blurry vision (went to opticians).  I went back to my Dr last Friday and I am now being referred for a colonoscopy - YIKEES.  She did off stool sampling, but said if I want to rule out anything scary then go for this - She also said that this sounds alot like IBS, and so long as the colonoscopy comes back clear then I am sure that this is probably what it is.  I haven't drastically lost weight, but eat healthly and have not see any blood in my stools.  I am at my wits end as when I type in my syptoms COLON CANCER is all I see - but then I defiantely do not have all of the syptoms.  This last time of seeing the Dr I did admit to her that I do have an extreme amount of personal stress, but I am a coper and don't think it gets to me - she begged to differ and asked about my exercise regime (which is pretty much ZERO).  She said I must find time to exercise for 40 mins 3/4 times a week as this will help.  I agree as over the weekends when I am not sat behind a desk, my symptoms certainly don't seem as bad.  I wonder if that is due to sometimes being more relaxed and getting more exercise, drinking less coffee....... Who knows, but I assume that this appointment will be quite quick and I hope to report back with good news.  You seriously don't know how great it was to stumble upon this thread. cheesygrin
    • Gam
      Gam kim06221

      Posted

      Yes keep us updated Kim. Amazingly, or maybe I should say stupidly. I still never went back to my GP. It's been over a year now since I have had the issues. I still get bad days when I debate going back to a GP. Guess I struggle to bring myself to do it with my anxiety. I've been getting a lot of aching in my lower sternum and back a lot lately. It really feels like things lock up like swelling, seems to happen especially at night time and when I wake up. The Stomach issues are just hit and miss, some days they don't bother me as much others it will still. I haven't lost any weight or my appetitite either, I still get the crazy hunger aches going on that makes me want to eat more. I know deep down I should go and request a blood and stool test as my issues as you know I believe all started after I ate a dodgy take away.
    • kim06221
      kim06221 Gam

      Posted

      Yes you probably should go back to the Dr.  I know that I have been worrying and just thought I have to feel my old self again and bite the bullet.  Honestly I was worried when she suggested having this done, but then I thought if I don't then I will just keep worrying anyway.  I hope once this is out of the way, I will believe that it is something life IBS and try the methods suggested to ease it.  But honestly I think once I KNOW its nothing sinister I will relax more and hopefully just feel better.  I will definately keep you posted.  Once again it's been a relief (in some ways) to find someone having the same symptoms.
  • jesie74213
    jesie74213 Gam

    Posted

    Hi! Gam. I also had that same symptoms. Same as you it started when I went to the gym and exercise. Then one nigbt I had that pinch feeling under my right rib. Its almost 3 months now but luckily the pain is bearable than before. I had a friend who told me tbat she has the zame experience as mine and recommended me to drink hot water most of the time. According to her, that's what help her heal and take out the pain. And I'm actually doing it now. I hope that this could help
  • gwen45436
    gwen45436 Gam

    Posted

    Just reading through this.  I have GERD and Gastritis - wonder if you are still on here and how have you gone on.  I would have thought a doctor would know if it was Gallstones - but what is the possibility of your GERD tablets you take two of every day. How long have you been taking them?  I hold off taking them as they neutralise your stomach acid which will bring relief but long term they will suppress your natural stomach acid from doing its job so you end of with low levels of acid.

    Just wondering.

    Kind regards

    G.

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