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Back pain and abdomen pain on left side under rib cage...scared!

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JSJLMS72
JSJLMS72

I'm not sure where to start. A lot has been going on in the past month. It all started when I started to feel like I had a couple of drinks when I had not. I was able to calm myself down because I thought I might be having some sort of anxiety attack. Long story short the symptoms did not go away. So I saw my doctor last week. With my vague answers to his questions he mentioned he wanted to do some further testing. Part of the testing was blood work and a 24 hour urine. That was last Wednesday. I had the blood draw on Thursday and turn my 24 hour urine and on Friday morning. It just so happened that I started my period on Friday. Its normal for me to feel a lot of lower back pain during my periods. this time is a little different. I started to feel the lower back pain then the pain moved to my upper abdomen on the left side. Then the pain moved to my lower right side of my back. now the pain is back on the left side of my upper abdomen. Of course everything that I have been reading leads to one thing... Pancreas. after calling my doctor my blood work has come back normal. However my urine test has not come back yet. They told me it could take up to a week. In the past this pain may have been here and it has gone away. But because of how much reading I have been doing on whyI have been feeling funny I've noticed the back pain and the abdomen pain a little more.

I have an appointment tomorrow afternoon. However I'm really scared.

10 likes, 182 replies

182 Replies

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  • karen_6769
    karen_6769 JSJLMS72

    Posted

    I was hospitalized 8x from 2005-2013 with pancreatitis. In the 8th hospital stay a intern asked what if anything had been consistent with each episode? I had to think about it, but every time I was hospitalized with pancreatitis I had also just started my cycle. I did the research, consulted my Gyno and Gastro, did a few more tests and the end result do to my age and other health risks I choose to have a total hysterectomy. I have NOT had a problem since then, going on 2 years now.
    • courtney03845
      courtney03845 karen_6769

      Posted

      Did you develop chronic pancreatitis from your acute attacks or no? That great that you have felt better for the past few years! I have been having issues since Jan that I am worried are related to my pancreas but all tests have been normal. It's funny you mention your cycle because that's also when I feel at my worst, although I am never in severe pain thankfully, only mild.

  • vijaya03040
    vijaya03040 JSJLMS72

    Posted

    Hi,

    My problem started with lower back pain and it raidiated through the hip, groin and travelling through the left leg.. I consulted several specialists and had several tests, everything comes normal..

    All my physicians has the gutt feeling that it's coming from the uterine fibroids, as I have those at left side and my left body imbalancing with tight side of the bosy. It's almost an inch more than right side.. I have the appoint with the gyn next week, waiting what she would say.. smile will update..

  • lyna76782
    lyna76782 JSJLMS72

    Posted

    hi theresmile im 17yr female  yeah i kinda have the same problems started about a month ago under my left rib was uncomfortiable so i went to the dr and they thought it was my kindey and they run some tests all came bk clear then about a week later icouldnt go asleep because of how much pain i was in, started about a 4/10 then i feel a big movement under my ribs such and something rupted or stabbed by my rib , my whole body was shaking i couldnt breath about a sudden 10/10 pain i honesty thought i was going to dye,  rung the ambos they dosed me on morphine  took some test sent me home everything came bk clear. its been a couple weeks since then . went for a ct scan everything is clear . im still feeling uncomfortable feelings on my left rib side ts worse after i eat my lower back aches, sometimes theres no pain sometime i feel pops under my ribs and stabbing pain my tummy bloats right up too . atm im not having any test done because the dr doesnt know what to do. i notice i crave sweet things all the time all i can eat, ive been reaching the web all the time but i still have no idea what it could be. i have booked a appointment with a nurse to have a chat. smile im just scaried that a 10/10 pain could come any day 
    • courtney03845
      courtney03845 lyna76782

      Posted

      My symptoms all began with that same feeling, like something popped or burst under my left rib. It was in Dec in the middle of the night. It hurt but not severely and the pain only lasted for a few minutes and I have never had this happen again. I have developed many other symptoms since then and I still don't know the cause. I just wrote my whole ordeal above in response to another person's post if you would like to read it. I have had loads of tests this year and I still don't know what's wrong with me. It's very frustrating. Good luck at your upcoming appointment.

  • nicole55756
    nicole55756 JSJLMS72

    Posted

    I'm having the same problem for a week now and have been to the ER twice and all they could tell me is that I'm constipated. Which I told them no and they wrote me off like I was nothing. Know matter what I do the pain is constant or gets worse. I've had X-ray, ct scan and a MRI and I'm hoping the MRI will show something !
  • trish38337
    trish38337 JSJLMS72

    Posted

    I've has similar wierd symptoms.  It all started in March when I had a wierd feeling in my left upper quadrant - under my ribs.  Felt like a baby kicking.  Not painful, but uncomfortable.  I had a dr appt coming up and thought I'd mention it.  Well then I started getting upper back pain and nausea - throwing up- so I freaked out.  In the mean time - leg pains twice  - so I went ot the ER thinking blood clot- no blood clot.  I had blood work a few times.  My dr got me in for an endoscopy - they found an uncer and hiatal hernia - got put on perscription prilosec.  Also had an ultra sound - nothing.  A CAT scan - nothing.  Then I had pains in my left hip - found an ovarian cyst.  Then I started having pains on my right upper quadrant.  And my right butt and leg started getting numb sensations.  The priolosec made my back and upper quadrant feel better for about a month, but now I'm in pain again.  Tried digestive enzymes today and feel better - but I do worry about the pancreatic cancer and all the things I've check off in regards to it and how hard it is to find.  Seriously - I'm consumed with worry.  I have a follow up with the gastro in August.  I've been seeing a chiro and I'm thinking of adding in an accupuncturist.  I've been getting massages.  

    On a side note - I started working out with high impact exercises in Sept and wonder if this could do w/ a nerve or something.  Who knows!  But I do worry often!!!

    • trish38337
      trish38337

      Posted

      I should also mention at one point I had jaw and arm pain during all of this and went to the ER and EKG normal.  I have had no health issues in the past and all the sudden come March, I've been to the ER4 times!  I'm 38.  Blood tests normal.  Work out 4-5 days a week.  Eat healthy 80% of the time.  Don't have time to drink much, but I do occasionally.  
    • trish38337
      trish38337

      Posted

      Another mention is that my stools float which also makes me nervous - but normal in color and such. 
    • a12152
      a12152 trish38337

      Posted

      In case it helps i also had the same floating stool (never had before) and only thing that helped was exercise.

      I was told it may be lactose intolerance because the pain is near the stomach.

      Whilst slightly disbelieving, changing to lactofree milk, using the mySymptoms app and eating acidophilus tablets seemsbto have sorted it out for last 3 weeks. Still staying clear of chilli and too much coffee and tea with peppermint all worked so far. Def check with doctor but dont freak out, apparently many people have this and lots of innocent reasons exist.

    • daniel49868
      daniel49868 trish38337

      Posted

      It is my understanding that what you're describing about the stools floating is not only OK, but actually ideal.

      The anxiety you experience over it, I think, is a serious problem. I hope you feel better.

  • leigh74005
    leigh74005 JSJLMS72

    Posted

    So I thought that I would throw my 10 pennies in.

    For me, it all started 2 years ago when I was under a lot of stress. I had a routine blood test that showed my ALT levels were slightly elevated (69-70) Doc sent me for a ultrasound scan. They said that my liver was lightly fatty but found nothing else. Shortly after this, I started to get pains on the right side of abdomen around the ribs. I thought it was due to the fatty liver as they always seemed to come on after I had water badly or drank. The pains would last for a week or 2 and then disappear so I done nothing about them. About 6-7 weeks ago, the pains came back. After 3-4 weeks of the pains I went to the docs. She took more bloods and sent me for an ultrasound. Bloods came back as they usually had been. Normal apart from ALT 71. I paid private for the ultrasound and got it done the next day. Ultrasound showed nothing remarkable but could not see pancreas. Me being me, I freaked out because the consultant said I needed a ct to see the pancreas. I spoke to my gp and got him to give me a private referral letter. Got the ct done a week later. Reports came back the next day. No issues found with pancreas. Couple of tiny cysts on liver. Polyps in gallbladder. None of these should course the pain i am getting my doc said. He has refferd me to a gastro. I am seeing him on Tuesday. For the last 2-3 weeks, the pain has moved into my back and into the left part of abdomen. I am really worried about what this could be. Any of you had similar symptoms?

    • courtney03845
      courtney03845 leigh74005

      Posted

      I am in a similar situation. I have been having symptoms since Jan that I am very worried are due to my pancreas but all tests have been normal (blood work, ultrasounds, CT). I feel as though my doctors are no longer taking me seriously because of my normal test results and the fact that I am not in severe pain. This all started as a feeling of abdominal heaviness, gas, stool changes, burping, backache (all over). I then went on to have night sweats, lightheadedness, nausea. Many of these symptoms are gone now except for backache which is usually center-left and sometimes discomfort under my ribs. My stools are different too; they are a normal color and formed but softer and look shiny if that makes sense. I am never in severe pain, always mild. My doctors/tests have diagnosed me with an enlarged spleen, gastritis, IBS, and I also have gallbladder issues (sludge on and off, inflammation) but they tell me none of it should be causing my symptoms. So what is causing my symptoms?! I also don't notice that eating makes me feel any worse. Many days I wake up with this discomfort before eating anything. I am terribly anxious about all of this and I have lost hope that my doctors will ever figure out what's wrong and help me. In April, I began eating low fat (20g per day or less) and taking supplements. It has helped compared to how I was feeling before but I am by no means feeling back to normal. I have also lost about 10 pounds but that could be due to my low fat diet. Good luck at your appointment this week. I hope your are able to get some answers.

    • melissa70182
      melissa70182 courtney03845

      Posted

      I have IBS and I've had my gallbladder removed due to gall sludge. Sludge in your gallbladder can cause mild to extremely acute pain depending on how much there is and whether it moves through or get stuck in the gallbladder, which is what happened to me and why it was removed. IBS can also cause that pain and the change in stool. I've had IBS my entire life (40yrs) but not diagnosed till I turned 20. Complications from IBS that cause this pain are swelling, gas, inflammation, constipation and/or a blockage. I have pain under my left rib cage and into my back, it comes and goes, most of the time making it hard to move and breath. It's been so bad at times that it's d sent me to the hospital but as usual the tests all come back negative. It's always one of three things, constipation, inflammation or gas, and you can have gas without feeling movement or any kind of release (sorry if that's tmi).

    • febra18524
      febra18524 leigh74005

      Posted

      I am in a similar situation. Mine started a year ago. I did the ct, ultrasound, blood work, urine, all came back normal. I don't know what to do now? I hope you already recieve your answers.

    • Kimghds
      Kimghds leigh74005

      Posted

      Hi Leigh,

      I read your post and felt like I wrote it, I'm hoping that you've gotten some more answers. I have had the same pain/symptoms and so far all of my tests have come back the same as you... mild fatty liver, ALT 38, I've had blood work all normal including pancreas enzymes, abdominal ultra sound, endoscopy, nothing found except mild fatty liver... scheduled for colonoscopy on Monday but just had a clean one exactly 4 years ago.... it's depressing and very scary.... please post any progress that you have, and I will as well. Here's to good health for us all

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