Constant burning pain on left side
Posted , 5 users are following.
I've been flipping through this site for a while now, and I'm impressed with the sense of community here. I hope you all may have some insight on some symptoms I've been having.
I have a consistent, burning-type sensation in the upper left quadrant. Sometimes it's directly under my front ribs, and others it feels more off to my side. When I take a deep breath, there's a pinching-sort of sensation under my ribs. It wraps around to my back, but sometimes it is in my lower back, and others it's around my bra-line. I can't really discern if it gets worse with food or not. And, sometimes the pain is lower, to the left of my belly button, and I'm convinced that part feels harder than the rest of my belly.
My amylase and Lipase are within normal range, and an ultrasound came back with no news on the pancreas front, though my ultrasound tech said the test isn't good for finding pancreas problems. MY A01C came back within normal range, but the last rounds of bloodwork showed slightly high glucose at 109. I also had really high triglycerides at 444 in March, but that seems to have leveled out. My Cholesterol is high, too.
What the ultrasound did find is a fatty liver, or "mildly increased echotexture throughout the visualized hepatic parenchyma." There's also a likely hepatic hemangioma on the liver, which Google says is a benign cyst. AND I have a gallstone, but no sludge. My blood work also shows an elevated ALT of 57.
But liver and gallbladder issues generally affect the right side. What is your experience? I'm told to wait it out for two weeks and if things don't improve to come back, at which point I will push for a CT or MRI. Can these issues affect the left side, or should I be worried about my pancreas? Well, I'm already worried about my pancreas, but is it rational to be worried about my pancreas? In March, my doctor thought I may have gastritis and I was prescribed acid reducers. It got better and I quit taking them. Could that also be it? It's not the knock you on the ground-type pain, but it is annoyingly consistent level 2 or 3 pain, sharper when I inhale deeply.
Any insight would be appreciated.
0 likes, 7 replies
vedawms faith14188
Posted
Gastritis was my first thought. Burning is a tell-tale sign. Don't discount GERD, either. The treatment may not be as simple as Zantac or similar. You probably need a prescription and a doctor to figure out where the acid is coming from.
Also, the "moving around" sensation is exactly what I experience with my pancreatitis. Same for the ribs and back pain.
I think you probably know that Amylase / Lipase can be misleading, if you've spent any time reading this list.
From your questions, it sounds like you need a doctor with pancreatitis experience and that your PCP has been ordering tests...
Go get a good specialist, get more specific scans, and a fecal elastase. Let us know what you find out!
faith14188 vedawms
Posted
I have an appointment with my PCP on Sept. 20. She will go over the ultrasound that I had done last week. Trying to decide if I should work to find a gastro person on my own or have her recommend one. The docs all seem zero concerned about my pancreas, so this will be an uphill battle. Do you have any advice for getting docs to take you seriously?
heather38380 faith14188
Posted
girl you just described my symptoms to the T I was diagnosed with gastritis and GERD last september after an endoscopy and an ultrasound the endoscopy diagnosed my gastritis and GERD i also dont have a gallbladder but ive found that when i have a flare up it makes sooooo anxious and i just start thinking this has to be my pancreas it cant be anything else but i cant get my drs to even go down that route because im a non smoker non drinker young woman. i dont have much advice for you but i just wanted you to know you are not alone and honestly it made me feel a little better reading your story because it matches mine so much.
faith14188 heather38380
Posted
Thank you for the reply. This has been zero fun so far. I'm glad I'm not alone in the journey. The anxiety is so, so intense and my friends are trying to be sympathetic, but I think you have to go through it to understand. I wouldn't be so anxious if the pain ever stopped. I can't ever really forget about it. Every time i eat, I feel anxiety because I may hurt more after. And, then I feel anxiety every time i go to the bathroom. I would love for this to normalize.
Has yours quieted down or are you still going through symptoms? If your symptoms are like mine, do they improve? My doctors are ordering tests, but they talk to me like I'm a hypochondriac. One recently told me I'm running out of tests that they think my insurance will pay for. So, that's fun.
heather38380 faith14188
Posted
unfortunately my pain has persisted for over a year now. my dr's have labeled me as high anxiety so i cant be taken seriously no matter how hard a tried ive kind of given up trying to get anywhere with dr's. i just hope and pray im not dying a slow death when it could have prevented. my pain hasnt gotten worse and at times it does go away but it always comes back. i stay away from ibuprofen because it sets my gastritis off in a horrible way. keep me updated i hope you find answers!
heather38380 faith14188
Posted
also i read that acid blockers has a small chance of inducing pancreatitis which is why i stopped taking mine im way too scared when it comes to my pancreas as ive already convinced myself i have something very wrong with it.
vedawms faith14188
Posted
Gastritis can be VERY, VERY painful and likes to occur during a pancreatic attack. It can be hellish. Get the gastritis addressed, and keep a very close eye on the pancreas.