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luq pain. backache , malobsorbtion. IBS

Posted , 12 users are following.

busabasher
busabasher

Hi all. So ive been trawling the internet looking for answers to my worrying symptoms.. only to find I'm now worrying even more.

In Sept I attended my GP practice about a long standing issue..

I bleed a lot from the anus. This in itself isn't to worrying but an ache in my back luq which has always annoyed me when driving long distances was starting to become more uncomfortable when driving and I had also been having very loose stools for over two months. .

I had also developed a stabbing sensation some times bulging like under my left rib cage. Draw a line down from my left nipple and stop just before the bottom rib and the pain was just there.

My doc referred me to a gast specialist.

I had good blood test which looked for all sorts of disorders and came back good. I then had poo samples analyst and all came back good.

Then came camera from both directions. . Some mild redness in gut. . Gastris and some biopsys taken. All back clear.

Treated with buscapan and ppi. .

No change.

Returned to consultant. By this time I'm Very depressed. Told doc I was worried that I have a serious problem with pancreas as Google suggested and she agreed to an mri. She said only for my peace of mind as she's convinced its ibs. ,

Pancreas mri shows nothing remarkable.

So I'm still struggling. All pains still there.my back between shoulder is agony.I don't digest my food well fluctuating between flat poo and lose watery poo and I'm still worried. Sehcat scan next. Could this be the notorious IBS? Comments welcome.

3 likes, 62 replies

62 Replies

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  • maria51854
    maria51854 busabasher

    Posted

    Well my fecal fat test came back and is high. This has just increased my thoughts on pancreatic cancer and I am absolutely terrified. I have such a metallic taste in my mouth and have list 15lbs!!! I have the pain in my abdomen and back, weight loss, fatigue, loss of appetite and now fecal fat positive!!!! I am so scared.
    • busabasher
      busabasher maria51854

      Posted

      Hi Maria. How are you feeling?

      Have you had any changes or help recently?

      My pains have got a lot worse now. I'm back in the doctors machine again. We have a bank holiday in the UK so I can't get a private appointment yet. If I wait for the NHS I wil be waiting 9 weeks for an appointment. Will be going private for sure. Let's hope they don't take long to sort this out.

  • looloo43
    looloo43 busabasher

    Posted

    Hi busabasher,

    Sorry to hear your pain is worse, your treatment & diagnosis sounded so positive a few weeks ago. I have got on really well with the questran - everything except the excessive physical tiredness has improved 75-80%, & I am returning to work gradually tomorrow. My questran dose is 2 together at least an hour after my meds for colitis & vits, & 1 in the evening-again away from other meds. Still haven't heard about the faecal elastase result yet, but I see my consultant in july, & as I am much improved will wait til then. My turning point with the hosp was after I made an informal complaint in feb through the PALS service at the hospital (patient advice liaison service), as I couldnt put up with the suffering & waiting any longer, & was close to losing my beloved job because of all the time off work it was causing me. It resulted in seeing my consultant for a good 45mins to discuss things (amicably) & made them think about differential diagnosis(resulted in the sehcat test being done). In my formal complaint I highlighted I felt the gravity of my symptoms were often overlooked or not taken as important (like your nurse not being interested in your pain). Before you pay out for going private, it really could be worth putting in an informal complaint to PALS at your hosp as it did result in action for me. I typed my history in brief summarising appointments & outcomes & issues you still have & where you have reached a dead end at, & made an appointment with the PALS office who took up my complaint. I made it clear I didnt want to make a formal complaint - I was not out to get anyone into trouble, just needed progress. Hope this helps.p.s sorry this is on Maria's post, I just remember busabasher from previous posts.

    • busabasher
      busabasher looloo43

      Posted

      Hi Looloo really good to hear from you. And what a result your getting. Well impressed. I must have been on a dinner with my last comment. Don't want to put a negative slave t on the overall progress. If I get my dosages right I'm a changed man. The creon and wallpaper paste really works for me. But the pain which ironically was how all this started is still there and slowly getting worse. It's now effecting my whole left flank just varies in intensities. I'm a little concerned as I'm finding it hard to ignore now. I do still have faith but just a little worried about the time these things take to figure out. It's slightly complicated as we have moved to a different area and new GP etc. So would be quite unfair in them if I had a moan. I think for the initial consultation I'll pay private. I can claim all operations major scans etc on company insurance. It's just I've ran out of my consultancy allowance till August when it all renews. I'm still very positive about all this and always inspired to hear other people who were soo worried initially about thier symptoms to find out it's all manageable. I'm sure Maria will find this out soon.

      Take care and I'll update as soon as I've got some good news.

  • maria51854
    maria51854 busabasher

    Posted

    I am Sorry you feel bad. I am right there with you. I am getting worse and now I have so much undigested food in my stool along with the steatorrhea. I am also confused, my steatorrhea is not pale, is that normal. Anyway, it just looks like this is all pointing to my pancreas and it is very very scary.
    • busabasher
      busabasher maria51854

      Posted

      Hi Maria.

      Please dont take this a lecture. I read it back and it does sound a little like it but it's not supposed to be

      It's very easy for people who haven't been through this to say "don't worry so much" but having been through an experience similar to yours and still going through to be honest I can say with conviction and the benifit of hindsight. Don't worry about the things you can't control or effect.

      Its is time to think about the things your in control of. You've contacted the doctor and they have started the process. Of course they can make mistakes but if they thought you had pancreatic cancer they would I'm sure be on it. Not knowing whats causing your symptoms and then expecting Google to fill in the gaps will feed the anxieties and ensure that you remain stressed and worried. Stop worrying about what it can be. Always help yourself by keeping a daily log of your symptoms and triggers to help the docs with the diagnosis. But Ask your doctor if they can be sure they can rule it out and then you can move on with your life or at least to trying to solve your problem. You clearly have digestive issues. So did I. I also thought I had pancreatic cancer. It took the doc to tell me to stop obsessing about it. Once I had the tests and specifically for PC which came back negative I started my life again. I will never get that time back where I worried so much I missed Christmas aniversarys and worst of all time with my wife kids and grandchildren I'll never see that time again and all because I allowed myself to worry about something that let's face it I would have been able to do nothing about.

      Nobody especially me will tell anybody to just forget about it. That can't be done. It's real and something. But in all liklihood and in all probability it's not what you think.

      Let me know your dates when you have your appointments. and dont forget to write down the things you need to ask your doc and what they can do to convince you your wrong.

      I still struggling with doubt and worry and am still working on the anxiety issues. I still moan to my wife about how much im in pain. But staying positive about the things i can do to effect it does help.

      Having a rant on here also helps as other people do understand on here. They have also seen a lot of suprises once the dust settles and they have the diagnosis and treatment. Your only just starting on that road.

      Good luck. Keep well and keep us informed.

    • maria51854
      maria51854 busabasher

      Posted

      Thank you for your words. I am so stressed out at this point. I have no support system, so it make this even harder. I actually have not been googling but soeaking to people that were diagnosed with PC and seeing their ststem.. My ofecal fat is what is scaring me the most. Nearly everyone I talked to had that and half of them were missed in ct scans. I am just beside myself. I try so hard to have a normal day, but the fatigue doesnt allow it. I have never had acud reflux in my life, now I get it with floating poop. I am so scared.
    • looloo43
      looloo43 maria51854

      Posted

      Hi Maria.

      I totally agree with busabasher. My troubles began about 3yrs ago, & due to where the pain was, one of my worries initially was pc as my grandfather had it. After a very long road I have colitis, ibs-d, bile acid malabsorption, & fructose malabsorption. I no longer worry about pc as my diagnostics were thorough & I clearly feel much better than at at the beginning of all this. I still get some pain & a feeling of fullness & pressure in my left upper quadrant. Since being diagnosed & treated for bile acid malabsorption, my poop often floats too which is probably due to the "corrected" way fat is broken down by my medicine & bile acid flow. I also have to take esomeprazole for acid reflux for the last 3yrs too which I didnt have to before. So all this is linked with digestive/bowel disorders. Like busabasher said, you are at the beginning of all the diagnostics, & looking at your symptoms, & it naturally makes you think of all the possibilities. Try to list your worries before medical appointments to try & eliminate some or all of your anxieties, & ask questions if you are not satisfied. I found it helpful to train myself to not think further than the next step in the medical process of appointments, tests, trying medication; meaning you program yourself to stop thinking what if .....but then....and then..... why.... but what if that doent work etc etc. Don't be hard on yourself & take it one week at a time. I didnt plan ahead for anything for a good 18mths except for following the medical processes & concentrating on getting better. This also helped to take the pressure of myself for a quick solution which just adds to the stress. The health service is great, but not a speedy process. I am actually going back to work today gradually for the first time in 5mths - hope this gives you a more positive view of how things do get better. take care & keep us posted. x

    • maria51854
      maria51854 looloo43

      Posted

      So, I have a SEVERE phobia of getting put to sleep or drugs to put you in a twilight. I am getting a EUS on Monday and have been unable to focus on anything, I am so scared. I am scared of the results being PC and I am terrified of the drugs for the test itself! I feel like I am going to have a full blown panic attack in thr hospital. I have to do the test and am just so scared. Like I said, I have no support system and am going by myself which makes this even scarier. My poo is still fatty and I am still fatigued and in pain. I got a ct pancreatic protocol and I felt better, until I read that it can miss tumors less than 2cm! Wth. I just am so beside myself, I cant stop crying. I dont want be dealing with this, I am only 30. This is so depressing. I have no clue how I am going to go through with this test. This is an extreme PHOBIA. If anyone has experienced a phobia, its diff than just a fear. I fear heights but will not freak out to an extreme level.
  • Gem1384
    Gem1384 busabasher

    Posted

    Hi busabasher,

    I hope things are going ok with you? How are things?

    Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?

    Did you suffer with bad upper left shoulder pain after you ate? And did you get right and left sided pain? Did you ever suffer with really persistant intigestion? I'm taking omperazole again but I'm also having to take gaviscon as well? I've read they can all be signs of CP. im booked for a scan on 22nd, I'm thinking possible pseudocyst? By the amount of pain I've had recently it wouldn't surprise me!

    Gem smile

    • busabasher
      busabasher Gem1384

      Posted

      Hi gem.

      Only left pain to speak of.

      My final diagnosis was severe exocrine pancreatic insufficiency which I am now on Creon to treat. Creon is a pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy for life so I can properly digest food.

      Also bile salt malabsorbsion which I take questran powders. The powders stop the lose bowel movements.

      As long as I watch my fatty food intake avoid booze and manage my drugs I can pretty much lead a normal life. (Still have pain and discomfort along with very antisocial wind but i can cope with it)

      No reason for any of this from Docs so just have to live with it all.

      If there's any info I can help with let me know

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