Need your thoughts please. Scared of possible CP
Posted , 35 users are following.
Hi, I'm a 27 yo male with a history of moderate to heavy drinking in my twenties.
My symptoms started 5 months ago. I noticed a progressive discomfort in my epigastrum. A couple of weeks later, my stools had changed to a light brown/yellowish with poorly digested particles. To this day, my stools are still the same, ranging from diarrhea to soft and sticky. There's also a strong and acidic smell.
About two months ago, I've started feeling the pain under my right ribs and eventually to my midback and between shoulder blades. Sometimes, It also appears to be a moving pain under my chest/ribcage/back. I can feel tenderness when I press on my thoracic discs. I also feel something inflamed or out of place around the liver. I can't bend over or tie my shoes without pain.
I have frequent indigestion, gas ,bloating and early satiety. My appetite has notably decreased. I am down 15 lbs over the past 3 months. The abdominal discomfort is present from the time I wake up until I go to bed at night with spikes of pain after meals.
My mouth is frequently dry and I have thick and beige/brown mucus like expectorations which taste and smell weird. A smell similar to bile or other digestive fluid.
I try to drink lots of water and herbal teas to stay well hydrated. My urines are sometimes darker and smellier than what I'm used to.
Over the past months, I had two episodes of acute and severe mid back pain (stabbing pain) that could be felt through my upper abdomen/ lower chest. Both attacks lasted around 45-60 minutes before gradually easing. The pain was accompanied with general unwellness, rapid heartbeats and confusion. I first thought they were back spasms/ contractions since I had been dealing with frequent back aches. I work in an office and tend to have generally poor posture. I now fear that they were mild acute pancreatitis.
I've consulted my family doctor and been to the ER multiple times which led to a quick consultation with a team of gastroenterologists. They've yet to find anything other than a light inflammation in my small bowel. I've had blood works, abdominal ultrasound, abdominal x-rays, CT scan, colonoscopy and gastroscopy. They all came back without abnormalities.
I'm having my elastase level checked tomorrow.
What are your thoughts on that? Any advice or recommendation? I'm scared and stressed out.
Thanks for your help, it will be much appreciated.
Alex
1 like, 72 replies
alex1992
Edited
So I had a EUS today and pancreas was normal, ducts were also normal. No signs of damage or possible pancreatitis according to the specialist.
He really leans towards a diagnosis of intestinal malabsorption, potentially caused by Crohn's disease. I will have a second colonoscopy to rule out intestinal lymphoma and was put on Prednisone for 2 months. He said my case is atypical which really preoccupies me. I thought cancer was ruled out since the first colonoscopy but it seems like a second biopsy is needed.
This is not what I was expecting, I feel very anxious now. I really don't know what's causing such rib and back pain.
Thanks all for your comments and opinions
justin98565 alex1992
Posted
let me know how it goes, i had several rounds of blood test and urine samples done yesterday once again and a very throughough CT scan which all came back normal as well.
He said no tumors were detetced and said all my levels looked great.
Teckit alex1992
Posted
Hi Alex
I've been having the same pain on my left side and same stool for 18 months now. How can you get all the tests and see your GI that fast? I still waiting to see GI in end of Oct. I'm in BC.
Thanks
justin98565 alex1992
Posted
Any updates?
ardi88229 alex1992
Posted
Hey Alex, i have been having very similar symptoms now for a year without any diagnosis. Any update with you?
johnnyh192838 alex1992
Posted
Hello Everyone, hate to jump in just to ask my own question but I cannot get this site to allow me to start a new post. My lipase came back as 58 u/l on a 22 to 51 scale. I have had persistent and constant upper abdominal pain. Although I am only 29 I am terrified I have PC or some other pancreatic issue. Stools are often light brown to yellow and loose. I get bloat3d with dang near every meal.
I have a CT ordered for Thursday this week. does this blood result sound high to you all? from what I can tell it is not terribly high, but is inflamed.
cal_79 alex1992
Posted
Hey Alex.
Sorry, I've been away for some time, had some results and realised my luck appears to be running out.
Anyhoo.
Just caught up on the discussion, see you haven't been around for a couple of months - I'd really like to know how you are?
I'm a little concerned, it's not like you to be so quiet. Please reply? Even if you don't want to talk about things, just a quick 'Hi' would bring my level of concern down a bit.
Really hope it's something good that's kept you away.
Cal 🙏
alex1992
Posted
Hi all, sorry I've been away for some time.
Here's a little update on my case
I'm still having symptoms (abdominal pain, back pain, cramps, bloating, intense gurgles, foamy urine and list goes on). My stools have turned orangeish, mushy and float most of the time.
After all that time, they suspected Crohn's disease which I wasn't quite convinced of.
They treated me with a 2 month course of prednisone which didn't help at all.
So far, I've had a number of tests performed and nothing came out conclusive enough to establish a diagnosis. My specialist seems confused at this point.
Abdominal US, CT scan, CT enterography, EUS,2x colonoscopy, upper endoscopy, elastase, lipase and amylase tested multiple times.
I just don't know what to think anymore, I have a strong feeling that all my issues are pancreas related but no test was able to prove so..
mirada17705 alex1992
Posted
hi all same boat like you Alex...no clue what is causing this symptoms
eugene51909 mirada17705
Posted
hi, are your symptoms the exact same as alex's? mine are down to the "t"
eugene51909
Posted
i would also like to add I've been dealing with this for about 28 months
smv26854 alex1992
Posted
Hi Alex - hope you feeling good. Any updates here? There's people following ur progress and an update would reassure! Smv
phil92300 alex1992
Posted
Hi All,
I know no one has posted in this forum for a few months but I need to know Alex if you have found a diagnosis yet. All my symptoms sound very similar to yours, all of which have been going on for many years progressively getting worse.
I'm a 34 yo Australian male and like Alex have a history of moderate to heavy drinking in my late teens - twenties. I have absolutely no pre-existing medical conditions including intolerances/allergies and have been an incredibly physically active and healthy person my whole life until this messed up illness started. Like many of you have said on this forum, it seems impossible for anyone in the medical field to diagnose.
My main symptoms are as below,
Constant dull cramping sensations in both upper and lower abdomen,
Stools that look exactly like the images Alex posted, yellowish with fluffy edges and at times varying consistencies,
Severe headaches and lower back (flank) pain that seems to develop in the early hours of the morning while I sleep approx 4am-6am,
Feeling very tired even after 8 or more hours of sleep each night, accompanied by fatigue and low energy during the day - constant yawning, little to no motivation.
Like one of the other members described, it almost feels like I'm waking up with a hangover every morning. I've consumed very little alcohol over the last few years, I'm a non-smoker, eat very healthy and drink plenty of water each day.
I have have had extensive blood tests, blood pressure, heart-rate, stool tests, urine tests, hormone tests, CT scan on kidneys, US on gall bladder, kidneys, liver, pancreas, brain MRI, ECG, colonoscopy (3 polyps removed), gastroscopy and all have come back perfectly normal. Like some of you have said, I'm starting to be brushed off as a hypochondriac which is complete nonsense. My GP has even prescribed me Amitriptyline to 'try' as he's at a loss to who to refer me to.
There's obviously a lot more I could write here, hopefully Alex you will post some progress, if not I will try and update this with any progress I have. This illness is really starting to get on my nerves and I'm actually glad that I have found this post. Hopefully if i can get a diagnosis and post everything online here for anyone and everyone to see and possibly help others from suffering like I/we are.
hudson17402 alex1992
Posted
Hi Alex,
I hope you are doing good!
Did you get any update?
I have the same exact symptoms and stool; left ribcage and abdominal pain, back, shoulder pain, flatulence, tired/fatigueness, tingling/freezing pain feet and hands.
All my test results are normal and I am confused like everyone else here. I also wanted to know were you on any type of antibiotics before all this started? Do you maybe sit for long periods of time? Did you check for allergies like gluten?
I have recently started a gluten free diet, probiotics and metamusil for fibre, working out and I saw some improvements in pain and stool, but little and only for a week so hard to say if its even helping.
But pls let us know if you found something it would be very kind of you!!
Thanks
alexis20017 hudson17402
Posted
Hudson, i know this is 5 months old. i have same symptoms as you as was wondering if youve found out what is going on? all my tests keep coming back fine but symptoms persist. like u i have rib cage discomfort, migrating back pain, neck and shoulder discomfort, tingling hands, abdominal discomfort, gas, stools like alex... i now have all over body aches. if you see this let me know!