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Ultrasound Worry and Anxiety! Help?!

Posted , 9 users are following.

ldharv
ldharv

Hello all,

So today I went to my GP to discuss how things have been going over the past two weeks since I last went to see her to discuss my symptoms of:

Stomach discomfort/pain, especially left hand side but also lower and right at times

Acid reflux/indigestion

Back discomfort - mainly upper or middle

Last time she just gave me a prescription for 40mg of omeprazole, felt my stomach area and said it didn't sound serious or anything like cancer and to come back in a few weeks (today) if things had continued. Now, things have continued until a day or so ago when my symptoms started to improve - stomach pain/discomfort is much less regular, I feel better and heartburn/reflux is less.

I still went today and mentioned the above continuing until recently. I also mentioned a h.pylori test to her and she agreed this was a good idea and I need to do that in a few weeks (after the omeprazole has stopped and is out of my system). She also said she wasn't sure what the pain/discomfort was in my left hand side, what I mentioned before was reflux symptoms (despite these being the same symptoms I mentioned today) but suggested I had an ultrasound. She didn't sound worried but even though I said please don't refer me or suggest anything she thought wasn't required, she still went ahead an ordered an ultrasound.

It was a bit out of left field, she never mentioned it the first appointment and she didn't give me a reason why seeing as my symptoms haven't changed and in fact they've got slightly better. Another GP I spoke to last week via video app said they also thought it was nothing to worry about, not cancer and just a bad flare up of my gastro reflux.

Anyway, now I'm very worried! Why would she order an ultrasound if she wasn't worried at all?! I'm likely to have to wait for ages for an appointment, any idea how long (in UK)? I seriously tempted to go private and go for an ultrasound early next week - even though my wife, my mum and other family members are telling me not to and just to wait (they all aren't worried). Anyone got any experience in this? Just when I was starting to feel better, this anxiety is going to come back massively now if I wait for this appointment.

Thanks all as always

To add, when I said it was mainly left hand side (like I did the first time I spoke to her and the other GP), she said this time she wasn't sure what would cause that as the stomach is the other side and that is the side of the spleen. Is that correct?! I thought the stomach was that side and reflux could cause pains and discomfort that side. Very weird.

0 likes, 32 replies

32 Replies

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  • Philly89
    Philly89 ldharv

    Posted

    Ok, first - calmmmm downn!! Take a deep breath! haha

    • I've been having some similar stomach issues, some generalized stomach cramps after I eat and some acid reflux. My Dr put me on omeprazole too and also ordered an ultrasound for me.
    • Your Dr is most likely prescribing the ultrasound bc even though your symptoms are better, they aren't gone completely. If your symptoms were totally gone I doubt she'd prescribe an ultrasound still, but since they are still here after a month she prob wants to just get a look at ur stomach.
    • Now in contrast, my Dr prescribed the omeprazole and ultrasound for me at the exact same time, so to me you're actually overdue for the ultrasound, I feel like your Dr should actually have scheduled that for u b4 today. But maybe she was thinking that it wouldn't be necessary if the meds cleared it all up and figured best to wait and see.
    • Either way, I don't see an ultrasound as anything worrisome. From my experience, any time you have stomach issues they usually want to do one of those, even if the issues are minor.
    • Philly89
      Philly89

      Posted

      Actually which reminds me, like 5 years ago I was having minor stomach pains and the first thing my GP did was send me for an ultrasound. It turned out to be the antibiotics I was taking for a UTI that were making my stomach hurt... but I remember she sent me for an ultrasound right away, she didn't even give me any meds that time. So it's def normal to have them schedule that for u for stomach issues.

    • ldharv
      ldharv Philly89

      Posted

      Thank you so much, this post was great and really appriciated. Can you take a look at my latest post/reply? Thank you so much!

  • tracy26651
    tracy26651 ldharv

    Posted

    Hello, I saw my Dr a few months back, due to unexplained stomach pain, on my right side. He straight away ordered an ultrasound. I live in the UK, my appointment came through in just over a week. He told me it was just to check that all my organs were ok. It came back normal.

    All the best

    • ldharv
      ldharv tracy26651

      Posted

      Thanks Tracy, lovely message. Did you have bad reflux pain as well or just stomach pains? Did they say anything to you at the ultrasound or did you have to wait? Did you find out the cause?

  • moon53540
    moon53540 ldharv

    Posted

    so first of all, it sounds like she may have organised the ultrasound to put your mind at rest, as you sound like you may be a little over concerned about your health. GPs are not specialists and they only have a short amount of time with each patient so she may have thought it would speed up the session. I am not sure what she meant by the stomach is on the other side of the spleen! Google "picture of the abdomen" the stomach is next to the spleen.

    Has IBS been mentioned to you? You may benefit from some antispasmodic medication.

    • ldharv
      ldharv moon53540

      Posted

      Thanks Moon! Yeah I thought that, was a bit confused when she said that about the stomach. Both GPs I have seen have said its gastro reflux, not mentioned IBS. I'm male and 30 years old and my worry is around pancreatic cancer, which everyone tells me this isn't. Any thoughts?

    • mary19068
      mary19068 ldharv

      Posted

      Hi Idharv

      If you are worrying about pancreatic cancer ask your doctor to test your pancreatic enzymes: Lipase, Amylase and protease. There may be a problem if there are abnormal levels of these enzymes...

    • ldharv
      ldharv mary19068

      Posted

      Thanks Mary. Do you think with my symptoms and age its very unlikey? I had a private blood test and everything was fine. Had a few on the NHS in September and again everything was fine. Dr didn't even entertain a blood test this time.

    • mary19068
      mary19068 ldharv

      Posted

      Hi Idharv

      I would think very unlikely at 30 years of age. Regarding your blood tests pancreatic enzymes would not be screened in a complete blood count it would have to be specifically ordered by your doctor for the lab to carry out. Obviously, your doctor felt no need to test your pancreatic enzymes. You could perhaps mention it to your doctor when you see her next to put your mind to rest as anxiety can make your symptoms worse...

    • mary19068
      mary19068

      Posted

      Idharv

      Just to mention, under the 'Freedom of Information Act' you could request a copy of your blood results.....

  • heather38380
    heather38380 ldharv

    Posted

    the stomach is definitely more to the left and middle of the abdomen i dont know what she is talking about. when i was diagnosed with GERD and gastritis thats where my common complaint of pain was but i was sent for an ultrasound too just to make sure thats all that was going on dont be too anxious i know its hard to do but an ultrasound is a good thing just to make sure theres nothing wrong with any major organs in your abdomen

    • ldharv
      ldharv heather38380

      Posted

      Thanks for the reply! Did they just say it was GERD and Gastro with you then? How long did you have the symptoms if you don't mind me asking. I'm having awful reflux today, really hurts! As above, my main worry is pancreatic cancer but I'm 30 and everyone says this isn't it at all. My anxiety (health) really gets to me though.

    • heather38380
      heather38380 ldharv

      Posted

      I still have symptoms my stomach pain has gotten better but i still get acid reflux alot and off and on pain in my upper stomach and all over my back i have horrible health anxiety and i thought the same thing you did. ive had these symptoms since may 2018. im also 30 and pregnant with my 4th child so my anxiety is even worse now so you are not alone

    • chrissy51966
      chrissy51966 heather38380

      Posted

      Hi Heather! Congrats on your 4th baby. Do you experience chest pain when you have a GERD flare up? I have very bad chest pain and it worries me a lot as well. I had a ECG last year and my heart is ok. I just thought I should check since I have had chest pains. GERD is definetely one condition that's has a billion symptoms. I have health anxiety too which makes it worse.

    • heather38380
      heather38380 chrissy51966

      Posted

      i dont get chest pains exactly just a burning sensation that goes all the way uo my chest. but i do know chest pains can be a symptom of GERD

    • chrissy51966
      chrissy51966 heather38380

      Posted

      Thanks for the reply Heather. I will have to see a GP and find out about chest pain and GERD.

    • pippa58442
      pippa58442 chrissy51966

      Posted

      The first time it happened with sore to touch chest pain as well, I got a fright because I didn't understand what was going on since I hadn't had these symptoms before with GERD. I reached for the painkillers and it got better very quickly. I have only had this when under a lot of stress. I found the pain concentrated on the diaphram. Glad to be of help.

    • chrissy51966
      chrissy51966 pippa58442

      Posted

      Stress makes everything a lot worse. My GP put me on rabeprazole 20mg for 10 days. I took my 1st pill today and I feel very Light headed. I think I will go back and ask for ezomeprazole coz this really isn't for me. I m in bed now scared to even try to walk.

    • pippa58442
      pippa58442 chrissy51966

      Posted

      I took omeprazole for heartburn years ago and it worked. I did get a mild rash, itching and a little nausea to start with but it quickly cleared up. This happened after cumulative use of the medication. Since you are having such a strong reaction after just one tablet, you are better off trying something else from your doctor or trying an OTC antacid.

      I get an itchy, dry cough when I get heartburn and sometimes get it before I feel the acid. This is silent reflux. OTC antacids are very effective.

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