Upper abdominal pain misery
Posted , 5 users are following.
I’ve always suffered from indigestion of some kind. The last 3-6months it started to ramp up & affect my life. Saw the GP and was prescribed Ranitidine, no change... then oOmeprazole for 4wks, no change.. About 4wks ago I started having intermittent pain in upper stomach between my ribs and also pelvic pain & bleeding (although mid cycle bleeding isn’t unusual for me). Dr gave me Lansoprazole and treated them as separate issues. Pelvic infection and UTI tests were clear so was referred for pelvic scan. Regular blood tests were ok too apparently.
Have taken the Lasonprazole for 4wks, however the last 2wks I’ve been miserable with the upper abdominal pain, constant in upper stomach between my ribs - and sometimes sharp pains like a needle. Sometimes it goes into my back and feels as if it’s radiating up and down into pelvis. It’s central and doesn’t affect the left or right more – although i do have a pain down my right arm when lying in bed.
My pelvic scan is tomorrow. Had to make another visit to dr today as was so bad last night. I'm not eating very much but I think its ramping up after food. The pains recently are like gnawing hunger spasms but very ver sore. He’s given me a referral to ask the hosp to scan whole abdomen to check liver, any poss gallstones etc. If I know the NHS however they will make me wait another few wks to get results. I’ve also separately been referred for endoscopy but waiting list means it will be months away.
I’m age 40, my BMI is ok at 23, I don’t smoke and have a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise. I do have a horrible family history though of maternal breast cancer and paternal rare blood leukaemia.
I feel like a nuisance but am really tired of this constant pain. We go on a family holiday next wk that we’ve been looking forward to all year – am worrying that I either won’t be any better or things will get worse while I’m away.
Any thoughts what it could be? I did wonder if it could be gallbladder but dr felt pain would be more to one side. I’ve been given anti spasm/muscle relaxing meds usually for angina and been advised to play with the Lansoprazole dose whilst I’m away.
0 likes, 17 replies
jo69734 chickenpie
Posted
Get a scan done
Good luck
Jo
chickenpie jo69734
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will check out the FODMAP diet now
A
lynne69494 chickenpie
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chickenpie lynne69494
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Even more frustratingly I do have private medical cover, but I live 80 miles from nearest private Gastro dr and no apmnts available for 8wks.
I will have to man up and be patient! Hopefully the anti spasm meds will help..
lynne69494 chickenpie
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debbie89808 chickenpie
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Your problems sound very much like mine at least thebupper abdominal ones which started nearly 10 months ago. It could be your stomach which is inflamed - the endoscopy will diagnose whether there is anything wrong with your stomach such as an ulcer or gastritis. You may also have the bug H Pylori which can cause untold misery for some people. If your endoscopy appt is a long way off you could ask your GP for a blood test, breath test or stool test to determine whether you have this bug or not. Although your pain is central it could still be the gallbladder causing problems, either stones or simply malfunctioning. An abdominal ultrasound would determine whether there are any stones but a Hida scan would be needed to test whether the gallbladder is working or not. The pancreas is another possibility too, a ct scan would be useful to rulemout this possibility.
I started with difficulties eating due to severe pain and was diagnosed with gastritis but it didn't clear up with Omeprazole. I then had a Hida scan which revealed that my gallbladder was only working at 8% so after 7 months in agony I had it finally removed. It resolved the horrendous pain but hasn't solved my difficulties eating and at times I find myself drowning in acid despite high doses of Omeprazole and Ranitidine. I feel nauseas all the time and retch frequently and I'm under a gastroenterologist to try and sort this out. I've lost nearly 2 stone in weight which I can't afford to lose. Like you I had also suffered for many years with indigestion for which I took gaviscon but I would never have believed that I could end up in such a state.
I'm in the UK too and dependent on the NHS and am enduring one waiting list after another. Weighing in at 6 stone 5, I asked my doctor for some nutritional drink supplements but have to be referred to dietician for this - dealing with the NHS is like fighting a losing battle.
Make sure you are referred to a gastroenterologist as your problem sounds too complex for a GP to treat and the waiting list for specialist care is anything up to 18 weeks. My GP messed about for 3 months before referring me and when faced with the 18 week wait I ended up paying private because I was in so much pain. I'm currently on 80mg of Omeprazole and 300mg of Ranitidine and I've felt some relief at times but have relapsed frequently.
Wishing you all the best and hope you soon get some relief of your symptoms.
lynne69494 debbie89808
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As it happens its fairly settled last few week, not gone, and still off food, but can eat a small plain meal in evening, some nourishment at least, but as it happens l was 2-3stone oweight at start so losing over a stone not a big problem. lve also had relapses on several occassions, now on settled spell, but being very careful with small plain diet. It is a battle and waiting for months when feeling ill and not functioning normally is a huge drag. l hope you both get some answers soon, and relief, best wishes
debbie89808 lynne69494
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Anyway Lynne I hope that you get some answers soon and some relief from your problems - we just have to keep battling on in the hope that we find a solution.
Best wishes
lynne69494 debbie89808
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chickenpie
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Been for my scan, went thinking it was gallstones as pain felt more toward right side. The lovely lady radiologist said nothing of concern in pelvic scan, then moved onto upper scan. I asked if any gallstones, she said no & carried on scanning whilst I lay on each side etc. I asked at the end if all was clear, she just said the report would be with the GP today & he'd be in touch. Trying not to read anything into that reply & assume she just couldn't say anything.
Annoyed I still don't have answers. Was given Apidine for the pain but now have crushing headache and continued upper stomach ache. Not sure if it's related to the new pills or not..
Will just need to get on with it & try my best to enjoy hols while wait for my gastro apmnt in Sept. Will check in with GP tomorrow to confirm but looks like my answers will be at the Gastro.
debbie89808 chickenpie
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Best Wishes
chickenpie
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debbie89808 chickenpie
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chickenpie
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chickenpie
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lynne69494 chickenpie
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`incidental` strange way to describe anything, but if its not being treated as an emergency sounds like they know what theyre saying a suggesting it being benign. l was in a simular position many years ago as have many others, and it is a worry, but hope you can push it away to back of your mind as much as poss, and get some r and r on your hol, Also your future scan will bring you treatment to get rid of symptoms. Best wishes and good holiday
chickenpie lynne69494
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