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- - May be OT ~ Upper abdominal pain, any ideas? (https://www.neurotalk.org/multiple-sclerosis/51687-ot-upper-abdominal-pain-ideas.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by lady_express_44 (Post 342553)

Thanks everyone for your input and feedback. :hug:

I'm pretty sure this doesn't have anything to do with my heart, because I have had "wall of my heart" infections before, and they occurred quite a ways up the body from where this pain is. Also, I had a TIA/stroke like occurrence last Xmas, and my heart was tested thoroughly at that time. (It was just the MS...)

I have had troublesome GERD for about 5 yrs too Ewizabeth (BTW, I'm only a few months behind you in age; 50 in June :eek:), and I know that that can feel various different ways. I got heart-burn really bad when I tried Prozac for PMS about 20 yrs ago . . . and I swore I was having a heart attack. :rolleyes: I take Nexium and Gaviscon on a regular basis for that problem already.

What it really feels like is the Ulcerative Colitis (if that dx was correct). I was checked for gallstones, pancreatitis, etc. back when I used to have UC attacks on a fairly regular basis, and it was the colonscopy (+ bleeding, etc.) that finally got me the UC dx. Basically the only difference now is that the pain is more of a chronic type then the ACUTE, fish-out-of-water, can't breath type that I am accustomed to from the UC.

I'm starting to wonder if what I've really had all along is chronic pancreatitis, with acute attacks . . . and perhaps not UC at all. (Just like I think I really have a vitamin B deficiency and not MS either. :wink::rolleyes:) Just looking at the symptoms of pancreatitius, it sure seems to fit:

"Acute pancreatitis results in severe inflammation of the gland and patients may be seriously unwell.

Chronic pancreatitis develops either as the result of repeated attacks of acute pancreatitis or as the result of other injuries to the pancreas (see below).

Pain occurs in most patients at some stage of the disease. This may vary in intensity from mild to severe. It may last for hours or sometimes days at a time and may require strong painkillers to control it.

It often radiates through to the back and can sometimes be relieved by crouching forward. It is commonly brought on by food consumption and so patients may be afraid to eat. It is also commonly severe through the night.

The pain varies in nature, being gnawing, stabbing, aching or burning, but it tends to be constant and not to come and go in waves. It may sometimes burn itself out but can remain an ongoing problem.

The pain is often difficult to diagnose and can be mistaken for pain caused by virtually any other condition arising from the abdomen or lower chest.

It can be difficult to distinguish pain caused by pancreatitis from pain caused by a peptic ulcer, irritable bowel syndrome, angina pectoris, gallstones.

Diarrhoea occurs in just under half of patients. ... The undigested fat also traps water in the faeces, resulting in pale, bulky, greasy stools which are difficult to flush away. They may make the water in the toilet look oily, smell offensive and may be associated with bad wind.

Vomiting after meals is a less common symptom but can occur as a result of severe pain. It may also be due to duodenal ulceration, which is often connected with chronic pancreatitis. In rare cases, the duodenum may be narrowed as a result of scarring secondary to chronic pancreatitis."
___________

Well, if it gets bad like yesterday, I guess I'll drop in the ER . . . but otherwise I will probably try to hang on till my doc appointment on Monday. I've been putting up with this for a couple of weeks (perhaps even years) already . . . a few more days isn't likely to hurt.

Thanks for all the ideas. I guess it could be any of them at this point. :cool:

Cherie

Cherie,
I am sorry to hear that you are in so much pain!! My brother is experiencing the same symptoms. He has had many tests done & has been in and out of the hospital on and off for 2 months. He was given iv drugs which seemed to help and alleviate the pains and then it comes back. The doctors are not sure if it is pancreaitis or diverticulitus, which is also very painful.
I forgot that my mom has diverticulosis and when she has attacks they sound quite familiar to your symptoms.
I hope that you find relief and answers soon:(
SS

Hi Cherie,

As you know I was just in the hospital with pancreatitis for 2 weeks, I had the pain right where the pancreas is but no other symptoms except a little nausea, have they done blood work on you for a full lipid panel? If there is anything wrong with your pancreas the numbers will be WAY out of wack. I am sure your doc will want the blood work completed to test you for pancreatitis. If it IS that the only way to help it is NOTHING to eat or drink for days, Ice chips are the only things allowed........I was also put on morphine for the pain, right in my IV, THAT was the best part of the whole experience........:D

I just saw this thread so I thought MAYBE I could give YOU some input on something that I went through......:)

Joe

i cherie,

i still can't venture a guess but i'm glad your drs are working at finding what's wrong.

pain can be "referred" from other places, especially in the abdomen.
i know you'll keep us posted.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ewizabeth (Post 361677)

I was just thinking about this the other day Cherie. I hope it's nothing serious and that they'll get you fixed up soon. Try not to worry. Just check in here if necessary. :hug:

Thanks Ewizabeth. Of course I have to go research everything that might go wrong with the adrenal glands :rolleyes:, and there really aren't that many things. What's funny is that I ran across Addison's disease, which is something I looked closely at when I was still in denial about MS. There are other diseases too, and they have similar symptoms, but some of the weird things they mention in most of these conditions are things I've had for years; low blood pressure (I shouldn't have, I am a smoker), dizzy spells, salt cravings, hormonal issues, etc.

Then again, maybe it's just all related to the MS, in one way or another. :confused: That usually ends up being the result of any testing I get.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sugar and Spice (Post 361858)

Thanks S&S. I was dx with Ulcerative Colitis back in the mid-80's, and have had quite a bit of problems from that. UC can cause adrenal gland problems, so maybe it is related to the recent "discovery" in/around my adrenal glands. Then again, maybe they got that dx incorrect. :rolleyes:

Has your brother had a colonoscopy?

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeMac (Post 361864)

I am sure your doc will want the blood work completed to test you for pancreatitis. If it IS that the only way to help it is NOTHING to eat or drink for days, Ice chips are the only things allowed........I was also put on morphine for the pain, right in my IV, THAT was the best part of the whole experience........:D

I just saw this thread so I thought MAYBE I could give YOU some input on something that I went through......:)

Joe

Thanks Joe. I have a bunch of blood tests to be done too, but thought there was probably not much point until it was closer to the date where I was getting the ultrasound, barium, etc. I guess I'll do the blood tests next week too ....

The pain has let up a lot while I've been waiting for this testing, so I wonder if anything would show up at this point anyway. I suppose whatever the problem is will still show in my blood, even if the symptoms aren't as active . . .?

The morphine didn't help the TM neurological symptoms, did it?

Quote:

Originally Posted by NurseNancy (Post 361872)

pain can be "referred" from other places, especially in the abdomen.
i know you'll keep us posted.

Thanks Nancy. I was wondering if that was the case (referred pain), since she seemed to go straight to the kidney area after ultrasounding the mid-section. I would never have thought it was related to anything down there, but obviously they know that this can happen. :confused:

Hi Cherie,

The morphine didn't do anything for the numbness but every 3 hours when I called the nurse I got the morphine. It did take care of the nerve pain as well as the pancreas pain, and while they had my dose higher on it I didn't care about the numbness either.....:D

The blood levels were the key to them putting me RIGHT into the hospital though, it was the I THINK they called it the "Lipase levels" were all over the place and my PCP got me admitted immediately.

Get that blood work done Cherie, I didn't think they could get much from a BLOOD test either but aparently it was KEY to that diagnosis........

I wish you didn't have to go through that barage of testing when your blood could tell a bigger story....

Hope you continue to feel "OK" while waiting...

Joe

Quote:

Originally Posted by lady_express_44 (Post 362299)

Yep, that's what he's testing me for; H.Pylori (figured it might be some chronic type) and what looks like (doctor's writing :p) "ASTIALT JGT Lipase".

Maybe I'll go tomorrow and then he'll get the blood results about the same time as the ultrasound results . . . :D I was kinda' hoping I could put the blood tests off till my annual at the end of the month because he'll want to do all my regular blood testing at that time anyway . . .

I hate tests, and I hate drugs. :(

Thanks, Cherie

So I'm glad I didn't go get the blood tests already, cause he added more to the list. :D

It seems I have a cyst on, and enlargement of, my right adrenal gland, and he is sending me to a specialist for that. He doesn't think it is anything to worry about though.

I also have "multiple large gallbladder stones", so I am going to have to have my gallbladder removed. He is testing me further to see if that has affected my liver and/or something else :p, and making a specialist appointment for that too.

All and all I feel very lucky about the results!! :) BIG sigh of relief.

Cherie

yikes cherie,
i guess that's "good" news but heck. surgery. i'm sorry.
are they doing the gallbladder laparoscopically? that will cut (sorry, pardon the pun) down on recovery time, and cause you less stress. also, it'll be less painful.

i hope everything goes fast, and well.
please keep us posted.
thanks for the update.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lady_express_44 (Post 367075)

Yikes here too! A cyst and surgery? :eek: My goodness, I hope it all turns out ok. And like Judy, I hope the surgery is done laparoscopically. I'm glad it wasn't anything more serious though!:hug: Keep us updated!

Oh my goodness Cherie, does it ever stop??

I know for ME it just seems like one nasty thing after another, I hope it all works out for you, I KNOW it will!!

That non-invasive surgery sounds like a plan if you and the docs can make it happen, we are all pulling for you Cherie, you know that!

:)
Joe

Quote:

Originally Posted by lady_express_44 (Post 367075)