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Gastroenterology (Expert Forum)
Abdominal and mid back discomfort
Answered by
Kevin Pho, MD - Internal Medicine
Kevin, M.D.
Boston - MA
This forum is for questions regarding Gastroenterology issues such as Acid Reflux (GERD), Barretts Esophagus, Colitis, Colon/Bowel Disorders, Crohn's Disease, Diverticulitis/ Diverticulosis, Digestive Disorders, IBS, Stomach Pain.
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Abdominal and mid back discomfort
by vkg, Nov 01, 2005 12:00AM
Hello. For the last 2 months, I have been having some minor abdominal discomfort-sometimes just below the left ribs, or between the ribs and lately some mid back pain. Tests: CT Scan abdominal and pelvic were done in March-normal(all upper abodminal oragns intact) except for diverticula in sigmoid colon, u/s abdomen - small calculi in gallbladder. pancreas half veiwed due to underlying gas. Oct:small bowel follow normal(fast transit time), barium enema(diverticula in sigmoid and rest of colon), upper GI (hiatus hernia/reflux - taking nexium). blood work all normal. ALK PHOS level at 90(is that too high?). I am a little of a paranoid person when it comes to my health. I am 36y/o, 220lbs, 6'1", had a sigmoidoscopy done 7 years ago(normal). What could this be? The pain is not consistent. I have had some irregular bowel movements when I eat something that does not suit me. I get this real sharp cramp in the pelvic small intestine area telling me that I have to "go", but no blood in stool.This is normal for me. I think I have a very sensitive stomach or digestive system. FOBT and stool sample collected to check for parasites, etc. Tested fro celiac-negative. Could it be pancreatic cancer? I have no other symptoms than just a bit of back pain. I have been told that I have some degeneration in my spine. What can this be? Any advice would be appreciated.
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Pho, MD, Nov 02, 2005 12:00AM
, Nov 02, 2005 12:00AM
Possible causes can include GERD, an ulcer, inflammation of the upper digestive tract, pancreatic disease, or gallbladder/liver disease.
A comprehensive test to consider would be an upper endoscopy - which can evaluate the upper digestive tract.
You can consider an ultrasound or a CT scan to evaluate the liver/gallbladder and pancreas respectively. If pancreatic cancer is a concern, these tests would uncover this possibility.
If there is a feeling you have to have a bowel movement (tenesmus), then repeating the lower endoscopy may not be a bad idea. Things like irritable bowel disease, inflammatory bowel disease, polyps or cancer can present this way.
These options can be discussed with your personal physician.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
http://www.straightfromthedoc.com
A comprehensive test to consider would be an upper endoscopy - which can evaluate the upper digestive tract.
You can consider an ultrasound or a CT scan to evaluate the liver/gallbladder and pancreas respectively. If pancreatic cancer is a concern, these tests would uncover this possibility.
If there is a feeling you have to have a bowel movement (tenesmus), then repeating the lower endoscopy may not be a bad idea. Things like irritable bowel disease, inflammatory bowel disease, polyps or cancer can present this way.
These options can be discussed with your personal physician.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
http://www.straightfromthedoc.com
Since March of 2004 I have been having bouts of severe to moderate pain in the RUQ and radiating to my left side,constant nausea, diahrea, vomiting and OMGoddess the pain I deal with daily is unbelieveable...Have been to the ER so many times the receptionist knows why I am there at times I believe before I do...Have had Hida Scans,Contrast and multiple X-rays along with EGD and Colonoscopy, then my ex-husband who by order of the divorce judge was to keep insurance on me decided to pull it any way in October...I have since racked up over 11,000 in bills and STILL no definative diagnosis has been given except for H-Pylori and it has been treated and ALL newer blood work shows my H-Pylori Negative, but guess what all of it is starting again...At 4:34am the morning EDT I was awakened by pain so severe I felt like a Tractor and Trailer was sitting under my right breast and going to drive thru my ribcage to my back via my sternum to my lower left chest cavity...I called the ER nurse on duty who has seen me so much she knew my voice w/o seeing me on the phone! I can't seem to keep the pain under control for very long periods of time w/o pain meds and they bother me so much I ask for anything I am not allergic to(am a walking study for any doctor for drug allergies)to keep the pain under control and all I want is non-narcotic pain relivers now since finding that my mother has NASH from years of acteminphine abuse...I am afraid of the drug now...But due to allergies I can't take ANY NSAIDS or many other drugs...I am to the point I feel like the joke of the local medical centers and Doctors too...My GP has been as helpful as a bad case of hemmeroids since he won't help me much now...Doctors are turning me away because it is NOT an emergency and I have no insurance and the surgeon I was sent to said no to the surgery because his fee to do the operation was too much for out of pocket expenses...I have been given the all to easy diagnosis of IBS and a Unspecified Digestive Disorder...I can't eat 80% of the time and the things i eat have caused the weight GAIN and yes I said Gain and am afraid terribley to go out even across the street to the grocery store due to never knowing when diareah will hit me and cause an embarrassing accident and no way to get out but walk thru all the customers to get back home to bathe and change into clean cloths...No Doctor will help me and I have come to believe dying would be cheaper and less expensive and at times I hurt so bad I feel like I am going to die from it...If anyone has ANY ideas Please send them to me on here or at copper_ridge_telecom***@****. I would welcome ANY thing that may help me to push these backwoods Hillbilly doctors that feel letting one suffer is as good as it gets here...I reckin when you live 1 1/2 hours north of Atlanta and 1 hour southeast of Chattanooga,Tn and in a small community others pain is one way to pass the time and is more exciting than the normal watching the grass grow...I have been reading so many post of these symptoms that it is refreshing to know I am not alone and I can only hope most of you are not suffering with this illness still...My hope is that one day there will be a cure and some doctor born and trained with enough sense to want to help instead of linig their own pockets and also not allow a person to go multiple years with an illness like this...Brightest Blessings and Well Wishes,Anita Pack-Jalowy (pronounced as if spelled like Jaloway)