Any Doctors about? Not AIBU but need traffic as scared.

[HavenBeckons]

The past few nites I have been woken every nite by a really hurting block of pain across my mid to upper back, like if I was to draw it, it would be from bottom of ribcage up to just above bra line and is solid from side to side. Isn't something I've ever had before and once awake from it, it eases off after it's gotton me up (couple hours max) then gone. But then happens again the next night, each time after around 5 hours alseep.

Reason I'm scared is have no history of back pain, do have horrible familal history of breast cancer and cervical cancer (DGM, DM, DM's sis all killed by first, and DM had 2 pre-cancerous lasering ops) and I have had 2 ops for removal of CIN3 cells just a year apart in '10 and '11 but haven't had smear since '11 6 month check post 2nd op. Other reason has me scared is that I am on long term daily painkillers for hand injury with nerve damage so am wondering if this pain is actually there thru whole day but masked by those drugs (vicoden and diclufenic).

Guess other reasons I'm scared is this has appeared from like nowhere and I haven't done anything that could cause sudden back pain. And I'm guessing that 03:00 middle of night gotton woken by pain then sitting in dark on own probably makes panicking worse!

Any advise? Am kinda freakin out here

Hi love - I am not a doctor and I think you should check in with your gp

I've had a similar pain in the middle of the night - thought I was having a heart attack - turned out to be a problematic Gaul bladder and resultant stones - little buggers

Given the long term pain meds you are on I would have thought that they should be regularly checking your liver and kidney function via blood tests

Feeling kinda stupid for being so scared, but the family history is godawful and I watched DM die a shitty and godawful death from it. We are all celiacs too so guess the other thing am scared to death of is that this is some kind of Rhumetoid Arthritis as DM had that too. Am sitting here beating the shit out of myself for not having next smear sooner and also last mamogram was maybe 4 years ago although am meant to be getting them more than that but my physican (am in UK now) hasn't thought it needed even though DM's oncologist said was vital given BC family history plus fact had CIN3 cells twice and more close together than he thought was 'normal'. DM's DM died at 26 from BC when DM was a kid, and DM beat BC 10 years ago before passed from it coming back and with mets everywhere last year

Hi Sum, thanks for answering. Where did gaul stones hurt before found them? My pain is like across back of back, doesn't feel inwards (hard explain!)

I thought that too re drugs on, but same physician GP here just keeps issuing them with no bloodwork even tho been on them for more than 4 years. And everything I've genned up on about celiac also says should have regular bloodwork to check calcium and vitD but that hasn't happened either.

Have just remembered (sheesh think should try change GP now!) that he also refused to refer me for BRAC gene test as said DM's oncologist 'would have told me if she had it', but I know that no-one tested DM for it.

A

Another vote for gall bladder... I had exactly the same symptoms - we even called an ambulance once as thought it was serious like a heart attack. They told me it must be muscle pain from incorrect breast feeding positions :/ a few months later I had a major attack and the ultrasound showed all the gallstones. Go to a&e if it is really bad and get morphine and an ultrasound. They will likely send you home with a dietary restriction of limited dairy and spicy foods... Then you go on the waiting list to have it removed.

Have you had gene testing? Would be appropriate I think in your case and could help you with regard to treatment and symptoms of breast cancer.

You could have muscular pain or gall bladder problems as mentioned. Go and see the docs today and they can put your mind at ease. Everything is worse in the middle of the night, including pain. You poor thing, hope it's all resolved.

You need to go and see your GP. Surely nothing is worse than all this worry which may be all for nothing.

Sorry, missed your post about gene test. I'd ask to see a different Gp, with your family history am it's not unreasonable to ask for testing. Bloody doctors, is there any other gp's at your surgery?

Agree everything feels worse at nite! Thats why I felt kinda dumb posting as figured would feel better when it wasn't middle of nite!

Hairymonkey no, you get put with a GP and it's like nearly awesome just to get a freakin appointment as so bussy. I'll try get one of the emergency slots when they open or else it'll be at least a 2week wait. Can't see muscular as is nothing done that couldve caused that (unless is a longer celiac bone related thing and daily vicodin has been covering it up up til now)

Flying & Sum, were your pains across back or like inside of you?

Sorry for delay posting - pain was life a knife in back - life being stabbed right where bra strap meets spine - was really concerned about heart attack - went to a&e and they took about 60 seconds to diagnose gall stones and then gave the best pain relief of my life

Agree with gall stones. Agony across back. Horrible. Get to a dr. Hope pain eases off soon.

Haven - how are you feeling?

Does sound like gallstones - I've got issues with my gallbladder, inflammation and possible problems caused by adhesions, and one of the things that made them say it was that rather than stones was that all my pain was on that side of my tummy rather than in my back.

Get checked out! Hope you're feeling better soon :)

gallstones mainly hurt for me in my right shoulder blade and felt like i was wearing a bra made of steel like a tight band around the bra line. it also woke me about 4 hours after dropping off.

a gallstone attack could be caused by a fatty or spicy meal eaten yesterday pm. mine always took longer than any info said to come on eg says will start hurting after 3/4 hours mine was always more like 7-8 hours after eating. Had gallbladder removed 3 weeks ago but leading up to it i had problems with silent reflux most likely worsened by the state of my gb. touch wood, it has vastly improved those symptoms too. took a long time to get diagnosed as the pain rarely made itself known at the front/tummy area just as i said ^ mainly right shoulder blade but a bad attack the pain spread throughout ribs at the back and right side

Another one who thought they were having a heart attack that turned out to be gall stones. Felt like my rib cage was in a vice. Often had attacks in the middle of the night.

You must have some tests.

Go to your doctor.

Its gall bladder/gall stones.

stay clear of rich fatty foods and in my case it was dairy too. Its scary but once you know its gallnstones I found it easier to deal with.

Sounds like gallstones to me as well. I was woken up through the night as well with such a pain. I knew straightaway something was wrong and as soon as the dr's surgery opened I insisted on an appointment that day.

Easily diagnosed with a scan and an operation a few weeks later.

another vote for gallstones, i had it when pregnant, thought i was having a heart attack. Does the pain radiate up into your right shoulder at all?

Stick to boiled rice, steamed veg and plain chicken and you shouldnt have a problem, but get to the gp and get referred. i managed to get through my pregnancy with only a couple of attacks and had the gall bladder removed when DC was 3 weeks old.

my gp kept telling me it was muscle strain until a friend who has had gall stones herself told me what it was as my symptoms matched hers. demand an ultrasound.

I don't really think you should listen to people who probably don't have any medical training, and are going on a very vague description, that you have gallstones. You might, but you need to see your gp who can make a proper assessment and arrange any appropriate tests.

Also the BRCA testing is only possible if there is a living family member with breast cancer who can be tested so they know exactly what gene fault they need to look for (if there is one). So if everyone in your family with best cancer has sadly died you won't be able to be tested. Again, I'd see your go to get a formal genetics referral and assessment if this hasn't happened already.

Also the BRCA testing is only possible if there is a living family member with breast cancer who can be tested so they know exactly what gene fault they need to look for (if there is one). So if everyone in your family with best cancer has sadly died you won't be able to be tested.

This is incorrect. There is zero technical reason why you need a living relative with breast cancer to compare against. In any family, there has to be a first person to have their entire BRCA1/2 genes scanned to identity the familial mutation.

NICE guidelines allow for testing in a currently unaffected person with a strong family history and no living relatives with breast cancer.

OP, go to a GP.