Any, really ANY input appreciated..... going round in circles with pain, appointments, waiting. And all the while in more and more pain. Stomch/Pancreatic/Splenic Cancer??

[Dunkling]

Any advice from someone who has been through similar would be much appreciated as I feel I could go mad.

I don't even care much now what the diagnosis is, I just want, a DIAGNOSIS. Actually that sounds flippant to those that have been diagnosed with some b***d illness, sorry. But if you've been there you'll probably know.

To keep it as simple as possible and not to bore you:

June this year I developed a gnawing pain in my left side/flank/under rib area. Saw GP, she had no idea, said to leave it and see. Waited 3 weeks for a bloods appointment, all clear.

About 2 months later I saw another GP as the pain was stronger and more ongoing. He again had no idea, mumbled about IBS as I now had intermittent constipation coupled with times of going A LOT. Had bloods which took 2 weeks just for an appointment, so adding to frustration. They were clear.

Another month later, another appointment, another GP. Same bowel issues, now constant, pain non stop, HUGE rebound tenderness but he could find nothing specific. Burning and gnawing in my left side/rib area, intermittent stabbing pains. Wanted bloods, no appointment so went to walk in and sat for 3 hours in miserable pain. Also stool sample. No results given on these as I now lost patience as when I phoned for a follow up appointment and results as requested by GP, it was a 3 week wait simply for a telephone appointment..

So.… asked for a private referral as I have insurance plus a lovely private hospital right in my village where I used to work.

Unfortunately it was a 2 week wait to see the chap I was referred to but I was just glad it was going forward, I now had relentless pain, never got any sleep, intermittent nausea, felt like I had swallowed a football that was lodged under my ribs, and constantly need to poop, albeit each time either copious amounts of thin very small chipolata creations with liquid or just one tiny very thin chipolata Stabbing pains that make me catch my breath that shoot around my back.

Before I could see my consultant, one day my husband saw me in so much pain and feeling lousy we went to an urgent care clinic. A medic performed a procedure on me, called it Murphies and I had a positive sign... I could have lamped him!! and frog marched me to general surgery, where they confirmed my suspicions, it may have had me hit the ceiling with lots of expletives, but he was in the idle to left side. So not Murphies but of course it hurt as it is where my pain is.

And 2 weeks again and I had a colonoscopy. So far the feedback I got from the surgeon was, from what I remember as it took a good long 48 hours for the sedation to fully wear off..... no tumours, polyps, crohns, colitis, diverticulitus etc. He did inject an internal haemmoroid but said it had no relation, and indeed, the bowel issues are the same. So what is the change in size if no tumour? Could it be outside pressing against? I also remember stirring during the procedure and crying out in agony as they hit the spot all the pain comes from, I remember the reassurance, but he says I was fine. Is he just trying to help as the amnesia effect is wanted for a reason. But for me it reaffirms the pain. Says he'll be in touch. How long does it take? I have no idea. Do they re visit the pics/videos later?

Sorry, I'm rambling but LAST. During my pre procedure run through, I discovered I've lost a stone. I've kept answering no to this question as although my ribs are now bony, my clothes fitted, but indeed a whole stone in 5 months. Last night I was in so much pain I got zero sleep. I'm snappy and keep crying I am just so frustrated. I have no idea when/if I hear back for the next step/scan idea. It's all just too slow.

I'm turning into a pathetic mess.

[Angbunnyboo]

Have they checked for ovarian cysts? Sounds stupid I know but I had awful stomach and back pain which was diagnosed as pulled muscle until I saw an osteopath and he said it was gynaecological.
I was skeptical but turned out he was right, I had a massive cyst and a blocked Fallopian tube.

I also had the IBS type symptoms but it was due to the cyst pushing on my womb which was disrupting the bowel.

I know its unlikely but could be worth mentioning. Hope you get sorted soon, pain that drives you to distraction is just horrible.

[Dunkling]

@notapizzaeater
Different positions no help at all. It is there standing, sitting, lying any which way. I did get some good advice of the nurse at the hospital that saw me when I rang up to beg my appointment be brought forward, that as the codeine wasn't working at all, and I couldn't take it when working as I could feel it made me unfit to drive, she said add paracetamol to it at night and see, and loe and behold, something near sleep last night.

I have thought it could still be gynae @angbunny and as my consultant does general and some womens, I at least know it's not off his radar. But my pain is NOT ibs type. It is so hard to explain pain, but it's not.

All day yesterday was excrutiating with constant (feels like when your brother punched you in the guts as kids! in my left side with every few minutes stabbing/sharp needles type pain..... I was exhausted! Nausea nearly stopped me going to work for the 1st time, and it was on and off all day, and although it hasn't stopped me eating, yesterday while eating dinner it started to feel like when you eat too quickly and don't chew and it gets stuck at the bottom? And then I had a mouthful of wine that made me feel so "I can't manage to swallow this" nausea, I had to spit it out. Gross I know!!

But I did sleep for the 1st time in weeks!! Codeine and paracetamol and wine rocks! (flippant and bad and unhealthy remark I know, but fed up warrants it I think!)

Thanks for all replies. I don't want to moan and bore those irl

[Flossie44]

Have you had gynae scan? Thinking ovaries?

[Flossie44]

Could you have an ovarian cyst?

[swingofthings]

OP was anything to do with your pancreas been investigated and come back fine? Any doctor/consultsnt should have definitely consider this as a potential cause. Are you losing weight for no reason or has the pain and anxiety caused you to eat less?

I hope you get answers soon

[Pippsypie1]

Sounds like Gastritis OP. It’s a relentless type of pain that is constant when it flares up. It could be the chronic type by now. The acid inhibitors didn’t work for me either. I had to eat easy to digest foods and wait for it to pass. I think it took 6 weeks in my case. I cut out coffee, chocolate, alcohol & rarely take any painkillers with codeine. I had a colonoscopy during that time & remember waking up in horrible pain aswell. I asked the consultant afterwards was I a nightmare & he said I was fine. Think they are used to it. Overall, it sounds like gastritis/ IBS but I’m not a medic so don’t know ! Be sure to come back & update us though. Good luck 👍

[Buddywoo]

Also your symptoms are very similar to mine and I was eventually diagnosed with coeliac disease. The pain got so bad that I couldn't stand or lie down - had to try and sleep in a chair. I also lost a lot of weight as eating made it worse.

Try going gluten free for a week and see if that makes any difference.

It can be hard to diagnose. I had scans which didn't show anything and was even taken to A and E I was in so much pain.

[Dunkling]

@Buddywoo... thing is, as coeliac as crossed my mind, that if I cut out Gluten, they then can't test me for that. Catch 22.

Update is... I saw my consultant this evening and he wants me to have a few scans before the end of the week, one of them CT to look at my pancreas, so to await his secretary's call tomorrow.

Having a middle of the night freak out.

[Grammar]

On going pain, change in bowel habit, weight loss, all could be gall stones, ( cholycystitis)or something else innocent but miserable..have you had a course of antibiotics in case it's that flaring?
You need CTS/ MRI and a gynae referral and someone to pull it all together.
Plus you need painkillers
Good luck.

[Grammar]

Hope you sleep better tonight OP
All things are possible, not all things are probable.
Sleep well

[Dunkling]

So.… thanks for all replies and input.

I did type a rather long and detailed reply to all posters about a week ago, only for it to disappear into the ether with my bloody useless laptop!

Where I am at now.....

Had a CT, which showed 'calcification' of some sort, but was inconclusive. So no further on. So had an MRCP yesterday, and a follow up for results booked on Monday. I am now in somewhat of a panic mode..... I know MRCP is to look at the biliary system, and people on here and the radiographer, who I know, suggested looking for gallstones.... but like me was rather perplexed when I said that the pain is ALL, and has always been all, on the left side. So I'm panicking pancreas.

If this is clear, wish to god Monday would just be here already!!!...then upper endo really is all that is left.

But I am exhausted with pain. Ended up in emergency overnight once again as I was climbing the walls!!

[MrsMWA]

Another one who suffered for years and it ended up being coeliac disease. Hope you find a solution soon OP .

[SleepWarrior]

That's progress at least, although that last bit of waiting can be the most excruciating!

Wishing that Monday will come around quickly for you and the appointment gives you some answers.

[Katy12]

Could it be your ribs? I've got a detached rib on my left which is very painful. It effects the muscles and soft tissues following the edge of the rib cage and radiates to the back. I also have stomach pain in that area. All on my left side. X

[WTFIsAGleepglorp]

Gallbladder issues?

[Snowscene14]

I have just come back from OOH with almost exactly the same symptoms. Left sided gnawing pain that started in my back and has now moved to the front, under my ribs. GP thought that the painkillers I’ve been taking for the back pain have given me gastritis but the feeling of fullness, bloating, and abdominal discomfort have been there along with the back pain from day one. I cannot get comfortable to sleep, even sitting can trigger a sharp pain which is like a poker desk inside. I am also feeling full of gas, bloated and am burping constantly.
I also have IBS symptoms as you describe with alternating constipation and then ribbon like stool or diarrhoea.
I have been given omeprazole and cocodamol, told not to take NSAIDS. Somehow I don’t think this is something that will go away so easily, I will watch this space!

[PandaPacer]

How are you going OP? Any more news? Hope you are OK and have some answers.

[LuluJakey1]

Hello OP, I had acute pancreatitis which was excruciating and caused by a gravel-like gallstone getting stuck in the tube to my pancreas. It was unbearable pain. The pancreas was basically digesting itself. Nothing showed up on the scan of my gall bladder because they were so small. It took an MRI to confirm that is what it was. It was esily dealt with. The surgeon told me some people get it from ones which do not get stuck but intermittently block the tube and it can flare up because of that but mine was well-stuck.

I don't know if you have had a diagnosis but I wondered if it might be that. Pacreatic pain is awful so you have my sympathies if it is that.

[Katy12]

Snowscene13 let us know if you get to the bottom of it. I've just been told it's gastris too, I've got ranitidine to take and going back to docs in a month for a review. If no change its a camera down the throat job.

[GreatDuckCookery6211]

Have you been checked for HPylori?

[Ronzigirl]

I had exact same symptoms, gnawing under ribs.3 years of going to the doctor and being told it wss indigestion. Turned out to be heliobacter. 2 courses of antibiotics cleared it and don't feel a thing now.

[mygoldenbelljar]

Hi. I had something rather similar sounding. Pain focussed in location you describe and often felt like my middle had received a serious pounding; wind; stringy poos and constipation. So I ate healthier and healthier and the worse it got.
Turned out I can’t eat fruit/fructose/fruit sugar....at all really. 1/8 of an apple would upset my guts and cause pain for days. Plus I was found to have an extremely tortuous colon....so ‘stuff’ more likely to get trapped in the twists.
Of course I had been unwittingly making my problems worse by eating more healthily. Took me best part of a year to find out what was wrong for me.
I’m ok if I don’t touch fruit. I also take a teaspoon of Heather’s Tummy Fiber twice a day in a glass of warm water. My gastroenterologist pointed me to soluble fibre. I also try to eat bioyoghurt every morning.
Anyway that’s my story. Very Best of Luck finding out what your problem is. 🤞

[hungryhermione]

Hi OP,
Did you ever find out what was causing your pain? I’m experiencing very similar and am worrying myself silly. Please, please, PLEASE let us know how you got on with your MRCP. I hope all is going well with you.