Very confused from diagnosis?

[humanwinginglife]

I would REALLY APPRECIATE a read!

I have just left hospital after being admitted Thursday.

My initial symptoms began with what felt like trapped wind in the centre of my upper chest - just below between the breasts. Within 20 minutes this spread throughout my entire abdomen and felt like intense cramps which would not let up. This spread to my sides, lower back and upper back. It was worse than childbirth.

I got to hospital and after being admitted and given pain relief, my first blood test came back fine except ‘possible infection’ - I didn’t ask for elaboration as was in so much pain.

I then went on to have IV fluids, Omeprazole on drip and loads of pain relief as well as Buscopan.

Further tests were:

A sonogram of my stomach and organs within (all came back clear apart from some ‘bubbles/pockets of gas floating around).

An X-Ray of my chest - all clear

All vitals clear (BP, temp, pulse)

A CT scan of abdomen and chest - all clear

Continued bloods of all kinds showed nothing apart from slightly raised amylase (which made them question an inflamed pancreas and therefore pancreatitis however, the scans didn’t show this). And raised CRP which at one point were 200 which made them think infection but they couldn’t find where from my scans. And slightly elevated white blood cells.

I started on Penicillin and continued all the other meds and slowly, it began to improve. I’ve been discharged today now I’m feeling 80% better and bloods are back to normal but, although they kept saying I was a medical mystery throughout, the doctor who discharged said it must have been acute pancreatitis and has written that on my sick note.

In all honesty, I just wanted to see what others thought because surely it would show on the scans? Is it worth getting a second opinion perhaps?

Plus, I do enjoy wine moderately and I would hate to give that up completely if it wasn’t even the cause. How can I go from medical mystery to it must be what I thought they’d pretty much ruled out? If it’s the case then it’s the case but something just isn’t sitting right….

TIA

Did they check your gallbladder? You can get pain with no stones I had sludge and ended up in a&e 6 times in pain. Or maybe a stomach ulcer?

I would assume so via the stomach sonogram? They seemed to move around all the internal organs with the stick thing and press in on them 🤔

Ulcer or gastritis? Did they do an endoscopy?

I was also thinking gallstones, which can lead to pancreas problems. It took me 2 years and several trips to hospital to get a diagnosis. It was only when I read about gallstones on MN and I suggested it to the docs that they were finally diagnosed

Sounds like gall bladder

Gallbladder is what I thought of too

That's one test they didn't do!

Would gallbladder show up on the CT and sonogram though?

I immediately thought gallbladder too. Worst pain I have ever experienced.

I do have GERD which they initially thought may have been a severe attack of it but they went off that idea

Could I please ask what your symptoms were and what tests you had? You of course don't have to say.

I occasionally get something called an oesophageal spasm which is truly agonising, and what you describe sounds very much like it. The pain was far and away the worst I have ever had, including childbirth. The first time I had it I passed flat out unconscious from the pain and DH had to call an ambulance. Second time was also an ambulance job because the symptoms mimic a heart attack apparently so they took me in to check me over, but I've now got used to how it feels when it starts, so I drink a glass of milk and that seems to stave it off. I have no idea what causes it, but it does come back occasionally. Eating something spicy late evening can set it off.

Could it be Gallbladder? Truly awful pain, mine was a crushing cramping pain starting like trapped wind at front just under ribs and spreading around back, like a really tight band, cold sweats and then vomit but not always. Quite often lasted well over an hour. Was found on ultrasound scanned just below right ribs.

good luck

It does sound like gallbladder issues. Stones are usually seen with an ultrasound, and can cause attacks of pain like you describe.

However, not everyone has stones. It can be from sludge, or even passing a stone. Causes similar raised bloods like you have had, but not always found in screening.

Very, very painful. Feels like a squeezing sensation around the chest, which comes in waves. For me it felt like a belt being tightened around the chest (where bra goes), which loosens and then tightens again. Can last between 30mins and 8 hours - I've had them all night long in the past, and the worst attacks have been up there labour pain. Probably worse!

Very, very painful. Feels like a squeezing sensation around the chest, which comes in waves. For me it felt like a belt being tightened around the chest (where bra goes), which loosens and then tightens again.

This is a good description and exactly like gallbladder pain was for me. Worth requesting a scan, since mine was left and I developed pancreatitis which was horrific.

Could they have missed something with my gallbladder then perhaps? The pancreatitis just doesn't add up does it considering the CT showed it was fine!

Gallstones would show on an ultrasound, less so on a CT, depending on their make up. I'd expect a blockage to be detected, the newer ultrasounds pick up things that wouldn't have been possible even a couple of years ago. Pancreatitis would normally show on an ultrasound or CT. Stomach ulcers or gastritis would need an endoscopy. Did they look at MALS or Vasculitis - although I'd expect these to show on scans but could cause the raise in CRP.

I haven't had an endoscopy so that's very interesting - especially given I struggle with GERD and have for years 🤔

And no, they didn't look at MAL's etc (I don't think)