Question:
needing imput on unexplained abdominal pain

I posted this in the message board and got a few replies but was hoping for more info so thought i would post here too... I am at a loss right now, about a month or so ago I started having abd pains so my Dr referred me to a gastro Dr, the gastro Dr thought it might be my appendix so he ordered another ct (I had one a few days prior at the e/r for this pain and they didn't find anything at all) well thank god it wasn't my appendix but the radiologist said I was severely constipated and to go clean my self out really good so I did that and did a f/u with the gastro Dr well I was still having pains so he did a upper endoscope on me and found a couple of old ulcers that had scabs so that wasn't the cause and he said he saw some gastric ulcers and did a biopsy it came back normal so that couldn't be the problem, so I ask, what could possibly be wrong with me I am not imaging this pain its horrible its right under my breast bone and can radiate all over my body but mostly in my stomach area...he said he gets a lot of gastric bypass pts with the same complaint but cannot find any cause for it.....anyone with any input on this%    — Deanna Wise (posted on March 4, 2005)

March 4, 2005
Hi there, that pain sounds exactly what i just went through. i have not had bypass surgery yet, but as it turned out...i did have kidney stones. And, here's a surprise, a third kidney. The stones were jammed up in one of my ureter tubes. i required surgery to get rid of them, and once i had the operation...the pain stopped immediately. Hope that helps a little.
   — Allison K.

March 4, 2005
thanx for your replies...no i dont smoke, dont drink, dont do drugs, dont have a gallbladder, dont have a spleen, my appendix is fine (we originally thought it was that) im researching trying to find answers its soo fusterating but thank you so much for your imput!
   — Deanna Wise

March 5, 2005
Does your pain change with body position. For example, does it get better when you stand rather than sitting etc?
   — Beatrice C.

March 5, 2005
Adhesions? Scar Tissue? I know adhesions are awefully painful, reoccurring and only diagnosed through exploratory surgery.
   — Jeannet

March 5, 2005
I don't know if I can help but --- I was hospitalized a couple of weeks ago for SEVERE "attacks" in my breastbone/sternum area. They were awful. They lasted about 3 minutes and occurred every 15-20 minutes. I had 5. I went to the ER and they gave me a GI cocktail. I never had anymore but my pancreatic and liver enzymes were elevated. I live 200 miles away from my surgeon but he was right on the ball and told my GP what to do. He ordered a CT scan and an MRICP - neither showed anything. Two days later the enzymes were normal. My surgeon explained that adhesions could form in part of the bowel causing it to back up into the pancreas and cause the pain. He said not to let ANYONE touch me that if that were the case he would have to do lap surgery and remove the adhesions. I had another "attack" a couple of nights ago and it is AWFUL. I get hot, nauseous and pant like a dog. It's not my heart. There still not sure what the cause is but I don't want to have anymore pains like that. It's the worst of my life. I hope yours are not as bad but I understnad whre you are coming from. May God Bless You and help you to overcome. Jeanette
   — jnetk

March 5, 2005
Thanx again for all the info, im taking this all down and im going to mention it to the gastro dr and im going to call my surgeon...The pain is soo bad that I cannot even tend to my 9 1/2 month old when it hits me...it dosnt really change with position it just hits and hits hard...I know i must have alot of scar tissue since i have had 2 major abd surgeries, one minor and a tt, so that is a possiblity and also, im constipated which alot of you have mentioned bowl abstuction or problems too, so those are other things to look at...im glad though that im not alone because now i dont have to think im crazy when the dr says there is nothing wrong with me......ughhh I know there is something going on its like we are the ones who have to figure it out and educate the drs..that is why im asking this and taking all of the responses to the dr...i hope you all feel better soon too ... thank you again
   — Deanna Wise