Chronic Upper Abdominal Pain without an answer
I have had chronic upper abdominal pain (mostly center and to the left) for about a year. It has worsened over the past 4-5 months and includes nausea, and worsening pain after eating/drinking. I often wake up at night with pain that feels like it is gnawing through to my back. I have a history of small bowel Crohn's (unchanged in years), as well as diagnosis of GERD, LPR and Bile reflux disease. I have been on PPI's for two decades without much relief. I had an EGD in 10/2018 and there was dome bile pooling in the stomach and some focal gastritis. I have fatty liver and a small 'cyst' of the pancreatic tail. I keep telling my GI that I feel that there has been a change since last year and requested another EGD (am scheduled for a colo next week). He states there is no reason to repeat the EGD. He wants to put me on Prozac for "Functional Abdominal Pain." All recent labs have been basically negative; MRCP pretty much benign; uncontrasted CT abdomen in 1/2019 negative. Could use some thoughts on this whole situation. Thanks
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graceandpeace
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Mirazapine works for me . .I am getting my weight back up to normal. Mayo GI doctor said it was to help me think that it was good to eat…I enjoyed eating for 70+ years.. but was not overweight.. then all of a sudden after an operation to reduce Reflux…(a Nissen in Iowa)..I had post operative gastropaneisis. …lost 50 pounds…I had traveled a lot and enjoyed every moment of local restaurants…
Do you mind if I ask what was the surgical procedure you had for your reflux that caused your GP? And, also, once you have GP, does it ever go away, or is it something you have for life?
lasirvent
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I have had chronic upper abdominal pain across/near lower rib cage for about 1 1/2 years. Pressure, burning, aching, swollen feeling, prickly sharp pains like bees stinging me, etc. Had a carcinoid tumor test Octreatide Scan, ct abdominal with contrast. also facial flushing so had the Mast cell test, Gastrin test, blood work up…..all negative. Feels like nerve or tendons or muscle. Waiting on results of Hida Scan. ….then will probably have abdominal mri….anyone have similar side effects. It really interferes with my life …debilitating…
Check into compression Syndromes. There are several out there.
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artgrams
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@artgrams – I know what it feels like walking around with such pain and no answers. Abdominal MRI might show something. Did you have endoscopy? Chest CT? You could have referred pain from other areas- like your gallbladder, esophagus and diaphragm. Is your doctor an internist or gastroenterologist? Please keep us up to date after more tests are done.
Hi Ingegerd Enscoe …yes I have had all those tests including the Octreatide Scan, bloodwork, 24 hour urine test, Etc. Had a Hida Scan a couple weeks ago and having my gallbladder removed this Wednesday…
artgrams
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@artgrams – I know what it feels like walking around with such pain and no answers. Abdominal MRI might show something. Did you have endoscopy? Chest CT? You could have referred pain from other areas- like your gallbladder, esophagus and diaphragm. Is your doctor an internist or gastroenterologist? Please keep us up to date after more tests are done.
I sent you a reply Ingrgerd Enscoe but didn’t seem to show up….
elle1233
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I'll be back later to say more (if you are still here).. but after hearing "prozac for functional stomach pain", I'd be hearing the door slam on my way out of that office…. and onto finding a new Doc. Hello – Prozac is NOT a pain med, despite the fact that doctors who can't find a cause for someone's pain like to think it is. Don't waste your time. Once they have that attitude they aren't looking for an answer any more. There's more than one doctor in town (and if there happens not be be.. you can travel!!
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Ingegerd Enscoe, Volunteer Mentor
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I sent you a reply Ingrgerd Enscoe but didn’t seem to show up….
@artgrams – looks like you had a thorough work up. All normal is good too.
Good luck with the gallbladder tomorrow! Let’s hear how you manage post-op! There will be some discomfort for a while during the healing process, but hope your major pain will be gone.
I have had chronic upper abdominal pain across/near lower rib cage for about 1 1/2 years. Pressure, burning, aching, swollen feeling, prickly sharp pains like bees stinging me, etc. Had a carcinoid tumor test Octreatide Scan, ct abdominal with contrast. also facial flushing so had the Mast cell test, Gastrin test, blood work up…..all negative. Feels like nerve or tendons or muscle. Waiting on results of Hida Scan. ….then will probably have abdominal mri….anyone have similar side effects. It really interferes with my life …debilitating…
Have similar feelings for a long while then broke out with singles. Singles gone but upper abdominal discomfort now worse
ken82
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Do you mind if I ask what was the surgical procedure you had for your reflux that caused your GP? And, also, once you have GP, does it ever go away, or is it something you have for life?
Operation was a "Nissen" …. The Gastropanesis never goes away …it is for life… one just has to upend life and learn to cope… keeping up weight so if you get sick or have other complications you have some weight to lose..
artgrams
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I have had chronic upper abdominal pain across/near lower rib cage for about 1 1/2 years. Pressure, burning, aching, swollen feeling, prickly sharp pains like bees stinging me, etc. Had a carcinoid tumor test Octreatide Scan, ct abdominal with contrast. also facial flushing so had the Mast cell test, Gastrin test, blood work up…..all negative. Feels like nerve or tendons or muscle. Waiting on results of Hida Scan. ….then will probably have abdominal mri….anyone have similar side effects. It really interferes with my life …debilitating…
I had all tests octreatide scan for carcinoid tumor, 24 urine test , blood test, abdominal ct with contrast, abdomen mri, hida scan showed gallbladder 95% ejection fraction. I had gallbladder removed still have upper abdominal pain if not worse. Facial flushing, bloodshot irritated eyes etc. Thyroid med not absorbing. Could have rosecea…
I'll be back later to say more (if you are still here).. but after hearing "prozac for functional stomach pain", I'd be hearing the door slam on my way out of that office…. and onto finding a new Doc. Hello – Prozac is NOT a pain med, despite the fact that doctors who can't find a cause for someone's pain like to think it is. Don't waste your time. Once they have that attitude they aren't looking for an answer any more. There's more than one doctor in town (and if there happens not be be.. you can travel!!
That's all that the doctors can do for Functional Abdominal Pain. There is no cure and the only things they use for pain are antidepressants. They say that you have to live with the pain.
@cookiegnias
Thank you
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