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Pain under ribs for 9 years
I have had this pain on my right side, under my rib cage for 9 years. in the last month or so it has become chronic. I have had an MRI of the abdomen covering liver, pancreas, kidneys. They found an hemangioma in my liver and a cyst on my left kidney. They are telling me that this should not be causing me pain. The doctor cannot feel any lump as I think I do. but thinks it is my ribs. I am seeking another opinion from a different Gastroenterologist. She did suggest I see a surgeon to go in and explore because we can't seem to find anything wrong. But I explained that I am in pain everyday and now even when I bend at the waist I get a pain. which is new. Has anyone ever had anything like this. I don't know if I want surgery, too scared.
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@ashlynnmae
Also, having Hep C doesn’t automatically mean you’ll develop kidney problems. That’s actually pretty rare, your mother just didn’t take steps to protect her kidneys.
And remember, the last time your kidneys were checked, they looked great. Everything looked healthy with no signs of kidney problems or any impact from Hep C.
@ashlynnmae
My mom didn't have symptoms. And she had that for decades.
The only symptom I ever saw was pain from her. Regarding her kidneys
She didn't have jaundice, she didn't throw up So unless she somehow got kidney disease AFTER she had hep c
When I wasn't even around
When she doesn't drink
@ehdog
That was also like a year ago that my kidneys were tested
@ehdog
It sounds like she already had kidney problems, or they were starting, while she had Hep C. You saw one symptom, but she may have had others without mentioning them. It’s not that the kidney disease developed after Hep C, it’s just that it was diagnosed fully afterward.
If you were developing kidney problems, even a test from a year ago wouldn’t look as normal as yours does. You don’t need a kidney function test every year, even those with kidney issues, don’t. Your last test is more than sufficient.
Even if you did have Hep C, just taking care of your kidneys like you’re doing now is enough, you’ll be fine. Preventing kidney problems is actually pretty straightforward, even with Hep C.
@ashlynnmae
What if it's new kidney issues?
@ehdog
Early kidney problems don’t present like that. I explained the signs, and you don’t meet those criteria, things like blood in your urine or vomiting after eating, for example..
How often do you typically go during a bathroom break?
@ashlynnmae
Idk I pee before my body asks me to lately bc my urethra feels irritated and I can't tell what's happening
And when I do pee it doesn't last long Like there isn't much
Less than before which has concerned me
@ehdog
Yeah, that still points to your pelvic floor and bladder being tense.
Try to relax before you pee and do some gentle pelvic muscle stretches.
Also, kidneys don’t suddenly go from healthy to bad out of the blue. If early kidney problems were developing, a test from a year ago would STILL have shown some signs, like higher creatinine and protein in your urine, which you don’t have.
@ehdog
Let’s go over your results. Everything looks solid for healthy kidney function. Your total protein of 7.4 is comfortably in the normal range, which means your kidneys aren’t leaking protein. Creatinine at 0.91 is right where it should be, showing your kidneys are filtering waste properly, and your BUN of 9 supports that. Your eGFR of 89 is very good, anything above 60 is considered healthy, so your kidneys are clearly doing their job.
Albumin at 4.5 is normal, indicating stable blood protein levels, and your electrolytes, sodium at 141 and potassium at 3.8, are also within range, meaning your kidneys are keeping your body balanced. Even if kidney issues were starting to develop, this test would show some abnormalities, which it doesn’t.
All together, these results strongly suggest your kidneys are healthy. The pain and irritation you’re feeling in your back and urethra are from muscle tension, scoliosis related strain, or bladder and pelvic floor irritation, especially since your discomfort can change with touch or movement.
It could be "renal colic" and that means you may be trying to pass a kidney stone.. praying for you!!