KaalynJohnson
14-11-16, 02:47
I'm 28 years old, which I know is generally young for that kind of concern, but the symptoms are mounting and I'm freaked out.
I started with vague abdominal pain, which I pushed through thinking it was something minor. I've also noticed vague flashing pains in my shoulder-blade, now mostly my upper-left. Then at work one day I had a weird bout of incontinence, where a small amount of leakage seeped and forced to me go home.
I went to my doctor and she sent me for bloodtests and an abdominal X-ray, where they found a kidney stone (maybe incidental to my symptoms). I was sent for more blood-tests and all that came up was a slightly elevated ALT Liver Enzyme (the normal is 7-56, I had a 75 - which my doctor assured me was minor). I have normal CBC, blood-sugar, etc.
Just to be safe, she sent me for an abdominal ultrasound. The Pancreas was, of course, obstructed but she informed me I have a fatty liver and that was the likely cause of the ALT elevation
However, at this point, I had noticed that my stool (which was at this point hard and/or pebble like) was much darker than usual. I had noticed in the past that it was "marbled" with small but visible chunks of what could have been fat, although the coloring was normal and the stool sunk to the bottom of the bowl. She was concerned about an ulcer or my stomach acid weakening the lining of my stomach, so she prescribed me Pantaprazole Magnesium, which I've been taking as prescribed for a week. She also sent for a Urea Breath Test, where I tested negative for bacteria.
Over the last few days, things feel like they've deteriorated immensely though. I generally feel exhausted and pained. I had pain in my left shoulder blade and was suddenly very itchy during one shift (three days ago, no real itchiness since then). My eyes are veiny and I'm constantly debating whether or not there's jaundice based on the lighting of my bathroom. If there is, it's mild and in the very corners of my eyes. The last two days I've been uncomfortable laying down for bed, with irritating but not crippling pain in my stomach and lower back. I've lost a lot of my appetite and have dropped from 239lbs to 235lbs in the space of 2 days. I can't stop weighing myself. My last couple stools have been paler than usual and have floated. I'm not able to go very much and when I do, it's usually soft pebbles.
I went to the doctor on friday and they ordered Pancreatic Enzyme tests when I offered my fears. I will do them tomorrow. However, I've read that a good chunk of people with Pancreas tumors do not have elevated enzymes and I'm wondering if I should just demand a CT or something. Would they even listen to me and order it?
I guess I have a referral in to a Gastroenterologist, although that may take several weeks and I'm too anxious and fixated on this to wait that long.
I started with vague abdominal pain, which I pushed through thinking it was something minor. I've also noticed vague flashing pains in my shoulder-blade, now mostly my upper-left. Then at work one day I had a weird bout of incontinence, where a small amount of leakage seeped and forced to me go home.
I went to my doctor and she sent me for bloodtests and an abdominal X-ray, where they found a kidney stone (maybe incidental to my symptoms). I was sent for more blood-tests and all that came up was a slightly elevated ALT Liver Enzyme (the normal is 7-56, I had a 75 - which my doctor assured me was minor). I have normal CBC, blood-sugar, etc.
Just to be safe, she sent me for an abdominal ultrasound. The Pancreas was, of course, obstructed but she informed me I have a fatty liver and that was the likely cause of the ALT elevation
However, at this point, I had noticed that my stool (which was at this point hard and/or pebble like) was much darker than usual. I had noticed in the past that it was "marbled" with small but visible chunks of what could have been fat, although the coloring was normal and the stool sunk to the bottom of the bowl. She was concerned about an ulcer or my stomach acid weakening the lining of my stomach, so she prescribed me Pantaprazole Magnesium, which I've been taking as prescribed for a week. She also sent for a Urea Breath Test, where I tested negative for bacteria.
Over the last few days, things feel like they've deteriorated immensely though. I generally feel exhausted and pained. I had pain in my left shoulder blade and was suddenly very itchy during one shift (three days ago, no real itchiness since then). My eyes are veiny and I'm constantly debating whether or not there's jaundice based on the lighting of my bathroom. If there is, it's mild and in the very corners of my eyes. The last two days I've been uncomfortable laying down for bed, with irritating but not crippling pain in my stomach and lower back. I've lost a lot of my appetite and have dropped from 239lbs to 235lbs in the space of 2 days. I can't stop weighing myself. My last couple stools have been paler than usual and have floated. I'm not able to go very much and when I do, it's usually soft pebbles.
I went to the doctor on friday and they ordered Pancreatic Enzyme tests when I offered my fears. I will do them tomorrow. However, I've read that a good chunk of people with Pancreas tumors do not have elevated enzymes and I'm wondering if I should just demand a CT or something. Would they even listen to me and order it?
I guess I have a referral in to a Gastroenterologist, although that may take several weeks and I'm too anxious and fixated on this to wait that long.