In a big rut over abdominal and back pain that’s getting worse

[Aussie11]

Thanks Pulisa and Jojo, encouraging advice as always!

[Aussie11]

Feeling ridiculous again about my negative thought pattern - found out this evening my nuclear bone scan results were normal! Thank goodness. Today my rib pain was so bad, I was sure something had to be going on! Well clearly it’s not normal to feel pain like this, but it’s just pain...not cancer!

[jojo2316]

Hooray!!!! Wonderful news. I’ve never been to a scan or test and NOT read something awful into what the radiographer says or does. We (HAers) all do it. But mainly just: YAY!!!

[WiseMonkey]

I've been following this thread and am interested that most of the symptoms and test results for Aussie11 have basically lead to a result of 'something autoimmune and/or something which can't be explained.

When you're dealing with autoimmune issues, it's very easy to get the 'run around' as only specialists really know much about autoimmune stuff. I had my appointment with a gastro specialist today to talk about my stomach issues, slightly raised lipase and liver levels.

He reviewed my ultrasound results, which were all clear, and is sending me for a MRCP (a specialist MRI which looks at the pancreatic system, liver, bile ducts, gallbladder and liver). He also mentioned autoimmune pancreatitis, which shows up better on an MRI than an ultrasound as it shows inflammation. He doesn't think there's anything else more sinister going on with the pancreas. He also sent me off for a battery of blood tests including ANA's, ENA's and a few others). My MRI is on Friday, so it will be interesting to see if anything different turns up.

As some of you know, I have a few autoimmune issues going on and have had a few gastoscopies over the years to investigate my intermittent stomach complaints. All of these have been fine. Dealing with autoimmune issues is often endless and stressful, as they're complex and often require specific treatment. Sometimes you can have an autoimmune condition but nothing shows up in blood tests or scans. Other times levels can be raised in blood tests for no apparent reason other than inflammation somewhere in the body! It's very easy to become anxious and stressed, so I really understand those who have this.

[Aussie11]

Can’t believe I’m experiencing these same symptoms again that I’ve complained about over the course of 6 years in this thread. Of course it’s partly reassuring to re-read over my previous posts about previous symptoms, as I know they turned out to be nothing of significance then so why should that be any different now. But the health anxiety sufferer in me says, but what if this time it is?... This time my flare up of health anxiety started about 2 months ago with breast worries and tight chest feeling which I feared was my lungs. The breast issues turned out fine, chest tightness is still there and Dr is treating as allergies, asthma and inflammation, so I’m on a few different medications (Dr did send me for chest X-ray and I get results on Monday for that). But somewhere along the line over the last month or so I have also started getting digestive/abdominal pains and symptoms, burping, trapped wind, under rib pain, as well as shoulder, back and rib pain. Those were the symptoms I had in these previous posts when I feared pancreatic cancer. Start of last year I did have a pancreatitis attack so I wasn’t completely mad thinking something was going on with pancreas but on investigation (CT, MRI and Endoscopic Ultrasound all showed nothing sinister.

I’m not sure this time it’s come on because of anxiety over these other things, just a flare up of IBS and inflammation (I do have a vague connective tissue disorder that I see Rheumatologist for), or these things plus fact I had a friend make off cuff remark about friend of friend dying and it sent me into my own panic.

Bloods were all fine oh and I also had a brain and whole spine (including thoracic area where my pain is) MRI only a few months ago which was fine. Which I sort of assume would have seen if there was anything in that area that shouldn’t have been. I have follow up re the chest tightness and X-ray with my GP on Monday, feel like she will think I’m insane if I now say oh the chest really isn’t the issue it’s my abdomen now can you check that out too?! And before this pain all started I was just about to make appointment with a therapist to tackle the health anxiety, but it’s a catch 22, I don’t feel like I can believe that this is all anxiety until the pain and symptoms stop, but they might not stop unless I tackle the anxiety making my brain fixate on them!! The joys of health anxiety!!

[Paradise10]

You really need to tackle the anxiety...
I have the same symptoms as you on the left side, but I have had no tests or spoken with my doctor. I have a telephone appointment next Thursday. In the meantime I am telling myself its just anxiety and I carry on. I am trying to stop the thoughts expanding to more thoughts about it. Yes I'm worried but I am also carrying on. I have cbt starting next week and have also just increased anxiety medication. You really need to work on the anxiety now, keep telling yourself you have had tests and they were fine. Nothing has changed in a few months. Stay away from Google and other health sites.

[pulisa]

Very wise advice, Paradise10. There will never be sufficient tests/consultations to appease HA.

Time to challenge your HA and go for the therapy option, Aussie11..no matter how much you are worrying about your current symptoms.

[Paradise10]

I read a sticky at the top of here and it really resonated with me.

If I am now worried about a health concern, I ask my family what they think, (they love me, they don't want anything to happen to me so I trust them) if they think I should see a doctor then I will make an appointment. I trust my doctor... whats the point of seeing them if you don't trust them. If they say I'm fine, then I'm fine and everything It comes up again I just say to myself the doctor said I'm fine and I move on. Eventually you see that.

I haven't googled for over a week now and while its hard (as any addiction is to give up) I've learnt that Google is not a doctor and will never reassure me, only leave me worrying about more things.

You've got this Aussie just keep telling yourself the truth that you are fine.

[Aussie11]

Thank you for the positive comments. I see GP tomorrow so will ask her for the contact details of the hypnotherapist person I have been meaning to see. I really hope it helps, I feel like I just waste so much time thinking and worrying about health and deadly diseases that it takes me away from enjoying the present.

[pulisa]

That's a very good decision to make and I'm sure your GP will agree. Getting some control back will really improve the quality of your life . It's miserable when you're always on the alert for the next sinister illness...That's not living life as it should be when you are healthy.