Last year I had a terrible Year, I lost one of my best friends to cancer very suddenly, my darling Mum had a massive stroke and passed away after 4 days and my husband and I are now separating and selling our house. So a very stressful time.
I was diagnosed with suspected shingles back in October of last year. The rash never came out on my skin. The Dr gave me anti viral drugs but after the 72 hour window in which you are meant to take them for any effect/help, I also had a urinary infection at the same time and was then on antibiotics too, my stomach was a bit of a mess after.
Just before I was diagnosed with shingles I got a dull ache pain just under my right rib. Which continued after the suspected shingles had gone.
The Drs thought it could be either postherpatic nerve pain, (as the shingle rash didn't come out) or IBS or gallstones.
I had an ultrasound scan done, they found a polyp in my gallbladder, Dr said soft tissue shouldn't give you pain. I've had bloods done, stool samples and urine samples checked all clear. Stomach pressed and checked no lumps and no pain when pressed down.
I still have this pain which can spread from under ribs right side to down right side and into hip, in the middle just under ribs to round belly button. And now new thing in the past two weeks a dull nagging pain in my middle and upper back and sometimes at night it can be really bad like someone is sticking a knife in me. If I sit up for a while it goes or if I take some gavascon remedy it goes.
My stomach doesn't feel like it used to and the rest of my poor body feels like its been hit by a bus.
Does any of this sound familiar, can anyone shed some light on what it could be. As my Dr is none the wiser..??
Hi Frankie, you poor thing you really have been through such a rough time. This may not help you and it's not really related to your post but I just picked up on the part where your doctor said 'soft tissue doesn't cause pain' . I had a big operation a couple of years ago and had lots of post op burning , aching , dull dragging pain. When I told my consultant about it he told me it was soft tissue pain that can take a long time to heal - I had it for over 18 months. Sorry I can't help with anything else but I hope you get some answers soon, hugs and best wishes x
Thank you Lou.
I think it was because they thought I had gallstones which can cause lots of pain. But because the polyp isn't moving as its attached to the in side if my gallbladder, it's not blocking the bile duct either.
But thank you for your help, I hope you are fully recovered now?xx
Stress can bring on IBS; it did with me. You can also get IBS after infections and prolonged use of antibiotics. Your stomach pain is exactly what I get. Back an rib pain is also common. All my tests came back negative so IBS was diagnosed after three months and seeing eight doctors.
What did your doctor say about your polyp? Will he remove it?
Oh gosh I truly hope you get some answers soon. Yes I'm doing ok thanks, take good care x
Hi frankie
You have been through a lot
With the stress you have had with losing close people can bring on a lot of ibs symptoms
I have a polop in my gallbladder I have as going for 6 monthly checks to see if it grow as if it's over 1 MM. it can cause some problems or cancer etc but mine has stayed the same size for 5 years
I honestly don't know rhythm doctor said it causes no pain as sometimes like now I am in agony
I would be getting referred to keep an eye on it but 99.9% of the time it's not a problem maybe go and discuss your bereavement with someone as its a lot to happen at a nice
I hope you get some assurance from your doctor
Take care
Kev
Hi Philippa.Thank you for your reply. I only had antibiotics for 3 days out of my week of anti virals. But my stomach was not a happy bunny after that. My Dr said they are going to keep an eye on it and re scan me in a couple of months to make sure it's not grown or changed. She said it could be one of those incidental things and been there for a long time but got flagged up because of checking out my gallbladder.
It's just all this constant pain that is getting me down, I just want to feel normal again without the pain as I feel I have enough to deal with as it is.😔
Hi Kev, thank you for your reply.
When they measured my polyp it was 7mm's long, the lady who did my scan said even though it was a size but anything from 10mm's and over can change, eg become cancerous. But neither the lady who scanned me or my GP seemed overly worried.
Even though you have pain, do you have any problems with your stomach at all? Certain foods making things worse?
I did talk to some one through my GP at the surgery when my friend died, but it was more cognitive behavioral therapy than bereavement. But I haven't talk to anyone professionally since I lost my Mum.
Kind regards Frankie.
This sounds VERY similar to my IBS, Frankie. Depending on what I eat I can get awful acid reflux which feels like I have been kicked in the ribs, and causes pain in my upper back. When this happens I have to sleep sitting up in a chair. I have found that Zantac helps a lot but prevention is better than cure. For me, avoiding any food that is remotely spicy is best. I had a gluten free pizza with a tiny bit of salami last week and suffered with awful pains just below my ribs and in my back until about 3.00 in the morning. So not even the tiniest bit of salami for me in the future.
I am learning by my mistakes.
Jan
Hi Jan. Thank you for your reply.
My pain comes and goes, yesterday in today I had a good day, and today I'm having a bad one. I've been having a go by sorting it with diet. But I can have 2 days were I eat and do the same and on one day Ivan be good, I then do the same again another day and urban be a bad day.
I know diet is meant to help and I've looked up the food list of can and can't eat. But until I can find outfit definitely if it's IBS I don't know how to treat it.
Think I may go back to my GP this week and see if she has any other ideas.
You take care and hope things improve.
Frankie
Hi stress can be related to a lot of things including shingles and reflux. Nerve damage from the herpes virus can take a while to settle. Omeprozol can help with reflux but avoid starch like potatoes and bread. Caffeine is bad and so is pasta and tomatoes and cocholate. If you are over weight just by loosing a few pounds will notability improve things. Make sure you have a supply of your acovir incase it flares up again. Lysine is very good but get advice on how to take and for how long etc it works buy blocking the virus from getting hold on flare ups. If the rash comes out it can be painful so salt water baths are good. Before the rash the virus can make you feel flu like and warning signs like tender skin in the area like sensitive to touch.
Thank you for your advice a60450.
Thankfully I'm not over weight I'm only just over 8 stone. I've lost about half stone in the past weeks with all this going on.
I'm going to go back to my GP too.
I am so sorry you are going through so much.
First thing to say is you really need some good bacteria in your gut! Yours will probably have been killed off.
Has your Dr looked into whether you have fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome as well as ibs. Ibs is a common symptom of them. It's well worth looking at websites for all the symptoms. It was only when I ticked off on the list that I realised how many of the symptoms I had and had ignored.
Stress is a big factor so if you can find something that will stop you thinking, even if for only 5 mins. You can try meditation or yoga. I didn't find these worked for me but I found Crochet works for me. Some it's knitting or crafting. TV doesn't take your mind off things as you can still think and stress. A really good book cam help. The other is find some way of having fun. At times like this you have to remember you can still smile. At first it's false but the more you do it the more you realise that it's okay. I can't anymore due to my disabilities but I used to love to dance. Or try a fitness class to music and it makes you so much better. Remember you aren't forgetting people but living like you know they would want you to.
I hope some of it helps!
Sue
Stress is a massive factor and little understood by doctors. Xmas I loss a stone in 4 weeks due to stress and worry I lost my appitite and the more I worried cause fear of the unknown and like I was in a bubble and like people around me were all ok I I was having a sh*t time. Try to get to bed an hr early each night. Remember that you will gain a whole nights sleep over a week just by going to bed an hr early. I looked over and over again on the internet and in the end did me no favours at all just made things worse
Hi Sue, thank you for your reply.
I've tried Acidophilus tablets and aloe vera juice both made things worse. Have you any other suggestions?
No my Dr has not mentioned either fibromyalgia or CFS. I have read up on both, I did wonder if it may be connected to fibromyalgia as a few of the symptoms sound the same.
I've suffered this year on and off with panic attacks my doctor put me on antidepressants for a while but again made me feel worse.
I did yoga up until I had my suspected shingles as my skin was so painful I had to quit and since then all the pains in my stomach.
I love my crafting I do crocheting, which does help relax me. But it's just getting through the day to day with working and looking after my daughter. I have the added stress of living still with my soon to separated husband as the house is on the market, which doesn't help with my stress levels.
Need to get things sorted with my health as when my daughter & I move I need to change jobs and work more than I do now.
Kindest regards Frankie.
Stress triggers body responses. Stress is a root cause to mind and body aliments. My stress got so bad that i have had nerve problems with twitching nerves, and so forth. I would try a diet change or introduce to your body new healthy foods. Try a health food store, and introduce yourself to the foods and supplements there. That way you can nourish your body to heal iteself.
Food is medicine too.