Just need to spill my brain...

Digestive health
1

For the past few weeks I've been having what I would call a burning sensation on my right flank. It can go from the front upper to the back lower but mainly stays on the lower side lately. Sometimes it feels like it's right on the skin, sometimes it feels like it's in my fat (I'm obese - mainly sparetire around waist), sometimes it feels deeper. I had a physical a little over a week ago and told my doctor about my adbominal pain and he sent me home and said to call him if it got worse.

Well today it got worse after a few days of feeling almost 100%.. The burning got pretty bad and I paniced and called my doctor again. I had myself convinced I was going to the E.R. for appendicitis. He thankfully got me in pretty quick and took a urinalysis - everything was fine there. No fever. He pressed around on my stomach and nothing hurt bad. He asked me to call my GI again and set up an appointment with him so that's where I'm at right now. My GI's office closed at noon today so I have to wait until tomorrow to call back. Funny enough, I'm debating whether to or not as I feel halfway decent as I'm writing this.

When I sit and bend over it almost feels like something is swollen or there is something there that shouldn't be. I've had a spout of indigestion/bloating a few days back and diarrhea off and on (just loose, not watery). I also think I have a bit of heartburn, but it's more like an irritation in my throat, not super painful at all. I think it's better when I'm standing/walking around and I feel like hot showers temporarily relieve the pain.

I feel like I'm going to get an IBS diagnosis as this happened a few years ago for a couple of months. My GP had me do a barium swallow with small bowel follow through - clear. The GI first suspected gallbladder and did an ultrasound and HIDA scan - all clear. By the end of the tests all the pain was gone all while staying on the same diet. I've still since had slight heartburn and random stomach pain/diarrhea every once in a great while.

Just looking to see if anyone has had similar symptoms - lower right flank burning sensation. Turns on for a few months and then goes away for a few years?

2

That could very well be a muscular thing. I have fibromyalgia and I get weird pains like what you describe. There is a certain muscle there that causes this. Can't think of the name though. You're most likely fine but I know it hurts!!!!

3

Nope sorry not something I have ever had.

4

Your symptoms sound like IBS especially with the come and go symptoms, bowel habit changes, stomach pain that moves about and heartburn.  If all your tests are negative, IBS can be diagnosed.  I would keep a food diary to check for any food intolerances that could be causing symptoms.  Do you get relief from having a bowel movement?

5

I've read that fibromyalgia is widespread.. is that not the case? And it's constant but maybe not?

6

They way my "whatever this is" has been progessing is that I seem to wake up with a horrible taste in my mouth that causes nasuea (I'm assuming acid reflux/GERD overnight) and as soon as I brush my teeth I'm fine. It makes me lose my appetite for a little bit but I eat breakfast just fine. I usually have a bowel movement between 8-11am and somewhere between lunch and dinner is when the pain starts and stays. I take a hot shower before bed which seems to help me get to sleep and then it doesn't bother me throughout the night. So I can't really say that the bowel movement helps the symptoms since I don't have them when I have one.

7

If you do have IBS, the symptoms will seem puzzling because they vary from person to person.