trishaloha
New User
Joined: 11 Dec 2008
Posts: 1
Location: North Carolina
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 Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 1:56 am Post subject: New Here--Undergoing PC Work-Up--Extreme Pain & Fear |
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Hello everyone,
I am 44 years old, and am very nervous and scared. I’ve been seeing my internist for well over a year for multiple vague complaints, such as nausea, a feeling of a full & bloated abdomen, excessive fatigue and diarrhea. I had a hysterectomy with appendectomy in June of this year, and although my recovery was uneventful, my health has been poor since that time. I weighed 146 back then, and today I weigh 112.
I awoke suddenly on 11/15/08 with severe, acute bilateral mid-back pain and nausea. It was the weekend, and I chose not to go to the ER at that time. I called my internist that Monday, and he declined to see me--rather, he prescribed Percocet as needed and advised to go to the ER if the pain persisted. I rapidly lost my appetite and lost a great deal of weight. The pain was unbearable, beyond what I can describe as a “10.” Constant and searing, a feeling deep inside of me. I called my doc 3 times that week begging to be seen. He told me to try Ultram, which did not help either. I finally went to the ER a week after the symptoms started, once the mid-back pain became more intense and localized to the left side.
An abdominal CT was performed, but without contrast (ER doc was concerned about kidney stones--ruled that out). I was sent home with a diagnosis of a strained back. I was given a prescription for Zofran, however, as the nausea has been so extreme. Since that time, my internist has still declined to see me, and I have been back to the ER two more times. I was last told that the pain was all in my head, yet was placed on a Fentanyl patch 25 mcg/hr--wore it as instructed for three days, but had moderate pain relief only for about the first day and a half.
I gave up on my internist and went to a walk-in clinic this past Monday, after losing 10 lbs in the past week. This doc was the first to palpate my abdomen--he stated that my pancreas was “hard, enlarged and possibly there is a mass.” He did a liver panel, amylase and lipase tests--ruled out pancreatitis, as all were normal.
Over the past two days I have done my best to eat, and now I am having left-sided pain radiating into my upper left abdomen--it is excruciating. Saw the walk-in clinic again yesterday, and doc said he could do no more for me except send me to a GI doc (appt. next Wed) who will then order another CT (with contrast this time) to further evaluate my pancreas. I am unsure if any other tests are planned.
My pain--both left mid-back and now side/upper left abdomen--get progressively worse as the day goes on, and by nighttime I am ready to go to the ER, knowing I will be told it is “all in my head.” I am also experiencing some weakness in my legs, especially my right one, and some lightheadedness in the evenings. I take naps all thru the day and am usually in bed by 9pm. I awake frequently in pain, as I have early this AM. My once incessant diarrhea is long gone--I am severely constipated, having had only four BM’s since this pain started last month. While possibly connected to the sparing use of Percocet, I have taken Percocet after previous surgeries without such constipating side-effects.
My medical history is positive for rheumatoid arthritis, grand mal seizures, bilateral pulmonary emboli and hypothyroidism--I have been smoking a pack a day for just over 25 years. I have never felt or experienced anything of this nature in my life. I am very worried about the pancreas being hard and this possible mass the doc felt. I am just barely getting by in this level of pain, drinking Ensure and also taking Zofran as needed. I suppose I am wondering why they are not being more aggressive, perhaps?
Thank you for providing this online support forum. Any and all info, advice & support would be greatly appreciated. I wish you all the absolute best, and please take care.
Sincerely, Trish
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Trish
~Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence~ |
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