Re: undiagnosed severe pain in left abdomen
From: Amy (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Wed, 5 Jul 2000 19:16:12 -0500 (CDT)
At Wed, 5 Jul 2000, Lorraine wrote:
>
>Hi all-
>I'm wondering if anyone else has had similar symptoms and can give my
>doctors some suggestions.
I don't know if this will help or not, but in the last 18 months, I have
had 4 episodes of kidney stones, none of which have been visible on an
IVP, but I have passed at least 2 "invisible stones." According to my
urologist, sometimes you can't see the stone on the IVP. I wish you
luck. You may want to talk to your doctor about some pain medicine to
keep at home.
>Symptoms: periodic attacks of moderate to severe tearing pain which
>begins in left lower back and radiates to left lower abdomen. Nausea
>and vomiting may also occur, and slight fever. Attacks range from 20
>minutes to over 8 hours in length. 8-hour attack was finally halted in
>the emergency room with an injection of morphine and buscopan.
>Otherwise, cessation of pain is not correlated with any particular
>event, it just gradually dies away.
>
>Attacks can happen at any time (middle of night, early morning before
>breakfast, midmorning, after supper). Urologist has found blood in the
>urine every time it is tested. I have developed a burning sensation on
>urination. There is no pain upon palpation of the abdomen or back.
>Urine culture is negative. IVP is negative for kidney/bladder stones,
>abdominal/pelvic ultrasound revealed gallstones present but nothing else
>unusual. I did not see the blood work results but my doctors found
>nothing helpful. No unusual digestive problems other then the nausea
>during attacks. Emergency room doctors thought it was referred pain
>from gallstones but my GP and urologist say the pain is too far away
>from the gallbladder and gallstones wouldn't cause blood in the urine.
>
>I am 38, female, and have had no previous urological problems. I am a
>healthy weight and normally active. I had a tubal ligation 3 years ago.
>No children, no pregnancies. Periods normal. Father had repeated and
>severe problems with kidney stones. Mother had gallbladder surgery.
>
>I am scheduled for cytoscopy at the end of August (in 2 months!) but am
>not enjoying the possibility of another 8 hours of dreadful pain in the
>meantime. If anyone has any suggestions I can pass on to my doctors,
>I'd be grateful.
>Thanks.
>
>--
>Lorraine
>
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