These symptoms have been really bad the last several days and last night, the pain seems substantially worse. Indeed, the area just north of the gallbladder/liver, over the bottom part of the ribcage is now tender and swollen. Neither ice packs nor warm compresses seem to make a difference.

You describe "the area just north of the gallbladder/liver, over the bottom part of the ribcage is now tender and swollen."

Here is a link to a picture of liver anatomy.
http://tinyurl.com/7r6mu

I suspect that you are having inflammation of your liver and gall bladder, not your ribcage.

Why the heck would the area ON TOP of my lower right ribcage get inflammed, painful to the touch (and stretch), and swollen if it is liver/gb - that doesn't make anatomical sense to me... Am I missing something??? That's why I am so flumoxed by this particular thing-a-doodle. That and, I've been dealing with this Lyme nonsense since '89 and I've never had this one before...thought I'd seen/had 'em all...

Check your oral temperature and your pulse.
(If elevated, could mean an infection.)
How is your appetite.
Is your urine normal color and volume?
Are your stools normal color and consistancy?
(Very pale, clay colored stool means no bile released into the intestines.)

Check the whites of your eyes. A yellowish tinge means the liver is not removing stuff from the blood. The skin may have a bronzey tone, but this may be difficult to see in yourself.
Are the palms of your hands bright red?
Is your skin itchy all over?
These can be signs of liver problems.

You said this was a significant change, getting worse and not improving. Hmmm...would you consider giving your doctor a call?

I would think that hot compresses or a heating pad for 30 minutes at a time, every two hours, would help by increasing the blood flow to the area.

If you take a look at the anatomy site
referenced in an earlier post - if you pain
is north of the bottom curve of the ribcage - traveling toward the sternum, then
it might be the pancreas, especially since you've had pancreatitis before.

Your enzyme levels sound like they were fine when you were feeling fine. You should probably have blood draen while you're feeling crappy...

Barb

quote:

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Originally posted by bpeck:

Your enzyme levels sound like they were fine when you were feeling fine. You should probably have blood draen while you're feeling crappy...

Barb

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Hmmm, good point, Barb. How ya doin' dura?

Good luck!

Thanks for your answers, interest, and concern. Not a lot in the way of answers, but here's what the various professionals have said:

As for the RUQ pain (not on the ribs): while my U/S was clear back in Jan, probably should get another BUT if they find stones or whatever then surgery might be indicated. As I am far too weak and debilitated, that isn't even an option currently, so lets just hold off on the whole thing -- percocet for the pain, compazine for the nausea & vomiting. Also, I don't have a doc that will just give me the blood tests at any ol' time, but I was tested on the enzymes last week, and while I was not at my worst, I was not painfree either.

As for the ribcage pain, seems to be some weirdo inflammation and everyone said ice was the best thing and no, they hadn't seen it before and yes, it was just probably lyme weirdness. That pain and swelling is significantly better as of this morning (as is that other pain).

For the record, I obtained the opinion of my PCP (who is treating me with some guidance of my old LLMD), my chiropractor and my alternative/internal medicine MD who is helping with my malnutrition & weirdo allergies/immune system. Both docs (PCP & alternative) said the same thing about the potential gallbladder stuff (hold off on the imaging & such b/c there won't be any follow through now anyway)... but both are keeping an eye on the liver/pancreas enzymes as I had an unexplaned bout of pancreatitis back in January.

So, no moments of wonderous understanding. No aggressive imaging or whatever as I am so sick that surgery, if needed, is not an option. Just a "Hang in there, here's some stuff to treat symptomatically, and we'll keep an eye on it" approach. Works for me...

They are more concerned with keeping me on the minocycline (I'm taking a bit of prednisone to deal with a drug reaction I'm having to it), getting the malnutrition dealt with, keeping my asthma under control, and dealing with the neuro & cardiac hell that is going on. This RUQ pain in all of its various forms is low on that totem pole it seems.

Thanks again.