char
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8315
posted
Hi,
My 12yr old son has been taking Mepron 2tsp and Zith 500mg on MWF. Also milk thistle daily.
He is experiencing a striking pain on his left side once or twice every day or every other day.
He describes it as similar to heart pain he had before, but below the heart area on the left side. He has commented,"It feels like an organ." Rates the pain level as a 6 on a 1-10 scale. Seems to occur during exhertion (mild!) and lasts a minute or two.
He has taken Mepron for 8wks.
We are scheduled to see LLMD this Wed and are scheduled to get routine blood work done.
I stopped the abx. Last dose 3 days ago.
I am trying to figure out if we are ok to wait for Wed to address...If the dr is going to order tests beyond lab work, I would like to get a head start.
Any ideas what this could be and what tests or treatments we could end up dong?
Does this sound serious? We have so many weird pains and symptoms going on over here I fear that I have been missing the significance of this one.
Severe left side pain that comes and goes was one of my very first symptoms just before I became disabled three years ago. It varied (and still varies) between stabbing pain, feeling like my rib bones ache, or like an organ inside is really really in pain. Sometimes it even is on the surface, like super skin sensitivity - so much so that no one can touch me there.
I became very worried and did a lot of research before I could get to my doctor. I learned that left side pain is very difficult to diagnose. I also learned that only two organs that are on the left side beside a portion of the intestine are the spleen and the pancreas. The liver is on the right side.
As for tests, my docs ordered CT scans, x-rays, an upper GI, and a colonoscopy. I don't remember if they performed blood tests, sorry. The upshot, though, was that all my tests were normal - so there was no reason to panic (which I had been doing). My docs still have no idea what causes it.
I ended up getting diagnosed with Fribromyalgia six months later. Just this past February I found out I have Lyme.
My theory now is that MY left side pain is just another baffling lyme symptom that will come and go until I get better. Your son's pain could be similar, or it could be related to his treatment, or it could be the pancreas or spleen, I suppose.
I'm afraid I don't have any concrete suggestions other than to document the pain carefully and describe it to the doctor when you see him/her on Wednesday. If the pain gets bad, I would get your son to an ER or urgent care clinic, and/or call your LLMD.
Maybe you should call your LLMD's office on Monday to see what they say?
posted
Elizabeth mentioned the spleen being on the left. Babesia is much more serious for patients who do not have a spleen. Since you son is treating babs my guess is that the treatment or meds are stressing the spleen.
If the pain gets worse or becomes more frequent then obviously you need to worry. From what you have said I don't think it is time to panic -- just continue to be watchful.
This is just my opinion and not medical advice.
Bea Seibert
Posts: 7306 | From Martinsville,VA,USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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robi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5547
posted
I agree with siebert .......... my LLMD always thought my left side pain was spleen related. I did one round of mepron...... 3 months worth.
The pain is now rare for me. I thik babs/spleen/mepron is spleen issue. SOme have here spleen removed. It is one of those " not nesessary organs". Well, I wanna die with all my organs I think they are ALL necessary.
maybe an ultrasound?
robi
-------------------- Now, since I put reality on the back burner, my days are jam-packed and fun-filled. ..........lily tomlin as 'trudy' Posts: 2503 | From here | Registered: Apr 2004
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posted
This was my daughters first symptoms 4 years ago when she first became ill. This symptom returned in the spring and she is now being treated for babesia. It now comes and goes. Moist heat sometimes helps her.
Posts: 488 | From NY | Registered: Oct 2004
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char
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8315
posted
What a blessing to wake up this morning to your wise and comforting words!
Thank you thank you!
The Merck diagram was so awesome and I have trouble pulling this sort of thing when I am in urgent need of it. Elizabeth, did the pain worsen with exhertion? At least calming to hear you have had side pain of the mysterious coming and going herxing nature. We are not crazy!
My hunch is that it is not time to launch into emergency mode, thanks Bea, as I fear that half a dozen scans will probably not give us anything conclusive and wear us out. Will do what LLMd suggests of course.
Yes, Robi, we want to keep the spleen.
I read some scrarey research studies done with HIV patients with compromised spleens and it is not good, especially in terms of tolerating needed treatments. The old vicious cycle. We WILL break out!
Feel like we can have a pleasant, less anxious day.
You done a good deed. Sorry I can't retain all the names. You can't start a pm, then peek back at who said what, right?
Char
[ 20. August 2006, 12:12 PM: Message edited by: char ]
Posts: 1230 | From US | Registered: Nov 2005
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posted
Char: No you are not crazy! And it sometimes did get worse with exertion. Sometimes it almost felt like a cramp you can get when running, even if I did NOT exert. Very wierd. Haven't had that in a while, Thank goodness.
Tutu, in the diagrams I've looked at (like the merc link in my last post), the pancreas appears to be mostly on the left, although it does extend a little to the right. I'm not an expert though, all my anatomy being learned on the web! There's a kidney on the left, too, though, just to make things a little more interesting/confusing.
Char, it sounds like you're taking a good approach. Have a much less worried day! And yes, do keep us posted. These things are just so disconcerting...
I have yet to find any liver support that does not counteract the activities of Mepron.
I am sorry I dont have anything to offer about your son's current situation. Hope he recovers quickly.
Posts: 1950 | From New Mexico | Registered: Sep 2001
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posted
I have the same thing, and I don't know what it is.
One explanation is swollen lymphnodes, which could explain the feeling of the pain moving around.
Posts: 187 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Dec 2004
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There's a kidney on the left, too, though, just to make things a little more interesting/confusing. 
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