posted
For the last few days I have been having abdominal pain. It started in the pelvic area. It was a burning cramping pain. I thought maybe it was intestinal from abx. I am taking probiotics but still thought maybe. Then it moved up for the last couple of days and now it's mostly under my ribs on the right.
I know this is the gallbladder area. I am A 30 year old male, and very lean. I eat very little fatty or greasy foods. The pain has gotten pretty intense a couple of times but I do not want to go to the horrible ER. I am sure many of you feel the same way. I just don't know when to worry or what this is.
Any thoughts???
Posts: 413 | From nj | Registered: Nov 2005
| IP: Logged |
Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
Is it a sharp pain?
I was reprimanded by my LLMD for not going to the ER when I thought I had a gallbladder attack. If you do have gallstones, if they get caught then they can cause a rupture which can be deadly.
Not trying to scare you, but passing on information. It's not fun to go to the ER, but if you have to go, go.
With the location of where you mentioned pain, I would think it could be the large intestine. The large intestine pretty much raps all the way around the abdomen. So it can cause pain in the lower and upper abdomen.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
| IP: Logged |
Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
Take your temperature several times per day, both in the morning and the evening. Record dates and times, to show to your doctor. If this is an infection, your doc will need the temperature to help evaluate.
How has your appetite been. Are you having normal bowel movements. Any nausea or vomiting.
If you look at an anatomy text, the liver is fairly large. The gall bladder is usually located straight down from your right nipple, below the ribs. When it is block and inflamed, the pain is often referred to the right shoulder blade.
If the gall bladder duct is blocked and less bile flows into the intestines to help digest fats, the stools will be pale. Bile is green, and contributes to the brown color of stool. I can't tell from your description if the problem is gall bladder.
Your doctor's office may be open on Monday, Memorial Day. You can call tonight, if you want, and inquire from the answering service when they will open, so that you know how early you can call for an appointment.
I'll check back to get the answers to the questions.
Carol
Posts: 6956 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
I have the same pain for the last 2 years. It used to come and go. This time it came and stayed along with belching and stomach pain. I've had 2 Endoscopies with ultrasound and MRI.; Tues. I will have an Colonscopy. So far he found a stricture in the bile duct. He didn't think this was the problem but hasen't compleyely ruled it out. Digestive symptoms are so common with lyme but you have to rule out other possibilities. It's hard to tell where lyme ends and other non related conditions begin.
Posts: 789 | From CT, | Registered: Jun 2006
| IP: Logged |
posted
Hi Carol, Here are some answers to you questions: I have been having normal bowell movements. I have a good apetite. No fever. Had a couple of bouts with nausea but not constant. Right now the pain isn't sharp, and it's in the center. It's a burning like severe hunger.
A few hours ago it was sharp and under right ribs. I have been trying to watch for urine color, stool color, jaundice etc. but that seems ok.
I think I might feel a little better after I eat which makes me suspect Gastritis or Peptic ulcer, but who knows and how does that explain the pain in gallbladder area.
Thanks for your help, Rich
Posts: 413 | From nj | Registered: Nov 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
Several possibilities that have already been mentioned. I have had gallbladder attack, intestinal bloating from yeast which caused abdominal pain. And one that no one has mentioned yet, which was a problem with mepron affecting liver. Had to stop it for a while.
Don't know if any of these pertain to you, though.
The gallbladder problem ceased when I went off rocephin for a while. The intestinal yeast was fixed by change in diet + probiotics + diflucan.
Guess you have considered h. pylori....but that would probably not be just on right side.
Posts: 8430 | From Not available | Registered: Oct 2000
| IP: Logged |
Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
Rich, Hmmm, it doesn't really sound like gall bladder.
Have you tried an antacid, such as Tums? Or baking soda? (Directions on the box.)
I don't know what medications and supplements you're taking. Gastritis can be caused by medication.
In my case, I was taking Motrin for pain, when I developed stomach upset and severe belching. Hah, even my husband noticed that I sounded like some of his former frat brothers.
My sister clued me in that these were symptoms of gastritis. (Duh...I am so dense. Can't believe I was a nurse and didn't remember that.) When I stopped the Motrin, it improved. But then I had to find something else for pain.
So, next question: What meds are you on. You should have paperwork from the pharmacy with a list of side effects.
Carol
Posts: 6956 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
For the 1st 2 1/2 weeks into my amoxicillin I had soft stools, then a few days ago they became hard little balls. I had an attack of abd. pain sooo severe the other night that I had to leave work and almost went in the ambulance. I also vomited(prob. from the pain same as I do from migraines) Later in the day my bowels finally moved alittle and it went away. I am now drinking prune juice because I am paralyzed with fear of having such pain again, especially in my workplace. It was actually as bad as labor, worse even and I had to pant through it. I used to get this a few years ago. It may be irritable bowel, altho I was never diagnosed. It did make me wonder if it was connected to my lyme.
-------------------- LITTLE LYMIE Posts: 29 | From Tamaqua, Pa, USA | Registered: Aug 2007
| IP: Logged |
posted
Thank you all for the replies. I am taking 3000mg per day of amoxycillin, just started 1600mg per day of bactrim, 2 probiotic pills, potassium mg suppliment. I think that is it right now. I have just added bactrim 10 days ago or so. I woke up today with less pain but yesterday morning wasn't bad either so I am waiting to see.
Also usually as soon as I get up i need to go #2 but not today, and not as much yesterday now that I really think about it. This does happen with me from time to time. Hope this isn't too personal
The abdominal pain went away yesterday afternoon for about an hour and the rest of my symptoms were at bay also. For that hour I felt better than I have in years. But symptoms started creeping back......... Thanks for the help,Rich
Posts: 413 | From nj | Registered: Nov 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
Does anyone think it could be from adding bactrim (septra). I don't recall having taken a sulfa abx before. Just a thought.
Posts: 413 | From nj | Registered: Nov 2005
| IP: Logged |
northstar
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7911
posted
I have read that you have to increase your water intake with the bactrim/septra. May have something to do with kidneys processing it.
Now, the pain....I have experienced pain from septra, but not liver area, more lower pelvic. I did have vertical stabs of pain. Someone told me their llmd said it was from babs.
Caution: that is hearsay!!!!
This is what I am reading from your post:
Your pain wandered. And you're occasionally irregular.
Water intake may be a problem again, here, so I would increase water intake, try a little psyllium booster, apple a day, extra salad (with lemon juice and olive oil dressing), and supplement with omegas (for oil). Even a low dose of cold pressed flax oil, to help with lubrication.
If colon does not clear, everything backs up.
Also, I have had liver, gallbladder, and speen pains. All from excessive die-off and muscle tension around organs (inabilitiy to clear as fast as it is arriving) according to chiro.
The chiro loosens fascia and muscles around the organs, and the problem dissipates. Also, acup. helps me, too.
Just some things that I experienced, and what helped me. The sulfa did not affect me the same way you are describing. But everyone is different.
North.
Posts: 1331 | From hither and yonder | Registered: Sep 2005
| IP: Logged |
Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
quote:Originally posted by improver: Hope this isn't too personal.
Actually, it's an important part of trying to figure out what's wrong, and how serious the problem is.
Carol
Posts: 6956 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
Not to be too simplistic about this, but it sounds like you have some hard stool that is working its way through your colon (which goes in a spiral like fashion clock wise as you look down at your gut).
One thing that has helped me in the past. In the morning first thing, get a hot mug of water and sit back down in bed. Drink the water as best as you can (as it is hot), like a tea, then lie back down. Massage your abdomen in a clock wise manner (as you look down it is clockwise). See if you can feel any places that are harder than others and try to move the contents in your bowel along its way. After about 15 minutes or so, you will probably have to visit the bathroom.
I agree with the hydration and the lemon and olive oil in the morning can help too.
Take care, Robin
Posts: 276 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2006
| IP: Logged |
posted
I have increased my water intake since starting the bactrim but maybe it's not enough. I didn't take the bactrim today. I am calling llmd tomorrow to see if he has any input. I am wondering about the colon thing. Could that cause the burning pain in the upper gi area as well as the stabbing under the ribs on the right. I forget what I learned about the gi stuff a while back.
Posts: 413 | From nj | Registered: Nov 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
In my experience, gas, hard stools, etc. can cause all kinds of different pains in the abdomen. They usually move over time as the contents move.
If the pain stays in one place and is constant over a day or more, then I would be more concerned.
If you are not regular, I would try to work on that. Magnesium can loosen the bowels, for example. Vitamin C flush, etc.
Robin
Posts: 276 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2006
| IP: Logged |
lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
just my two cents: remember every pain does not have to be lyme. a close friend has been trying to figure out "lyme pain" in his lower abdomen for quite awhile...? bladder ? bowel? (other stuff in the area...) turns out he has had two hernias for a really long time and is very lucky he didn't burst them considering the things he has been doing.
i learned a long time ago to check out the easy stuff and fix it...it cuts down on your overall pain. my varicose veins and trigger thumb were two examples.
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
I am doning better with the pain for the last 2 days after stopping the bactrim. Might just be a coincidence though. Of course some of my other symptoms are now flaring some but at least mos of the abdominal pain is gone. Thanks for all the replies.
Posts: 413 | From nj | Registered: Nov 2005
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic