[spyer-secol]

I'd just like to introduce myself. My sign on name is spyer-secol ( my jedi name ). I am a type 2 diabetic with a1c scores in the low 6 to high 5 range and starting to lose weight. Here is my problem. PAIN!: I have a pain that starts just below my shoulder blades and wraps around to just under my right side rib cage area. I have been tested for everything from heart disease to pancreatitis to gall bladder function. But my witch doctor can't seem to find the problem! She also is not very interested in helping me with managing my pain, so while I am suffering with this I also am undergoing all these tests! Can anyone help me with some possible idease as to what may be causing me to suffer so much? Please help!
Spyer-Secol

[adiantum]

G'day spyer-secol, Welcome to the best support group on the www. Theres a few jedi's here too .
Sorry, I cant offer any suggestions to your pain & can only sympathize with you....um what about stones in the kidneys?
I too have a mystery pain on my right side & when it's bad it's horrid. I've had mine for years & still its undiagnozed

[Janlaton]

Recently was diagnosed with inflamation in cartledge of ribs and sternum. Something... Chrondritis do not remember the first word. Sounds much like what you are saying. Docs just said take motrin and rest. Use heating pad at night. Happy 4th to all in the USA!

[spyer-secol]

adiantum,
It's not stones of either the kindey or the gallblader. Allready been checked for that. But I do seem to be going along the same path that you are. When the pain comes (more often now) it is really bad. Sometimes I can hardly stand through the agony of it all.

[deunger]

spyer-secol,

I think Janlaton may be talking about costochondritis, which is inflammation in the joints between the ribs and sternum. I have heard of the pain occurring towards the side of the chest, but not in the back. The treatment is, like Janlaton said, a NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, like Advil or Aleve), and using a heating pad. I am by no means a medical expert (only a lowly medical student), so please make sure you see your doctor if it doesn't go away! If you can describe a little more about the pain though, it might be helpful. For instance, when did it start? And does anything make it better or worse (i.e. exercise? heat/cold? any meds?)? Do you notice it at any particular time of day? And what other tests have you had so far?

Deb

[jacobsam622]

The only thing I know that causes that much pain is pregnancy and kidney stones. I am leaning more toward kidney stones here If its small enough its not going to show up on a test. drink lots of water as much as you can without making yourself sick If that doesnt work Try some "Jack D" or Jose C. I have had kibney stone about four times and they never showed up on a test. Four year a go I went to the hospital in pain like on other and was told that my bg was over 500. It passed three days later and it was the size of a small pebble. The pain caused by kidney stone starts below the ribcage in the back and works its way up but its on the inside. Hope you feel better soon

ps May the force be with you

I am a member of the 100 club I have seen Star Wars 102 times 42 times in the theatre.

[spyer-secol]

I was taking avandia 4mg till just 2 weeks ago when the witch doctor took me off that and put me on glimepiride 1mg with metformin 1000 mg. Also taking crestor 10 mg and lisinopril 2.5mg for preventive measures. Blood pressure is around 65/105 normal for me. The pain sometimes comes with exercise wich I do by commuting to work on my bicycle ( 20 miles round trip 5 times a week). Other tests taken include ultrasound for stones. Blood tests for liver and kidney function. Heart stress test, bp only went to 80/140 in a hard run! And a few others I can't recall what they were for.

If you can't fix it with a hammer you have an electrical problem! Anon aviation mechanic.

[spyer-secol]

Anyone hear of gastroparesis? What can you tell me about it? Are there any tests that may detect this?

[jacobsam622]

Here is some info

What causes gastroparesis?
The most common cause of gastroparesis is diabetes. People with diabetes have high blood glucose, also called blood sugar, which in turn causes chemical changes in nerves and damages the blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients to the nerves. Over time, high blood glucose can damage the vagus nerve.

Some other causes of gastroparesis are

surgery on the stomach or vagus nerve
viral infections
anorexia nervosa or bulimia
medications—anticholinergics and narcotics—that slow contractions in the intestine
gastroesophageal reflux disease
smooth muscle disorders, such as amyloidosis and scleroderma
nervous system diseases, including abdominal migraine and Parkinson’s disease
metabolic disorders, including hypothyroidism
Many people have what is called idiopathic gastroparesis, meaning the cause is unknown and cannot be found even after medical tests.

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What are the symptoms of gastroparesis?
Signs and symptoms of gastroparesis are

heartburn
pain in the upper abdomen
nausea
vomiting of undigested food—sometimes several hours after a meal
early feeling of fullness after only a few bites of food
weight loss due to poor absorption of nutrients or low calorie intake
abdominal bloating
high and low blood glucose levels
lack of appetite
gastroesophageal reflux
spasms in the stomach area
Eating solid foods, high-fiber foods such as raw fruits and vegetables, fatty foods, or drinks high in fat or carbonation may contribute to these symptoms.

The symptoms of gastroparesis may be mild or severe, depending on the person. Symptoms can happen frequently in some people and less often in others. Many people with gastroparesis experience a wide range of symptoms, and sometimes the disorder is difficult for the physician to diagnose.

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How is gastroparesis diagnosed?
After performing a full physical exam and taking your medical history, your doctor may order several blood tests to check blood counts and chemical and electrolyte levels. To rule out an obstruction or other conditions, the doctor may perform the following tests:

Upper endoscopy. After giving you a sedative to help you become drowsy, the doctor passes a long, thin tube called an endoscope through your mouth and gently guides it down the throat, also called the esophagus, into the stomach. Through the endoscope, the doctor can look at the lining of the stomach to check for any abnormalities.

Ultrasound. To rule out gallbladder disease and pancreatitis as sources of the problem, you may have an ultrasound test, which uses harmless sound waves to outline and define the shape of the gallbladder and pancreas.

Barium x ray. After fasting for 12 hours, you will drink a thick liquid called barium, which coats the stomach, making it show up on the x ray. If you have diabetes, your doctor may have special instructions about fasting. Normally, the stomach will be empty of all food after 12 hours of fasting. Gastroparesis is likely if the x ray shows food in the stomach. Because a person with gastroparesis can sometimes have normal emptying, the doctor may repeat the test another day if gastroparesis is suspected.

Gastroparesis

[spyer-secol]

jacobsam622
Thank you for that information. Doesn't sound like much fun but that may be what I am going through.

If you can't fix it with a hammer you aren't using a big enough hammer!

[spyer-secol]

Well, I'm going to the witch doctor today and I'm going to ask that she test me for gastroparesis. Thanks everyone!

[Janlaton]

Thanks that is the right spelling of my problem, The pain starts in my lower side and moves around to the abdomen. I have had everything from MRIs to Stress test to eliminate everything else but the costochrondritis is what they keep coming back to. Hope you do not have it!

[spyer-secol]

Well, the witch doctor has given me a referal to se a GI, so now on to the next step.

[EllieK]

Hello and welcome,


If nothing is turning up on the traditional medical front...

Have you thought about seeing a massage therapist or body worker? This pain could also be caused by ribs being out, twisted fascia tissue and the like. Or plain ol' not breathing correctly (I know that sounds wierd, but you would be surprised how much breathing can effect things).

You would need to find a good one (not just relaxation massage). I don't suggest a physical therapist unless you know one that is really super good and will go outside the box.

Massage will also help bring your sugars down (not something traditional docs will tell you btw). So if you do insulin watch for that.

If you want more info I'd be happy to chat with you. I have studied several body work methods and know about even more so I might be able to at least point you in a direction.

If you get really desparate - hypno therapy has been known to work on many types of pain and IBS. so that could be worth a shot too. (I've tried it, seen it done and some have made drastic improvements of pain levels without increasing meds)
Hope this isn't too far out there for you all.....but my theory is to keep looking until you find something that works. I am able to walk today because of non traditional treatments.

Best of luck in getting to the bottom of this - I know how frustrating it can be. Please write often and let us know how it goes.

[kgm0612]

Welcome to the forum. Sorry to read of the pain that you're having. Good luck with the GI specialist. I hope he/she can
diagnose the correct problem for you.

Karen