Serious pain

CPTAUSRET · 06-04-2005, 20:34

I have been experiencing a great deal of pain lately (Right Upper Quadrant) Nancy attributed it to Adhesions due to a through and through hole from approx 40 years ago.

For some reason the images didn't upload.

I'm working on it.

CPTAUSRET · 06-04-2005, 20:59

Another attempt.

**The Reaper** · 06-04-2005, 21:07

Terry:

Those are showing as colonoscopy images, IIRC.

Wrong end for RUQ.

TR

CPTAUSRET · 06-04-2005, 21:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Reaper

Terry:

Those are showing as colonoscopy images, IIRC.

Wrong end for RUQ.

TR

TR:

Good point.

I had been experiencing serious RUQ pain, bad enough that it doubled me over on more than one occasion. I am pretty stoic about pain, I have lived with it for 40 years. One particular day I wasn't able to stay upright for more than 20 minutes at a time, it seemed that the only thing that relieved the pain was to lay down. That's when Nancy made a phone call, and I went through a whole series of tests, Sonogram, CT scan, X-ray, Colonoscopy, and Endoscopy.

The images are from the Endoscopy, that is a "huge bleeding Duodenal ulcer", it had eroded down to an artery which was leaking, the Doc was concerned that the air that they blow in may have ruptured through. It hadn't.

I tested negative for Heliobacter, so the ulcer was attributed to Pyroxicam, which I was switched to because I had been on too much Ibuprofen for way too long, 800 mgs 4 times daily for approx 30 plus years.

I had no intention of going to a Doctor, once again Nancy saved my bacon. If that artery had burst on a transatlantic flight, it could have been lights out.

I am posting this in order to alert anybody taking NSAIDS, and especially Pyroxicam to be careful.

Terry

CPTAUSRET · 06-05-2005, 06:00

TR was correct, it shouldn't have been presented as RUQ pain, but it was! It still hurts there, just not as much. Still don't know why.

I was put on Aciphex twice daily for two weeks, then once per day til they (Aciphex) run out. Then I go on Nexium (the purple pill). I will think of Doc, and Wally everytime I take a Nexium.

Since we have more than one home (they all needed to be stocked with meds) and since we are travelling most of the time, Nancy keeps a case stocked with meds in her carry on bag we purchased either a 6 or 7 mos supply, and the bill was right at $1400.

Terry

**Eagle5US** · 06-05-2005, 10:37

I am just terribly happy that you are A-OK there P.I.C.

Eagle

swatsurgeon · 06-06-2005, 06:30

Actually, duodenal ulcer pain, duodenitis, gastritis or ulcer, gallbladder disease and colitis can all present with symptoms in the same general location. The key is PAIN IS A SIGN OF A PROBLEM!!!!
Significant pain" doubled me over" is the warning shot over the bow (to use a navy phrase...you guys just shot to kill, not warn them you're there!!) so seek medical attention for those complaints.
Glad you're not perf'ed or hemorrhaging...both of which may require the use of one of us friendly surgeons....damn fun case too..........

ss

CPTAUSRET · 06-06-2005, 08:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eagle5US

I am just terribly happy that you are A-OK there P.I.C.

Eagle

Love you too, brother.

Terry

CPTAUSRET · 06-06-2005, 09:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by swatsurgeon

Actually, duodenal ulcer pain, duodenitis, gastritis or ulcer, gallbladder disease and colitis can all present with symptoms in the same general location. The key is PAIN IS A SIGN OF A PROBLEM!!!!
Significant pain" doubled me over" is the warning shot over the bow (to use a navy phrase...you guys just shot to kill, not warn them you're there!!) so seek medical attention for those complaints.
Glad you're not perf'ed or hemorrhaging...both of which may require the use of one of us friendly surgeons....damn fun case too..........

ss

S:

Glad that you weighed in on this thing, I had been experiencing RUQ pain for awhile but not this severe. Nancy kept insisting that it was probably due to Adhesions (I wasn't buying that), I couldn't see how something that occurred just about 40 years ago could come back this severely, in a fairly short period of time.

So she spent about 3 hours getting my history re abdominal traumas, I found out something about myself during that 3 hour period. I could sit down with any one of my buddies and after awhile I would have no problem swapping "War Stories", but it was like pulling teeth when Nancy was asking direct questions re being cut, bayonetted, or shot.

I would hope that everyone learns from my stupidity. Part of the discussion went something like this, Nancy "Well how did you get that scar on your abdomen?" Me "Someone stuck a knife in me." "What kind of knife?" "A large bayonet." "So they stabbed you with a large bayonet?" "No, someone stuck a large bayonet on the end of his rifle through me." "What did you do then?" "I killed him" "How" "With my hands" "Barehanded?" "No, I had a knife." "Why didn't you shoot him?" "No bullets" "So how did you kill him with a knife?" "I had to crowd him" "Why?" "Because he had the advantage, of a long bayonet on the end of his rifle." "So what did you do exactly?" "I got close to him so that he couldn't use his bayonet again, and I killed him with my knife." "How?" "I crowded him and stuck the knife into his belly and reached for his heart." "Why is the scar so long, it must me 18 inches?" "Because I was opened up to check for internal damage, but there was none." "How can a bayonet penetrate through you, without damaging your liver, or your intestines, etc, etc?" "Because their bayonets had no sharp edges, the end looked like a large flat screwdriver, and the rest of it was fluted. It was spring loaded to lay flat along the barrel and stock, and when you would work against the spring to open it, it clipped over the end of the barrel."

This interview went on for approx three hours, three hours the physician who would be seeing me didn't have to spare, Nancy then spent approximate two hour
condensing, and consolidating the report which I presented to the Doctor.

I will try to find her report, and post it.

Terry

jasonglh · 06-06-2005, 09:29

Quote:

couldn't see how something that occurred just about 40 years ago could come back this severely, in a fairly short period of time.

Actually I have seen 1 case like that already myself. Man had an appendectomy at age 16 then at age 67 doubled over in pain. After spending way too much time trying to diagnose some sort of cardiac problem they discovered an adhesion. The pain didnt start until it had completely grown around the small intestine and choked it off. From what I was told it was also some 6 inches from the original incision.

**Razor** · 06-06-2005, 09:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by CPTAUSRET

So she spent about 3 hours getting my history re abdominal traumas...

Oh, what I would have given to be a fly on the wall during that Q&A.

CPTAUSRET · 06-06-2005, 10:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonglh

Actually I have seen 1 case like that already myself. Man had an appendectomy at age 16 then at age 67 doubled over in pain. After spending way too much time trying to diagnose some sort of cardiac problem they discovered an adhesion. The pain didnt start until it had completely grown around the small intestine and choked it off. From what I was told it was also some 6 inches from the original incision.

You have just confirmed wnat Nancy believes, that I know just enough, and am smart enough to get myself in trouble.

Terry

CPTAUSRET · 06-06-2005, 13:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Razor

Oh, what I would have given to be a fly on the wall during that Q&A.

Razor:

I was uncomfortable as hell, I had a problem answering her direct questions, at the end of the three hours we were both pissed at each other.

That information I would have freely shared with my buddies, not sure that makes sense. It must be the bonding we share because of similar experiences, and an appreciation of what we have been through.

Terry

swatsurgeon · 06-06-2005, 14:54

jasonglh,
the primary problem may have been the adhesion from the appendectomy but the symptom that gets the patient to the surgeon is the obstruction. Adhesions themselves are painless....it's the chaos they cause that brings on the pain....
timeline: adhesions form, bowel gets caught doing a dance to get free, bowel gets more 'tangled' or kinked, pain, nausea, vomiting begin, go to surgeon for relief or rupture bowel, get peritonitis and be a sick puppy wishing you saw a surgeon earlier!!!!!