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Abdominal pain: should I be concerned?

CheapnCheerful
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Hello there! 

This is my first post here, so please don’t bite ️

I am a 41 year old man and for the past 3-4 months have been suffering with postprandial pain (pain after eating), if I don’t eat, I have no pain at all. 

My blood tests are all normal apart from one thing : Alkaline Phosphatase is elevated and still climbing! 

I had an ultrasound 3 weeks ago which showed multiple gall stones, however everything looked fine apart from the fact they couldn’t see the Pancreas properly due to gas, so I’m having an MRCP this Tuesday and a gastroscopy in 3 weeks time. 

The pain I get is like a dull ache, and mostly seems to be just below my sternum, and radiates to my back. Having a bath REALLY helps, the heat seems to relieve my pain to the extent where I’m often in pain before and have little to zero pain afterwards. Also it’s worst at night when I lie down. 

My GP thinks it’s gall stones causing the pain... but my consultant isn’t so sure, gall stone pain is normally sharp and on the right side of the abdomen. That’s not the pain I get. 

I’m worried I’ve got something wrong with my pancreas, I was foolish when I was younger and used to drink a lot and take a stupid amount of painkillers (I now do neither) and I’m worried I’ve done some damage to my body that can’t be reversed. 

I guess I’ll know more after my MRI scan, but I can’t help thinking I’ve got something awful wrong with me. I guess I’m looking for answers at the moment, and I know most here won’t be able to give me them but I know I’m in a place of caring and understanding people so would appreciate some help and advice. 

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    Hello CheapnCheerful and welcome to the forum.  As you realise we are not medics here so it would not be wise for us to let loose with a  lot of different guesses.   It is human nature to fear the worst when you are waiting for results but most of these fears turn out to  be unfounded.  At times like these we all think about the riotings of our younger years (don't I know it) but if everyone was punished for these well the population would be considerably smaller!    Whatever else you do, don't google your symptoms as that will make you even more worried and for no good reason (we say here that Dr Google is a quack who should have been struck off years ago).   Whatever it is I hope that appropriate treatment without too much hassle can be put in place speedily to relieve your pain - and that is what you want really.  Doctors often don't want to give a definite opinion on first discussion hence the necessity for tests.  Do let us know how you get on.  By the way, I wasn't going to bite - I had my breakfast some time ago.  Best wishes.  Annie

  • Offline in reply to Annieliz

    Thats good to know, not keen on being bitten ️

    So I had my MRI scan this morning and since then I’ve had intermittent tinnitus as well as a feeling of being detached, are there any known side effects from an MRI? 

    I’m a staff nurse and my back was so painful lying completely flat that I had to use the buzzer half way through to tell them I couldn’t continue, and was told that they had enough information from the previous set of scans to not need the last few minutes worth... 

    i mean is that a good thing? I’m very knowledgable in some aspects of A&P especially cardiothoracics but radiology isn’t really my thing... so telling me they’ve seen enough, makes me think all sorts of things - was there a mass? Did everything look so wonderful they didn’t need anymore scans? So many questions I have! I’m told I should find out the results early next week, if it’s something that can be cured, operated on then I have no problem with that. My concern is it’s something they can’t fix, being unable to control the situation is really getting me down. 

    Thankyou for your reply though, it made me feel accepted and able to continue this conversation. I know I’m not the only person in the world with problems it just feels that way sometimes so it’s good to be open and honest with other people experiencing their own problems.

  • Offline in reply to CheapnCheerful

    HI again.  You are letting your imagination run riot!  It very likely means just what they said.  It is a waste of nervous energy to try to guess what us going on.  I realise everyone reacts differently but I would have been quite happy with the information you were given.    I am sorry if I sound dismissive of the medical problems you have shared with us; it is really because in my secret heart I would be thinking similar thoughts!   Anyway, I can only recommend that you keep busy, chat with your friends about what is happening and the time will pass.  Let us know. Annie

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