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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Posted 1/4/2007 4:34 PM (GMT -7)
Hi, I'm new to the board, but I've been reading a lot of the threads here.

In July, I had what I thought was a kidney infection -- pain in URQ and flank. Doc put me on antibiotics and it seemingly went away.

Pain returned about a week ago. It's located in the URQ and radiates along my rib to the back. I had my gallbladder removed about 10 years ago (I'm 32 now). I have had bouts with diarrhea/loose bowels, but not constipation.

On New Years, I went to the ER. I had an ultrasound, an ab/pelvic CT scan and a CBC. Nothing was found out of the ordinary. I am completely freaking myself out, thinking I have colon cancer or something.

Any ideas? Should I go to a GI or wait it out? Sorry for the TMI, but I'm a worrier and I feel like I am making myself sick with fear.

Thanks,

Heather

Posted 1/4/2007 4:54 PM (GMT -7)
Hi Heather,
Welcome to HealingWell! :-)
Your pain can be caused by various things... You could just have gas and bloating that radiates, which is probably IBS. You could also have an ulcer. Or, you could have some sludge or gall stone lodged in your duct that was left behind after your removal. Your best bet is to see a GI specialist to rule anything serious out. Most likely an upper GI endoscopy (EGD) can help rule out an ulcer or damage to the esophagus.

Hopefully others will be along to offer their input.

Posted 1/4/2007 4:55 PM (GMT -7)

It's very unlikely that you have colon cancer, given your age...and everybody, IBS or not, gets bouts of diarrhea occasionally.  But if you are worried about it, the only way to ease your fears would be to get a colonoscopy.  IBS can cause pain in varying regions as well as malformed stools, so it could be as simple as that. 

After my appendix ruptured when I was 7, I had bouts of what I like to call the "phantom appendix," where I get sharp pains in my LRQ region...never could figure out what it was, but I figure an ache and pain here or there isn't worrisome.  If the pain is consistent and always in the same spot and occurs frequently, you should get it checked out.

Posted 1/4/2007 5:02 PM (GMT -7)
A lady I used to work with got what she called phantom gall bladder attacks about once a year. She'd get intense pain and diarrhea, just as if she was having an attack.

I occasionally get a cramp-sort of pain in that area, but luckily nothing else.

Three things you can do to start with: One, I found that after GB removal, there are still things I can't consume, like caffeine and a lot of fried products. I don't know if you are eating a diet sutiable for a sensitive gut, but if not, that's a place to start. And start by eliminating everything from your diet that made you sick before you had your GB out. Contrary to what a lot of doctors say, you're never 100% normal after surgery and you can't eat anything you want in whatever amounts you want.

Two, try taking Caltrate 600 w/ vitamin D. You can have up to three a day. Calcium is naturally constipating and it helps soothe minor gut inflammations. I got my guts tore up on some sugar alcohols a couple of summers ago and the calcium immediately got rid of my pain and took care of my rampant diarrhea too. It doesn't help everyone's pain, but if your guts are inflammed because of too much bile acid sitting in them, then it might be the ticket.

Finally, if the calcium doesn't clear up your diarrhea totally, see a GI and ask for Welchol. That's what I take to absorb my extra bile and it keeps me from having diarrhea all the time. I've been on it nearly three years and love it.
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