preparing for doctor's appointment (kinda long)

[cheerful chickadee]

Hi all! I've been having some strange symptoms over the past few months that I'm seeing my doctor for. As of yet he can't seem to figure out what is causing the pain I'm having in my chest and abdomen. I've had an abdominal ultrasound, chest x-ray, EKG and a load of blood tests all which come back normal except the ultrasound which said I have a slightly enlarged spleen. I have not had any viral of bacterial infections or mono which are the main things that cause an enlarged spleen. Blood counts are all normal as well as kidney and liver function. I'm frustrated with not knowing what's causing these things.

I'm seeing my doc again tomorrow and I was thinking of writing down ALL of my symptoms and bringing it with me since many of my symptoms come and go. Is this crazy to do? I often forget to bring the small symptoms up to my doctor when I am there. Some of the things I've been experiencing are probably not related to the chest pain but I think I should mention them anyways because it might help narrow things down. I just don't want to him to think I am crazy or a hypochondriac if I bring in this long list of problems with me

 

[luvwinnie]

DEFINITELY do the list. It's easy to forget these things once you are at the dr's office. Good luck!

 

[budbeerlady]

When I had abdmonial pains I did this. It was my Doc's suggestion. After the obvious preg test, acid reducer? ultra sound, blood work, ultra sound again, etc. They had me write what I ate, what I did, any Pain, any nausea, etc. They never did figure it out and it went away after a few more months. I still randomly have sharp pains but they could find nothing medically wrong with me. Good luck, it is a frustrating search!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Yes, write and bring the list and then tell your doctor that you don't want them to think that you are a hypochondriac , but you wanted to make sure that you were clear about all your symptoms. That way you're nipping the hypochondria idea in the bud, but explaining that you are trying to be helpful.

What chest pains are you having. I've been having pains, but haven't had any tests. My internist things I might have been having them because I was taking so many Rx meds for migraines, but I'm still having them even without taking many meds. I need to talk to the dr again about them, but I've been procrastinating (I know, not a good thing to put off).

 

[cheerful chickadee]

Thank you all for your quick replies! I will take my list with me and tell him "I'm really not a hypochondriac, really!"

Tigger&Belle- they're weird nagging twinge type pains most of the time, one area I get them pretty sharply is right in the middle of my chest and then under & around my breast on the side of my body, I also get a painful pressure under my ribcage/breastbone and into my abdomen which radiates around the side to my back. I *think* the pressure is from the enlarged spleen but I'm not sure. It worries me because spleens don't usually just have issues on their own, it's usually a symptom of something else or so I've read on the internet. Worries the bejeezus outta me! Then you add in the fact that the pain is in more than one area and there's no "constant" it's just getting very hard to narrow down.

 

[DisMN]

I've had a similar weird pain/discomfort for about 13 years now and went to the doctor many times to try to figure out what was going on. The pain started soon after I had taken a fall off a ladder and bumped that area on a table.
Each and every doc dismissed me with "there's nothing in that area of your body that can cause the pain you say you're experiencing".

So I dropped it and never mentioned it to the doctor I have now.


I had a hysterectomy a month ago and the first thing the surgeon said to me was that he had "found" something. After the initial sense of panic I noticed the doc was smiling so I knew it probably wasn't cancer or something like that.
Remember, I had NOT mentioned my odd pain to this doctor.......so I pointed to the area and said "Was it right here?" He grinned and said "Yep. You have a huge, and I don't often use the word HUGE, adhesion. I have no doubt it's been causing you some pain and discomfort. Unfortunately it's in an area that I could not get to with the angle of the instruments I already had inside you."

I have very similar symptoms as you. It comes and goes depending on how much activity I've had. I can feel it right through to my back.

Unfortunately now there's not much you can do about adhesions except try to deal with the discomfort. Unless they block the intestines or interfere in how your lungs are working they don't seem to offer surgery as an alternative.


Good luck. I hope you figure out what's going on with your body. I know how nervewracking and frustrating it is to have the symptoms but no answer as to what's causing them.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Could be GERD (acid reflux)?

I also had "issues" like you describe. One day I took my dd's prevacid and it went away temporarily. Then I knew. My previous doctor thought I suffered from anxiety. She gave me anxiety pills.

At least I know I am not crazy. I need to see the gastro and get scoped. Not looking forward to that.

I hope you find out!!! It took me 2 years to figure it out...on my own, I might add!!! I had saw a gastro and he didn't believe me. Just make sure your doctors are good.