M
Motu
Guest
I need help on narrowing down what I might have! I'm male, 27 years old, 5'6, 160lbs toned fit
physique, healthy-eater, non-smoker, and a workaholic. I apologize about the length of this post,
but I think the history is relevant.
In mid-October, due to immense work-place stress I boiled-over and collapsed. I went on sick leave,
felt extremely fatigued (12-16 hours of uninterrupted sleep every day), and suffered from constant
chest ache - it felt as though someone had kicked me in the heart, and I noticed what I described to
my doctor as frequent 'flutterings' of my heart with sudden sharp pains in the same area (left of
sternum but right of nipple). As well I started to notice sudden (but infrequent) sharp pains on the
left side of my abdomen, best described as what I imagine a sharp knife stuck in and twisted would
feel like. As I'd had kidney stones 8 years ago and noticed pain(twinging) in the same area, I
mentioned this to the doctor.
He set me up with blood tests (ok.. however mentioned a slightly high cholesterol - which I found
strange as I specifically choose low-fat meals), urine tests(ok), a halter monitor for the
'fluttering'(came back normal). Suggesting it was psychological, he recommended to try and get
active again and to eat at regular times. I still slept a lot (10-12hours a day), but made sure I
ate properly, and over the next 4 weeks the upper chest pains seemed to subside, in fact the sharp
pains returned only every 2 or 3 days now, and were less severe.
However, at Christmas, for the first time in my life, I noticed I was having difficulty eating the
first serving, let alone seconds (I've never turned down Christmas dinner 2nds!). By New Years, I
noticed the left-side abdomen pain (at bottom of ribs) was pretty much a constant ache, with more
frequent sudden sharp pains (especially while driving, while Christmas shopping, whilst waiting in
lines, etc.. probably brought on by stress). Eating dinner is a chore now, I don't look forward to
it. Doctor ordered more blood tests & x-rays, and put me on Prevacid, thinking it was an ulcer. All
came back normal again, but by now I was feeling pain in my stomach (centre, halfway between navel &
sternum)- almost like the pain you feel if you are punched hard in the stomach winding you. Prevacid
didn't help. Doctor ordered ultrasound -- I got the results on Thursday and **he says I have a
gallstone**.
He's arranging for an appointment at the hospital as he says it could be what's causing the problem
but as the pain is on the LEFT, he doesn't want to remove the gall bladder if the stone is not the
cause of the problem (gall bladder is on the RIGHT side).
I am typing this at 4am as I just woke up from the discomfort - it feels like my insides
are burning.
Eating has no noticeable affect - the pains are there when I have an empty stomach and when I've
eaten. I am sounding like a hypochondriac, but I've only made 2 unscheduled visits to the doctors in
the last 15 years and only go if something is really bothering me-- otherwise I ride it out. Not
this time! Any ideas??
Thanks
physique, healthy-eater, non-smoker, and a workaholic. I apologize about the length of this post,
but I think the history is relevant.
In mid-October, due to immense work-place stress I boiled-over and collapsed. I went on sick leave,
felt extremely fatigued (12-16 hours of uninterrupted sleep every day), and suffered from constant
chest ache - it felt as though someone had kicked me in the heart, and I noticed what I described to
my doctor as frequent 'flutterings' of my heart with sudden sharp pains in the same area (left of
sternum but right of nipple). As well I started to notice sudden (but infrequent) sharp pains on the
left side of my abdomen, best described as what I imagine a sharp knife stuck in and twisted would
feel like. As I'd had kidney stones 8 years ago and noticed pain(twinging) in the same area, I
mentioned this to the doctor.
He set me up with blood tests (ok.. however mentioned a slightly high cholesterol - which I found
strange as I specifically choose low-fat meals), urine tests(ok), a halter monitor for the
'fluttering'(came back normal). Suggesting it was psychological, he recommended to try and get
active again and to eat at regular times. I still slept a lot (10-12hours a day), but made sure I
ate properly, and over the next 4 weeks the upper chest pains seemed to subside, in fact the sharp
pains returned only every 2 or 3 days now, and were less severe.
However, at Christmas, for the first time in my life, I noticed I was having difficulty eating the
first serving, let alone seconds (I've never turned down Christmas dinner 2nds!). By New Years, I
noticed the left-side abdomen pain (at bottom of ribs) was pretty much a constant ache, with more
frequent sudden sharp pains (especially while driving, while Christmas shopping, whilst waiting in
lines, etc.. probably brought on by stress). Eating dinner is a chore now, I don't look forward to
it. Doctor ordered more blood tests & x-rays, and put me on Prevacid, thinking it was an ulcer. All
came back normal again, but by now I was feeling pain in my stomach (centre, halfway between navel &
sternum)- almost like the pain you feel if you are punched hard in the stomach winding you. Prevacid
didn't help. Doctor ordered ultrasound -- I got the results on Thursday and **he says I have a
gallstone**.
He's arranging for an appointment at the hospital as he says it could be what's causing the problem
but as the pain is on the LEFT, he doesn't want to remove the gall bladder if the stone is not the
cause of the problem (gall bladder is on the RIGHT side).
I am typing this at 4am as I just woke up from the discomfort - it feels like my insides
are burning.
Eating has no noticeable affect - the pains are there when I have an empty stomach and when I've
eaten. I am sounding like a hypochondriac, but I've only made 2 unscheduled visits to the doctors in
the last 15 years and only go if something is really bothering me-- otherwise I ride it out. Not
this time! Any ideas??
Thanks