Any idea what may be wrong with me?

For three months now, I have had a pain in my lower right side just above my appendics. Sometimes it feels like it is lower, sometimes it feels like it around my rib cage area, but for the most part, it's just to the right of my belly button. I've also had strange rashes on my chest, and been pretty itchy in many areas including the embarassing ones.

I have had so many tests trying to figure out what's going on:

- 2 CT Scans ofmy abdomen with contrast - on one they felt a couple lymph nodes may have been slighty large, but otherwise normal
- Chest xray - normal
- CBC - normal
- Parasites - normal
- Blood in stool test came back positive BUT I had a medium rare steak the night before so I have to retake it
- Temperature, blood pressure, EVERYTHING is normal except this pain, the rashes, and itching.

The pain is pretty much constant and I can't discern if anything makes it worse such as food. I'm getting more and more scared especially now that the pain has started to spread to my left side as well. I want to be better educated when I talk to my doctor next. I have another appointment with my doctor in a week. I'm just curious what I should be asking him about. Are there any tests I should demand?

Thank you so much!!!!

Try and see if you can get an MRI on your abdomen done. It's the safest way to check for crohn's or colitis inflammation in the small bowel because it uses magnets instead of radiation.

My first visit to the GI doctor was just an office exam and after explaining my symptoms which were similar to yours, she asked if I had rashes which I didn't. I also told her I found some relief by taking Claritan. She said that because the Claritan helped I might have systemic mastocytosis, but I was missing the rashes. Maybe you can google that and read up on it and in the meantime maybe take a claritan, I don't think it could hurt you.

The other thing is you may have irritable bowel syndrome, which is sort of a catchall diagnosis.

Hang in there, if nothing else everyone here understands abdominal pain and we know to some extent what you are going through. It's not easy or fun.

Good luck!

p.s. it turned out I had Crohns disease

Hi VeryScared and :welcome:

Unfortunately normal test results aren't uncommon around here. Perhaps you have reached the point of more invasive tests needing to be done in attempt to get an diagnosis, even these tests may be normal though, but maybe it's worth a try. I'm talking about Endoscopy, Colonoscopy or pill cam, just something to think about. There are stacks of friendly and knowledgeable people here and no doubt there will others along with better answers than me! I hope you get the answers you need and soon.

I'm glad you found us and I hope you stick around. Please keep us posted on how you are doing. Welcome aboard!

Take care,
Dusty

Hi VeryScared, welcome to the forum. Are you still just seeing a general practitioner? After 3 months, I'd say it's time to see a GI. I hope you get some answers soon. There are several on here who have a hard time getting diagnosed. Good luck!!

If you aren't seeing a GI, I recommend that as well if at all possible. I've been to many general practitioners due to the lack of insurance and since I'm well versed and informed about my crohn's disease, I may have known MORE than them about it.

I just went to the ER yesterday with complications, and everything done on me made me look like a saint in the health world--- it's not the case though, I know the real answers can only be found with a GI doctor.

I have a form of psoriasis as a result of my immune system being out of whack from the Crohn's. It's DEFINITELY not uncommon to have all sorts of rashes and skin tags as a result of Crohn's Disease either, it directly relates to your immune system. Also, your iileum is exactly where you pinpointed your pain and it's one of the most common areas that inflammation starts in crohn's patience.

Don't freak out that you have it quite yet, I just know most about crohn's because it's my focus of research, just thought I'd give you a place to base your research off and see if your rash and other symptoms match with common info given online

Good luck with everything!

Hi veryscared
and welcome

Yes, I bet you are!
Ian has given you some great advice there and Dusty too!
GPs are the first port of call, but I'm afraid they're not specialists in IBD, so you need a referral to rule out IBD.
good luck and any questions, fire away, there's always someone here to help
lotsa luv
Joan xxx

hello and welcome.I am new at this and there are alot of helpful and good people here.i have crohn's but the majority of my sharp stabbing pains come from the right side by my rib cage.a g i visit sounds like it might be a good idea.good luck hope you get the right answers.

Hi there and welcome! As you probably know Crohns is a very unique disease which can present in all kinds of ways. I hope you get a diagnosis soon, let us know how you get on!

Hi I agree ask for MRI and asked to be checked for Crohn's or Colitis I have Crohn's and that were mine started.

Good Luck Sue

How did your doctors appointment go? Any news?