posted
I was sitting at lunch minding my own business when I suddently started to feel sharp stabbing pains in my right side, between the ribs and the hip (both of which feel a little tender too). It hurts to lie down, especially when I'm breathing out and feels much worse than a typical "side stitch". Is this something to be concerned about? Should I skip my next class and go to the student health center (assuming I can walk there)?
Posts: 3546 | Registered: Jul 2002
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I know nothing about medicine, though, so I'm just playing it real safe. My fear would be appendicitis, but I don't even know if that's the correct area of the body for that...
Posts: 2112 | Registered: Sep 1999
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posted
Odds are it's gas and/or constipation, going by what seems to come through Madison's ER. (Seriously, this is true. It can be incapacitating.)
However, any lasting (or excessively recurrent) abdominal pain should be checked out, especially if it interferes with walking. Possibilities include but are not limited to the following:
Appendicitis -- more likely if you are nauseated, have a fever, had pain that started at the belly button and migrated to the lower right side, and/or have a jarring pain when you walk. But it's known as the great deceiver, so there really are few classic cases.
UTI/kidney infection/stone -- more likely with burning on urination, increased frequency and urgency, blood in urine, family history (for stones)
Gall bladder problems -- often a crampy/spasmy pain, may be provoked by fatty foods, may have a family history, and the 4 F risk factors of Fat, Female, Forties, and Fertile.
Ovarian cyst -- also an agoinizing pain, tends not to improve
Weirder stuff like liver problems, ectopic pregnancy, etc are less likely but still on the list.
Nothing serious will get better on its own. Appendicitis usually has a slow and gradual increase of pain, unremitting. My guesses based on what I know of your age/sex/symptoms would be gas, constipation, and ovarian cyst. But if it doesn't get better right away, get the to the Health Service.
Be forewarned that any physician working up a woman of your age (regardless of whether there is any sexual history) will likely -- and should -- do a pelvic exam.
Good luck! Let us know how it turns out.
[Edit to add kidney stones. Excellent, Noemon and HDD. ]
posted
It actually sounds to me more like when I've had intercostal pain, which can be a result of over-stretching those muscles. But stabbing pain is a warning -- get it checked out.
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
I thought of that too, rivka. But she was calmly eating lunch? Still, it always seems to me to come on at weird times, anyway. (And that would be affected by breathing, as you note.)
posted
All right, the pain seems to be going away. I guess I got worked up over nothing--it just hurt so much that it scared me. I'll probably go get it checked out if it comes back though.
CT, regarding the possibility of an ovarian cyst: my gynecologist is pretty sure I have endometriosis. Could that contribute to cysts?
Posts: 3546 | Registered: Jul 2002
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posted
You can get clusters of endometriosis on ovaries. (Sometimes called "chocolate cysts" because of the way the old clotted blood inside looks. ) More likely to give you a problem if you're near the time of ovulation. You have my sympathy -- endometriosis sucks.
Try lying on your right side with your knees pulled up to your chest, should you go somewhere where this is feasible.
If you can jump up and down without keeling over onto the ground, peritonitis is highly unlikely. This helps to rule out the scarier stuff, and it makes the benign diagnoses more likely.
However -- if you go to Student Health Services now, they can screen your urine for blood and bacteria (and etc) to rule out kidney stone and infection. If you wait till tonight and it comes back, that may mean an ER visit. Take care.
posted
Okay, thanks. I'll go to the health center after class then. I'm glad that it's probably not appendicitis. That was mostly what I was worried about.
Posts: 3546 | Registered: Jul 2002
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posted
Cool. I know you don't want to overreact, but things always seem to get worse at night, and I bet they'll take good care of you at the SHC. I'll sleep better tonight if you do.
Actually, I'll be doing an overnight shift, so you might find me here anyway.
Posts: 14017 | Registered: May 2000
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posted
I talked to a doctor, and she said that it's probably muscular, though if I start feeling nauseated or get a fever, I should seriously consider going to the ER. Thanks for your help, all of you. I'm always amazed at how Jatraqueros take care of each other.
Posts: 3546 | Registered: Jul 2002
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posted
I'm always delighted at the way CT comes home from her rounding at the hospital and then does her hatrack rounds, on her own time, of which I'm sure there is little enough left from other duties. <<<<<CT>>>>>>
How blessed we are to have you!
Posts: 968 | Registered: Sep 2003
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Theca, fortunately, is able to cover the adult side of things. Thank goodness we have good adult docs -- it's a lot more knowledge and skill than peds. Yay Theca!
Posts: 14017 | Registered: May 2000
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Still, it always seems to me to come on at weird times, anyway. (And that would be affected by breathing, as you note.)![[Blushing]](graemlins/blushing.gif)
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Take care.![[Wink]](wink.gif)
*basks*
