YANMD, I’m seeing a real doctor etc. etc. Still, waiting for further information, I’d like to mull over what might be happening to me.
Last Sunday, I noticed that I have pain in my lower stomach. I located the pain to the right side of my body, to a quite specific spot: at belly button level, some four inches to the side of it. The pain was deep inside the soft tissues, not on the surface, and felt vertical: a narrow “stripe” a couple of inches high, and radiating from there. Visually, nothing. No other symptoms. Going to the toilet or passing gas had no effect on it. Certain sudden movements, like coughing, shot the pain up. Sleeping it off didn’t work. The pain was local and stayed that way.
The location and even the ”shape” of the pain suggested the appendix. Were it inflamed, my condition should worsen quite rapidly, I should have fever / nausea besides the pain in the lower right stomach. I went to see a doctor, there were no inflammation markers in my blood, so no appendicitis. No clue what’s this about. Back today for some more bloodwork plus a urine sample to see if there’s anything there. Nothing there, either.
In the mean time, the pain has worsen and spread somewhat, so that now I’m in pain getting up from bed, tying shoelaces, etc. I can walk, and I eat, drink, piss and shit normally. I still have no other symptoms. While no stranger to sprains and strains from exercise, I haven’t done anything (literally) that would warrant this kind of soft tissue damage.
Anyone have any ideas? Similar experiences? I’d like to hear about them.
If you’re a woman, it could be an ovarian cyst. They can feel remarkably similar to appendicitis, just without the other symptoms. They also have the “rebound” pain - it doesn’t hurt much hen you press on it, but it hurts when you let go. Either way, see a doctor ASAP.
Thanks for the replies! Male here, so no ovaries to consider. And no rebound pain; it hurts to press the area as well as when rebounding. Doc said to take painkillers and monitor the situation. So I took 500 mg paracetamol just now. CT scan available next Monday if need be. I hope it won’t be, but the pain hasn’t gone anywhere on day 4, so…
The wiki on McBurney’s point would have me worried quite a bit, except that I’ve been to the doctor and all the tests for inflammation have come back negative.
Does your poop have a normal appearance, is it ribbon like or slightly flattened. Sure sounds like an impacted bowel. I would keep monitoring this very closely until they figure it out. If it is a stuck turd mineral oil might get it moving. I know twisted bowels can be very dangerous.
Haven’t really looked at my poop (yet), but I have no constipation and eliminating has felt normal, as far as rectal sensations go. Will keep my eyes peeled (yei), that’s what my MD basically told me, too.
Funny, I am experiencing something quite similar for almost 2 months, with similar lack of conclusion.
In my case it is more like a mild discomfort, a bit of tightness or pressure in the lower right side. I would not call it pain, although there is an occasional mild twinge that feels like there is a bubble in there or that I am about to get a runner’s stitch. But I would definitely call it discomfort, not pain.
I went to my GP who did all the usual poking and prodding. Nothing hurt more than usual (my entire abdomen is generally quite sensitive to prodding, so I had to keep assuring my GP that my squirming was not due to pain but to not liking being prodded). Nothing from rebound either.
They also took a blood test and ultrasound. Nothing in either, no inflammation, normal kidney function, no hepatitis, etc. And nothing unusual in the ultrasound.
The only other thing I could think of is cirrhosis of the liver. I do have about 3 drinks each evening and have done so for the last couple years (I am a 40-something male btw). So doubt that could be cirrhosis could it? In any case, the liver function from the blood test was normal.
So sorry I don’t have anything to tell you other than you are not alone. For me the next steps (if I push my GP who does not seem terribly worried) would be a stool sample for parasites (yay, crap in a cup!) and an MRI. Or I could do a colonscopy or gastroscopy if I really want to have fun.
Ooh! Ooh! Let me try!
I had a similar pain and thought (since I’m a female) I had an ovarian cyst. I really noticed it when I sat down on something soft like a bed, it felt like a bowling ball bouncing in that same area. Not very comfortably, I might add. Anyway, went to the Ob/Gyn, learned it was not an ovarian cyst or anything gyno or bowel related. Went home.
A week or so later with no relief, I happened to mention it to my massage therapist. She took a guess at it being related to the iliopsoas muscle - if you’re having some aching in your lower back on the same side, it’s a good bet that’s your problem, especially if you sit a lot at work.
It can be relieved with massage and stretching if that’s what it is. The massage technique that helps relieve it is rather uncomfortable too, but worth it.