Guidance

[Kla8]

Hi all

Hope you are all okay, sorry to keep pestering, just some asking for some guidance really. I have my 4 blood test results back; 1st reading (July) Bilirubin was at 24 and CRP at 20, and platelet levels at 118. I had a further test which showed my bilirubin to be at 30 but the CRP and platelets to be back to normal (must have been fighting some infection), just to be on the safe side a further blood test was done and my bilirubin went up to 37. I took a further blood test a month after and my bilirubin has lowered to 24 and all other readings are good.

My doctor feels that there is no need to go any further with these results, (which is fine!) however, I have recently being experiencing pain in my right side under ribs, its difficult to locate it as sometimes it feels to be in my back, or mid stomach/lower ribs and other times it's a sharp pain all through my rib area (especially when breathing) and often the pain is accompanied with nausea. I did have bouts of this pain years ago and never did anything about it because it was always quite sporadic but I have felt this pain on an almost daily basis for the past 6 weeks now. I have not told my doctor about this as I am managing it with paracetamol and a hot water bottle so it seems under control. Has any one else experienced similar pain and know what it could be? I'm wondering if it could be mild allergies?

So really I'm wondering if based on the blood test results is it worth mentioning this to the doctor or do you feel my test results are clear that my liver is good. I have visited the doctor alot of the past 4 months (which is not like me!) And I dont want to start to appear as a pest if unnecessary.

I also had an itch free day yesterday which was amazing! It was short lived though, itching did wake me up last night :(.

Once again thanks for taking the time to read.

[Hidden]

Hi

I would go to Gp just to get checked out and refer you if necessary. Take care Lynne

[ThreeSmiles]

Hi kla

With respect to your first para, as you probably know, because we are not medically trained, we are not supposed to comment on actual blood test data/results. That has to be in the hands of your Consultant. In fact have you been referred to a specialist yet?

As Lynne says you need to go to your GP especially if these are new pains. Experience I have had (and that of many others on here I’m sure!) tells me that would be the starting point!

Good luck.

Miles

[Kla8 in reply to ThreeSmiles]

Hi Miles

Thanks for your message. Yeah sorry about the readings, I didnt realise! 😳.

Re consultant, no referral has been made because my doctor doesn't feel I need to be. I am seeing another doctor in 2 weeks re the itching, I just wanted guidance re the pain as I dont want them thinking I'm a nuisance!

Thanks!

[guess1001]

Hi

Sorry to hear that you are in pain. Blood test is not a good diagnosis. If GP would not budge, I would pay for private abdominal ultrasound scan to try and find out what is causing the pain. Ultrasound has its limitations, but it is a lot cheaper than MRI/CT scan.

Hope this helps

J x

[ThreeSmiles in reply to guess1001]

Hi guess

Not disagreeing with you per se but personally I wouldn’t pay for an Ultrasound- as you say it costs! More preferable, don’t you think, to get it done on the NHS? I agree there is the issue of having to wait re NHS waiting times but....

I would still try and get the doctor to budge even if it means seeing a different doctor! Could also try 111 if kla believes it to be urgent - ish??

Miles

[guess1001 in reply to ThreeSmiles]

Yes. Agreed. Getting it done on NHS would be ideal. Depending on where you are in the country, the waiting list is different too. For me, I'd rather find out asap. I read an article on medical journal that intermittent pain on abnominal could also be very early sign of growth somewhere in the abdominal region. NHS is great once a patient have diagnosis. But the route to get the diagnosis under NHS can be lengthy and therefore time wasted to detect anything early. I am super risk averse though. Jx

[ThreeSmiles in reply to guess1001]

Can’t disagree with that! Sometimes the waiting time is excruciating 👎🏻.

Miles

[Kla8 in reply to ThreeSmiles]

No need to 111 on it! Paracetamol and hot water bottles when required are working.

It's more manageable because it's not all the time, sometimes it could be for a few minutes and really sharp, other times it can last for hours and is a dull pain. 😊

[Kla8 in reply to guess1001]

Thanks for your message.

I will discuss with my GP when I'm next in. I'm not really a worrier and take things as they come, I'll waIt and speak with my doctor, I haven't told them about the pain yet so I will see what they suggest.

Thanks!

[retwos in reply to Kla8]

Hi I would definitely pester the dr and get a 2nd opinion on it , as you’ve stated it’s on the right side could it be gall stones ? But which ever way you go do keep on at your dr and if he won’t budge try a different dr in your surgery, all the best

[Wass71]

Hi, do you still have a gallbladder?? If you do might be worth mentioning that to your Dr as your symptoms (which could be caused by many things), do sound like it could be biliary. I'm not diagnosing you as I'm not medical, and we are asked not too. But from my own experience, this sounds similar to that. It can cause raises in crp if it becomes inflamed and billirubin can rise if the common bile duct gets blocked/inflamed.

Defo go to your Dr, don't worry about bothering your GP, that's what they are there for!! It's simple for the gp to organise an ultrasound. If you have gallstones they would be seen on a USS, the GP can then refer you to gastro.

When I had it, I ended up with pancreatitis which was pain like no other. I was so scared of having the pain again I stuck to a low fat diet to prevent irritating the gallbladder further. Unfortunately I didn't have stones I had sludge, caused by hormones of pregnancy (this started weeks after having my first baby), so I ended up having repeated flare ups.

I wish you well, and hope the Dr will be prepared to investigate properly.

Take care, let us know how you get on x

[Kla8 in reply to Wass71]

Hi, yeah I do still have my gallbladder, I'll mention this to the doctor when I see them, thanks for the headsup!

My diet is good thanks to my upbringing (my dad has kidney disease and liver problems so he has always stressed healthy eating on his children) something we are all grateful for!

I will keep you posted! 😊