abdominal pain

**Aggie_Ama** · 03-31-2009, 06:20 AM

You are right, gallbladder is right side.

Spleen is upper quadrant, pretty close to the bottom of the rib cage but not super far fetched if you have a short torso. Had to know exactly where when mine was swollen with mono, it is huge rupture risk. Since it was 13 years ago I cannot remember if my stomach ached but I have the same pain you describe every couple years.

Is it possible you carry Epstein Barr like 95% of the world? That could trigger mono which triggers swollen lymph nodes, spleens. How are your glands feeling? I was not super fatigued with mono, oddly enough.

One weird thing my husband found before getting diagnosed with crohn's is you actually have lymph nodes in your stomach that can get inflammed with strep viruses. I don't know why but it sounded weird to me at the time. Do you eat probiotic (is that the term)? His gastroenterologist cannot sing the praises of yogurt and good cultures highly enough.

**Biciclista** · 03-31-2009, 06:59 AM

Aggie, i don't know about Epstein-barr; i'm 100% southern Italian, never heard of that in my family; however, I did have mono; and about 10 years ago when I was being tested for something completely diff; I was told that i still have mono in me and always will!
I didn't know we had lymph nodes in the stomach either.

addendum; i guess Epstein-barr IS mononucleosis. I already had it; from what i read, it only makes you sick once.

**Aggie_Ama** · 03-31-2009, 07:17 AM

Yeah, they are the same thing which makes me laugh when all the cyclists have "epstein-barr" I guess they don't want to say they have mono. Anyway, I seem to remember it effecting my throat more but my spleen was really swollen and tender. I don't remember the stomach aching or not. I thought you could relapse, good to know because I don't want it again.

Again only food DH eats and was recommended by his gastroenterologist and a nutritionist is the probiotic yogurt. The active cultures or whatever. That might help get you back on level? I am not sure.

**sgtiger** · 03-31-2009, 07:22 AM

For some people Epstein-barr can have lasting health effects though it's very rare. BIAK's friend who races occasionally has a flare-up due to it that kept her from racing. She mentions it occasionally in her blog. It's managed better now so the flare-ups are few and they don't last as long as they used to. But for a while there she was miserable, and trying every possible concoction.

**Wahine** · 03-31-2009, 11:20 AM

You've already said you're going to the Doc which is obviously the first step.

As a PT, I have to know a bit about this stuff but organ function is definitely not my field. Having said that, from additional training I've taken I would guess that you may have an ulcer or you may simply have muscular tension/adhesion in the abdomenal wall. It's muscle too and suffers from all kinds of muscular aches and pains just like skeletal muscle. Usually it's secondary to old scar tissue that is adhesing muscle fibres together and impairing the muscular motions of the stomach. That could explain the chewing thing, as you chew, the muscle activity in the stomach changes in anticipation of receiving food. It would be like loosening up muscles in your legs with a light bike ride.

So, go see the doc but I'd also look into finding a massage therapist or physical therapist that does visceral manipulation. I just took a course in this and it can be amazingly effective for abdomenal pain. It would also not be contraindicated even if you have an ulcer or some other process going on. They are very gentle and safe techniques.

**Biciclista** · 03-31-2009, 12:10 PM

thanks, Wahine,
I wish you were closer.

Originally Posted by Wahine

You've already said you're going to the Doc which is obviously the first step.

As a PT, I have to know a bit about this stuff but organ function is definitely not my field. Having said that, from additional training I've taken I would guess that you may have an ulcer or you may simply have muscular tension/adhesion in the abdomenal wall. It's muscle too and suffers from all kinds of muscular aches and pains just like skeletal muscle. Usually it's secondary to old scar tissue that is adhesing muscle fibres together and impairing the muscular motions of the stomach. That could explain the chewing thing, as you chew, the muscle activity in the stomach changes in anticipation of receiving food. It would be like loosening up muscles in your legs with a light bike ride.

So, go see the doc but I'd also look into finding a massage therapist or physical therapist that does visceral manipulation. I just took a course in this and it can be amazingly effective for abdomenal pain. It would also not be contraindicated even if you have an ulcer or some other process going on. They are very gentle and safe techniques.

**Crankin** · 03-31-2009, 02:49 PM

Epstein-Barr is not mono. They are related, though. I had mono when I was 23 and tested positive for it for years afterwards. Epstein-Barr is chronic fatigue syndrome. Stress and all this other stuff is related to it, too.

**Possegal** · 03-31-2009, 03:14 PM

Originally Posted by Crankin

Epstein-Barr is not mono. They are related, though. I had mono when I was 23 and tested positive for it for years afterwards. Epstein-Barr is chronic fatigue syndrome. Stress and all this other stuff is related to it, too.

Mono is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. It also can cause chronic fatigue syndrome. Two illnesses, one virus.

The CDC explains it better: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/ebv.htm
It is important to note that symptoms related to infectious mononucleosis caused by EBV infection seldom last for more than 4 months. When such an illness lasts more than 6 months, it is frequently called chronic EBV infection. However, valid laboratory evidence for continued active EBV infection is seldom found in these patients. The illness should be investigated further to determine if it meets the criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome, or CFS. This process includes ruling out other causes of chronic illness or fatigue

**Biciclista** · 03-31-2009, 04:08 PM

thanks Possegirl.
I'm being treated for dyspepsia, too much stomach acid; possibly exacerbated by taking Aleve for headache!
1 month of acid blockers is my sentence.

fyi
and thanks for all the interesting and educational responses here.

**Possegal** · 03-31-2009, 05:18 PM

I'm on 6 weeks of double dosing of proton pump inhibitors for laryngopharyngeal reflux. Basically I feel like I have someone putting their fist into my throat right around the clavicle. Such fun.

I'm hoping this isn't a longterm pharmaceutical plan. But I also don't want this feeling to stick around.

So although I don't feel YOUR pain, I do feel your pain, so to speak.

Hope you are feeling better very soon!

**NbyNW** · 03-31-2009, 07:48 PM

Mimi, I hope the acid blockers do the job for you.

It's a good reminder that some of our most common painkillers/anti-inflammatories can be irritating / damaging to stomach tissues -- my parents always remind me of this when I'm taking ibu for an injury, and of course I just brush it off . . .

Feel better soon!

**Tuckervill** · 03-31-2009, 08:03 PM

Ooooh, I didn't know you were taking Aleve! I would have put two-and-two together right away! Some of the NSAIDs REALLY hurt me. Some don't.

Karen

**Biciclista** · 03-31-2009, 08:07 PM

yeah, duh, I should have known better!

**Aggie_Ama** · 04-01-2009, 05:33 AM

Yeah, double duh! In addition to his gallbladder my dad basically had a self-induced ulcer from his 8 at a time advil habit. No joke, he is a commercial printer with a bad back and carpal tunnel he had surgery on once so he eats the stuff. I just figured something was swollen or inflamed. That is why I am not a doctor or play one on tv!

Get better Mimi.

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