Question: Hello,
I have been having a discomfort in my left upper abdomen for a little over a month. I call it a discomfort because it's not really pain I can just tell something is there. Sometimes if feels like something is caught right below my ribcage but that usually goes away after I have a BM. On rare occasions the discomfort has traveled into my left back flank area. I also had pain in my left waist a lower back area for a couple of days but that has since gone away. I went to the doctor and he put me on Nexium because I was also having trouble with heartburn and reflux. He seems to think that this may be an ulcer or constipation. I have increased my fiber intake and that has helped some. I also have increased my water intake daily and that seems to have helped some. I have major anxiety issues and of course think the worst. I have looked at symptoms on the internet and just know that I have stomach, colon, or pancreatic cancer. I am having an abdominal ultrasound in the morning but just want another opinion of what it could be. My doctor is only doing the ultrasound to ease my mind. I am 35 years old. I am 5'5 and weight 230 lbs. I've had no other symptoms at all. I do not feel bad, I haven't lost any weight recently. I just have this weird discomfort in my left side. I've never had any other medical conditions besides acid reflux which I've had my entire life. When I get to thinking about it I start hurting in my back right below my shoulder blades but if I take something for anxiety that goes away almost immediately so I'm thinking that is just tension. Thanks so much!

Thanks for your response. My ultrasound was normal but they could not see my entire pancreas. They also found some tiny cysts on my liver but said there was nothing to worry about. The part of pancreas they could see was fine (or that's what the report said). They also did an xray and it showed some hardening of my small intestines which my doctor said could be caused by infection and so he was going to on antibiotics.

This is my question. Last night I was hurting in my stomach (kind of feels like there is something in there) and in the flank part of my back before I ate dinner. After I ate the pain went away. Of course this scared me to death. I am also having some numbness and joint pain on the left side (arm/leg). My fear is that I have a tumor (pancreatic) that they couldn't see in the ultrasound pushing on nerves and that is causing my pain and the left side issues. The pain is not constant though. Like I mentioned before I have no other symptoms. I have not lost a lot of weight. I still have my appetite when I am calm and not freaking out about this. My mother has a chemical imbalance and she believes I have gotten that from her and now I am freaking out and its because of that.

If the tumor was that big would I be having other symptoms or would it have shown up in some way on the ultrasound. My spleen was fine which is a commom spot for it to spread to if it is pancreatic cancer. My liver was fine with the exception of the cysts which I was told was was nothing. Could the hardening of the small instestines be caused by a tumor? Am I just crazy or should I pursue this more? Thanks!