Does YOUR upper left abdomen swell out too?
May 27, 2009 2:34 PM Subscribe
The upper left quadrant of my abdomen, just below my rib cage, swells out noticeably more than the area below my right ribcage. It is also tender to the touch. Is this normal? If not, what could be causing it?
I first noticed this swelling a month or two ago. It has recently grown more tender.
Additional symptoms that (may or may not) be related: urge to urinate frequently (but with little result), red dots on arms, gas
I first noticed this swelling a month or two ago. It has recently grown more tender.
Additional symptoms that (may or may not) be related: urge to urinate frequently (but with little result), red dots on arms, gas
It is not normal. Look out, there could be something growing inside you. I am not a doctor, so I cannot tell you what it might be that's growing in there. It could be a very large tumor or a very small child. (You did not say if you are male or female). It could be a fir tree. That's been known to happen too. It's probably not a puppy, unless you've inhaled dog larvae recently.
But no, it's not normal (which you certainly already knew). And yes, things possibly growing inside you that are also painful to the touch are very much on the list of reasons to go see a doctor, even if you don't have insurance. Find a clinic and stop Googling.
posted by mudpuppie at 2:47 PM on May 27, 2009 [11 favorites]
But no, it's not normal (which you certainly already knew). And yes, things possibly growing inside you that are also painful to the touch are very much on the list of reasons to go see a doctor, even if you don't have insurance. Find a clinic and stop Googling.
posted by mudpuppie at 2:47 PM on May 27, 2009 [11 favorites]
There are a bunch of things located in the general region you're describing. Examples include your stomach, your spleen, your pancreas, your gallbladder, your duodenum. All of these things are important, none of them are supposed to be bloated or tender (and no it's not normal, pain and swelling never is). So you have pain and swelling in a place you shouldn't, it's been there a decent amount of time and it's getting worse. This is a no brainer, go to your doctor already. Seriously, this question shouldn't have even been approved because that is the only answer possible, anyone who says otherwise is wrong and should be ignored.
Because it's been there a while this probably isn't an emergency so you don't need to go this second, but it's serious enough that you need to get it checked promptly. And if the pain becomes acute while you wait for an appointment then that is an emergency and deservers a trip to the ED. Because your symptoms are fairly vague and there could be a lot of causes then your GP is an appropriate place to start, so don't fuss around worrying about what kind of doctor to see. Just go see one and let them get things started.
posted by shelleycat at 2:57 PM on May 27, 2009 [1 favorite]
Because it's been there a while this probably isn't an emergency so you don't need to go this second, but it's serious enough that you need to get it checked promptly. And if the pain becomes acute while you wait for an appointment then that is an emergency and deservers a trip to the ED. Because your symptoms are fairly vague and there could be a lot of causes then your GP is an appropriate place to start, so don't fuss around worrying about what kind of doctor to see. Just go see one and let them get things started.
posted by shelleycat at 2:57 PM on May 27, 2009 [1 favorite]
Because it's been there a while this probably isn't an emergency
I agree with everyone about going to the doctor. I would tweak the above statement to say that because it's been there a while it might become an emergency soon and without notice. Go to the doctor in the morning.
posted by Quizicalcoatl at 3:07 PM on May 27, 2009 [1 favorite]
I agree with everyone about going to the doctor. I would tweak the above statement to say that because it's been there a while it might become an emergency soon and without notice. Go to the doctor in the morning.
posted by Quizicalcoatl at 3:07 PM on May 27, 2009 [1 favorite]
Go. To. Doctor. Could be anything from (think of the scariest thing you can think of) to (something moderately scary) to (something less scary). Red dots on the arms could be nothing, or could be a very serious sign. See. A. Doctor.
posted by gramcracker at 3:12 PM on May 27, 2009
posted by gramcracker at 3:12 PM on May 27, 2009
nthing the above advice. I'm not even a medical professional (although I come from a family of doctors) and I know that tender, swelling growths in the abdominal area is (posssibly) BAD NEWS. Call your doctor's office, describe the symptoms briefly, and ask for an urgent appointment ; chances are, s/he'll see you immediately with those symptoms. The worst that happens is that it's something minor and you feel a bit sheepish.
posted by LMGM at 3:51 PM on May 27, 2009
posted by LMGM at 3:51 PM on May 27, 2009
Like everybody says. Go to a ddoctor.
As for what it could be... I get like that when I eat nuts. My bowels get inflamed and tender and I need to urinate frequently. Have you changed your diet lately (ie.-started on a new nuttier breakfast cereal or bought a economy size bag of pecans to sit in front of the TV with))
posted by bonobothegreat at 5:37 PM on May 27, 2009
As for what it could be... I get like that when I eat nuts. My bowels get inflamed and tender and I need to urinate frequently. Have you changed your diet lately (ie.-started on a new nuttier breakfast cereal or bought a economy size bag of pecans to sit in front of the TV with))
posted by bonobothegreat at 5:37 PM on May 27, 2009
Please, please see a doctor right away.
IANAD(yet), nor am I qualified to comment based on your description alone. That said, it sounds like an enlarged spleen. Do you really want to know what could be causing it? Lots of things. Some of them bad, some of them not so bad, all of them need attention sooner rather than later.
If you want to scare yourself, Google 'splenomegaly petechiae.'
posted by greatgefilte at 9:56 PM on May 27, 2009
IANAD(yet), nor am I qualified to comment based on your description alone. That said, it sounds like an enlarged spleen. Do you really want to know what could be causing it? Lots of things. Some of them bad, some of them not so bad, all of them need attention sooner rather than later.
If you want to scare yourself, Google 'splenomegaly petechiae.'
posted by greatgefilte at 9:56 PM on May 27, 2009
Could be a hernia...which will be OK until its NOT. Go to a doctor. BAD THINGS HAPPEN.
posted by CodeMonkey at 6:41 AM on May 28, 2009
posted by CodeMonkey at 6:41 AM on May 28, 2009
Is this normal?
How many of your friends have this problem? Yeah. Your symptoms sound crazy.
If not, what could be causing it?
In Canada we call people that could answer your question Doctors.
posted by chunking express at 8:54 AM on May 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
How many of your friends have this problem? Yeah. Your symptoms sound crazy.
If not, what could be causing it?
In Canada we call people that could answer your question Doctors.
posted by chunking express at 8:54 AM on May 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
I am not a doctor, and I am not your doctor. However, given the symptoms described here, this is a small and by no means exhaustive list of possible diseases that could account for this presentation:
posted by meehawl at 2:59 PM on November 22, 2009
Leukemia / CML / ALLThis is why it's always a good idea to consult a doctor for unusual symptoms such as these.
Malaria
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Brucellosis
Epstein-Barr Infection / Mononucleosis
Infective Endocarditis
Rubella Measles
Id Reaction
Diabetic Ketoacidosis
Toxemia of Pregnancy / Preeclampsia
Hodkin Disease
Meningococcemia
Toxic Shock Syndrome
Acute/Chronic Renal Failure
Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
Sarcoidosis
Hemochromatosis
Thalassemia
Typhus Fever
UTI
Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation
Congestive Heart Failure
Sepsis
Polycythemia Vera
Lymphoma T-Cell (Cutaneous)
Henoch-Schonlein Purpura
Urate Nephropathy
Hepatoma
Polyarteritis Nodosa
CMV Disease
Urolithiasis
Trichomoniasis
Babesiosis
Aplastic Anemia
Scleroderma
Leishmaniasis
Rabies
Listerosis
Tularemia
Iron Deficiency Anemia
Fatty Liver Syndrome
Intestinal Parasites / Roundworms
Scarlet Fever
Acute Glomerulonephritis
Hepatorenal Syndrome
Myelodysplasia
Psittacosis
Rubeola Measles
HIV
Toxoplasmosis
Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia
Sideroblastic Anemia
Polymyositis-Dermatomyositis
posted by meehawl at 2:59 PM on November 22, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
This is not normal. There are people with a medical background here on MetaFilter, and they may offer an opinion, but nonetheless, they'll also recommend that you visit a doctor.
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 2:38 PM on May 27, 2009