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Very mild pain / pressure in upper abdomen, 26 year old male.

So this isn't actually new. I've had this off and on for a while, I want to say 6 months, but it might be longer. I'm actually hesitant to call it a pain as that's not really accurate. It's almost a "pressure" or "presence" I feel no lump, no swelling, nothing like that. Not that I can see anyway. It comes and goes, sometimes it is a very mild pain, maybe a 1.5/10 if that. about 3 nights ago when I got into bed it kinda shot up to maybe a 4. Then, once I shifted around, it felt better instantly.

Other times it's not there at all, and sometimes it's just the sensation of, like I say, pressure or presence.
I have no other symptoms, no loss of appetite (aside from that caused by my nerves, which are extreme anyway and this is isn't helping) or anything else.

My mother thinks it's the way I sleep combined with my computer habits. For the past 10+ years, I slept in a potion where that exact spot was in constant contact with my, lumpy old mattress. Turns out there's a fairly pronounced spring poking up right there as well.. I've since started sleeping on my back, but it really hasn't been all that long so I don't know if it's making a difference or not.
I also spend 9+ hours a day at my computer (I know, not good) So I was wondering if it could be that? Just a simple case of strain? It is focused in the upper left side, but not isolated there. It does go to the right side as well. It's not severe, and if I wasn't such a worrier I might just totally miss it. It's that minor. IT's actually not in my abdomen so much as the very bottom of the bottom ribs. That's where it feels like it's coming from... And that's right where I slept for years, like I say...

Of course, I go and google "upper left abdomen pain" and instantly see scary words like pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer and went into freak-out mode. Going to a doctor is hard for me as I don't have insurance, or a doctor... My question is, does this sound serious? or am I freaking out over nothing? It wouldn't be the first time I did...

Up until a few nights ago when I noticed it (it was there before, but didn't bother me for some reason) I was a nightly drinker, not a lot. Maybe 2 beers a night, MAYBE. sometimes more, but I never drank to access and have since stopped that as well. (nothing like a good scare to clean you up, eh?)

I'm not sure what it is, if anything. Here's the question. It's been... months in reality, but only a few days since I've actually taken steps to see if making changes fixes it. And... well.. It's not as noticeable as it was that night it hurt 4/10. So maybe it's going away? I took 2 Tylenol earlier and they all but took it right away. It's many hours later and back now. It feels best when I straighten out or stand up. When I'm here at my computer, it's more noticeable but not by much.

When I'm in bed, laying flat on my back it also goes away. So IDK, what does this sound like to you folks? The rational part of my brain is telling me "Dude, you were sleeping on a spring for 10 years and you sit hunched up at your computer all day, what do you think it is?
And the paranoid "Cyberchondriac" part of my brain is saying
"You googled it, it said it can only be a serious pancreatic issue, you're certainly dying"

So yeah, any advice would be nice. Especially on how I might go about seeing a doctor with no insurance, no ID, and no money...
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20841821 tn?1547942964
Pain often radiates. It could be as simple as a strain, or something more complex. It could also be a hernia with atypical presentation. While you would need an order from a referring provider for an ultrasound, that might be the best diagnostic exam for you. A cash pay price would run around $300 for an ultrasound of your abdomen which would show both kidneys, your liver, pancreas, gallbladder, spleen, and would show any abdominal wall hernia. That price would cover the radiologists read too. You could present to an emergency department without ID. However if you present to an imaging facility they will need an ID to match your name and date of birth with the order from your provider. You can continue with conservative treatment and see how you do. If the pain persists I would get it checked out.
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$300? Jesus, what does an ultrasound machine cost? Probably a lot more than that, but still lol.  Anyway, thanks for the response! I'm no where near wasting the ERs time. I'm not that worried ;).  I guess I'll go another week with the sleeping postion changes and see what happens, after that... I don't know what I'm gonna do.
973741 tn?1342342773
So, most urgent cares do accept cash pay patients.  However, they will expect an ID. You'd need that for your paper work.  What is it you think they'd do with your ID?  Unless your thought is to live off the grid for some reason, living life means you create a bit of a paper trail. You need an ID to drive, work, pay taxes, etc.  Anyway, I'm personally find with you being a mystery man . . .   and you can pay cash so basically you are just showing them id but it is up to you if that is too invasive for you.  It's about the only way you'll get medical care, to show an id.

Anyway, that's off topic.  You'd likely know if you had pancreatitis as that is more than a slight pain.  It usually has a fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.  It's more like an acute illness than a chronic long term pain as you describe yours.  Pancreatic Cancer is a tough one. Pain in upper abdomen and back can be associated but there are other things like weight loss, fatigue, possibly nausea and heartburn.  You are young though and not the usual age to get pancreatic cancer with those diagnosed usually in their  70's.

So what about your diet?  Do you keep a food journal?  Diverticulitis can happen and can be quite painful and in episodes. It's not serious, usually needs antibiotics and diet changes.  You could have a gastric ulcer. Or something like a kidney stone.  None of these are serious but a doctor would be needed to evaluate you for them.

As to having this from a sleeping position issue.  Well, never say never.  I guess the obvious idea would be to totally change where you sleep.  Either flip the bed, get a new mattress, sleep somewhere else, go to the other side, etc.  Something that gets you out of the range of the spring or the position you've been in.  And 9 plus hours is a LONG time.  What are you doing?  I spend a good deal of time at my computer too but you have to get up and walk around and stretch.  You can get a towel and stretch with it.  There are books on back stretches for posture.  Not exactly sure how it would impact your abdomen though.

So another thought is the anxiety you speak of.  You really can have pains, aches, twinges due to anxiety.  Especially if you are worried about something and hyper focus on it.  I've done it myself.  But that is for you to deicide if that is the case.  I'd rule out other things first.  But do so just knowing that all of those things are treatable and you'll feel better if you are diagnosed and begin whatever they suggest to counter the pain.  Let us know what you think.
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"What is it you think they'd do with your ID?  Unless your thought is to live off the grid for some reason, living life means you create a bit of a paper trail. "

You know the government has access to those files? Even if you don't know it, they do. Truth is I don't even have an ID to show. Never got one and I wont get one either, don't believe in documentation of people who have committed no crime. "Why must I show my papers mien fuhrer?"  I don't drive, work, or get paid, and do live basically off the grid.  Everything I do, like the internet has someones else's name on it. So no doctors for me I guess. What if I could hand them a wad of cash and say "I wasn't here"? lol.  

Anyway, that's not the point.

" You'd likely know if you had pancreatitis as that is more than a slight pain.  It usually has a fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.  It's more like an acute illness than a chronic long term pain as you describe yours. "

That actually does make me feel better. It's more of a pressure or presence is a more accurate term. There's nothing actually there that I can tell. And it's hasn't been here for 6+ months, I worded that wrong. I happened, or MAYBE I just noticed it like 6 months ago and just forgot or it went away.  I do get heartburn and the runs sometimes, but I also eat T-bell and Doritos for dinner a lot. And that's not new either. I doubt it's cancer. An employee at my dads shop died of pancreatic cancer, from the first back ache to the grave was around 6-8 months. So that's not even on my mind.

"So what about your diet?  Do you keep a food journal? "

As for my diet, total crap =/ Especially the last few days since the only thing that appeals to me is sweet stuff and junk food (nerves lol) I don't keep track of what I eat, mainly because I can't keep track of anything. I literally loose everything so I'd just forget. But I usually only eat once a day, and it's not very much. Often fast food and maybe a snack later at night.  This is normal for me. I used to be very fat in my mid-late teens, 300 pounds, giver or take a few pounds at my heaviest. Now I'm way under that, don't know exactly. Actually, I don't even want to guess. Somewhere between 180 and 225 would be my guess. We don't have a scale but I'm honestly afraid to eat too much because I actually have a problem with it. I can't stop once I start. I don't eat regularly, or healthy.


"And 9 plus hours is a LONG time.  What are you doing? "

I was being.... conservative with that number, I've gotten up at like noon, and sat on my computer till midnight, went down stairs, ate leftovers and then the 9 hours comes in. It's not even uncommon. Maybe, 3/7 days a week. It's basically my world, I don't like the outside world if you can't tell.. And I basically have nothing else to do. I do a lot of art work on a software called Blender, play games, watch movies and YouTube, stuff like that.  I know it's not healthy, but you know the one positive? Lots of practice, so I'm pretty good at it ;)


"So another thought is the anxiety you speak of.  You really can have pains, aches, twinges due to anxiety.  Especially if you are worried about something and hyper focus on it.  I've done it myself."

First off, the word "Twinge" is what I was looking for. both "pressense" and "pressure" work, but twinge is spot on.
Anyway yeah, was thinking this as well. I come from a long line of people with sever, crippling anxiety and mental illness. I got a bit of both, that's for damn sure. Not sure if you can tell by the everything about me, but I'm mildly autistic, (diagnosed while in school) a huge worrier and super paranoid. I do suffer from sever anxiety and the littlest thing I worry about. Even things that haven't happened. I don't trust anyone and I DO NOT like being touched. I get stiff and shaky just at the thought of it actually. (I want a robot doctor, that wouldn't bother me at all. Even an alien one, it's humans I don't like)  I've been sleeping on my back for 1 week now since it started, and I want to say it's better than it was (it certainly is) by how much? I can't tell. I think my brain is making it worse. Also, I can't stop prodding, rubbing, and poking the area trying to find something. My entire family thinks it's making it worse and I tend to agree, but I find myself doing it automatically, without even thinking about it.  Any advice on how I could stop that?

Also, one of my biggest fears is undressing in front of anyone. I refuse, I'd rather die. Put a gun to my head and say "undress" and I'll tell you to "pull the trigger" I could deal with being poked a little as long as I can keep my clothes on. I'm so bad I don't even wear shorts, so go to pools / beaches, so much have sexual relations or anything like that. I've even been known to bring weapons into the bathroom "just in case"

I'd be OK with my shirt for a doctor, but not my pants for anyone. What I'm asking here, is assuming I find a way to see a doctor, what would the exam involve?  a blood test? That wouldn't bother me at all. That's interesting to me in fact. Or some kind of big nuclear scanny machine? That wouldn't bother me either. Again, that's interesting to me. Anything with the words "Nuclear or Positron, I'm in! It's the undressing. Not OK with it, not for a billion dollars, not for my life or anyone else's. MAYBE for a trip to Mars with Elon, MAYBE. I'd still dwell on it for years though, I can tell you that much. So.. I wouldn't have to take my pants off, would I? That's my biggest fear in life. over death, over war, famine, and loss.

Can you tell I'm an awful patient that requires a super patient doctor? lol.

1855076 tn?1337115303
Why don’t you have an ID?

It doesn’t sound like you have anything to worry about.  But having said that, one of my most brilliant nurse friends always said if something has been hanging on two plus weeks, you should get it checked.

You could go to Urgent Care.  I don’t think that would be more than around $60 for the exam.

Can you get insurance through the state?  There is no cost insurance out there; you’d just have to research it.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Urgent care requires ID, and insurance through the state? Sounds like something to avoid to me. I have no idea if it's possible, I live in NY state. Why I don't have ID is the same reason, nobody needs to know who I am.
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