Question: Hi I was having pain in my lower right and below my ribs on the right side as well. The pain got so bad one day I went to my doctor, that day I had no pain sometimes it would come and go. I layed down on the doctor's table and he felt where my liver is and said my liver was ok, he did not take any blood tests or urine test to my surprise. Advised me next time it happens I should go to an emergency ward, I did as for ultra sound, he said the hospital can do that there. When pain returned I went to emergency ward at hospital and they found pus in my urine, gave me medicine to cure my pain. They gave me MacroBID 100 mg for 7 days. The pain went away, but two days after I finished the medicine the pain returned. My own doctor said to see him 48 hours after finishing the MacroBID for further blood test and urine. During that day my back on the right side very sore, felt like I was kicked by a horse. My doctor examined the new test and gave me another medicine it was Novo-Norfloxacin 400 mg. This medicine took away my pain but pain returned two days after but after another two days pain was gone. I seem to be alright no pain now. My own doctor told me I a e loci in my urine. Why did the first medicine MacroBID 100 mg not work. Please can you explain and respond, thank you.

I thank you for replying to my health question, if my own doctor would have taken a urine and blood test at the beginning, the length of my infection would not have been as long as it was, I thank you again.

I am still getting pains lower right side, I am tired of these pains, I am going to contact my doctor tomorrow. I have taken two round of medicine for the infection, and find this disappointing of the return of this pain. When I get the return pain I take a Tylenol 3. We were took our dog for obedience listens and the duration of the lessons was about 3 hours, was standing but mostly sitting, with the steady pain in my side. When I got home I took the Tylenol 3, it took about an hour and a half for the pain to stop, can you give me anymore advise for my problem, thank you.
Hi, forgot to let you know that I took the second medicine for 10 days and the pain has returned.

Thank you for replying to my questions, I went to see my doctor today and he order Urine Senitivity Test, I forgot to add the word Culture but I am sure it is one in the same test. The ER doctor gave me an Unltrasound test, and there was no change from the one I had 8 or 9 years ago. I did have endrometreous, can't spell, in 1976 had left ovary removed had cyst on it, still have womb and right ovary. The ER doctor only did ultrasound because I had endrometreous many years ago. The ultrasound was only from the hips down, I asked are you going to cruise the kidneys, she said the doctor did not request that. Whenever I had the other ultrasounds, the technicians would always say now we will cruise the kidneys, I am sure it would have not cost my Manitoba Medical that much more. The longer this pain goes on, I am certainly getting concerned.

You did mention with my ultrasound exam that my kidneys must have been scanned, but my doctor did not mention the results of the kidneys than you say my kidneys should be scanned. I requested on my own from the time I saw my doctor for more blood tests, that I am requesting for a kidney scan. I am presently waiting for an appointment for that scan. You did mention that they must have been scanned with the first scan, but did not advise me of seeing the kidneys, please explain, please respond thank you

Thank you again for your help, when I was sick with pain the last thing I was thinking of is to tell the ultra person that I had pus in my urine, she still would have said the doctor did not request ultrasound of the kidneys. I think this doctor did not do a through medical review and exam. I really think I did fall through the cracks. If there was pus the doctor should have ordered an ultrasound of my kidneys no matter what. ERs are just a marry-go-round, I waited for 6 hours and did not have a through exam and tests. Do I have to collapse in pain at home to be taken seriously!!!

The reason I am still addressing this issue is that I am still having pain. Saturday 13, and Sunday 14, had pain in my lower right side. In front below my ribs and at my back right side. I received a letter that I am scheduled for an abdomen ultrasound test for this coming Sunday. My question is why am I getting these pains over and over, when they start it is for 4 – 6 hours and when I lay down the pain goes away a bit. The pain starts when I am sitting. I was laying on my left side last evening and my side was sore by my ribs on the right side and I could hear a girgling sound like air or bubbles in my intestines, did not last long. Then this Sunday had the repeated pain lower right side, front by my ribs and sore right back. I am puzzled and tired of the repeating pain. I have thought about a hernia, for the soreness on my right side. All my doctor asked is to I feel a lump, I did have an operation for endemetriosis, and have scar tissue, he did not even examine me at all, I guess I am patient and examiner. This is totally upsetting, the pain seems to come again when I am sitting as I said earlier, please help, thank you. In the medical field there must be someone else who has had similar problems that they can compare it to, I know testing must be done.

Hi everytime I start typing I lose the typing screen. My weight is 152, and have no constipation or loose stools, I am regular. I am still having a sore back on the right side. My side is still sore not as bad as Saturday and Sunday, I took 2 Tylenol, did not have to take Tylenol 3, pain went away. This evening had to go out to the store and sat in my car and could feel a slight pain on my right side. I did have the operaton for endometriosis in 1976, my third son was born in 1978. Than I had my right ovary tube tied a few years later, the doctor could have done a laproscopy, but did not because there would have been scare tissue. As I am sitting typing to you I feel sore on my right side, it feels uncomfortable. My doctor took more urine tests last week and I phoned for results, the two test including Urine Culture Sensitivity Test both tests showed no abnormal growth of bacteria. My ultrasound test is on this coming Sunday. This pain is lasting too long. I thank you for your patience and understanding.

My ultrasound is for this Sunday, when I had my endometrosis operation the doctor cut into me so there is scare tissue and a second time when they tied my right ovary, you must have misread me. The ovary operation they did not do a did a laroscopy because of scare tissue being there from my endometrosis operation. Today no pain until I sit down. What is ULT renal colie, thank you for your help.

My doctor has ordered a Abdominal Ultrasound, you did say there are 3 ultrasounds, 1. abdomen 2. KUB for kidneys 3. uterus + ovaries. I am assuming that the abdomen ultrasound will include the kidneys, correct. My first payment of $15.00 expired a few days ago, and they recharged me another $15.00, even though I was to have until Aug 6, 2013 to ask questions on the same related illness. So by the time I have my ultrasound is done this file will be expired!!

Thank you once again, I did not have pain on my lower right side, back a little sore on back and under the ribs, did not take any pain medicine today.

Today I have no lower right side pain, just tender on my mid back right side. I am just wondering that my bladder infection was so bad, that is why I am having all this trouble. After my ultrasound test, when I see my doctor, I will give him a list of all of your suggestions. I will just say I was looking online for help information. I do hope there is an end to all my health issues, thank you again. I will let you know of the results of my ultrasound, thanks again.
Last afternoon and evening had a very bad back pain, I put heat on it, today to my surprise I seem to be pain free, do not know how long it will last, I can only hope and pray.

Went for my ultrasound today, explained where I am usually sore. Yesterday we went to a friends party, after a few hours of being there sittiing, I became sore below my ribs, and my lower right side. In total it lasted 4 to 5 hours, two hours at the party and the rest of the pain when I came home. I took a Tylenol 3, and went to lay down. I explained to the ultrasound person that maybe I could have a hernia. After the ultrasound she said a CT scan would be better to check for a hernia and to have something else checked for, can't remember what she said. I don't think she saw anything on the ultrasound, I did not ask if she saw anything. On Friday I had no pain at all was able to clean my house and wash my floors. Today I have no pain, with my husband and our dog, went to the dog park, beautiful day. Ultrasound person said it will probably take 2-3 days. When I had my other ultrasound test when I went to the ER, my own doctor had the results the following day.

Went to my Dr. this morning, two days ago had pain in my back, laid on the floor and told my husband to push his elbow on my back where it is sore. Yesterday sore under my ribs, today sore on my lower right side. Results of my ultrasound:
US Abdomen Complete:
No calculi are identified in the galbadder. The bilary tree is not dilated. Echogenicity of the liver is consistent with fatty infiltration. The liver otherwise appears unremarkable. Spleen normal. Visualized portions of the pancreas unremarkable. Kidneys normal. My doctor as ordered a scope of my intestines, and gave me a hema-screen kit, I had one in 2010, please respond thank you. What does liver and kidneys appear unremarkable?

Thank you for responding, took my husband to the hospital on Wednesday was very tired on Sunday and on Tuesday he opened the hood on his Highway Truck about 6 times, and since than has had a very sore side and back, just like myself. The hospital did a EkG and blood tests, and 6 x-rays. Everything came back normal. Today he went to his doctor was still very sore on right side of chest and very sore back. His doctor noticed a rash front and back and advised him he has Shingles. The only reason I am mentioning my husband is his pain is so similar to my. My bladder infection I really think I got it when I had my bunion operation and after surgery my oxygen levels were low so they kept me overnight. They wheeled me to the bathroom on a commode chair over the toilet, which had no space between me and the toilet. I am pretty sure that is how I got my bladder infection. My right side and right back could be Shingles as, but I have no rash, maybe I had a rash but not now. The systems between my husband and myself are very similar. I do have pain on my lower right side as well, it comes and goes. My back is quite sore steady pain. Thank you for your help and understanding.
To answer your question if I drink, I am not a drinker. We go to a restaurant and I have Ice Tea. A Social Wedding function I may have one or two drinks and I have a soft drink after, I do not like getting headaches. Most people now do not even drink, it is too expensive. At home I drink tea, some coffee, hot chocolate and milk which I prefer.
I have not informed my doctor that my husband has Shingles, not that it matters but it might be a connection. My doctor closes on Friday afternoons. He is ordering a intestine check with a scope by a doctor that specializes in that area.

Thank you for your help, the link would not open, but I typed in dermatomal distribution of shingles pictures. The pictures show the T8, T9, and T10 on the left side. My pain is in all of those areas but on my right side. Last night my pain felt a bit better, but today I have it back again, and it is a steady strong pain in all those areas on my right side and in front under my ribs. I can honestly say I am not well. I feel so ridden with pain. If not for my husband getting shingles, and having the same pain in the same areas, I would not have even thought about the possibility of maybe having shingles. My bunion surgery on my left foot went well, the Dr. also did remove some bone on my right foot over my arch, I did not like that bone because when I would sit and cross my leg that bone would just stick out. The Dr. is a different doctor than my family doctor, he had to redo the surgery on my right foot because it did not heal right, or he did not take enough of the bone off, there was a lot of fluid under the stitches and bone was still there. He put a needle to try and take the fluid out, but not would come, so he redid the surgery, and this time he removed the bone that should have been done the first time, and I was put under again. I just feel I have fallen between the tracks of medical help. My back is so sore I feel like someone hit me on my back with a board.
I am phoning my doctor's office and advising them, that I am coming in on my own without an appointment. I will let my doctor know my husband has shingles and to test my blood for the shingles virus. Even though I do not have the rash I have all the systems, I do hope that I can have this solved. The medicine my husband is taking is (Valacyclovir 500 mg), he is taking 2 tablets three times a day. His rash has gotten worse but the pain is gone. If he is too busy to see me I will be prepared and have a letter for him to read, when he takes his coffee break!!!. I am just wondering why, that if I do have shingles, why with all my blood work done, the shingles virus was missed, or was that the shingles virus test was missed. I do hope there will be an end to my suffering and that you can have a break from all my complaining, thank you again. During the night I went to the bathroom and checked my chest for any rash, none but I did have a mosquito bit or hive, in the morning it was gone, could have been an insect bit, we do have mosquitos in Manitoba. May I just ask, where are you located, what country are you in. It seems I have to go to the ends of the world for medical help, I am lost for words.

A CT scan will give 500 times the amount of a normal x-ray that is what the ER doctor said when my husband was in the hospital when I explained my pain. He was not there to discuss my health issue only my husbands, he was very polite, he did not say he would not discuss my issue, but did not elaborate. Only that a CT scan there is 500 times of radiation more than a normal x-ray. I thought that shingles is a form of the herpes virus and a blood test could be done for that, please reply.

How is the Nerve conduction study(NCS) of T8 ,9,10 nerves done, that can show the neuropathy but not the virus. What exactly is post herpatic neuralgia), you gave me the website but it does not explain well, can you please explain, thank you. The T8, 9, 10 is where the shingles pain is in the area where the shingles pain is right.

I went to my doctor's office with a letter to give to my doctor to read, I phoned first that I was coming in. The receptionist said she will give it to the doctor to read, this is what the content of the letter read, written my myself:

I took my husband to the ER Thursday morning, as I mentioned to you on Friday, he had very sore right chest and pain on his right back, they took an EKG, blood tests and 6 x-rays. All tests came back normal. On Friday afternoon he went to his own Doctor, because of extreme pain, his doctor noticed a rash on his chest and back, which he did not have in the morning. His doctor advised him he had shingles and gave him a prescription for his pain (Valcacyclovir 500 mg blue pill) two tablets 3 times a day. My complaint of my pain seems all to similar. I would never have thought shingles might be my problem. I spoke to the doctor online, I am not trying to doctor myself, but I feel helpless. The online doctor advised me if I have shingles my husband did not get it from me. I explained about my bunion operation and he advised me I exactly diagnosed myself right by saying I got my bladder infection from commode & hospitalization. Bunion operation or any operation in which a person has to be admitted shows immunocompromised period with stress, all this lead to activation of zoster as shingles. I also had to be reoperated because my operation was not successful the first time, the bunion was on my left foot which heeled well, but the right foot had a bone over the arch that stuck out when I would cross my foot, and had thickened skin over the bone. The right foot did not heel, and an infection formed, the bone seemed to be still raised. It was a mess to see, so I was reoperated again. I had pain in my back and right chest all weekend long. On Saturday at bedtime the pain was quite back and to sleep I had to roll my pillow and go on my knees to try to sleep.

The online doctor said in many patients the rash is pathogonomic but in others there is no rash at all only pain that is known as (post herpatic neuralgia PHN, the pain usually follows typical pattern, he sent me a picture of areas where pain is concentrated. He is most certain that I am suffering from PHN POST HERPATHIC NEURALGIA. He also says if my HS kit test comes back negative that a colonoscopy is not necessary. I have two more specimens to take for the HS kit test.

He thinks there is a high probability that I had a minor attack of shingles with mild rash or no rash, and now I am having PHN (post herpatic neuralgia). This doctor is from Pakistan, Iahore, working in a defence hospital. He advised me there is no test to detect herpes zoster infection except in chicken pox which occurs in childhood. The maximum that can be done is a Nerve condition study (NCS) of T8, 9 and 10 nerves, that can show the neuropathy but not the virus. He also said I have the risk factor for getting PHN, age and the operations I had.

Treatment for PHN is pregabalin or gabapentene, these are very effective. He also said to get a CT scan (abdomen), if that is normal then PHN is the diagnosis. A CT scan gives 500 more times of radiation than having an x-ray, so to have a CT scan is not to have just for the sake of having it unless it is the last resort. The ER doctor at St Boniface when I was there with my husband advised me about the strength of radiation of the CT scan.

My doctor has not phoned me, I was pretty sure he would not be contacting me, he probably does not like to be cross checked, but this is my health, I will wait and see if he will contact me, I can wait it out, I have had this pain for a long......time.

I respect my doctor, I am not a person that will charge at him, and demand answers. I am not a type A personality. Went to his office respectfully and his receptionist, advised that she will give the letter to my doctor. Doctors are busy, but when there is a person like myself with continuation of pain, I think I could have had a phone from him at the end of the day. Doctors do not phone they want a office visit so they can earn more. I am not trying to belittle my doctor by saying I have talked to a doctor online, I do not want to have a battle of doctors over my pain. I want no pain. My pain was not too bad this morning, but the pain started again, very intense, used a heating pad, still sore. My husband said he will take me to the ER, I said what help will that do, I am not ready to sit in an emergency department for 5-6 hours with this pain. Over and Out.

Sounds like a good plan to go to the ER, if my doctor calls when I at the ER, I will check my messages and if he calls advise his receptionist I am at the ER. My daughter-in-law is a nurse and has not heard of pain killera, she mentioned something else. She does know of an oral or injection for pain. Maybe you said pain killera as a more simple terminology for me. I will go tomorrow one more day of this pain is the norm. I will take the letter that I gave to my doctor, so I will not have to talk too much, because I am at a loss for words. My husband has to work tomorrow and I don't want to drag him with me to the hospital.
It is not my tummy that is given me the most pain, it is my back. I guess at this point, it doesn't matter tummy....back!!!
Not going to ER this morning, by back is not sore. It starts later in the day and is with me until I fall a sleep. I put a heating pad the one that has jelly in, very good. After use you need to boil it so it comes back to clear, after use the jell hardens. Once clear you put it away, when you want to use, you click a medal circle inside and it activites the heat, very good product the heat lasts a long time. You need to put a towel around the pad as it is very hot. My husband phoned his doctor yesterday for a cream for his rash, the doctor says he knows of no cream for shingles, now that is surprising. He wants him to come in so he can look at the rash again, now that is funny he just wants another office visit for payment. My husband has an earache no problem he will go in. The doctor did not know about the earache. Why does my pain get worse mid day and into the night. My husband saw his doctor for his earache the doctor gave him antiseizure medicine for his earache. For his rash I told him to buy Calamine lotion, the doctor said that is good. I have known about this lotion all my life and the doctor did not know a medicine or lotion for shingles, same lotion as for chicken pox.
My doctor's receptionist called my this morning and that my doctor wanted to talk with me. He looked for a rash, no rash, checked my breathing sounded fine. He ordered a chest x-ray. I do pull my dog on a leash, not of late, she is quite a puller. I have been getting in and out of my son's pick-up truck we borrowed because we were getting the transmission fixed in our vehicle, it is quite high to get in and out of. My bladder infection was the most intense pain and my right chest and back pain started with the walks with my dog. She is a mid-to big dog Rhodesian Ridgeback and part Whippet. The pain I had was so close to my husband's that I may have thought I had shingles as well. My doctor will have the receptionist of the results of my x-ray. My doctor is so calm, he make me feel comfortable, his receptionist is a real XXXXXXX I will let you know of the x-ray results, thank you.

My x-ray came back as being normal, today though my back is sore, started mid afternoon. I phoned my doctor, spoke to the receptionist, asked if he could prescribe muscle relaxler. She spoke to him and he said over the counter Robotoxin should help. I will purchase it and booked an appointment with a physiotherapist. My doctor is going on holidays for two weeks, there is another doctor in charge. I took in my stool samples in today, advised my doctor was going on holidays and my doctor could have results as early as tomorrow. I am not going the bug the replacement, with Robotoxin and physio, my back just might surprise me and stop hurting. The pain is real and when my husband got shingles I thought my aches and pains were over. This is just like a soap opera saga!!! After supper I rested my back and the pain eased a little, did not put heat on it. When I put heat (I have a jell pack which is very good) on my pack the pain will stay away for a day or so, I guess I should put heat more often. I have never had this problem before. I have not been pulling on my dog leash, my husband does the leash holding. I am not looking for a serious problem, just want this pain to vanish for good. My lower right side seems alright now, no more pain. It seems maybe the bladder infection made my kidneys tender and inflamed, could that be. Thank you for listening to me.

I was looking on line and it seems it is possible to get shingles without a rash. I sent an email earlier but it does not seem to be on file I am sending again. These are comments of other people with systoms like myself, list of comments, I am trying very hard to be an adult but it is difficult, list of other peoples' comments.

I just got back from the emergency dept suffering from pain and burning sensation on left side. The doc diagnosed "shingles" even tho there is no rash. He prescribe anti viral and I'm off work until futher notice. So yes shingles does happen without a rash.

hi yes i have all these symptoms but no rash.. my doctor told me if i got the rash it was shingles...4 days on and i still have no rash but the pain is terrible and i'm so tired..
he did give me prescription for the anti-viruals but i'm not sure if to take them or not as he said take them when the rash appears...
thank you everyone

I had Shingles without a Rash in 1992 and dosed up on L-Lysine. Got rid of it after 4 weeks.
I now have it again some 16 years later and still no rash. Am taking L-Lysine tablets and Cod Liver Oil tablets. Hopefully will go soon as the pain is horrible


I have had excrutiating pain on the left side of my face extending to the back midline of the skull on and off for about 4 years. Not one doctor could figure out what was causing it. I was starting to think I would just have to forget about doctors and put up with this pain. I saw a new doctor today and he said he believes it is shingles (even though I don't have a rash) affecting the cranial nerves. He's the first doctor that didn't look at me like I was crazy. He put me on antiviral and prednisone. Hopefully this will work and I won't feel like I'm losing my mind any more.

I am 56 yr. old female who has a reoccurance of rashless Shingles. I had them 5 yrs. ago and went to the ER in NYC and they diagosed me with Shingles. Now I recently felt the same pain on my left side under my rib cages that went around to my back, it spread to my left breast and left sholder blade. I went to an urgent care unit in XXXXXXX and they put me on Valtrex and increased my Lyrica to twice a day. This is day 3 and I still have the pain but no rash. Hopefully this will subside in the next few days so I can return to work. I was lucky that both doctors knew what this was and did not go through the test some of you have experienced.

Shingles with a rash is called Zoster sine herpete. Defined as pain and paresthesias along the dermatome ... Acyclovir with and without prednisone for the treatment of herpes zoster....see WWW.WWWW.WW

My husband has this five years ago and also developed PHN (postherpetic neuralgia, pain that persists for longer than 1 month following the shingles episode) He has been going to a pain clinic for five years and the Dr has tried everything he knows. I followed up on the internet and see he's been most thorough. Over the years he has tried about 30 nerve blocks, they don;t last long enough and really only one has hit the sweetspot where he was pain free for over a week. He felt so good he built me a rock sidewalk.

Has also tried Gabapentin (Neurontin), Pregabalin (Lyrica), Hydrocodone, Marinol, Lydocaine patches, Fentanyl patches, Tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline) and Capsaicin are a few I remember, the Fentanyl that came as a sucker was the most effective, just as we found this, my job changed insurance and Blue Cross would not cover it, as it was several hundred dollars we couldn't afford it. Better luck and best wishes to everyone who is hurting. It is had to see your family like that and there is nothing you can do

Shingles with a rash is called Zoster sine herpete. Defined as pain and paresthesias along the dermatome ... Acyclovir with and without prednisone for the treatment of herpes zoster....see WWW.WWWW.WW

My husband has this five years ago and also developed PHN (postherpetic neuralgia, pain that persists for longer than 1 month following the shingles episode) He has been going to a pain clinic for five years and the Dr has tried everything he knows. I followed up on the internet and see he's been most thorough. Over the years he has tried about 30 nerve blocks, they don;t last long enough and really only one has hit the sweetspot where he was pain free for over a week. He felt so good he built me a rock sidewalk.

Has also tried Gabapentin (Neurontin), Pregabalin (Lyrica), Hydrocodone, Marinol, Lydocaine patches, Fentanyl patches, Tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline) and Capsaicin are a few I remember, the Fentanyl that came as a sucker was the most effective, just as we found this, my job changed insurance and Blue Cross would not cover it, as it was several hundred dollars we couldn't afford it. Better luck and best wishes to everyone who is hurting. It is had to see your family like that and there is nothing you can do

My husband who is 61 has been in a lot of pain for 14 weeks in the area of his stomach around the naval. We have been to 3 different doctors, has had colonoscopy, CT scan, blood work, EKG, etc. Nothing found. He has also been to the ER three times. Why is it that doctors do not know anything about shingles with no rash? Actually, a psychiatrist mentioned the fact that it could be shingles with no rash and I began doing a lot of research and found that it is more common that one thinks. My husband has been using ice packs on his stomach. It helps some. He was given anti-inflammatory drugs, etc. - no help. It is very frustrating not to be diagnosed. Also, if this is a problem with older adults, should the "physician" community not advise the shingles shot if it would help? Apparently, we have to research ailments to get answers. Thanks for the posts. At least, we know that we are not alone.
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I will take your advise, my back is so sore it feels like a bruised rib! You have been very patient and kind, I thank you very much for all of your advise. My husband put cream on my back MYO-MED and RUB A535, two different creams if I had ten different creams I would put them all on. I heated a bean bag in the microwave, and have taken my second tylenol # 3, one in the morning and one at bedtime. My doctor is on holidays for two weeks. There is another doctor looking after his patients, I do not have the energy to keep complaining about myself let alone to another doctor. If this continues as I know it will, I will certainly go to the ER. I thank you again.
Is amitryityline an anti depressant, because I was given it once and I had rapid heart beat. I am currently taking Citalopram and Lorazepam, should have mentioned the medicine I am taking. My mother died sometime ago suddenly and I found her. My depression was not mental but physical, suffered for many years before my doctor who I have now prescribed Citalopram. I am only advising you because of the amitryityline. I am sure you have other people who need your help, I will forever be greatful for your time.

Thank you again, I will not be continuing with the paid sessions, I will be forever grateful for your understanding and knowledge, thank you and wishing you the very best!