'undiagnosable' abdominal pain.
Posted , 101 users are following.
Hi there,
I've had right severe abdominal pain, just below my rib line, It's a constant pain and i've experienced it for about 4 months now. At first I didn't really pay attention to it, it then became too painful to ignore at all. I would find myself waking up at night, or having to sit/lay down at work clutching my side. One day at work it became so painful I collapsed, and began having heart palpitations, after calling an ambulance I was sat inside it for 30 minutes or so hooked up to an ecg, my heart beat averaged about 125. I've seen about 10 doctors, 4 of my local GP's, and had 3 trips to AnE. The palpitations proceeded the severe pain a total of 3 times so far, It'd feel as if something in my right side had almost burst and spread across my body becoming numb and having severe chest pain - and I honestly thought I was having a heart attack because of the pain and the feeling of my heart pumping through my chest.
I guess the best thing will be to answer every question they've asked me..
I'm a healthy 19 year old male, I've eaten healthy, exercised often, i'm 10 stone 8, and i'm 5ft 8. I am not a drug user, although I am partial to the occasional binge drink (Like most teenagers).
I do not lift heavy objects, I work in a bar and don't lift any barrels/trays of glasses. I have been a smoker for a year now, and have been cutting down since the pain started, although giving it up entirely is quite hard as i'm finding it the only thing that has relaxed me. I've had no blood in my urine/feces/vomit. I have only vomited once during the 4 months. I do not have a temperature, I do not have a fever, the pain is not increased when pressure is applied. It is not relieved by warm/cold packs etc. The doctors are adamant I do not have appendicitis, i've had 3 ultrasounds which show no stones in my kidneys or galbladder and everything is as of normal size.
When I was admitted into AnE and asked to spend 2 more nights in the hospital I became so bad I had to have someone to hold me up while I walk, I couldn't sit up due to the pain and I would be so tired that I couldn't get out of bed. They had asked me to stay because of one blood test that showed my liver functions spiking high (I think it was billirubin? - and no I had not had a heavy night of drinking or anything the night before It was taken) They released me because they said being an outpatient would be faster (Which, it isn't, as the specialist i've been referred to will not be able to see me until december, when it's september now.)
Through all the doctors i've seen, i've stuck with one who has been incredibley helpful throughout this all, although completely clueless to what is going on with me.
Whilst in the hospital I've had a doctor tell nurses to stop giving me any pain killers because Im probably just a drug addict, and other doctors tell me it's complete anxiety, and others take one look at me and say it's a mucle inflammation under my rib.
It's got to the point where I can't work, my relationships are suffering incredibly because I can hardly do anything. I Can't drink without having incredibly bad hang overs which last for days or throwing up after the first couple of pints, some days I will wake up and sit on the floor because it's too painful to lie down or stand up. My relationship with my partner is suffering, as it is most of the time too painful to be intimate. This is ruining my life, and all the doctors are telling me 'come back if it gets worse, but there's nothing wrong with you'.
But as I said, 3 ultra sounds, 2 x-rays, 15 blood tests (Including one for hepatitus).
And nothing except one liver function spike, the once. My blood sugars are normal, there's nothing abnormal in my urine.
What i've told every doctor i've seen;
I've had severe right abdominal pain. Just below my rib. So severe I can not walk etc. I've had constipation for 4 months a long with the pain, which every now and then seems to just disappear. It seems to become more severe every other week, and on 3 occasions so painful I have collapsed and either thought I was having a heart attack or my appendix had burst due to the pain.
Please, any help is incredibly appreciated, I just want my life back!
Thank you, Alex.
8 likes, 127 replies
Ldogg181 Alexandermunday
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Dear Alex Your not in this Alone Buddy! I have the same exact Issue like not 99% but 100% same issues . I have went to the E.R 11 times this year and still nothing . I have a appointment on the 11 here at a Dr office in going to see about having a exploratory surgery cause something needs to be done I been dealing with these issues for a long time since November 15 of 2015 and hasn't stopped. My pain gets so bad I can't move out of bed in the morning I have had multiple seziures they gave me stomach medication but it don't help try talking about a exploratory surgery like I am see if they will agree
rahi61895 Alexandermunday
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Portacrean rahi61895
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I started getting neausea a year ago. Doc kept giving neausea meds. In April I had excruiating upper abdominal pain. I scheduled an endoscopy. Doctor found stomach inflamation and H-Pylori. Took a 14 day antibiotic treatment. Everything got better for about a week , then everything came roaring back. The neausea isn't always ther but the abdominal pain is 24/7. So last week I had a nuclear ct scan and a HIDA scan , testing liver , gallbladder pancreas and ducts. Haven't heard anything back though. The pain is extremely bad. Been going on for months now. Just not knowing is causing such anxiety , it's hard not to just give up . I wish I had some really great info for you , but we seem to be in the same boat.
Portacrean rahi61895
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It looks as though you have had more test than I have with no answers. I'm not sure where to go from here.
Reefsider Alexandermunday
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Alex are you still there?
I'm sorry to have come across your post so late and hope your situation has been resolved. Please respond, I may know what's causing your symptoms based on my diagnosis and experience.
larisa56684 Alexandermunday
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I've been going through the save person exactly what you've explained! The blood work has came back normal. And all the necular testing and radiation testing are all normal they thought it was my gallbladder. Now they are referring me to a GI SPECIALIST, (gastro intestinal). Idk what to do I'm depressed, and I want answers!!!
libbyD Alexandermunday
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I too have had the same symptoms you describe, my pain started well over a year ago but on the left side. Constant but nothing I couldn't just get on with and hope it went away. It's become increasingly painful to the point it's stopped me in my tracks.
I was a fit active 34yr old, mother of 3 and getting on with life. Now I struggle on the bad days to get out of bed, the fatigue, headaches and pain can take over.
I wake in the night from the pain.
I get chest pains, problems with sight, have started with acid problems. My stomach swells and becomes incredibly painful to the point I look 6 months pregnant. The only thing that is a constant aggregating factor is exercise, but that can be a short walk round to nursery!
I've had an endoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, 4 different heart tests, numerous blood tests. I've seen an ENT specialist, Gastroenterologist and heart specialist. All are coming back normal. On the two scopes internally they looked fine but when they came to that area of pain on the left I was climbing up the bed! Being intimate is a big no no!
I've been put on a mild anti depressant which is doing nothing. Normal pain killers don't touch it. My doc has mentioned Chronic fatigue syndrome and similar illnesses but says its too early to diagnose that yet. There's got to be an explanation for the pain, I never used to feel it and now it's overwhelming, something has changed!
I know this thread was a while ago, is anyone any further along, any diagnoses/ changes?
javonda86 Alexandermunday
Posted
I can put money on it you have a small gallstone and u need to have your gallbladder removed. My significant other went threw the same thing for almost a year I mean every single thing you've went threw including our relationship almost ending, ultrasounds, X-rays, even being called a addict but the last time we went to the ER they mentioned billirubin or an angry liver they was gone send him home on pain meds again and call it a day but I demanded more test or we wasn't leaving they said we'll it is one more he had to drink some dye and have a special ultrasound and they finally seen the little gallstone removed it and his gallbladder and he is one happy camper!! Good luck I hope this helps!!
mercy47986 Alexandermunday
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Hi Alexander. I hear you. I just came back from my gp and im stunned that he cannot give me a proper diagnosis.i have the same thing, almost same symptoms adding diarrhea, vertigo, loss of appetite and bad breath. My ct scan revealed hypoattenuating lesions in my liver, 10mm nodule on my left kidney likely representing a spleenunculus.....I am shocked I feel they think I am making this up but I cannot sleep well and sometimes the pain is so bad I cannot move. The word likely appeared many times on the ct scan conclusion but I'm not satisfied with this. My pain is real and it took me ages to go to talk to a go about it because at the beginning it was more a uncomfortable pressure but now it is too painful. Please Alexander go do a ct scan, blood tests, and even colonoscopy. Your pain cannot be overlooked. I hope all the best for you.
kalice64 Alexandermunday
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This sounds very familiar to my daughters symptoms. She had all the test more than once, and all came back normal. She cannot work or go anywhere, because of her pain. She can't lay down, sit up, stand, she feels like her life is ending, and sometimes she wishes it Would. Her pain moves all over,in the abdomen area, and it's all different types of pain. She can't hardly touch her stomach, and after a doctor checks her stomach, she's sore to the touch, for days. Everyone that we have seen Acts as if she is crazy. we are now on our fourth specialist, and still no positive outcome. She did have the capsule test, where the capsule sat for two hours in her intestines. They found some blockage, she had surgery and had it removed. Right after her recovery, she was no better, I honestly do not know what to do at this point. I guess the best diagnosis we had was from the capsule test, maybe you should try that. Please don't feel alone, I'm so glad I got on this forum and I am going to show my daughter tomorrow. Her friends and boyfriend are tired of her being sick constantly, she cannot hold down a job, or take care of her child. She has fallen into a very deep depression and honestly believes that no doctor is wanting to help. This is been going on for a year and a half. My daughter is down to 120, and normally around 150. She looks like The Walking Dead. I hope you find what's wrong, and will definitely say prayers for you.
carol66967 Alexandermunday
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I've just got home from hospital after calling an ambulance yesterday from being in so much pain from the left side of my body. I felt sick as well and was diagnosed with kidney stones and sent home with pain killers
2am this morning I'm in excruciating pain and felt so sick I couldn't raise my head and eventually I was sick. Then at 6 am after taking painkillers but it didn't help I called an ambulance who took me to hospital on a drip of paracetamol and gas and air. I had blood and urine tests as well as a CT scan but they couldn't find anything wrong and told me I had sciatica, I told them I haven't had sciatica in years and only told the ambulance driver that I once had sciatica as he asked my background. This is definitely not sciatica as it's around the kidney area, anyway I've been sent home in pain again and I am getting s but worried as to how to deal with the pain
David94001 Alexandermunday
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siomara47077 Alexandermunday
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Hi,
After reading your story I couldn't stop but think how relatable this is to my current situation, I'm wondering how your feeling now? Did it get better or still the same ? Have the doctors found anything? I'm a 23 year old female and went to two ER's yesterday and today doctors can't find anything blood test results good , 3 ultrasounds and everything fine, they look at me like I'm crazy ! It's very painful and at this point all I have is pain medicine. I hope to get a reply from you as it's been 4 years.
sharon98073 Alexandermunday
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nora29663 sharon98073
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