Help - abdominal pain that goes away when lying down

Just wanted to add my symptoms and what I am almost certain causes my pain. So I get sharp pain in my abdomen and lying down takes the pain away immediately. I believe mine is caused by gas and lying down allows gravity not to work against the direction it needs to go. Sometimes after lying down I am able to pass some gas as well. I have also been diagnosed with IBS. I think, I will have to pay more attention to know for sure, that when I fast or go too long without eating, and then after I eat something, I get this pain more often. Or maybe when I eat too fast/too much? Just wanted to add my two cents and maybe help someone with understanding if this may be what is causing their pain too.

This sounds just like me and I have recently figured out its probably an epigastric hernia! I have had this pain on/off for almost ten years. Diagnosed as IBS and fibromyalgia and panic disorder with generalized anxiety. I just went for a CT and will know the results in a few days. Recently I accidentally bumped my stomach and have been having sharp pain that gets worse when being upright for long periods or bending at the waist. Before that I was constantly nauseous, constipated, not able to pass gas, bloated, shortness of breath and eventually I could feel my intestines bumping my diaphram when taking deep breaths. I also have back pain that gets worse with activity or long periods of standing. If I get the diagnosis I will report back. Don't let yours reach the point of mine where you are lying down 24 hours a day to avoid the pain. This seems to mimic many IBS symptoms and is not always visible upon palpatation!

Here is my story: I have similar pains, that have started 4-5 years ago, when I was on birth-control (Nuvaring). My pain would be on the left side of my stomach, under my breast and almost reach my back. This pains would always come during the time, when I was supposed to have a break from the birth-control and have my period. The pain would be so sever, that I would lay in bed for 2 days straight. I just couldn't stand up, because the pain would come back. However while I was laying down - I felt OK. So naturally I stopped taking the birth-control, since it was causing me problems. But to this day I still from time to time get this pains. They are not as bad as before, but I always have to get away from situations and go home to lay down for few hours. Doctors gave me no answers so far. I just hope that it isn't something serious.

My theories are: It could be something with pancreas, something with hormonal imbalance, trapped gas (but why would it always get trapped during my period?) or something with muscles.

Stay strong! I hope together we can figure it out and get rid of this pain once and forever!

I am a male and I experienced very similar symptoms when I was a kid, horrible cramps that would almost completely resolve when laying down only to return almost immediately once I stood up. they were somewhat relieved with hot drinks.

It took medical school to figure out what it was. Its called mesenteric lymphadenitis.

hello! For about the past 2 weeks ive had the same pain. We were riding horses ans mine stepped on a different way and kinda jerked me and i felt somethin like a tear immediately had to lay down. Ive got this pain several times in my upper abdomen sometimes ill feel it on the upper right side too. I had my appendix removed 10/2018 and wonder if this bas anything to do with it. its a pressure fullness bloating and pain feeling i get and the only way it goes away is if i lay down. any help would be amazing!!

Doctors say 'unusual' when they don't understand your symptoms. Your symptoms do sound typical of IBS, especially when they feel worse before or during your period. I had this with IBS.Lying down can help and it worked for my brother's IBS. Colefac is not a good medication because it is Mebeverine based which can be a stomach irritant. Try Buscopan instead. Everyone had their own IBS symptoms. Sometimes you need to try different antispasmodics.

I am a 58 year old post menopausal female and have had this exact type of pain for 7 years. I have had a CT scan, endoscopy, SIBO testing, and tried prilosec which did nothing. I still don't have a dx. You're the first person I have heard say that laying down makes the pain stop. I recently was reading about ACNES (acute cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome) and am going to check with my doctor to see testing for that condition. I am following you here... best of luck finding relief. PS... pain (which is alleviated only my sitting or laying down) is my only symptom. EXTREME pain.

Ive had the same problem except im a male. It was extreme pain in the stomach/abdominal area until i layed down and didn't move at all it. If i got up again the pain would come back.

Hi Mon,

Everything you have described is exactly the same as me ! But health professionals and doctors have just been blowing me off because they dont know what it is. Have you ever found out the cause of this ? I have been struggling for years now and this is the first time i have come across someone with the same issue. Thanks, Shelly

This is CRAZY but relieving to have found so many people with the same symptoms!! But I am SO sorry you all are having similar pain! I have been dealing with this for about 10 years! One day, I remember waking up for school and getting ready and hunching over because my stomach was killing me! It has happened on and off since then. I have told my PCP and gastro doctors about it but to no avail. I have had blood tests, ultrasounds, endoscopy, and many others, but still no answers! I have spent thousands of dollars trying to figure out what is causing this. I do have IBS but this is different than that. It is not gas or diarrhea. It is not consistent to when my period is due to be starting. I have tried paleo AIP, keto, gluten and diary free diets, etc. I have noticed some improvement when eating cleaner but I have not found it consistently related to any food. The best way I can describe it is extreme hunger. However, eating makes it worse. I too have to lay down until it gets better. If I get up too soon, the pain comes back. It is so weird to me that the only relief is laying down. It is absolutely debilitating when I need to do stuff. I work full time and I am unable to miss work. If the pain comes and I do not lay down though, it gets increasingly worse and worse until I feel absolutely nauseous. I was hoping that someone would have gotten answers. But I am glad I am not the only one. I hope you all get answers soon!!! It is awful!