Any ideas what this might have been?

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Had a very strange and quite scary thing happen today, and wonder if anybody might be able to explain it?

Woke up with a slight headache but took two aspirin and felt fine.

Went out, did some shopping and had lunch - all fine.

However, about half an hour after eating lunch I suddenly got the most excruciating stomach cramps and began to feel boiling hot. Within moments, I had sweated so much that my clothes and hair were quite literally shopping wet. I went to the toilet but nothing happened, and I wasn't sick although I really thought I needed to be.

The pain and sweating lasted for about 40 minutes all told, and then I equally suddenly felt fine again.

Doctor Google hasn't really come up with any ideas. I'm inclined to think maybe some sort of allergic reaction perhaps? It was very odd, and quite alarming.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Well, that's helpful. And I'm interested to know how asking a genuine question makes me a drama queen. Silly me - I thought this was the General Health topic, but I seen to have posted on the, 'Please Come Along and be a Sarcastic Bitch to me' topic instead.

[Trumpton]

Well Alice was rude wasn’t she !

Sounds like some sort of intestinal cramps or passing a small gallstone .
If it was a gallstone and it’s made it’s way out there’s not a lot you can do except mention the episode to your doctor so it’s on your record .

[Trumpton]

What are the symptoms?

Most people who have gallstones don't know it. Their gallstones stay silent and may only be discovered incidentally, through an ultrasound or CT scan performed for other reasons. Symptoms arise mainly when stones pass through a bile duct or obstruct it, causing biliary colic — better known as a gallbladder attack. These attacks occur when the gallbladder contracts (usually in response to a fatty meal) and presses the stones so as to block the gallbladder duct. The main symptom is pain, usually in the right upper or middle abdomen (just below the rib cage), which builds to greatest intensity within an hour and can persist up to several hours. It can be either sharp and knifelike or a deep ache; sometimes it radiates to the back or the right shoulder. There may also be nausea and vomiting. The pain subsides as the gallbladder relaxes.

[Monty27]

Aspirin makes me feel nauseous.
I know someone who is completely allergic to it as in anaphylaxis
I haven't used it for eons. Annadin is even worse imho

[Graphista]

Aspirin is a known stomach irritant and you took on an empty stomach. Fever as response to inflammation likely caused by the aspirin, is normal too. You on any other meds? Been drinking alcohol night before?

That's why most people no longer use it and prefer paracetamol.

Have something carby before taking in future, couple slices toast maybe and should be fine.

Though to be honest I'd say you're better off using paracetamol.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Thanks, all. I didn't take the aspirin on an empty stomach, but with a slice of wholemeal toast.

I felt ill about half an hour after eating lunch, which was about 3 and a half hours after taking the aspirin.

No alcohol the night before.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Will certainly avoid aspirin though, if today's 'attack' is potentially linked to it.

[indisposed38]

Probably just a 'vasovagal episode' Could have been viral , hormonal.

[indisposed38]

I avoid aspirin especially for headache symptoms. It's also an anticoagulant and if headache was due to a bleed- well it wouldn't help.

[xJune88]

I've had this before no idea why or what it was. Came on suddenly and thought I was going to die or pass out for about 40 minutes then it lifts and I feel normal again. I had to hold on to the toilet thought I was going to have mega sickness and diarrhoea but nothing. Very strange x

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

XJune - yes, that's exactly what it felt like.

I think the sweating was more alarming than the pain - I was dripping wet. Looked as if I'd jumped into the bath fully clothed.

Have felt fine since though, so no need to be a 'Drama Queen' I guess!

[WelshMoth]

How old are you OP? Could menopausal symptoms be a part of the explanation?

[WelshMoth]

You're not being a drama queen OP - they were pretty dramatic symptoms and enough to rattle most people.

Alice is clearly an arsehole who deserves to be ignored.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Thanks, Welsh.

Yes, I think I'm almost certainly menopausal, although I don't have periods after an ablation so hard to tell. Hormone levels all fine last time they were checked.

I do suffer from episodes similar to vascovagal syncope, but yesterday's felt and looked very different.

Anyway: lessons learned =
Always carry a bottle of water and an Avene water spray
Steer clear of aspirin
Ask for help if it happens again, instead of just sitting on the floor feeling dreadful, whilst people walk past and ignore!

[bestbefore]

What did him eat for lunch?
Sounds v much like gallstones to me...how old are you?

[bestbefore]

You eat for lunch

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Thanks. I read about gall stones and my pain was in an entirely different place to where the pain for gallstones usually is, it seems.

[Cracklycaramel]

I've had these kind of attacks- docs thoughts was gallstones. Turned out to be an allergic reaction to a particular food.

[sheshootssheimplores]

I had something similar in my twenties abd I know my doctor was very concerned about a gastric ulcer.

[xJune88]

I'm only 25 so not menopausal in my case x

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

My gut-feeling (see what I did there?) is an allergic reaction.

[bestbefore]

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie what did you have for lunch?

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Nachos and a mocktail, so nothing dreadfully controversial!

[bestbefore]

Hmmm, I was going to say gallstones - possibly triggered by a high fat meal - might have been cheese which triggered it? My gallstone pain was just as you describe - the pain was just under my ribs but all around - like a massive rubber band was pulling me in. I'd almost black out, be sweaty and clammy. Horrid and incredibly painful. Then it would end abruptly but leave me feeling wiped out.