Severe pain, told to “forget about it”

That's good. 🙂 Hope you start to feel much better soon 💐

@Glitterballofdreams Good luck. Hopefully that's all it is, but it's good to be aware that it's extremely common for drs to dismiss women's physical health issues as just stress, not trying to scare you but I would just keep an eye on your symptoms. x

I'm so sorry that sounds awful 💐 It does sound like it could be endo but there are some other things that can cause abdominal pain like pelvic inflammatory disease or inflammatory bowel? Did anything different happen before the pain started? Like a virus or a change in diet or anything else different.
Sometimes post viral conditions can cause all kinds of odd symptoms? Really hope you get some answers and some relief soon ❤

Can I just say sounds like you are really going through it, as some one with 4 endometriosis please just be aware it doesn’t always show on scans and your GP should now this and get a laparoscopic investigation underrwa., can I also add if you have a lap you or get endo diagnosed please read up on ablation vs excision surgey and don’t allow any gyne near your insides with ablation, you have a right to refuse this procedure and wait for an excision fully trained surgeon.

i know that’s lots of take in but is so critical to advocate as you are really in pain and need support now to navigate the next stages.

sending big hugs.

I hope.its an MRI. Ultrasound is useless in picking up endo unless you have endometriomas (cysts). That is the only bit that showed up on my US. MRI found more areas but when they went it, it was in multiple places which wouldn't even show up on MRI. You need a referral to an endo specialist really. Even normal gynaecologists are great in dealing with endo, let alone a GP.

Im back in bed today, although managed the beach yesterday with the kids.

I’ve got a pelvis and abdominal CT scan on Wednesday and been trying to ponder what is the least worse thing to find. Been referred to gastroenterology but not even been given an appointment date yet. If CT comes back clear im going to see if the GP can refer me for a colonoscopy. I’d really just like a diagnosis at this point.

@Glitterballofdreams Thinking of you today and wondering how you are getting on?

Hope you are doing as ok as possible @Glitterballofdreams

Ps celiac can also cause swollen lymph nodes

If that, it’s not intolerance, celiac is a immune response to wheat. Your whole body would be rejecting it

Biggest symptom of celiac for me was a bloated stomach and pain all the time. Make sure they check you properly

The way medicine treats women needs to change

Have them also check you for celiac as it slowly destroys the stomach (and everything else over time)

I was in a lot of pain in my stomach by the end stages

Your body could be showing you that something doesn’t agree, usually wheat or cows milk are the common culprits

Gallbladder can cause enlarged lymph nodes.

From Chat GPT:

🔍 1. Clinical Symptoms
Doctors first consider symptoms. Common signs of gallbladder problems include:
⚠️ Classic Symptoms of Gallbladder Disease:
Right upper quadrant pain (under the ribs on the right side)
Pain that may radiate to the right shoulder or back
Nausea and vomiting
Pain after eating fatty meals
Fever and chills (in infection)
Jaundice (if bile flow is obstructed)
🧪 2. Blood Tests
These help assess inflammation, infection, and bile duct involvement:
TestWhat It Indicates
WBC (white blood cell count)
Elevated in infection/inflammation
Liver enzymes (ALT, AST)
Elevated if bile flow is obstructed
Alkaline phosphatase (ALP)
Elevated in bile duct obstruction
Bilirubin
Elevated in obstruction or liver involvement
Amylase/Lipase
To check for pancreatitis (if stones are involved)

🖼️ 3. Imaging Studies
These are essential for confirming the diagnosis:
🩻 Ultrasound (first-line test)
Detects gallstones, thickened gallbladder wall, fluid around the gallbladder, or a blocked bile duct
Highly sensitive for gallstones and cholecystitis
💉 HIDA scan (hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid scan)
Evaluates gallbladder function and cystic duct patency
Used when ultrasound is inconclusive
Positive test shows non-visualization of the gallbladder, suggesting obstruction or inflammation
📊 CT scan
Good for evaluating complications (e.g., perforation, abscess)
Less sensitive for gallstones than ultrasound
🧲 MRCP (Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography)
Non-invasive way to visualize the bile ducts
Helpful for detecting stones in the common bile duct (choledocholithiasis)
🧪 Optional: Endoscopic Procedures
ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography): Used to diagnose and treat bile duct stones or strictures
Only used when there’s a high suspicion of ductal obstruction
Summary Table
Diagnostic ToolBest For
Ultrasound
First-line; detects stones, inflammation
HIDA scan
Confirms cholecystitis if ultrasound unclear
CT scan
Complications or alternative diagnoses
MRCP
Bile duct evaluation
Blood tests
Inflammation, liver/bile duct function

If you or someone is experiencing symptoms suggestive of gallbladder disease, the first step is usually an ultrasound and basic lab work. From there, additional testing is guided by the clinical picture.

Has your gallbladder definitely been ruled out? Everything you describe sounds like it's that.

You had an ultrasound - what was the outcome?

And in the next 3 months what are you supposed to do ?

Sorry to hear that @Glitterballofdreams . I'm glad to read you are being seen and checked out though.

It's appalling that every woman presenting with these symptoms isn't immediately put on the two week cancer pathway. It almost certainly isn't cancer but sometimes it might be. And if it isn't, it is something which may be managed with painkillers and hormones while awaiting surgery.

Sorry to hear that @Glitterballofdreams 💐Did they say what they think is the cause? Is that to do with the original pain or something separate? Thank goodness you had the scan.

Hi,

I literally just made this acct to reply bc I have been in your situation and am in one now with a systemic infection (and secondary MRSA/MSSA) after going through everything. My heart goes out to you and this same topic has been a very angry rant to my therapist, who actually gives af. (I'm in the US). Anywho!

The stabbing your describing sounds really similar to 2 of my issues. The first was in my 20s and it was indeed a herniated disc. You need an MRI for those, specific to the region of the radiation. I get radiculopathy in my thoracic vertebrae. I was diagnosed with disc degenerative disease at 26, but it is from the nerve root, which can get irritated with any leaks of your disc, wraps around my ribcage (radiculopathy) and was one of the most painful waiting periods. I used to roll into a ball on the floor and scream in pain. I had to go see an orthopaedist, who then sent me to pain management.

The crappy part is the nerve endings, dermatomes, can overlap and you can't really tell where it's actually from sometimes.

Which leads me to when nobody believed me and I felt like I was being stabbed in my kidney for over 2.5 years. Tests were fine: new MRI, blood, urine, ultrasound. It would mix with my existing pain and would wrap around my ribs and down my abs. I wore a TENS unit a LOT! (transcutaneous nerve stimulator - highly recommend for pain!)

Then, one night I felt awful waffle and went into shock after vomiting a ton of blood. Turns out all that pain was an ulcer in that area that also gave me 2 diverticulita on each side. I struggle with anemia, too, and that level droppedddd to under 10. My husband said I was fine and go back to bed. 😒 Uh, no. I think I know my body better, kthx. Went to the ER (A&E).

The ulcer was confirmed with an upper gi endoscopy later on (it takes months to get appts here). I was so uncomfortable leading up to it, especially the bloating, and I still cannot get rid of the systemic infection... From October 2023. I've missed out on life and am a bed dweller bc I don't have the energy and am not being taken seriously again...(I'm actually quite angry at the world today and upset at not getting any better; it's depressing).

But again, my heart goes out to you. I'm just throwing these out there bc of what you've had done and what tests were needed for diagnosis by my orthopaedist and pain mgmt (MRI) and by GI (Endoscopy). Like you, my other tests, aside from the ER, are in the normal range. I wish you all the best and hope you do find out and can get proper treatment to be your best self ASAP. And please know that I BELIEVE YOU! 💕🫂