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AIBU?

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Original poster

Severe pain, told to “forget about it”

237 replies

Glitterballofdreams · 07/05/2025 19:34

I’ve been experiencing pain in my abdomen for two months, it’s increasingly gotten worse. I saw my GP on 3 separate occasions, had blood tests and was referred for an ultrasound.
Last week the pain was so severe I went to A&E, I was kept in for two days and had an ultrasound & blood tests. Doctors couldn’t find anything wrong and discharged me with painkillers.
i attended the ward twice more in agony, had a CT scan and two more loads of blood tests. All of which were clear, yet I am still in severe pain. Alongside this I have become very dizzy and have blacked out twice (I am anaemic and I fear all the bloods they took have made this worse).
I visited my GP again today as I cannot function with the pain and dizziness, I am bedridden and am having to have family members help me look after my children. My GP told me today to forget about the pain and it will go away.

i am so upset, and fed up. I know that it is very reassuring that the scans showed nothing, yet why am I still in so much pain?!

has anyone had any experience of abdo pain that went away?

OP posts:
Original poster
Glitterballofdreams · 07/05/2025 20:14

Allmarbleslost · 07/05/2025 20:12

Have you had your gallbladder looked at? It sounds like how I felt when I had gallstones. You would need an ultrasound rather than CT.

Yes I had an ultrasound, all my symptoms pointed towards gallbladder but my gallbladder was normal with no stones xx

OP posts:
RandomMess · 07/05/2025 20:13

Gallbladder?

My friend had referred pain with hers, took years to get a diagnosis.

Allmarbleslost · 07/05/2025 20:12

Have you had your gallbladder looked at? It sounds like how I felt when I had gallstones. You would need an ultrasound rather than CT.

Original poster
Glitterballofdreams · 07/05/2025 20:11

Shwish · 07/05/2025 20:09

Could it be something to do with your liver maybe in that location? Have you had any other symptoms? Itching maybe? If so I'd mention when you get a second opinion.

My liver function and bloods were all normal apparently.

OP posts:
Shwish · 07/05/2025 20:09

Could it be something to do with your liver maybe in that location? Have you had any other symptoms? Itching maybe? If so I'd mention when you get a second opinion.

Lyannaa · 07/05/2025 20:08

I’m angry on your behalf. It is always women who are told to get on with it - never men!

Original poster
Glitterballofdreams · 07/05/2025 20:04

Thank you everyone for your kind responses. The GP made me feel like I was going mad!

I had an ultrasound of my ovaries, etc roughly two years ago and all was fine. I was sterilised after my third caesarean but suffer with extremely heavy and long periods.

I also had a stomach endoscopy last year due to heartburn, which was all clear except for a small hiatus hernia due to having hyperemesis gravidarum during pregnancy (excessive, constant vomiting).

The pain is like nothing I’ve experienced before, like a sharp stabbing pain to the right, at the bottom of where the ribs stop.

I have a GP appt booked for 10 days time (diff GP) so I will keep that. I just feel so disheartened, tired and drained.

OP posts:
andtheworldrollson · 07/05/2025 19:58

Ask. To see a different GP and ask about endo as a possibility ( you have to treat doctors the right way- don’t say is it endo or whatever- more could it possibly …..how would they know if it was …..

NorthernLights5 · 07/05/2025 19:55

Who TF has voted YABU?! I have endometriosis. I've had 2 kids, don't want any more and they still won't treat me "in case I change my mind" yet men can get vasectomies whenever they like. All they do is try to fob me off with stronger and stronger painkillers (which I can't take for personal reasons) and that's all the "treatment" they seem to offer.

I'm so sorry this is what you're having to put up with. And I hope things improve. I know it's hard but keep advocating for yourself or take someone who can do so for you.

Original poster
Glitterballofdreams · 07/05/2025 19:54

itsanamechangeforme · 07/05/2025 19:50

Have to say it sounds like endometriosis which I have in my pelvis and bowel. It can take years to be diagnosed it’s debilitating. Ask to see gynae x

Would that have shown up during CT scan or ultrasound? I also had a scan of my ovaries etc roughly two years ago due to very heavy periods and they said everything was normal.

OP posts:
itsanamechangeforme · 07/05/2025 19:50

Have to say it sounds like endometriosis which I have in my pelvis and bowel. It can take years to be diagnosed it’s debilitating. Ask to see gynae x

PeggyMitchellsCameo · 07/05/2025 19:46

That is absolutely appalling.
Mine was endometriosis both in my pelvis and bowel took me 16 years to get a diagnosis.
Ask to see a different GP. You can’t just think it away any more than you could the pain of a broken leg.
If it’s leaving you bedridden it’s severely affecting your health.
Scans can uncover certain issues but it could be something they have not picked up on. Have you had any gynae scans? Even then they can pick up certain issues but they do not show endometriosis, for example, which has to be diagnosed via a laparoscopy.
I have just been reading an interview with Naga Munchetty about her new book and her experiences of this level of pain and being ignored.
You have to be persistent, I am afraid. Any GP telling you to go away and think less about it or bring seriously unprofessional.
There is so much connected to abdominal pain - it can also come from the bowel and that requires different tests.
Start by asking to see a different GP. Keep a diary of your symptoms every day and pain levels - 10 would be what took you to A and E.
And I am so very sorry.

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