Page 5 | Severe pain, told to “forget about it”

Glitterballofdreams · 2025-05-07T18:34:26+00:00

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?

CalmTheFuckDownMargaret · 26/05/2025 16:18

You poor thing. Hope they find the cause. It makes me so cross hearing how you were just dismissed and told to ignore it.

FlowerUser · 26/05/2025 15:51

That is really good news😭! At last you’re being taken seriously. I hope it all goes well for you.

beetr00 · 26/05/2025 14:27

@Glitterballofdreams

A much better appointment, for you, then, at last. 🙂

I do hope you're feeling a bit more optimistic lovely. All the best.🌸

Original poster

Glitterballofdreams · 26/05/2025 11:50

beetr00 · 26/05/2025 10:57

@Glitterballofdreams

Any update wrt your 19th May appointment? 💐

Hopefully not with the GP who keeps insisting it's IBS!! (generic catch all, aka they don't know what's wrong)

Hiya

so after seeing the same rude doctor twice, I made an appointment with a different GP. He was brilliant, he was really concerned about the pain I am suffering. He has requested an urgent CT scan of my chest & lungs, and will see me again in two weeks time to check how I am coping.

the pain is still unbearable, but I am trying to keep things as normal as possible for my children, as the show goes on.

OP posts:

beetr00 · 26/05/2025 10:57

@Glitterballofdreams

Any update wrt your 19th May appointment? 💐

Hopefully not with the GP who keeps insisting it's IBS!! (generic catch all, aka they don't know what's wrong)

Original poster

Glitterballofdreams · 16/05/2025 08:08

Thelosthalfathought · 15/05/2025 21:17

How are you hanging on?

Had yet another GP appointment with yet another GP - tell me your story from the beginning….. then as we had to cover the old ground only managed half my questions in 17 mins so going to have to see if I can get a medication review for painkiller increase discussed with previous doctor.. upshot is referral for Ultrasound but by gosh I’d love some continuity of care or read my notes before phoning….. also spend all day being anxious I’d miss the phone call phoned at 5:50pm.

how do you contact your GP? I have to go through ai system it judges my answers and then you get triaged.

right off to get a drink to take the next round of painkillers in the hope of getting to sleep 😴

I’m sorry to hear you’re still in so much pain. I do hope it eases for you soon.
Continuity of care would be amazing, I hate having to go from the beginning with each medic.

We are triaged by the GP receptionist. They are like Rottweilers! My mother actually walked in there last time and demanded someone see me as I kept getting fobbed off. Didn’t and up being a success though.

OP posts:

Thelosthalfathought · 15/05/2025 21:17

How are you hanging on?

Had yet another GP appointment with yet another GP - tell me your story from the beginning….. then as we had to cover the old ground only managed half my questions in 17 mins so going to have to see if I can get a medication review for painkiller increase discussed with previous doctor.. upshot is referral for Ultrasound but by gosh I’d love some continuity of care or read my notes before phoning….. also spend all day being anxious I’d miss the phone call phoned at 5:50pm.

how do you contact your GP? I have to go through ai system it judges my answers and then you get triaged.

right off to get a drink to take the next round of painkillers in the hope of getting to sleep 😴

Original poster

Glitterballofdreams · 13/05/2025 11:02

I have got an appointment for next Monday, with a different GP. Hopefully I can hang it out till then.

Thank you all so much for your support, I really appreciate it xx

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sandpiperspring · 13/05/2025 07:31

You need to push for a second opinion. Book another appointment today, but refuse to accept an appointment with that GP.

Does your practice have a female GP? Saying you need a female GP might be another way to avoid this one.

Good luck xx

Original poster

Glitterballofdreams · 13/05/2025 07:27

Spottydogtoo · 12/05/2025 22:10

A couple of years ago I had gallstones, I was in severe pain for a few hours after eating every day for over a month. G.P suspected gallstones and referred me for an ultrasound scan and bloods which came back normal. Days letter A&E gave me an urgent referral to a Gastroenterologist who I saw a few days later. He also suspected gallstones. Had an MRI, was normal. Had an ERCP which finally confirmed the diagnosis. He also explained that bloods needed be done within a specific time window from the onset of pain each day or they wouldn’t show anything. I stopped eating every other day to give myself a break from the pain. I was prescribed Tramadol which did help. After around 5/6 weeks the pain stopped on its own. Then eventually after over a year I had surgery to remove my gallbladder. Don’t be fobbed off if your bloods and ultrasound are normal. Keep pushing for a referral to a Gastroenterologist.

This is so helpful, thank you.
I am sorry you had to go through that, it must have been awful. I hope you’re more comfortable now

OP posts:

ScribblingPixie · 12/05/2025 22:41

IBS often just means they haven't got a clue. Keep pushing, OP.

Spottydogtoo · 12/05/2025 22:10

A couple of years ago I had gallstones, I was in severe pain for a few hours after eating every day for over a month. G.P suspected gallstones and referred me for an ultrasound scan and bloods which came back normal. Days letter A&E gave me an urgent referral to a Gastroenterologist who I saw a few days later. He also suspected gallstones. Had an MRI, was normal. Had an ERCP which finally confirmed the diagnosis. He also explained that bloods needed be done within a specific time window from the onset of pain each day or they wouldn’t show anything. I stopped eating every other day to give myself a break from the pain. I was prescribed Tramadol which did help. After around 5/6 weeks the pain stopped on its own. Then eventually after over a year I had surgery to remove my gallbladder. Don’t be fobbed off if your bloods and ultrasound are normal. Keep pushing for a referral to a Gastroenterologist.

Lonelyscarecrow · 12/05/2025 21:19

So sorry to hear this OP - such bad luck to get that GP again. Are you going to try to get another appointment? Just giving your thread a bump so hopefully someone with more knowledge of what you can do next will see it. Good luck- I really hope you will get help soon.

Original poster

Glitterballofdreams · 12/05/2025 17:11

Went back to GP today, as it was an urgent appt I had the bad luck of being placed with the same GP I saw last week 🙈
He refuses to think it is anything but IBS, and reluctantly prescribed amitriptiline, which I’m not too sure about taking.

surely IBS wouldn’t be this intense for almost 3 months? My stool sample showed no signs of inflammation of the bowel or intestines.

OP posts:

mommatoone · 11/05/2025 23:16

Bloody hell OP, you are really suffering aren't you. Definitely tell your GP that you want a second opinion. As my PP and others have said, GB issues don't always just show up on scans. Things need investigating further. I hope you feel better soon. I've been in your situations, it's awful.

Original poster

Glitterballofdreams · 10/05/2025 18:31

Thelosthalfathought · 10/05/2025 15:11

Sorry to hear you’re still in agony. Hopefully they sent you away with some good painkillers?

isn’t it ridiculous that we have to try and convince the GP to look after our own best interests :(

I’ve decided to throw some money at my situation and been for cranial osteopathy - in agony today. It was very weird having it done and when I’ve had normal osteopathy it’s usually hurts more before it gets better - but that might be just wishful thinking.

Didn’t give me any pain relief!

Aww I do hope you feel more comfortable soon, and that your treatment makes a difference.xx

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Thelosthalfathought · 10/05/2025 15:11

Sorry to hear you’re still in agony. Hopefully they sent you away with some good painkillers?

isn’t it ridiculous that we have to try and convince the GP to look after our own best interests :(

I’ve decided to throw some money at my situation and been for cranial osteopathy - in agony today. It was very weird having it done and when I’ve had normal osteopathy it’s usually hurts more before it gets better - but that might be just wishful thinking.

Original poster

Glitterballofdreams · 10/05/2025 13:21

Update:

Pain has continued to be severe, accompanied by a very painful constant headache causing me to vomit all night. Called 111, they booked me to see a nurse in OOH this morning. She thinks it’s gallbladder related but couldn’t treat anything as scans were clear 🫩
The OOH GP came in to see me, she also thinks my gallbladder could be ill functioning, but said I’d need to convince my GP to refer me to the specialist.

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Oblomov25 · 09/05/2025 05:22

Hope you get a solution. I hate how dismissive some are of pain. In a minute they'll tell you you're imagining it and all you need is some mindfulness!

Clarabell77 · 09/05/2025 02:45

I know someone who had similar and it took a scope for them to find h-pylori.

SlB09 · 09/05/2025 01:42

If you find out let me know - exactly the same for almost a year now

EBearhug · 09/05/2025 01:17

Glitterballofdreams · 08/05/2025 21:00

Just a little update… the side of my abdo that I am experiencing pain on is boiling hot to touch.

That sounds like there could be infection. Definitely hospital.

Caerulea · 09/05/2025 00:59

OP - I really hope you've gone to the hospital after your last update.

Whatevernext9 · 09/05/2025 00:51

LovingLimePeer · 08/05/2025 23:00

Well, I can see how this conversation plays out.
Is this an accident? No
Is this an emergency? No
Okay..... well off to the GP you go to get a referral to an outpatient clinic.

A surgical team is not going to see chronic abdominal pain with negative investigations presenting to A&E, except in extremis.

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I don’t know if you’re speaking from clinical or other expertise but when I had unusual abdominal pain that lasted for several weeks and then worsened 111 told me to go straight to A&E because abdominal pain can include serious risks. My local A&E has a terrible reputation but on the occasions I have been there for myself (that abdo pain and a cardiac issue) they’ve been excellent and not sent me back to the GP.

CoolPlayer · 09/05/2025 00:04

I've had so much pain from endometriosis had so
many scans ect that showed nothing even though I kept saying I thought it was endo…then I had a laparoscopy and that’s when it was found