Still in pain. Still none the wiser. Starting to feel a bit hopeless.

[Ohb0llocks]

Have made a previous thread on this. Timeline as follows.

21 June - v bad stomach cramps and trots
22nd June - gp says IBS
23 June - ooh appointment, very bad cramps and flank pain. Sent home, told to book scan
24 June - a&e visit. Given IV fluids. Bloods clear apart from one slightly raised liver enzyme which has been raised for almost a year with no symptoms. Sent home.
25 June - visit gp, request abdo and pelvic scan
28 June - visit gp sobbing in agony, mum had to take me. Dip urine shows protein, gp thinks possible infection. Abx prescribed. Pain goes.

10 July pain returns - visit gp, urine clear. Sent home. Urine sent for culture.
12 July - culture clear
14 July - ooh appointment, agony again. Gp sends to surgical triage. They have no idea. Test urine. Clear. Send home with advice to come back if pain worsens.
15 th July - visit ST pain worsens. Spend entire time sobbing on my mother. Sent home with 3 day trimethoprim. Pain goes after a few days
20 July - visit gp. Chest infection. Abx given.

23 July - scan. Only pelvic is done, all clear. Gp hadn’t booked abdo so referred back to GP.
1 August - pain returns. Visit gp. Nothing we can do until scan
7 August - go again. Nothing we can do.
12 August - ooh. Test urine - clear. Not sure if problem. Wait until scan.

I am in pain constantly. It’s sometimes right flank, sometimes upper right abdo, sometimes lower. Sometimes lower abdo cramps feeling (but constant) and hurts when walking. Sometimes pain is in left side. Sometimes lower back.

Last night took 2x paracetamol 2 x buscopan and 1x naproxen nothing touched it. Only thing that slightly helps is hot water bottles.

I’m breastfeeding 9mo DS2 baby and don’t want to give that up. We’ve worked so hard to get here I don’t want to throw it away. DS1 is 4 and for the past 2 months we’ve barely left the house, he just sits cuddling me and trying to make me feel better. My heart breaks for him. Keeps telling me that it’s not my fault and I’ll get better soon. He’s he sweetest and he shouldn’t have to go through this. None of us should.

I can’t ever see this getting better nobody seems to be willing to do anything. I have an abdo scan booked for tomorrow but that’s another day in pain that i just cannot do anymore I’m exhausted mentally and physically. I feel so bloody hopeless and I just want my life back.

Have they ruled out appendicitis?

I had it in adulthood with many many symptoms you mentioned and was told it was atypical presentation.

@Ullupullu how is it ruled out? I've had bloods, urine tests, abdo exams, pelvic ultrasound and abdominal ultrasound?

Does PCOS ring any bells? It can cause weight gain, hormonal imbalance and other symptoms like excessive/abnormal hair growth as well as irregular periods. It also has knock on effects with blood sugar and association with T2 diabetes so important to get it checked - can be a bugger to diagnose in the early stages though.

Hope you find the answers you need.

@GallicosCats would PCOS show on the ultrasounds?

Your doctor cant suggest things that have not been subject to (enough) clinical trials - but a warm bath with epsom salts (currently £1 in Lloyds pharmacy) will take the edge of the pain. Dont take milk of magnesia if you have the runs as magnesium is a laxative. However it can be absorbed through the skin so putting it in your bath will take the edge off the pain.

I'd also suggest you try either probiotics or Bimmuno.

Abdominal pain is difficult to diagnose and these are things that should ease the situation while you have investigations for a proper diagnosis.

I really hope you get an answer op. I understand how you feel, being in pain everyday. It's the worst feeling especially when there is so much to do, and you can't get it done.

Definitely.

Managed to get my sample. Not my finest hour! Now sat on the loo with bad cramps and trots again 🙄

@Ullupullu I also suspect appendix. Grumbling appendix can present like this off and on for weeks and weeks, especially if it's initially improving with antibiotics.
OP you need to ask your GP specifically if and how they have ruled out appendicitis.
It can absolutely present with referred pain meaning that you may not feel the pain in the area of the appendix itself but all over the abdomen. Only way to know it's definitely been ruled out is to ask your doctor if the appendix was visualised on the abdominal Scan and if it was reported as normal. Personally that would be my starting point.

I was hospitalised for a week with similar issues about 15 years back. All they could tell me was that I had a massive infection somewhere as I had a very elevated white cell count. Otherwise scans were clear....no ovarian issues, etc.
It took about six months and mega doses of antibiotics to settle it down. It really hurt to walk for ages. The doctors were useless tbh...

Looking back i now suspect it was diverticulitis.

My bloods have been normal so far. Going to hand the stool sample in today. Will phone this am and make another appointment 😫 god I'm never away from the place!

Appointment with specialist booked for 1st sept!

What kind of specialist?

I hope you get some answers soon.

Gastro

I think they explore gastro options first then refer elsewhere if needed?

It's a private hospital I've been referred to is that good?

So the pain is still there. Been 'on' this week too and had quite bad period pains. Or at least I think it's been period pains might just be a coincidence.

I feel so so so so low. I just want to know what's wrong. I am so angry yet feel so hopeless at the same time.

Partner just came and had a go at me because I won't take the dihydrocodine because it makes me feel awful. I feel so out of it and it gives me panic attacks. But apparently I'm just going to have to deal with it. Like fuck I am. I just cannot do this anymore.

I’m sorry you’re still struggling. I would suggest going back to your GP and asking for different pain relief. Can you take anti-inflammatories? I had to beg for different painkillers, I was on 60mg codeine with oramorph for breakthrough pain but the oramorph made me sick. I was still in pain - codeine took it from a 9/10 to maybe a 7/10 but it was hard to do anything. I can’t anti-inflammatories (asthmatic) but they tried me on nerve pain drug (pregablin) which really helped.