I have reached a dead-end and am genuinely stumped about what the trigger for this pain is and I wondered whether anyone has had anything similar.
I will start by saying that yes, I have been to the doctors on many occasions and further investigations included an ultrasound of my stomach and kidneys, a HIDA scan, I've had a camera down my throat and also swallowed a pilcam. All of the above still haven't got to the root of the problem.
Since I was 17 (I'm 35 now) I have suffered from this recurring pain in my abdomen. It's located just above my belly button and spreads through to my back around the kidney area. It always comes on around 4pm and lasts until the early hours. In terms of the pain, it isn't a 10/10 excruciating pain but it is very sore and it doesn't ease off which is what makes it so unbearable. I get relief when I lie in the bath but there is no other relief once it starts. It's a dull persistent ache.
Once I get into bed, the gurgling starts. It's very extreme and can easily be heard by my partner beside me. It rumbles on for quite a while and does feel good while it's happening, it's a break from the pain but doesn't replace it.
Over the counter painkillers don't help so I have to use prescription co-codamol which works.
When I first used to get the pain, it was approximately every 6 months but over the years it has become more frequent and I'd say it's probably every 2/3 months now. It also now always returns the following day at the same time and on occasion has come back for a third day.
In the past I have kept a food diary to rule out any food intolerances and I know it's also not linked to my cycle. It's also not IBS or gallstones.
The gastro-specialist couldn't find a cause for it so discharged me saying it was probably stress causing my colon to spasm but I'm not so sure about that.
I'm totally stumped but would love to get to the bottom of it once and for all!