So I’m in A&E for the sixth time in a 9 weeks

[Soubriquet]

And they still don’t know what’s wrong with me

I am in constant pain in my stomach area. It’s an intense pressure that can then sort of spasm and throb.

I cannot walk. I cannot sit. I cannot eat meals. Without it hurting.

Today, I couldn’t even lift a glass of drink.

OTC do nothing. I’ve been prescribed buscapan and codeine and that did nothing.

I’ve had an MRI, a CT scan, an ultrasound, two x-rays, various blood tests and urine tests. All are clear.

I am on the waiting list for an endoscopy but that is two months away and I’ve been told by the doctor at A&E to come back everytime it gets worse or in days I can’t cope because it helps me get pushed up the list.

I’m tired. I’m exhausted. I’m sat in the stupid “fit to sit” area and I’m in agony because it hurts to sit.

I’ve been given oramorph but I chucked it up about 10 mins later.

Just saw the junior doctor and she is completely clueless too. Has no idea. She’s gone to speak to her supervisior for an opinion but it looks like I’m going to be sent home to suffer again.

I can wait for diagnoses. That’s not the problem. I just want a decent pain management scheme where I can be a relative pain free 33 year old!!

No….: I need the painkillers right
now because of the pain. I woke up one day and it suddenly appeared

I love MN. Yes of course - it's an opioid addiction. Not one of the hundred possible legitimate medical causes.
People, surprisingly enough go to A&E for severe pain.

currently have this under investigation since May .Grumbly gallstone like pain from ribs to appendix area and around back , indigestion after eating and 1st thing in morning, spasms across whole abdomen , pains through hips to thighs. Was told i was constipated while being very regularand senna gave me the runs for a week. Have had current flare up for two weeks, bloods show nothing except a bit of inflammation. Waiting repeat bloods and a stool sample. Was told thigh pain may be meralgia parasthetica. Still in agony, alternating between paracetamol and ibuprofen every two hours

Hope you get some relief and more importantly, an answer.

There isn't a tactful way to say this - but - are you significantly overweight at all? Obesity is a risk factor for developing a hernia because it increases the strain and pressure on the abdominal muscles, therefore making them weaker and more prone to a hernia.

That makes no sense at all. Why on earth would OP post on mumsnet if it was that!

I think you either need a colonoscopy or a camera going the other way (via the throat to investigate at this stage. You appear to have had all of the other types of exams done and I would think that one or other of these would rule in or out what is causing this issue for you.

It's never nice to be in pain and it's certainly not nice to be in long term pain so you have my sympathies.

Sounds like it could be an ulcer, have you ever had issues with acid reflux or bloating?

Can’t believe they gave you IBS medication for the pain you’re in. I was given Mintec over a decade ago for my flare ups. It was ok for mine as they weren’t regular and my pain - whilst painful during the flare up would last no longer than 30-45 mins. Nothing like what you’re describing.
I hope they do something more for you soon.

Yeah if it is an ulcer, mintec will be like putting fire on fire.

Nope! If anything I’m underweight

Hello. I’m so sorry you’re going through this. I have had similar, though not quite so bad, but have been to A&E with the pain.

I won’t go into a long history, but same as you buscopan etc doesn’t touch it.

By chance last week I was coming out of what I call a ‘flare up’ and went to my osteopath appointment for pain in my shoulder. When I got there I was almost crying and explained to her about my stomach. She did some manipulation and oh my word it worked.

I mean, going from being in so much I could hardly move (more of a hobble), to stopping off on the way home at the supermarket grinning like an idiot, in delight at being pain free!

In short, try a good osteopath if you can / haven’t already.

I had similar op, I got a 2 week referral for an endoscopy because I was having issues swallowing. I could swallow but some things we’re taking multiple swallows to go down if you see what I mean. Might be worth mentioning to your gp if you have anything similar, might rush the investigations along a bit more. Hope you feel ok soon.

@Soubriquet

im sorry to hear they still haven't found what's causing it. Did you see @Discovereads post? (Right at the beginning of your thread)

I did and I am making notes of when I next see some form of medical person

Have you had endometriosis ruled out? I see you said you thought it unlikely?
Your symptoms, A&E visits (to no affect), co-codamol 30/500 not touching it, sound the same as those I had. Mine was only identified during IVF treatment, I'd had pain for 15 years by that point.

Why do you think it's not endo?

You had tests for coeliacs? And the fecal calprotectin to rule out ibd?

ive been in exactly the same situation as you, and basically it was a grumbling appendix, the pain would come and be agonising and then melt away 12 hrs later. Scans were always done too late and the two times I had blood tests they showed my white blood cells to be up so they gave me a clinical diagnosis but by the time the bloods are back, the pain has gone. Had it twice in pregnancy so they wouldn’t operate, first time consultant surgeon said book in later but second time I stupidly went to triage and they said it was fine but the pain was identical, they said maybe it was in my head and was trapped gas. Even though I was vomiting constantly.

could it be appendix?

Surely endo would have been picked up by now if it was that.

I have two children, normal period cycle and the pain is constant not just around menstruation

Sounds like you are having a really rough time. Look up Achalasia, it can cause spams as well as you have described. An endoscopy will confirm it 100%.

You cannot 'insist' on admission to hospital and going to a&e will not bump you up a list and likely your GP wont do anything to expediate things either.
If you do not fit the 2 week wait criteria then 2 months for and endoscopy is sadly really short wait.
Its not right that people wait for investigations but its not the GPs fault and all they can do is write another referral letter to say things are bad.
referal letters are mostly not read by consultants anymore - they go to the referral management centres and they just send out appointments.
In the 'good old days' the GP could right directly to a named surgeon asking them to see a patient and then they ring that surgeon's secretary if things were getting worse.
Also you used to be able to put so much nuance in a letter like ' please could you see this lady, we have rule dout xyz but she has severe pain, i am confident she is not malingering or attention seeking and her analgesic use is appropriate. She has 3 small children at home and is struggling to get on with life'
Now no one cares you have small children at home, and the GP is saying you are no a drug addict...the referral centre have criteria and you do not meet any for an urgent referral.

However OP ...it sounds very much like some form of gastro oesophageal refulx disease.(GORD) I presume they have given you a PPI such as omeprazole ? and you are taking max dose and are following the dietary advice for this ?
If not you should be....
given you have had imaging - scans etc, it is not going to be gallstones or kidney stones.
I have never in 27 yrs of being a doctor heard of anyone with getting upper abdominal pain from spinal problems - though that doesnt mean it doesnt happen. I have however seen thousands of people with GORD who describe exactly what you are.
Interestingly endoscopy findings do not always correlate to severity of symptoms.

sorry write to not right to

I've just had a hysterectomy because of ovarian cysts high cancer markers pain etc. When they opened me up they discovered I had endo. It did not show up on any ultrasound (external or internal) or CT scan. The pain is debilitating and isn't just centred around your cycle. We didn't have a clue.

Oh and 3 kids inc twins

I spent two years in such intense pain I couldn’t walk!

I once went to A and E and the nurse refused to let me see a dr telling me it was ‘just’ my gallbladder. She sent me to the on call doctor who told me I was too complex

fast forward I went to a different hospital. I was finally scanned and they found that all my ducts were dilated. They never really found out why but after that it was managed successfully. Which made my life happen again. I literally couldn’t even drop the kids off at school. The teachers used to have to come out to the car I was so sick.

I have been there! I was once told they never found 90% of the causes of stomach pain!

Yes. Just keep saying you’re in too much pain to leave. Being in pain and needing pain management is an actual reasons to be in A and E. the emergency drs kept telling me that. So don’t let them fob you off

fingers crossed