If you are a doctor what would you have me do?

[sparklins]

I posted under a different username a few weeks ago about my visit to A&E.

Basically I woke up with abdominal pain/midriff pain one morning. It got much worse an hour in, pain located just under my rib on the left side and also similar on the right but not as bad in addition, also pain radiating across my abdomen between these two points. This was accompanied by some milder abdominal pain lower down but it was background noise compared to the pain closer to my ribs. Never had this type of pain before. I couldn't get dressed, was in tears.
I've given birth twice with no pain relief whatsoever and I found labor hurt less than whatever this was.
By the time I got to A&E it subsided within 15 minutes or so after being intense for almost 3 hours. But the areas where the pain was feel sore and tender.
White blood cell count raised. Everything else normal. No UTI or anything of that sort.

I ended up getting an ultrasound primarily to check the appendix and any cysts around the ovaries but they did not find anything, I was discharged with no diagnosis.

I thought it was a one off but for the past couple of days I have been having a general pain around my midriff, nothing debilitating but more uncomfortable and feels quire tender especially if I do any energetic movement. Also radiating around my sides at the front like before. At times it almost feels like I'm at the very beginning of getting a stitch but it never comes.
I'm 28 and with a healthy BMI (not sure if this matters) and I am concerned as this is not my normal.

Getting a GP appointment is impossible at the moment and obviously this does not warrant a trip to A&E unless it gets worse like last time. I have 2 young DCs and can't be stuck like this as I need to be able to keep up with them without being so uncomfortable all the time.

If I did manage to get an appointment do you think they would suggest any further tests considering I already had an ultrasound?
Or would I be wasting time and should I just sit on it an see how it progresses?

I would ask to get my gallbladder scanned.

Sounds like gallstones. Agree with Lolabutt

Sounds like gallstones

Did the ultrasound show intestines? A doctor once told me you’d be amazed how often debilitating tummy pain in women is actually constipation/impacted bowel. You can be pooping every day and still have it

Gallbladder I would say. Often stones don't show up on an ultrasound so an endoscopy is required.

I’d say gallstone and the stone passed - keep an eye out for fatty food / pain and pin in right shoulder.

@Justheretoaskaquestion91 I am not sure, they did scan my abdomen in general but focused on the appendix and ovaries.
From my understanding now (hindsight) I think the department I was referred to just wanted to rule out need of surgery. They said the appendix looked normal and they did not see anything on my ovaries and I was free to go.
If it was to happen again to come back and go through the whole A&E process again.

If it is gallstones is that something I can try and improve myself?

This sounds very much like gallstones (I have them)

Gallbladder or IBS

Sounds also like gallstones to me.

I have them (actually just one big one really) was told I needed to removed. Then Corona struck and operation was postponed. I've still got it and find that if I eat too much then if flares up. This can be too much rich food, but also just too much of anything - including vegetables or salad! Drinking a lot of water helps avoid problems significantly too.

I got some painkillers from the GP and if sn attack starts I take them. I rarely need them now.

I find that when an attack is in progress though that the pain (which is debilitating) is exacerbated by my whole body tensing up. If I can get under a warm shower or in a warm bath, or have a few heat pads on the tense muscles (primarily my back) it helps to relieve the pain. It doesn't stop it, but it reduces the impact of it which helps.

If you get a fever with the pain or notice your stools are beige then it's important to get to the dr (urgently for temperature). Otherwise it can be handled at home and the pain will (eventually!) subside. That's what I've been told anyway abd has so far held true.

Ok well everyone on here knows more than me so I’m sure they are right re gallstones but always worth bearing in mind because an impacted bowel can rupture and become fatal.

Ultrasound is a very sensitive test for gallstones. You should fast for this scan. An endoscopy goes nowhere near the gallbladder maybe the poster meant an ERCP. An endoscopy is an investigation of the oesophagus and stomach.

Gallstones. Although I think usually more right sided pain. Comes for period of time then disappears. Absolutely horrific pain. I thought I was having a heart attack

Generally right sided pain but can hurt in the chest, back and on the left.

Hot water bottles help but the pain is excruciating. Can also have issues with it if you’ve lost a lot of weight very quickly.

@speckledcat - do you mean an ultrasound would show them?

Ultrasound is a very good test for gallstones. No test is 100 % reliable though. It would also depend on patient factors eg size etc. A gallbladder scan needs to be done fasting. A small contracted GB due to chronic infection maybe hard to see too. A pelvic us is done with a full bladder. This is good for gynaecological conditions. A TV scan is better and is done with the bladder empty. An acute appendix may not be seen in an adult as we are generally fatter than children and therefore the scan is much harder to do and interpret! Hope that helps.

Thank you for that @speckledcat would they automatically check for this with an ultrasound for my symptoms?
I had to have a full bladder for it.
The sonographer? said that if they cannot see my pelvic area well then I will also be offered an internal scan/examination then and there but in the end he said they could see everything very clearly so there was no need.

Endometriosis could be a possibility, particularly if it occurs during your periods.

Please just go to your Dr.

Sounds like biliary colic

Hi, sorry I don't know what they will have done. The Radiologist/sonographer will only do what is requested. You will need to ask what the scan included.

Have you had c sections? I was getting pains like that on and off every month. They thought I had endometriosis but it was adhesions. My womb, bowl and bladder were all stuck with scar tissue.

@sparklins

If it is gallstones is that something I can try and improve myself?

Only to prevent attacks, but if it is gallstones, the risk is you end up with jaundice and worst case, death.

You need to stay away from fat, alcohol and certain things like apple can trigger it I think. Lay off on any fatty foods including dairy products but 100% go to the GP. You will not rid yourself of gallstones naturally.

@speckledcat thanks so much for all your input.
I might try to call the hospital and ask if the scan also included the gallbladder.

@RAFHercules I will be extremely lucky if I manage to get in touch with my GP practice any time soon. At the moment you end up on hold for hours and cut off half the time before anyone picks up the phone.