Severe pain, told to “forget about it”

[Glitterballofdreams]

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?

That is absolutely appalling.
Mine was endometriosis both in my pelvis and bowel took me 16 years to get a diagnosis.
Ask to see a different GP. You can’t just think it away any more than you could the pain of a broken leg.
If it’s leaving you bedridden it’s severely affecting your health.
Scans can uncover certain issues but it could be something they have not picked up on. Have you had any gynae scans? Even then they can pick up certain issues but they do not show endometriosis, for example, which has to be diagnosed via a laparoscopy.
I have just been reading an interview with Naga Munchetty about her new book and her experiences of this level of pain and being ignored.
You have to be persistent, I am afraid. Any GP telling you to go away and think less about it or bring seriously unprofessional.
There is so much connected to abdominal pain - it can also come from the bowel and that requires different tests.
Start by asking to see a different GP. Keep a diary of your symptoms every day and pain levels - 10 would be what took you to A and E.
And I am so very sorry.

Have to say it sounds like endometriosis which I have in my pelvis and bowel. It can take years to be diagnosed it’s debilitating. Ask to see gynae x

Would that have shown up during CT scan or ultrasound? I also had a scan of my ovaries etc roughly two years ago due to very heavy periods and they said everything was normal.

Who TF has voted YABU?! I have endometriosis. I've had 2 kids, don't want any more and they still won't treat me "in case I change my mind" yet men can get vasectomies whenever they like. All they do is try to fob me off with stronger and stronger painkillers (which I can't take for personal reasons) and that's all the "treatment" they seem to offer.

I'm so sorry this is what you're having to put up with. And I hope things improve. I know it's hard but keep advocating for yourself or take someone who can do so for you.

Ask. To see a different GP and ask about endo as a possibility ( you have to treat doctors the right way- don’t say is it endo or whatever- more could it possibly …..how would they know if it was …..

Thank you everyone for your kind responses. The GP made me feel like I was going mad!

I had an ultrasound of my ovaries, etc roughly two years ago and all was fine. I was sterilised after my third caesarean but suffer with extremely heavy and long periods.

I also had a stomach endoscopy last year due to heartburn, which was all clear except for a small hiatus hernia due to having hyperemesis gravidarum during pregnancy (excessive, constant vomiting).

The pain is like nothing I’ve experienced before, like a sharp stabbing pain to the right, at the bottom of where the ribs stop.

I have a GP appt booked for 10 days time (diff GP) so I will keep that. I just feel so disheartened, tired and drained.

I’m angry on your behalf. It is always women who are told to get on with it - never men!

Could it be something to do with your liver maybe in that location? Have you had any other symptoms? Itching maybe? If so I'd mention when you get a second opinion.

My liver function and bloods were all normal apparently.

Have you had your gallbladder looked at? It sounds like how I felt when I had gallstones. You would need an ultrasound rather than CT.

Gallbladder?

My friend had referred pain with hers, took years to get a diagnosis.

Yes I had an ultrasound, all my symptoms pointed towards gallbladder but my gallbladder was normal with no stones xx

The liver can be a funny organ. Sometimes blood work doesn't show up a problem. Also any other symptoms might not seem like they'd be related. I'm not saying it is anything to do with that obviously but if you have ANYTHING else that seems a bit unusual, even if you think it's not worth mentioning, I really would. Maybe itching, change in bowel movements or change im the colour of wee or poo, excessive tiredness, loss of appetite, bruises?

Sending you a hug since you are in pain and your GP is being useless. Keep going to GP - not the same one - until things happen.
Wishing all the best!

Have you any other symptoms that might connect to gallbladder problems? You don't have to have actual stones and the site of your pain would be spot on for it.

I don't think it would necessarily show up in scans. Adenomyosis does because it is easier to see, and sometimes feel the abnormally thick womb lining. But you might need a laparoscopy to diagnose endometriosis.

It does sound like that's what you have though. Are your periods very heavy? Is that what causes your anemia?

I'd push for a laparoscopy ASAP.

It’s a sharp stabbing pain. It began intermittently but for the past two weeks it’s become more and more severe, it sometimes radiates to my right shoulder blade.

scans showed no inflammation or stones 🤷‍♀️

They are ridiculously heavy, I go through 2 pads an hour some days. And yes that is why I am anaemic x

I couldn't have a mastectomy because I might meet someone in the future and wish I'd kept my boob. So I have to keep my completely numb and disfigured boob for a fictional man.

It’s awful isn’t it? I came off the pill at 30 after taking it for 14 years. Horrific pain was told it was my body adjusting. Was then told having a baby would solve it!
My parents paid for me to see a consultant privately at 46 and Endo was diagnosed. Op was on the NHS and they left the Endo in there - said removing it wasn’t in the budget! So I had a diagnosis but no treatment.
I am 55 now and while the menopause has removed my periods I am still in so much pain.

Hi OP where abouts in your abdomen? I agree with PP it could be a gynecology issue. Last year I had excruciating lower right side pain and was in and out of SAU for a week whilst they were trying to figure out what was wrong. Ruled out appendix etc, had CT, bloods, ultrasound couldn't find anything. I still get it every so often now. Anyway I had another ultrasound booked from GP a week later, my bladder wasn't full enough so ny chance they done a transvaginal scan found 20+ cysts on my ovaries then diagnosed with PCOS. Keep pushing, you shouldn't feel this bad without support, it's ridiculous how you have to advocate for yourself so much but you can't be left like that. I really hope you get some answers soon

I'm so sorry, OP.

Mine was fibroids. I remember feeling my tummy and feeling an actual bulge. Nurse tried to fob me off 'because she couldn't feel anything'. I had to get real firm with them to get referred to scans that showed I had multiple and what I'd actually felt was the one that had grown outside my uterus.

My periods are also ridiculously heavy and the pain had me feeling faint, vomiting, iron low, awful pain...

Ask to be scanned for those too. I hope they find what it is quickly.

Wow this does sound similar to me.

My pain is lower right abdomen, just under the ribcage, not where I get period pains.

Endometriosis doesn't shows on scans. Only way to diagnose is laparoscopy.

My DD has this we think. Abdo pain, right side where appendix is. We're waiting for surgery to confirm.

Heat pads and TENS machine may help

Glad you have another GP appointment..

Have you had your gallbladder scanned? This is what my gallbladder pain was like.