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?

Thank you, that’s good to know. I am sorry it took so long for your mum to be diagnosed. I wonder if a CT shows gallstones or just MRI

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Maybe try a fodmap elimination diet whilst pursuing more investigations in case its something else. I did one after sudden severe pain and clear scans and colonoscopy, and found I had randomly developed a wheat fructan and lactose intolerance where my symptoms were abdominal pain only! It took about 5 weeks on the diet for my symptoms to go away (takes 2-6 weeks on average) then you reintroduce one fodmap at a time.

Thank you. I have followed a low fodmap diet for months now, as I suffer with bloating and ibs symptoms. I also tried a gf diet.
i had stool sample tested through my GP when this pain started out, and that was clear for IBD etc.

I would complain and ask for a written explanation how pain stops by “forgetting”?

Pain radiating to shoulder definitely sounds like gallbladder. Plus the bloating and acid. I have heard of gallbladders looking ok on scans but on removal they are seen to be definitely not ok. You can do something called a HIDA test. Request it from GP? Can you book it privately if not?

Did you have an internal ultrasound? Small fibroids can be difficult to see on external u/s but can cause the symptoms you’re describing.

If you suffer from ibs and bowel symptoms as well then it is worth pushing for a colonoscopy. This will check out any potential severe bowel problems.

another possibility as other have mentioned is an ovarian cyst. These can come in multiples and can twist which causes extreme pain. Mine burst which I don’t recommend.

you’d need a diagnostic laparotomy(/laparoscopy which is the keyhole version) to check for endo and also ovarian cysts,

it is common in endo for endometrial tissue to escape the womb and attach to the bowel causing iBS type symptoms. During a laparotomy the surgeon can burn it off the bowel which helps.

drugs: your GP can prescribe anti spasmodics for your ibs type symptoms. He or she should also be giving you pain medication. What meds do you have?

Depends on the size and type of gallstones. Mine didn’t show on US, CT or MRI but were found on endoscopy.

This sounds awful - have you tried a pelvic specialist physio? They might have better suggestions than it sounds like you’ve had so far.

God this thread is so depressing, how many women are still having to fight for healthcare.

Endo can only be diagnosed by a laporoscopy.

Dd had hers in Feb. Found endo in her bladder only stage 2 out of 10 but her pain is awful and pain killers don't even come close.

Definitely take somebody with you to that next appointment. Its crucial these days to have somebody to back you up.

Yes both internal and external

Thank you that is really helpful. I have Buscopan on prescription as well as cocodamol, iron and omeprazole

It depends on the endo. It can be diagnosed without
it was obvious I had it from a simple ultrasound and they used an MRI to confirm

Appreciate that you've been sterilised, but can you still have a Mirena coil?
After several years of debilitating long and heavy periods and the resulting anaemia, Mirena coil stopped my periods altogether.

I took the liberty of running your symptoms through ChatGPT. This is not a proper diagnosis and I am not a doctor, but it may help you talk to your GP.

ChatGPT said (in order of likelihood):

"This presentation is complex and clearly distressing. Given the history and current symptoms, here are some differential considerations and overlooked possibilities worth raising forcefully with a clinician:
1.
Endometriosis

• Why it fits: Severe menstrual bleeding, chronic pain, prior hyperemesis (linked in some women to hormone sensitivity), and anaemia suggest the possibility of undiagnosed endometriosis.
• What to do: Pelvic MRI, gynaecological referral, and consider laparoscopy. Endometriosis can implant on the diaphragm or near the liver, which could explain RUQ pain.

2. Gallbladder / Biliary Disease (Acalculous Cholecystitis or Biliary Dyskinesia)

• Why it fits: Right upper quadrant pain radiating to the shoulder blade is classic for biliary involvement.
• Why it might be missed: If there are no gallstones and liver function tests are normal, acalculous cholecystitis or gallbladder dyskinesia may be overlooked.
• What to push for: A HIDA scan (hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid scan) to assess gallbladder function. This won’t show on standard ultrasound or CT.

3. Thoracic Spinal Nerve Irritation / Costochondritis / Slipped Rib Syndrome

• Why it fits: Pain at the bottom of the ribs radiating to the shoulder blade could be musculoskeletal or nerve-related—especially if positional or worsened by movement or deep breaths.
• Often missed: If not considered, especially in women, it may be dismissed as nonspecific or anxiety-related.
• Tests: Clinical exam by someone who palpates the ribs carefully and checks for “slipping” or nerve entrapment.

4. Anaemia and Orthostatic Hypotension

• Blacking out: Could be due to low haemoglobin, aggravated by frequent blood draws and heavy bleeding.
• What to do: Iron infusion may be more effective than tablets, and a cardiology follow-up may be warranted, given murmur and blackouts.

5. Hiatal Hernia or Referred GI Pain

• Hiatal hernia: Already diagnosed; if worsened, it can cause referred upper abdominal and back pain.
• Rule out: Oesophageal spasm or GERD complications.

6. Pelvic Congestion Syndrome / Vascular Causes

• Why it’s considered: Chronic pelvic pain, worsened by standing or menstrual cycle, not visible on standard imaging.
• Test: Pelvic venogram or MRI with vascular sequences.

7. Pancreatic or Liver-Adjacent Pain (even with normal bloods)

• Rare but possible: Autoimmune or small duct pancreatic issues can escape detection on basic imaging.
• Advanced imaging: MRCP (Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography) or endoscopic ultrasound.

What to do next:

• Insist on a referral to both gastroenterology and gynaecology. These symptoms straddle both specialisms.
• Document episodes and push for escalation. Keep a pain diary, note blackout events, track cycle timing, and don’t be fobbed off with “normal tests.”
• Consider private imaging or second opinion if NHS delays are excessive.

This isn’t in your head—it’s just in that frustrating diagnostic no-man’s land where multidisciplinary care is needed but rarely coordinated well."

Sounds exactly like my symptoms for biliary colic. Prescribed me morphine and on the waiting list for gallbladder removal. I started a very low fat diet and have had much fewer episodes of pain. I would advise doing this and seeing if it helps.

OP - My gallbladder was scanned, no stones. I asked for a second opinion cos my doctor was crap basically. Ended up having GB out and it was badly infected. Shoulder pain is linked to GB as well (referred pain I think they call it). Hope you get sorted. It's awful being in pain and trying to find an answer!

Hi OP please also look at a condition calles sphincter of oddie. It's massively mis-diagnosed and often gets mistaken for gallbladder issues and people often have their gallbladder taken out unnecessarily.

I know you mentioned they've ruled out gallbladder issues but have they ruled out pancreas issues? That is an upper right abdominal pain (under ribcage) and causes pain that radiates to the back, as well as nausea, dizziness and can really knock you for six.

I had severe stomach pain for years. I'd go to the doctor, the doctor would send me for an ultrasound of my gallbladder, they'd so no stones, and that was that. My current doctor did the same. But when the ultrasound showed no stones, she did a HIDA scan - she said it's not normal for an adult to have no gallstones; they usually pass without issue. The HIDA scan showed my gallbladder wasn't functioning at all. Hence, no stones. It was removed and I've not had an issue since. Ask for a HIDA scan.

I had this, was told it was anxiety for ages, it was the gallbladder not anxiety. I also had some clear scans to begin with.

It sounds like a pelvic MRI would be helpful. Sorry you’re going through all this, it’s really tough to be in pain even knowing the cause.

Cocodamol is not an appropriate level of pain relief.

Buscopan helps with bowel spasms. Omeprazole helps with reflux/will protect your stomach if you are taking anti inflammatory.

the standard pain meds for endo would be mefenamic acid or tranexamic acid which are NSAIDs however given you have reflux your doctor may have decided not to prescribe them because of the impact on your stomach.

I believe there is also a push to avoid prescribing NSAIDs generally these days - I get flack from my pharmacist every time I fill my prescription.

if you have ibs then a drug that impacts the nerves can be useful - amytriptyline is not a painkiller but is frequently used for ibs as it “tones down” nerve reactions. A side effect is it makes you drowsy so if taken at night it can help you sleep. Possibly worth discussing it.

the other main class of painkillers is the opioids, next step up from cocodamol is codeine in either 15mg or 30mg. These can make some people feel very spaced out and nauseous and there is also a push against prescribing this as these class are addictive. Apparently.

one is left with the conclusion they just hate prescribing painkillers of any sort.

I have chronic pain following an accident and severe mangling of my foot and last meds review I got asked if I’d considered stopping pain meds. Laughed, but he was serious. I said no, and told him he was a muppet.