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?

there is medication to reduce heavy periods - speak to your GP or pharmacist x

Thank you I am on two types of prescription medication for it, but they only help slightly.

I have had an X-Ray which all looked normal x

4 years since my last baby x

This is a good call. I have this problem (it was the first real sign of my hEDS) and it is incredibly painful and took a long time to get to the bottom of. Unfortunately, once diagnosed there was no interest as it can't be fixed, just medicated, but at least I knew by then that it wasn't a problem with my internal organs.

It won't show on an x-ray. Not saying you definitely have this of course but an x-ray doesn't rule it out unfortunately. Your other investigations are the priority as you need to know if it's an internal issue but if they come back clear it might be worth a rheumatology referral. Do you have any other symptoms of hypermobility?

Ive suffered with similar most of my life, intense pain around my ribs on the right side, I was diagnosed with Teitze syndrome.

Then I was diagnosed with Elhers Danlos Syndrome a few years ago.

I get what I call "organ pain" intense pain in my bowels, ovary pain, leading to hospital stays, I have a number of "small" issues with various parts of my body/organs. It can last anything between an hour and weeks and occasionally months.

I sympathise, its utterly crap

Same here though I've not needed hospitalising. Commiserations!

For the OP - Tietze is the same as slipping rib syndrome.

With all due respect to your pain OP which sounds awful, I find it hard to believe any GP would use the phrase 'just forget about it' This type of attitude could put their whole licence in jeopardy. Apologies if indeed it is true, just difficult to believe.

I've had worse. Absolutely believe that a minority of GPs would say such a thing.

Thankfully I've never come across this attitude. I have on occasion left an appointment upset due lack of sympathy although to be fair they are clinicians trying to solve a multitude of physical & mental health issues often difficult to diagnose which is more important than sympathy.

Unfortunately it is true. It is so unprofessional, however who is recording these in-person appointments? GPs can say anything, just because of their title it does not also mean they are professional. He also shouted as I left the consulting room “eat lots of greens”, which had absolutely no context and the door was open leaving a room of waiting patients to hear it too!
Have you seen the Nurofen campaign?

Hi,

I literally just made this acct to reply bc I have been in your situation and am in one now with a systemic infection (and secondary MRSA/MSSA) after going through everything. My heart goes out to you and this same topic has been a very angry rant to my therapist, who actually gives af. (I'm in the US). Anywho!

The stabbing your describing sounds really similar to 2 of my issues. The first was in my 20s and it was indeed a herniated disc. You need an MRI for those, specific to the region of the radiation. I get radiculopathy in my thoracic vertebrae. I was diagnosed with disc degenerative disease at 26, but it is from the nerve root, which can get irritated with any leaks of your disc, wraps around my ribcage (radiculopathy) and was one of the most painful waiting periods. I used to roll into a ball on the floor and scream in pain. I had to go see an orthopaedist, who then sent me to pain management.

The crappy part is the nerve endings, dermatomes, can overlap and you can't really tell where it's actually from sometimes.

Which leads me to when nobody believed me and I felt like I was being stabbed in my kidney for over 2.5 years. Tests were fine: new MRI, blood, urine, ultrasound. It would mix with my existing pain and would wrap around my ribs and down my abs. I wore a TENS unit a LOT! (transcutaneous nerve stimulator - highly recommend for pain!)

Then, one night I felt awful waffle and went into shock after vomiting a ton of blood. Turns out all that pain was an ulcer in that area that also gave me 2 diverticulita on each side. I struggle with anemia, too, and that level droppedddd to under 10. My husband said I was fine and go back to bed. 😒 Uh, no. I think I know my body better, kthx. Went to the ER (A&E).

The ulcer was confirmed with an upper gi endoscopy later on (it takes months to get appts here). I was so uncomfortable leading up to it, especially the bloating, and I still cannot get rid of the systemic infection... From October 2023. I've missed out on life and am a bed dweller bc I don't have the energy and am not being taken seriously again...(I'm actually quite angry at the world today and upset at not getting any better; it's depressing).

But again, my heart goes out to you. I'm just throwing these out there bc of what you've had done and what tests were needed for diagnosis by my orthopaedist and pain mgmt (MRI) and by GI (Endoscopy). Like you, my other tests, aside from the ER, are in the normal range. I wish you all the best and hope you do find out and can get proper treatment to be your best self ASAP. And please know that I BELIEVE YOU! 💕🫂

Wow sorry to hear of your terrible experiences, I do hope you feel more comfortable soon.

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply, it’s very helpful.x

Update:

My GP has just called with the results of my most recent CT scan. They have found swelling in my lymph nodes on my chest. I’m to have another scan in three months time to see if there has been any changes or growth.

Im feeling pretty upset.

Sorry to hear that @Glitterballofdreams 💐Did they say what they think is the cause? Is that to do with the original pain or something separate? Thank goodness you had the scan.

It's appalling that every woman presenting with these symptoms isn't immediately put on the two week cancer pathway. It almost certainly isn't cancer but sometimes it might be. And if it isn't, it is something which may be managed with painkillers and hormones while awaiting surgery.

Sorry to hear that @Glitterballofdreams . I'm glad to read you are being seen and checked out though.

And in the next 3 months what are you supposed to do ?

Has your gallbladder definitely been ruled out? Everything you describe sounds like it's that.

You had an ultrasound - what was the outcome?

Gallbladder can cause enlarged lymph nodes.

From Chat GPT:

🔍 1. Clinical Symptoms
Doctors first consider symptoms. Common signs of gallbladder problems include:
⚠️ Classic Symptoms of Gallbladder Disease:
Right upper quadrant pain (under the ribs on the right side)
Pain that may radiate to the right shoulder or back
Nausea and vomiting
Pain after eating fatty meals
Fever and chills (in infection)
Jaundice (if bile flow is obstructed)
🧪 2. Blood Tests
These help assess inflammation, infection, and bile duct involvement:
TestWhat It Indicates
WBC (white blood cell count)
Elevated in infection/inflammation
Liver enzymes (ALT, AST)
Elevated if bile flow is obstructed
Alkaline phosphatase (ALP)
Elevated in bile duct obstruction
Bilirubin
Elevated in obstruction or liver involvement
Amylase/Lipase
To check for pancreatitis (if stones are involved)

🖼️ 3. Imaging Studies
These are essential for confirming the diagnosis:
🩻 Ultrasound (first-line test)
Detects gallstones, thickened gallbladder wall, fluid around the gallbladder, or a blocked bile duct
Highly sensitive for gallstones and cholecystitis
💉 HIDA scan (hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid scan)
Evaluates gallbladder function and cystic duct patency
Used when ultrasound is inconclusive
Positive test shows non-visualization of the gallbladder, suggesting obstruction or inflammation
📊 CT scan
Good for evaluating complications (e.g., perforation, abscess)
Less sensitive for gallstones than ultrasound
🧲 MRCP (Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography)
Non-invasive way to visualize the bile ducts
Helpful for detecting stones in the common bile duct (choledocholithiasis)
🧪 Optional: Endoscopic Procedures
ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography): Used to diagnose and treat bile duct stones or strictures
Only used when there’s a high suspicion of ductal obstruction
Summary Table
Diagnostic ToolBest For
Ultrasound
First-line; detects stones, inflammation
HIDA scan
Confirms cholecystitis if ultrasound unclear
CT scan
Complications or alternative diagnoses
MRCP
Bile duct evaluation
Blood tests
Inflammation, liver/bile duct function

If you or someone is experiencing symptoms suggestive of gallbladder disease, the first step is usually an ultrasound and basic lab work. From there, additional testing is guided by the clinical picture.

Have them also check you for celiac as it slowly destroys the stomach (and everything else over time)

I was in a lot of pain in my stomach by the end stages

Your body could be showing you that something doesn’t agree, usually wheat or cows milk are the common culprits

Biggest symptom of celiac for me was a bloated stomach and pain all the time. Make sure they check you properly

The way medicine treats women needs to change

Ps celiac can also cause swollen lymph nodes

If that, it’s not intolerance, celiac is a immune response to wheat. Your whole body would be rejecting it

Hope you are doing as ok as possible @Glitterballofdreams