Severe upper abdominal pain. GP said to carry on with paracetamol when it doesn't help.

[Windysummer]

Hello . I understand that it's not a medical forum however I am absolutely desperate and haven't got anyone to advocate for me. I had a mild viral illness 3 weeks ago. It was just sore throat and some joint pains and it passed really quick I was better in 48 hours. However, 2 days later I started with really bad stomach cramps at this stage they were low in my stomach, upset tummy and very abd blaoting that would come on shortly after eating. I was taking paracetamol but not ibuprofen. It didn't help much and shortly after the pain moved towards my upper abdominal area with bloating staying specifically in this area right in the middle of my upper stomach. It wasn't quite like heartburn but it was heavy and dull constant ache often getting slightly burning. Since then I been sick with it daily. Feeling okish in the morning and being able to go to work , however absolutely horrid shortly after my evening meal and in absolute agony whole night. Last night my DH was so worried and wanted to call 111 but I finally fell asleep.

I saw my GP who claims its trapped wind and just told me to do a stool sample and continue with paracetamol. It's not helping one bit. I tried Gaviscol in case it's indigestition/ gastritis which I never ever had in my life before but I am not sure that helps either. When I called GP back to ask for any type of pain relief they said I need to wait for the test results first hopefully by Wednesday. I am struggling to survive till then. Any advice on what this could be ?

No I don’t, call 111 like your husband suggested!

Sound s like the symptoms I had before my gallbladder was removed

Gallbladder. Get yourself to hospital and get a scan.

Just to add I haven't got any vomitting with it it's just the constant on and off pain that is a lot worser in the evenings/when I am in bed and I have never had anything like gastritis in my life so don't know what triggered this. I have a decent diet. Can you only have pain with gallbladder and not vomitting? I am 36.

Yes you can have the pain without vomiting. I’m 60, never had a single gallbladder attack in my life and had no idea I had gallstones. Ate well (Mediterranean diet), not overweight. Then bam! gallbladder burst completely out of the blue.

I have never been to A&E in my life (only took my kids) and I am worried to go all the way in case it's nothing and I would just waste their time.

You can do the 111 NHS online and be triaged in minutes.

With your symptoms you will be advised to go to A&E where you'll be expected and not left to wait around. I have done this.

This is urgent. I'd get online right away rather than waiting for your symptoms to start up after your evening meal. You know what's coming and could be diagnosed by the time your pain next starts.

When I was in hospital getting my gallbladder out, me and one other lady on the ward had been fobbed off by our GPs, two others had burst appendix and had been fobbed off by GP with paracetamol. You need to call 111 now. I ended up with jaundice.

Gallbladder pain/pancreatitis - you need to get yourself seen ASAP.

Yoi need to be seen urgently. My friend had this and nearly died after being robbed off over and over - gallbladder burst and ended up with pancreatitis as a result.

Definitely sounds like it could be gallstone related. I’d see the GP again, i’m a rare case but gallstones (or rather one that got out) has caused me significant long term issues. Could be something else of course, but keep on at the GP until they diagnose the problem.

I concur with the gallbladder suggestions..A and E OP ,hope they can help. Mine was bad and until my operation they gave me injections in my bum which really worked almost immediatley! Hope you are feeling better soon.

I never vomited when I had gallstones. Depends how much pain you’re in if you go to A&E. I’m terrible for not going early enough. If you’re in agony then go, otherwise i’d see GP Monday.

Gallbladder

Sounds like something I’m just coming through - was 8 weeks of pain following a virus. Still tests shows an infection. The dr recommended cocodamol for the pain as like you paracetamol wasn’t touching it. The bloating was agony. Couldn’t poop very well, felt so gassy and was agonising. I was truly miserable. I was also taking windeze and was prescribed Buscopan, taking both like sweets. Followed formap diet to reduce fermentation inside me. I’m through it now, but still having niggkes here and there. I pushed for an ultrasound which I’m still waiting on.
what helped was telling chat gpt all my symptoms, then googling the best I could until i found a few things it sounded iOS it might be and asked the gp to test for them. Has bloods and stool test. Don’t lay down if you can help it, especially after food as the gas needs to work down. Try walking around after food.

Yes i would suggest either A+E or 111 for an out of hours Gp to refer you to a surgical admissions unit to get your bloods done, pain relief and a scan.

You may waste time at A&E but you only have the one body
You're not going to get a thank you card when you reach the pearly gates for saving the NHS a bit of time.

If you're genuinely worried you should go to A&E and say you are in a lot of pain and get properly looked at.

Being fobbed off is real. I was fobbed off in my last pregnancy and think I had a serious infection that was never looked for. Prophylactic antibiotics got rid of it but they were a precaution from my GP. I genuinely believe I came close to death and medical professionals treated me as though I was making it all up.

Severe abdominal pain is urgent and you should go to a&e.

Agree with an and e, 111 will send you there anyway. It could be anything from gastritis/gallbladder/hernia/pancreatitis/ulcer etc. to h.pylori or constipation but only bloods/ct/X-ray will confirm.