severe abdominal pain and vomiting starting in pregnancy?

[mrsmooms]

Hoping someone might recognise this ... When about 12 weeks pg with DC2, I experienced excruciating pain across my abdomen which started as a dull pain but got gradually worse over about 12 hours. I was seen in A&E as a precaution because I was pg, and it was put down to ligaments and organs stretching and shifting etc. Happened again a couple of months after birth, accompanied by some nausea and sickness. Mentioned it at my postnatal check but the GP couldn't feel any split in the muscles, or hernia or anything like that. I'm sure it came on a few hours after doing some stomach-clenching exercise.

Same thing happened a couple of days ago and I remember feeling a twinge as I picked up toddler DS, a few hours prior to the pain starting. It started off only mildly painful again but reached a much more intense level this this time and I think it got significantly worse after I tried eating. Couldn't find any position to stay in which would lessen the pain and I ended up hyperventilating because it was so bad. Phoned 111 who arranged a non-emergency ambulance to take me to A&E again - vomited a lot in the ambulance and the pain seemed to start subsiding shortly after this. Blood tests were all clear so I was sent home with no explanation.

Codeine and other painkillers have no effect at all. The pain is hard to describe but feels spasmy, like 100x worse than the worse trapped wind pain I've ever felt.

Wondering whether anyone else has experienced this or can suggest something that might relieve the symptoms? No-one seems to be able to explain it but I'm scared about it happening again as the pain was frightening ..

Gallbladder?

Hey, I had something like this but it passed after a couple of attacks - never ended up in an ambulance or on codene though....
Never found out what it was but I also had split muscles in pg, a thrombosis at 33weeks and a 4.7cm cyst on my ovary about 5 months after giving birth via c-section which felt as though my ovary had been sliced (I actually was worried they had left something in there it was so painful). I don't know if the thrombosis and cyst were linked but perhaps get both looked into if the pain is localised? I had a thrombosis in my leg, which I couldn't walk on one morning (thankfully unhelpful Dr receptionist told me I couldn't have an appt that day and if I was concerned to walk to A&E ) but if it hadn't been in my leg who knows how it could have presented. You are more prone in pg though due to swelling blood vessels.
Cyst was right under the scar from c-sect obviously and crippling in waves. I fainted once but recovered quickly. Felt like a very bad tummy bug with sharp stabbing pains. Couldn't believe it was only a cyst and very common and not usually at all worrysome. I hope you figure it out, and sorry for the ramble!

Bending with the cyst was horrid plus added pressure from eating was noticeable (bowel pushing on it I suppose). I was told because I was 'slight' it was more noticeable than for some people - so if that applies, perhaps you could ask for an ultrasound from your GP? Mine cleared up on it's own after a couple of months but you will have to go back to keep an eye on it if it is near 5cm. Anything over that and they can operate to remove it for you.
I vote ovarian cyst :)

My friend got appendicitus while pregnant, came and went a few times, then appendix removed after birthmark. Have they checked that?

*birth

It sounds like gall bladder or ovarian cyst. See another Dr as it doesn't seem right not being investigated.

Thanks for all of your replies. I thought it might be a gallbladder problem but it doesn't actually seem to be triggered by eating, just exacerbated by it, and I have no pain for months at a time. Don't know much about gallbladder though ..

Lion that sounds awful! Did you have continuous pain from the cyst or did it come and go? I have no pain at all between these episodes and I'm sure they are triggered by twisting or stretching. I had a vaginal birth, not sure if that would make any difference.

TeWi, I've not been checked for anything in particular - neither GP nor hospital doc could feel anything in my abdomen and they didn't do any further investigations. Hospital doctor said it was probably a virus (despite no signs of infection, fever etc), which I don't believe at all seeing as I had 3 episodes of exactly the same pain within almost a year and each time seems to have been brought on by doing something involving my ab muscles ..

Will go back to the GP with a more insistent face on this time and hopefully will get referred for a scan!

Have you had abdominal surgery in the past? If so could be due to adhesions

It was on and off - twisting, lifting etc. I'd demand an ultrasound. Good luck!