Abdominal pain... what else can I try?

[Imposter1212]

I have a diagnosis of IBS which was given after recurrent abdominal pain, constipation and extreje bloating over the past 3 years. I take 20mg amitriptyline which sometimes helps. I should say I'm not convinced it is IBS but I've had an upper endoscopy and bloods which were all normal.

Anyway severe pain started on Sunday night. Its all across my tummy from the bottom up to my belly button. It is really painful when I walk and lie down. It's better when I sit but still very sore. Its not cramping it's more like a stabbing/piercing pain. Which shoots all around my tummy and when I walk I get an unbelievable pain piercing up my bum. It makes me gasp it's so bad. It feels like I'm constantly sitting on something or have a poker up my bum.

I'm very bloated. I'm a size 8/10and I can't fasten my jeans. My waist is measuring 40inch from the bloating. I feel breathless probably from the stomach bloating pushing back into my lungs maybe?

I have eaten very little since Sunday night. I feel hungry but I can't finish a slice of toast because I feel like my stomach will burst.

I sneezed earlier and the pain was horrific

I called the GP today and got a telephone appointment. She said that unfortunately IBS pain and bloating can be very severe. I should eat as much as I can manage but stick to high fat foods to "grease the bowel" (?) And continue sipping fluids as much as possible. Take paracetamol and give it a further week to settle.

Paracetamol doesn't make any difference.

I've tried
Solpadine max
Naproxen
Buscopan
Hot water bottle
Bath
Simethicone for the bloating
My usual twice daily laxido for any constipation

And absolutely nothing is dulling it enough to be able to walk without crying (I feel as pathetic as I sound).

Does anyone have any suggestions on what I could try? This is honestly the worst flare I've ever had.

I see mebeverine isn't on your list - my mum had it when she was unwell with a stomach condition and it really really helped with the cramping and pain etc

best of luck

and to you also @Whatsthestorynow

I would also query ovarian cyst then. They cam be linked to endometriosis or just occur randomly. Symptoms are persistent bloating, pain, constipation or urinary symptoms.

Laparoscopy can look 4 endo

Just to update this

I called GP back this morning and the most helpful GP said he wanted to see me as the pain level i was describing seemed excessive.

After examination he referred me to the surgical team as my tummy feels hard and rigid. Not excessively but enough to concern him.

So I'm currently waiting at surgical admissions to be triaged with about a 4 hour wait but the nurse went off and got someone to prescribe tramadol and a blanket bless her.

Thinking of u - kèep us updated

Have you tried a restriction diet? Basically you cut out everything, and only eat beef and salt. You stay on that for 3-6 weeks and then start introducing one food at a time, but only whole unprocessed foods, and absolutely no grains.
Sounds extreme, but a lot of gut problems are cause by inflammation caused by the foods we eat.

I hope the tramadol helps OP, it did me. Poor you, I’m glad they’re taking it seriously though. Let us know how you get on.

All the best OP. I’m glad the GP was able to see you today and hope the tramadol kicks in soon.

I was about to reply and have seen that you're at the hospital, so hopefully they will get to the bottom of it for you. No pun intended!

I had really bad bloating and pain for a long time which led me to tests for ovarian cancer, which it wasn't, but they did find a cyst and think maybe I have endometriosis.

However, what I came here to say was that I cut out gluten around the time I had the tests (around 6 months ago) and it has been a revelation! All the bloating has gone, no pains, I just feel a lot better. I still have no proof that this is the reason behind my symptoms, or the solution to them, but it certainly seems to be helping me and I'll stick with it. If the surgical team don't find anything 'wrong' then do you think this is something you could try? Good luck, and keep us updated OP.

Ask the nhs gp to test u 4 celiac?

Poor you OP. Hope you're not waiting too long 🤞

I've had bloods and general obs done. HR and BP elevated and my blood sugars are quite low so she's gone off to check what the Dr wants to do.

It's quite busy with the waiting room full (and someone is already kicking off about waiting an hour) so I think it might be quite a bit of a wait.

I'm so glad I popped home and packed a bag with my charger, ipad and some books.

Take it easy

Hi ladies sorry to but in Ur post but I am having left side abdominal pain... Had a sigmoscopy last year was told I have diverticulitis but never had a flare up.. I don't know if this is a flare up if eek tender .. been going toilet alot on my bowels are on a crazy one... I am on co amoxiclav now on day 3 and not made a really big difference.. I'm googling and it's telling me more sinister things and I have massive health anxiety ( I know I shouldn't Google) is there any diverticulitis people here??? Please get my out my misery .... Thankyou

I'm now in a gown and waiting on a porter to take me for my xray.

The obnoxious man in the waiting room has now decided that the best thing to do is just push the emergency call button so that a team of medics come running. There is no emergency he just wants to know when he will be seen. Honestly he's done it twice now. The Dr explained that he's just increasing his wait time because they have to stop what they are doing and it delays them further. He is still insisting that he will press it every 30 minutes because he knows they can't ignore it.

Hope u get some answers soon

Hows things

Hope your doing ok today

I'm now Minus 1 appendix.

My bloods were raised so after my xray they decided to err on the side of caution and take me into surgery. Appendix looked healthy but there was a "little endometriosis nearby" which gynae came in and removed and general surgery decided to remove the appendix incase the endo grows back.

I did not behave very well during surgery with very low blood pressure and I took a while to come round after surgery

Gynae are coming to see me today about endometriosis as they didn't want to keep me under too long to check for more as I was a bit unstable.

Aww

Glad your okay though..

I have a liver condition ( nafld) .

I also have ibs diagnosis and various other things

Yest - once in am and once in pm - i had bad sharp pain in right side of abdomen

Left side of abdomen they tend to say pain 4 me is ibs

But - dunno if this ' new ' sharp pain is fatty liver or like gallstones linked or maybe appendix

Was yours sharp pain that u like yelped in pain with ?
But not there all the time ?

Glad your okay

My pain was a piercing/stabbing pain and was constant but definitely worse when lying or walking.

It went across my tummy and reached as far up as my belly button.

My normal IBS pain is a cramp across tye bottom of my tummy. I wasn't particularly sore on my right side. The GP did note on my letter to the surgical unit that I was guarding on the right and a press on the left resulted in pain in the right side but above appendix.

My white blood cells were up so the surgeon thought the risk of appendicitis was high enough to go in and remove. It appeared perfectly healthy but they decided to remove given the closeness of endometriosis patches and the risk of regrowth. It was during the appendix removal that I became unstable so they said that had I been unstable prior to removal they would have perhaps left the appendix in.

Could your pain be trapped wind? Mine always gets stuck in my right side and creates quite a bit of pain. You could try some simethicone or cooled boiled water and see of it shifts?

I've been suffering with right sided pain for about 2 months now on and off, hot water bottle makes it better, I can't sit up have to lie down,just right under my rib on my right side,

Blimey! I bet you weren't expecting to have your appendix out! Take your time to recover. My mum's just had hers out and she's had to really slow down. Then again, she's 84, so she does need to take it easy! Do you have any follow up appointments for the endometriosis stuff?

@Imposter1212 how's your pain now?

Still hurts 😢

Because I've had surgery they've broken out the good stuff and I've had an injection of morphine which I'm flying on. It's quite pleasant.

Gynae came and the surgeon was lovely but it's not good news really.

They do suspect endometriosis (possibly crossed over with IBS) based on pain location and history of painful periods and ovulation. They will refer for an MRI to get a good look at my pelvic organs - current wait time is 18 weeks. They will do surgery to remove any endo they find.

However, I have had lap ops to remove my gallbladder, a c-section, a tummy tuck and now this surgery via lap so they feel that any further surgery would have to be an open procedure because of the potential of scar tissue from previous surgeries.

I was a bit teary and really wanted to avoid an open procedure as my scars never heal well. I had to have I junctions and dermal rolling after my tuck to reduce my keloid scarring at the midline.

The surgeon was lovely and daid after the MRI we can discuss treatment options and the risks of surgery under an open procedure and make a decision together.