Sudden severe abdominal pain

[Jassummer]

Hi, I’m hoping someone might be able to shed some light or share their similar experience. Back in May I woke up in the night with such severe stomach pain I was doubled over and crying in agony. I had experienced a similar pain approx 1 year before this and just before I decided to call for help, the pain subsided. In May it lasted hours! In the end I called 111 and was sent to out of hours (it was a Sunday). By the time the appointment rolled around, the pain had gone and I was left with a tender abdomen. I’ve had urine tests, blood tests an ultrasound on my gallbladder. All of those have been clear other then some funky kidney function which they’ve been repeating the bloods for monthly. Doctor isn’t concerned and is just ‘watching’.

This morning I woke up at 3am, again in absolute agony. By 6am I was sweating but shivering and was vomiting yellow sick (I presume bile) again the pain subsided after several hours and I’m left with a tender to touch/move abdomen. I have a GP appointment next Thursday and I’m wondering anyone can suggest what I should be pushing for test wise? I’m terrified of this pain reoccurring!

extra info:

• I am 30
• delivered twins vaginally 6 years ago (this pain is far worse then pushing out two babies 25 mins apart!!)
• obstetric cholestasis in pregnancy
• I am size 8 and fit and healthy otherwise, run regularly and train in the gym.

If you haven't already, I'd push for a stool sample test and a liver function test to rule out anything in those areas.
Hope they manage to figure it out for you.

Ask about intussusception?
It can be transient at first.

Mt first gallbladder scan was clearl, 8 months another scan showed stones and I had it removed a couple of months after.

Oh that’s interesting, did you have another attack in that time? How are you post removal?

Thank you, they haven’t suggested this yet so I will. I have terribly loose stools multiple times a day and I’ve been this way for as long as I can remember!

I’ve never heard of this. Just had a google and it doesn’t sound pleasant at all!! Will keep in my mind for when I see the gp

Cholecystitis? https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/acute-cholecystitis/

I ended up in hospital on antibiotics for 6 days with it, but didn't have visible gallstones.. just "sludge" as the Consultant called it. I've had 4 kids but this was a whole new level of pain and I was so sick with the yellow bile.

I had 4 attacks before the scan that didn’t show anything. I was sure they were gallbladder attacks so was very surprised at the clear scan. I think I had another 1 and then nothing for a few months.
When they did return I had a few in a week and became jaundiced. I had a gallbladder infection.
My stones were really small and the pain was due to the stones escaping and I got an infection from the stone getting stuck.

Post removal I feel ok but still get low level pain in the area frequently.

Bile is green not yellow? i'd go to the doctor and ask for a scan of your abdomen in the first instance?? could be a partial obstruction of the bowels. Do you open your bowels regularly and does your stomach feel bloated at all?

Bile can be yellow or green.

I'm guessing it's something to do with the gallbladder.

I wish I knew what to suggest, but I didn't get anywhere with similar symptoms when I tried asking for them to be investigated.

Thank you all.

yes I open my bowels very regularly and it’s very loose. Has been as long as I can remember!

Im almost certain it must be gallbladder related so I will request another scan and should I end up in this pain again (I really hope not!) I’ll try and get seen whilst it’s occurring.

This sounds like gallstones. It mirrors what I had before I had it removed. Can you remember what you ate before the attack?

I was going to say gallstones too, it sounds like my attacks but you said the scan was clear. Also it doesn't normally affect slim people, unless you've been on a VLCD and lost weight rapidly as a result.
My gallbladder (and it's contents....over 200 gallstones) was removed in 2021.

Another vote for gallbladder here. Sounds familiar to me.

@Arctangent Thank you..

I had obstetric cholestasis when pregnant with my twins which can make you higher risk of gallstones due to the disruption in liver function and bile whilst having cholestasis. I’ve always been a size 8 frame and haven’t lost any weight recently.

Dinner was beef mince stir fry with egg noodles and I think I ate around 730pm so a good 7-8 hours before the pain woke me up.

This is my third episode of pain and although they’ve been very spread out I am TERRIFIED of it happening again!