Any medics or general medical genius' on here to help me self diagnose - in agony!

[stressed2007]

My whole tummy from very low to very high (under breasts) is excruciatingly painful and tender. It has been like this for about 5 days - it is worse at night and I have had hardly any sleep. It has tended to subside in the day but today it did n't so I went for same day doctor's appointment. I have no urinary infection (doctors first thought), it is not period pains (don't suffer from this) and I am not constipated. She said my whole abdomen was very tender and that I didnot look well and that I should come back in 5 days if no better and they would think about doing ultrasound. As I have had in her words a "lot of abdominal surgery" (2 csections, 2 laparoscopys and appendix out) she said it may be adhesions. My m in law said I would not have this from my c sections (my kids are v young) and disagrees. I think the heart of the pain is on my right as I look down on a line or just below my belly button to the right side. It is agony if I push there. As I have no appendix it cant be that but I would put the pain level as nearly as much as immediately post c section. Any thoughts? Shall I go to hospital and wait all night or see if I am still here on Friday when next doctor appointment booked. I just feel like the GP never does anything even if it is something serious (which I hope it isn't). Thanks

Any chance at all of ectopic pregnancy?

I was thinking adhesions too. Are you passing wind, having normal bowel movements, any vomiting etc.

Do you feel otherwise well? Any fever etc?

Adhesions possibly causing subacute bowel obstruction??

Any vomiting? Bowels OK?

If I were you I'd be off to A&E if it gets any worse instead of waiting for 5 more days.

You'll have to trust your instincts on this one. If you feel like the pain is getting worse and you're feeling more unwell I wouldnt wait till your appointment on Fri before getting help. Either go back to your GP and request an ultrasound or if you're feeling really unwell go to your nearest A&E.

I would not leave this. Whatever is wrong could turn into septicaemia. I would urge you to go back to GP urgently or as poster above suggested go to A and E.

had period last week so don't think so but will do test just to make sure. No wind. bowel movemnets fine. no fever. felt a bit sick some weeks ago but generally ok now. completely lost my appetite though. Do adhesions just "come on"? I have a 2.5 and 10 month old so second c section was only January and great obstetrician. Would I have bowel obstruction if still going to loo? How can they diagnose- ultrasound? I will just go and pay for one if that is all I need as I need to be able to take care of kids and currently can't do that at all.

Whatever is wrong could turn into septicaemia
!!!

That has really put the wind up me - pardon the pun. How would that work?

You could have a partial obstruction and yes adhesion symptoms can appear suddenly and are no reflection of the skill of your surgeon. Go to a and e.

stressed, don't mean to alarm you, it's just that my Dad died of septacemia which developed through a hernia, it wasn't noticed in time. So I would just urge you to be extra cautious and not take any risks with your health, I have no idea what you have but all I know is that you were operated on and now seem to have some kind of infection.. What I mean is you shouldn't feel shy about demanding urgent help with this...

Subacute obstruction is where the bowel intermittently twists of blocks off and reopens again, causing intermittent pain and sometimes vomiting. It probably isn't that, but it was my first thought considering your history.

Ultrasound scans really aren't the be all and end all- they are only really helpful for stuff like pregnancy, gallstones, ectopics and cysts. You wouldn't see a manky appendix, adhesions or obstructed bowel.

Diagnosing a cause for abdominal pain often lies in skilled history-taking and good clinical examination. Tests will often not add a whole lot extra, but will sometimes help exclude things.

Basically, if a surgeon decides that they want to open you up it is usually done on the basis of how tender you tummy , where it is and how ill you look!

Is it not an ulcer?

oh blimey - that is what GP said - if they can't tell what is wrong with you they tend to open you up. I feel sick with fear now and don't know what to do.

was your appendix burst? If not then adhesions not very likely; c sections and laparoscopies generally don't cause trouble in that way.

If bowels are moving and you're passing wind, then gut is probably ok, but could be ulcer or gallstones,maybe.

no appendix not burst and nearly 30 years ago (I was about 10)

I can definitely pin point where it is - on a par with my belly button and to the right though the entre tummy is very tender. It feels like it did when tried to move for first time after c section. It hurts a lot to roll from one side (I am lying down) to the other.

Can you have an ulcer that is not in stomach?
this is defintely not my stomach (said GP) although she said this was tender.

Is the pain deep down or near the surface?

Go to A&E. If you are in that much pain it needs to be sorted out. Are you keeping diet and fluids down? Any vomiting?

having huge post pregnancy belly (a year on!) makes this difficult as to have to push flab (yuk!) I would say deep.

Very rare but you could have a strangulated spigelian hernia.

All this speculation is a bit silly though. If you really haven't slept for 5 nights you should go and get checked out by someone less dismissive than your GP.

May I ask what were your previous laparoscopies for? The fact that your bowels are moving and your urine dip was ok is reassuring. Have you tried any pain relief? If so, does it ease the pain?

Are you currently on the pill or using other contraception? If not what are your periods like? Do you have any history of gynae problems? Any history of IBS? Where you describe the pain makes it unlikely to be related to your stomach or gallbladder.

Me again - boy I hope someone is around. After scaring myself witless with some of the diadnosis on here my DH convinced me that I may have pulled stomach muscles (no idea how) and yes they could hurt to the extent of the agony I was in. The next day it was notuqte so bad and by Froday whe I had my emergency apptment prebooked I cancelled as there was nothing for the GP to locate. And now???? I have woken up in agony again - whole torso on edge again. This time there is no excruciating low pain - if I had to suggest where the pain was emanating from think it is much higher - possibly my stomach but it is very tender all over. I can't stand up quite straight but nearly can and in bed with hotwater bottle and taken a co codamol.I feel wretched. Anyone got any suggestions? Again I will feel like an idiot to go to A&E for nothing and will have to drag young children/babies with me. If I need referral to a consultant what type do I need? Thanks

Stressed - I have had what Emma describes. Subacute bowel obstruction from adhesions leading eventually to acute bowel obstruction.

Symptoms very similar to you except eventually I was vomiting. My pain is always an 'all over' pain - not very localised at all apart from maybe slightly above and to the left of my naval. I've been hospitalised for sub acute twice and had surgery for the acute. My initial stomach surgery was when I was 6 months old and the first episode I had was around 15 years later.

Please go to A&E.

Can you call your Out of Hours GP if you don't fancy A&E?

Our OOH is in the hospital, so they send you to A&E or Clinical Decision Unit if necessary.

good idea - called them and waiting the call back to see if I am ill enough!