Chronic Abdominal Pain

I have had this terrible gnawing pain in my stomach/abdomen for going on three years now It is miserable I lost a good job I had because of it They have ran every test possible and can’t tell me for sure what’s causing it I have an amazing and almost too understanding wife and I have two year old I barely feel like a man any more because I’m in so much pain all the time

Sorry Needed to vent

I just want to feel normal so I can take care of my wife and baby again

They have suggested gastritis, gerd, and have even removed my gallbladder thinking that was the cause but the surgery and none of the medicine has helped at all They will not even prescribe me anything for the pain because they say it can make it worse

Hi Gary, I really do hope that you don’t mind me sending this and that it isn’t sent out for everyone to see. Like you I probably have a lot more things to be thankful for than I do problems but I am finding it hard to see them at the moment. I have very little/no friends I can sound off to or confide in. I’m not stating this because I want pity. The only reason for this I can think of for this is my mental illness because I have heard someone I regarded as a friend say they didn’t know how to treat me or talk to me so I tend to think this is true of everyone. I do have a husband whom I love dearly and who has stuck by me through thick and thin, but I am aware that I have probably treated him dreadfully at times over the years I said to him that I didn’t like constantly discussing my physical problems with his mother, who seems to enjoy discussing everyone’s health but today I was the one who brought up the subject and wouldn’t stop talking about it. I think it’s because that and emotional problems are occupying my every waking thought. I am aware that this probably makes me a hypocrite in everyone’s, but in particular my husband’s, eyes. I have been suicidal in the past but I’m pretty sure that I would never be again as, at the moment I would consider myself to be selfish if I was and there are no words to describe how awful places our psychiatric hospitals are. However I am emotionally distraught at the moment because I am aware that, at the majority of the time, my husband no longer listens to me. For reasons that him and I only know, I despise being ignored to the point that it could exacerbate my mental health problems. I do not intend to criticise or condemn my husband as I am of the opinion that he has every right to do this although I am really struggling to accept this. I do and always have told when I am in pain only so he can witness this when we consult doctors, but I do realise that perhaps this could become a bit tedious for him. For this reason I try not to talk too much at home but tend to become very talkative when with anyone else. Since traumatic events when I was twelve years old I have always been criticised for being ‘too quiet ‘ and this has led to me having no self confidence but just recently I had become more confident and talkative, much to my delight, only to realise it seems to be unacceptable. I know too that because of this and because I tend to be unassertive and avoid confrontation, I feel I may not get the reaction we are hoping for when I see the consultant in September. The next clinic is May 2019 so I am aware that if I am not assertive enough I may have to suffer without any answers until then. I have also, very recently, occasionally doubled the prescribed morphine does, which sometimes helps, and I know won’t be harmful and is definitely not due to dependence but purely due to the severity of the pain.

I apologise for ranting excessively to you, but because you mentioned that you were a mentor and you perhaps have had experience of similarity and sometimes I can write more easily than speak, but if I am wrong (with no reason to think so), I know you don’t have to read this, although I did mean to state this at the beginning of this.

Thank you for taking the time for me, whether or not you read all of this, for giving me reason to trust you and feel that I had someone to sound off to. I don’t expect you to do or write anything unless you feel you wish to A’s this in itself has helped me,

Kind regards,
Carole

Hi there, @carole, how are you feeling this afternoon? This is Jane, a Volunteer Mentor here with Mayo Clinic Connect. This seems to be just one of those times when I was meant to see a post not specifically meant for me. Most people call me mamacita,as this was my username when I began consulting eith Mayo Clinic Connect. I picked Mamacita because I am Mom to a lot of different people.I am just one of those Gramma type people who want everyone they meet to be fed, comfy, and happy. Normally I can be found in the Autism sections, Depression/Anxiety sections, and the Fibromyalgia sections.

But today your post caught my eye. Untreated IBS, as well as Divericulitis can cause Chronic Abdominal Pain...which is exactly where your post came from on my email list. I noticed that several people suggested going gluten free for a month. That definitely helped me. It might work for you. What works for one, might not for another. I am certainly not a doctor, but we can at least share our experiences with one another. And the resources of Mayo Clinic are available for you. I have lost a lot of friends myself through the years. People don't have much patience for those who have chronic pain. But I get it and so do the other mentors. I would love to hear from you.You can vent to me any time. I am here for you! Ok? Ok! Talk to you later?

Hello,@wtg4heaven, How are you feeling today? This is Jane, or "mamacita" as I am usually known on here. I am a Volunteer Mentor here on Mayo Clinic Connect. Your posting caught my eye, and I wanted to share my story a bit.Perhaps it will help you.

You mentioned the different tests and various things, and the frustration of not knowing what else to do. That can all add up to a very frustrating life. I, too, was experiencing similar symptoms. The pain was so bad, I could only describe it as labor, with no pain reliever at all. You could even feel my abdomen tightening up, and swollen, hard as a rock. At one point it was suggested that I had gastroparesis.
Later on, I switched doctors, and had a colonoscopy done. With my symptoms, the doctor felt I had IBS. Then last year, more tests were done, and he said I also have Diverticulitis. So now, I usually eat Lazy Keto style. I rarely have any symptoms at all, unless I cheat badly on my diet.i also take probiotics every single day. The only dairy products I usually have is a little yogurt or cottage cheese. I am allergic to dairy products.
Hang in there! There are manual exercises you can do to help the gastroparesis as well. You are safe to vent here. Please do! I hope I get to hear from you soon! Love and hugs, mamacita

Hello All...This post really hit home for me. I suffer from chronic intermittent abdominal pain. I have seen over 20 doctors in 3 different states and have had the diagnosis of IBS, however, part of me can't help wonder if it is my pancreas that is evading diagnosis. This has been happening for 3 years now. I have had several hospital visits for pain, a gallbladder removal, several CT scans, liver biopsy, pancreatic function test, several ultrasounds, fecal fat tests, and all these tests have come back normal, my lipase or amalayse levels have never been elevated. I did have an EUS done on my pancreas, which showed 4 out of the 9 criteria for chronic pancreatitis. I then took those findings to a highly regarded pancreas specialist in Boston who had performed my pancreatic function test. He said based on the pancreatic function test coming back normal and only having 4 out of the 9 criteria for chronic pancreatitis, that he did not think it is my pancreas. My pain is typically situated in my left side below and under my rib cage. The pain tends to be intermittent, but I do get orange loose stools with it. I typically get mouth ulcers on and off and I get so tired during flare ups. Just seeing if anyone has any input/feedback as I feel I received the diagnosis of IBS because nothing else is showing up. Thank you.

Hello,@nicoleny, this is Mamacita again. I just wanted to point out a few things that piqued my interest. The pain that you are expetiencing is in the same area where I hurt all those years before we knew what was wrong with me. I am not by any means a medical practitioner of any kind. But I firmly believe that we should learn all we can about our bodies in order to be good cpnsumers. Only when we can accurately describe our symptoms can our PCP and specialists properly diagnose us.

I would have to leave work suddenly, the pain was so excruciating. I had all kinds of tests, and even had allergy tests, including food allergies. Turns out I am very sensitive to gluten. For a long time I followed the gluten free diet. That seemed to help a lot. Then I found out I was basically allergic to most all my favorite foods. So I started a modified keto diet. I lost fifty five pounds, but it took a long time.Many of the meds I take for DDD, Spinal Stenosis, Arthritis, and Fibromyalgia actually put on weight. Degenerative Disc Disease is no fun either. I learned that I needed an attitude adjustment when it concerned food.

One doctor felt that I had Gastroparesis as well. But I learned some exercises that help take care of that. We eat pretty healthy, and do the best we can. I don't know if you have IBS or Diverticulitis, but it does sound like you are on the right track. Hope you get some good news soon! Virtual hugs,
Mamacita

Hi @mamacita . Thank you so much for your response. I have had 2 colonoscopies and they found nothing at all. I think diverticulitis would have shown in there?

How long did it take you to get diagnosed? I was tested for celiac and tested negative. Can that evade testing? Also, my pain is typically concentrated in one spot - can that happen with a gluten sensitivity as well? Thank you again. I really appreciate it.

Hi,@nicoleny, it took a very long time to be diagnosed with IBS. I honestly couldn't tell you how long. But the most severe pain was in one spot. I also had very uncomfortable bloating. Several colonoscopies were done over time, and I guess the specialist had to label me with something. The thing that helped me the most was cutting carbs, the ones in high density foods or processed foods.

It has been suggested by many that we are not gluten sensitive at all, but reacting to the chemicals sprayed on most all of our wheat products in this country. Word of mouth stories of fellow sufferers who travel to Italy and eat all the pasta and bread without ill effects seem to have merit. Does make me wonder!

Have you had further testing such as sonogram or CT scans? I would also like to ask you if you feel like you are having muscle spasms in your abdomen? Any swelling? We are all different, and we all will not present just exactly the same way as someone else. I am not in the medical field, nor can I diagnose any condition. But I would definitely check out information from the Mayo Clinic. And if you are not satisfied with the results of the medical care you are being given, give Mayo Clinic a call. I may be biased (Just a little bit!) But they are the best. As you are able, I would really like to hear from you again.
I am so sorry you are having to go through all this pain. Here's hoping for a much brighter tomorrow! Virtual hugs!
Mamacita