Severe stomach pain

Am seems so more intense. I have tried numerous rx , meditation, peppermint oil , heating pad ..no relief but from 5 am till around 11 feel horrible.
Ibguard doesn’t seem to do anything .. neither does hyosocamine .
Suggestions?
IBS and anxiety …? ..all tests come back normal .

@loribmt @tinatoren I definitely have GERD as I get chest pain due to acid reflux. I have tried getting off Lanzoprazole but that is the only medication that he,ps with my reflux. I also have occasional stabbing pain in my upper right quadrant, just under the ribs which I just tolerate since no doctor can tell me what causes it, and ultrasounds show nothing.

Does anyone struggle with a gnawing burning pain just above belly button, often a little to the right where the head of pancreas connects with duodenum?
The pain radiates to a dull pain in a belt that wraps around my back when I stand. I cannot be up with food in my stomach because the pain becomes unbearable! Lately also nausea after eating but not every time. Lots of rumbling. I have reflux and a hiatal hernia plus IBS and slow gallbladder.
I've suffered many years from pain above bellybutton that has come and gone but since December it has been constant and I've been more or less bedridden. I get some relief a while after eating that lasts one or 2 hours but sometimes that becomes nausea instead and it feels like I ate a soap. To me it feels like my stomach but I have never ever found a single person with esophagus or stomach problems that manifest above belly button. My pain is not under breastbone or heartburn.
For 10 years I have tried to verify what organ causes the pain but failed and now Im stuck in bed with no visual finds on endoscopy (haven't gotten biopsy back yet). No explanation on abdominal mri just asymptomatic gallstones and some fat deposits in liver and pancreas.
I never have cramps and I don't suspect small or large intestine. I would just like to find someone who have that pain pattern

I have had persistent upper central abdominal pain for years. I noticed it around age 16 or 17. It has been written off by a number of doctors as anxiety. But I don't think that is the issue. I am now 24 and it has gotten progressively worse.

I have seen a GI specialist and dieticians. I have gastritis, IBS, GERD, and many food sensitivities. My diet is severely restricted and even eating within those restrictions I still have many unresolved IBS symptoms, the most persistent of which is upper abdominal pain which gets worse after I eat and if I wait too long to eat. The pain is aggravated by some foods, particularly high FODMAP foods, sugars, gluten, and dairy.

What helps is liquid antacids, baking soda in water, or alkaline water for reflux, alkaline food and water for bloating, ground flaxseed for diarrhea, slippery elm, and acetaminophen for pain when nothing else works. I use acetaminophen sparingly (once a week or a few times a month) and do not usually use it as normal pain management, just when nothing else works and I can’t think about anything except the pain. Water generally helps, but too much water can also cause pain and painful abdominal bloating. I have tried prochlorperazine and metoclopramide which helped with the nausea and stomach pain but came with some other intolerable side effects and I could not continue taking them. Chewing fennel occasionally helps after meals because it is alkaline.

I am eating no gluten, no dairy, low sugar, low carb, low fat, a lot of vegetables and proteins and certain carbs and fats in moderation. It significantly levels out the bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation, nausea and pain. However the pain still gets worse after meals and to a lesser degree, also bloating and nausea.

I don’t drink alcohol (aggravates stomach pain a LOT) or coffee, I don’t smoke, no caffeine. I don’t have H pylori or ulcers.

I do eat carbs on a regular basis but I try to keep it within reasonable limits of tolerance. Sometimes the satisfaction outweighs the physical symptoms but I have to pick my battles because eating one bite of the wrong thing can cause hours of pain.

I recently got off the PPI that I was on for 3 years to see if that would help. I eat more alkaline food now to keep acid levels in check otherwise I get reflux and the pain gets worse. Things off the med are not much different, though I do get reflux more often and the pain may be a bit worse. Maybe I’m just noticing it more. I don’t think long term PPI use is a good solution and I would rather not be on it. I have a feeling while I may have irritation due to IBS or acidity which can cause pain, that is not the only pain going on.

I’ve tried Iberogast, IBgard, ginger root, chamomile, Swedish bitters, turmeric, mint tea, peppermint capsules and they all irritate my stomach and make the pain worse. I’ve also tried antidepressants and other psychotropics but they all came with nightmare grade side effects so i didn’t take them long. Sucralfate made me extremely and painfully bloated. My diet is extremely restricted as it is and having eliminated just about everything I can, I don’t think it actually has to do much with what I am eating as much as that I am eating at all.

One day a meal may be less aggravating. The next day with the same meal I’ll have pain for hours, reflux, and bloating. My ability to tolerate food comes in cycles. Some days I can tolerate some foods, other days for whatever reason, I can’t. I have to cycle out foods for variety and symptom management but generally have some core foods, mostly proteins and veg that I generally tolerate well. But even when I stick to the absolute least irritating foods, I still often have symptoms.
I’ve had an abdominal ultrasound, gastric emptying study, endoscopy, and colonoscopy. Nothing significant there. I get labs drawn about every 6 months from my GP. CMP14 (Routine or Stat), a couple out of range but nothing requiring a workup and everything else within normal limits, hemoglobin A1c with eAg/MBG estimation, vitamin D; 25 hydroxy, testosterone, free (direct) and total, magnesium serum, phosphorus serum, prealbumin, and TSH all within normal limits.
Here is a summary from my last GI appointment “Patient's symptoms have plateaued at this point. Our work-up to include thus far has been normal gastric emptying study, normal thyroid labs, negative celiac serologies, normal fecal calprotectin, unremarkable colonoscopy and endoscopy, I recommend patient continue seeing his dietitian and to follow-up with us as needed.”
I also have upper back (between shoulder blades) and neck pain but I’m not sure if it’s related. I mostly notice the back and neck pain when I’m sitting so I assumed it was postural but I don’t know. I also have constant low grade nausea that is aggravated at the same time as the abdominal pain–because of food or a lack of food. Also extreme abdominal tenderness. Any amount of pressure is painful. Has been for about 3 years now. That's when I went to the ER for the stomach pain, got the abdominal ultrasound but found nothing, a referral to GI specialist, endoscopy found benign gastritis, and started the PPI which I have since stopped. I can't lay on my stomach because of the pain. And within the past month or so I can't even lay on my side when I sleep because that has become uncomfortable as well. My ribcage squishes into my painful upper abdomen if I lay too far sideways. It's the same on either side.
The pain has become a quality of life issue and impacts other areas of my life.
I am going to see another GI specialist to get a second opinion and have an appointment in a couple of weeks. But until then, what do you think this could be?

I’m also new to the forum so I’m not exactly sure how this goes. Does anybody have any recommendations or a story similar to this? I have an idea that it might be pancreas or gallbladder related or both but nobody can seem to find a cause.

Hi there,

I was just browsing through the internet randomly and found this discussion page for digestion issues. I've had abdominal pain problems since 2010. Thankfully I managed to get better after 2 years of constant pain and every test done possible. My problems have returned for the past 2 months, albeit, my pain isn't constant and does go away unlike before. My pain is usually a 4/5 out of 10 and can last for a few hours until it subsides. It is usually around the belly button area(mainly above, but sometimes below).

I have done almost every test possible. I've done an ultrasound, CT scan(with contrast), MRI, endoscopy, colonoscopy, endoscopic ultrasound, cystic fibrosis testing, gastric emptying test, etc. Some of those tests done at Mayo Clinic itself in 2010 in Minnesota. All of those tests were normal. The only thing that's ever been shown in my testing, has been a slightly elevated lipase and amylase. It led doctors into thinking I have pancreatitis, but they've looked at my pancreas extensively(especially during the endoscopic ultrasound at Mayo) and the pancreas looks completely normal. I recently went to the ER and did another blood test + CT scan with contrast. The pancreas was again normal(as was everything else), but my lipase was slightly elevated at 150(normal levels being 90 for that hospital).

I went to a GI doctor today and they told me it could be an abdominal migraine, or a potential vascular problem involving the abdomen. They did schedule a HIDA scan(to check the function of the gallbladder), as that is ironically the only test(or one of the only), I have not done. They want to see the results of the HIDA scan before progressing further and they told me to try out some more bentyl for pain(something I took before and didn't notice relief from it).

Most pain medications do not help. Even back in 2010 when my pain was constant and more severe, I tried almost everything possible in terms of medications, but nothing helped. The only relief I get from the pain is from natural remedies. Tea and 1 small teaspoon of apple cider vinegar mixed with some lemon and baking soda(this helps me the most). I don't have acid reflux like I did in 2010. It's mainly the pain now. It can be described as a squeezing pain just above my belly button mainly(sometimes lower). I do tend to also notice relief when I empty during a bowel movement. I empty usually once a day. I don't have any nausea and vomiting. I don't have a loss of appetite either. No fevers as well.

I am wondering if there's anyone out there with similar symptoms with similar test results to me. Every test I've done comes back negative(thankfully) with the only thing showing is slightly elevated lipase and amylase. I am 26 years of age. I have been dealing with anxiety since July of 2019, so I don't know if that may have caused my gut to act up a bit.

I am just really curious if there's anyone out there with a similar situation to mine in terms of symptoms and test results. Please let me know if you've managed to find out a solution to your problem, if there is someone out there.

Thank you for reading.

Hi there,

I was just browsing through the internet randomly and found this discussion page for digestion issues. I've had abdominal pain problems since 2010. Thankfully I managed to get better after 2 years of constant pain and every test done possible. My problems have returned for the past 2 months, albeit, my pain isn't constant and does go away unlike before. My pain is usually a 4/5 out of 10 and can last for a few hours until it subsides. It is usually around the belly button area(mainly above, but sometimes below).

I have done almost every test possible. I've done an ultrasound, CT scan(with contrast), MRI, endoscopy, colonoscopy, endoscopic ultrasound, cystic fibrosis testing, gastric emptying test, etc. Some of those tests done at Mayo Clinic itself in 2010 in Minnesota. All of those tests were normal. The only thing that's ever been shown in my testing, has been a slightly elevated lipase and amylase. It led doctors into thinking I have pancreatitis, but they've looked at my pancreas extensively(especially during the endoscopic ultrasound at Mayo) and the pancreas looks completely normal. I recently went to the ER and did another blood test + CT scan with contrast. The pancreas was again normal(as was everything else), but my lipase was slightly elevated at 150(normal levels being 90 for that hospital).

I went to a GI doctor today and they told me it could be an abdominal migraine, or a potential vascular problem involving the abdomen. They did schedule a HIDA scan(to check the function of the gallbladder), as that is ironically the only test(or one of the only), I have not done. They want to see the results of the HIDA scan before progressing further and they told me to try out some more bentyl for pain(something I took before and didn't notice relief from it).

Most pain medications do not help. Even back in 2010 when my pain was constant and more severe, I tried almost everything possible in terms of medications, but nothing helped. The only relief I get from the pain is from natural remedies. Tea and 1 small teaspoon of apple cider vinegar mixed with some lemon and baking soda(this helps me the most). I don't have acid reflux like I did in 2010. It's mainly the pain now. It can be described as a squeezing pain just above my belly button mainly(sometimes lower). I do tend to also notice relief when I empty during a bowel movement. I empty usually once a day. I don't have any nausea and vomiting. I don't have a loss of appetite either. No fevers as well.

I am wondering if there's anyone out there with similar symptoms with similar test results to me. Every test I've done comes back negative(thankfully) with the only thing showing is slightly elevated lipase and amylase. I am 26 years of age. I have been dealing with anxiety since July of 2019, so I don't know if that may have caused my gut to act up a bit.

I am just really curious if there's anyone out there with a similar situation to mine in terms of symptoms and test results. Please let me know if you've managed to find out a solution to your problem, if there is someone out there.

Thank you for reading.

Did the ERCP's give you a pancreas attack? Were you diagnosed after EUS? What does it show if you have chronic pancreatitis?

No one has been able to help me and I’m at my wits end with the pain. It is daily pain that will not go away with pain relievers.

On January 20th I randomly burst out with hives all over my body, coupled with angioedema of the lips and swelling in my extremities. Soon after came right side abdominal pain, nothing crazy but was uncomfortable. I saw my PC doctor who referred me to an allergist that I have been working with for treatment of the CSU and angioedema. I’ve been on multiple different antihistamine regimens as well as prenisone during severe outbreaks.

My abdominal pain has landed me in the ER four times. I have had 4 CT scans, 3 with IV contrast, 2 X-Rays, bloodwork and everything comes back clean. No organ concerns and no elevated/abnormal lab levels. The only findings were minimal fatty liver, and enlarged spleen (14.5cm). My last CT finding finally showed diverticulosis of the sigmoid colon and my spleen was back to normal size.

The pain is diffuse, primarily right side and can be upper below rib cage, middle, lower and near my hip. It radiates to my back occasionally and sometimes is on the left side. The pain can be dull, sharp, throbbing, really depends on the day. It can be debilitating at times.

I have had a colonoscopy/endoscopy and there were no obvious findings during the scopes. I am still awaiting biopsy results that they said could take 8 weeks. The pain went away for about a week and a half after my scopes and now has come back worse than it was before. I don't know what to do anymore.

No one has been able to help me and I’m at my wits end with the pain. It is daily pain that will not go away with pain relievers.

On January 20th I randomly burst out with hives all over my body, coupled with angioedema of the lips and swelling in my extremities. Soon after came right side abdominal pain, nothing crazy but was uncomfortable. I saw my PC doctor who referred me to an allergist that I have been working with for treatment of the CSU and angioedema. I’ve been on multiple different antihistamine regimens as well as prenisone during severe outbreaks.

My abdominal pain has landed me in the ER four times. I have had 4 CT scans, 3 with IV contrast, 2 X-Rays, bloodwork and everything comes back clean. No organ concerns and no elevated/abnormal lab levels. The only findings were minimal fatty liver, and enlarged spleen (14.5cm). My last CT finding finally showed diverticulosis of the sigmoid colon and my spleen was back to normal size.

The pain is diffuse, primarily right side and can be upper below rib cage, middle, lower and near my hip. It radiates to my back occasionally and sometimes is on the left side. The pain can be dull, sharp, throbbing, really depends on the day. It can be debilitating at times.

I have had a colonoscopy/endoscopy and there were no obvious findings during the scopes. I am still awaiting biopsy results that they said could take 8 weeks. The pain went away for about a week and a half after my scopes and now has come back worse than it was before. I don't know what to do anymore.