Unknown abdominal pain

Posted by amm97 @amm97, May 16, 2022

Hi I am a 24 year old female I have been having upper right and left abdominal on and off consistently since Aug 2021. I have also lost 30 lbs so far since then without a major appetite change. So far MRI, CTA, colonoscopy, endoscopy have all came back normal. I had a duplex ultrasound done which showed narrowing in a couple of the arteries in my abdomen but the CTA and MRI didn’t show anything. What do I do next.

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@wishingtobepain

Have they done ultrasound and looked at your gall bladder? There's also a test to check functional

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Sorry, don't know why entered before I was finished.
Functionality of your gall bladder. I didn't have any huge stones, mine just quit working and hadn't worked in years when had removed. Usually anything with a tomato base or greasy foods irritate it the worst. Might try eating pasta sauce, chili, etc and see if irritates.
Just a thought. Good luck

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Have you had a doctor pay attention to your pancreas? It’s sometimes difficult to see even with an MRI or ultrasound because it is sort of tucked in behind other organs and gets overlooked.

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You may have the autoimmune disease Celiac. It causes your small intestine to be ruined and you do not digest food and nutrients. There are 200 symptoms and also body functions are effected . Like bones, osteoporosis, I lifted weights for 40 years. You need to have the blood test and go from there.
It is 80% under diagnosed. I had 6 gastroenterologist tell me it was IBS, a blanket diagnosis. I have had my gall bladder stone removed, pancreatitis, arteriosclerosis, peripheral neuropathy. Bloating is horrible and abdominal pain.

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Update: still experiencing the abdominal pain, along with high heart rate and 2 new symptoms of night sweats and fatigue. Still no clear answers to what is going on.

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@amm97

Update: still experiencing the abdominal pain, along with high heart rate and 2 new symptoms of night sweats and fatigue. Still no clear answers to what is going on.

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@amm97

My stomach pain down the middle of my abdominal wall is always there. From xiphoid to pelvis. I took nortriptyline for 18 years and it took most of the aching gut pain away. Then one day in the spring of 2018 it slowly stopped covering the ache. I had all the injections and MALS screening.

Neurologist I am now seeing thinks it’s maybe chronic inflammatory demyelinating poly neuropathy. The plan is to do subcutaneous IVIG injections. If that doesn’t provide some relief then maybe IV ketamine.

I’m so tired like everyone else of living in pain. All I want is some occasional relief. I learned to live with migraines but non stop gut pain is too much.

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@rt061069

@amm97

My stomach pain down the middle of my abdominal wall is always there. From xiphoid to pelvis. I took nortriptyline for 18 years and it took most of the aching gut pain away. Then one day in the spring of 2018 it slowly stopped covering the ache. I had all the injections and MALS screening.

Neurologist I am now seeing thinks it’s maybe chronic inflammatory demyelinating poly neuropathy. The plan is to do subcutaneous IVIG injections. If that doesn’t provide some relief then maybe IV ketamine.

I’m so tired like everyone else of living in pain. All I want is some occasional relief. I learned to live with migraines but non stop gut pain is too much.

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I’m sorry, I know how you feel. My pain is upper right and sometimes upper left that goes to my upper back. It’s just super annoying how no doctor can figure out why!

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@grace29

After 1.5 yrs 5 Doctors I was determined to find an answer. 2 Gastro said ibs. Internist said pretty much the same. Gyno takes me seriously. Thorough exam and internal sonogram to check for uterine or ovarian cancer. Both can cause similar symptoms. Everything checked out. I have pain stomach uproar and lower pain daily. Went to my neurologist to review neck and lower back issues. We start talking about how sick I’ve been and I still can’t get a serious diagnosis or relief. He looked at me and said I know what you have “abdominal migraine” and hands me a sample box. He took one out put it under my tongue 15-20 minutes later no pain. That was 12 days ago. I’m feeling quite normal energetic, happy. Doctor said it isn’t that uncommon and he treats it quite often. I am beyond grateful! But of course the meds aren’t covered by Medicare so figure 2k a month! Ouch

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@grace29 - what was the name of the medication your neurologist finally gave you for “abdominal migraine”? I’ve had the same problem you have had, for several years and scans have shown nothing.

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@amm97

I’m sorry, I know how you feel. My pain is upper right and sometimes upper left that goes to my upper back. It’s just super annoying how no doctor can figure out why!

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@amm97

Just getting doctors to hear your story. If it doesn’t fit in their little box then they don’t care to to take time to give an opinion let alone a referral. What is their patient was a loved one

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@rt061069

@amm97

Just getting doctors to hear your story. If it doesn’t fit in their little box then they don’t care to to take time to give an opinion let alone a referral. What is their patient was a loved one

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PLEASE READ THIS! It's very frustrating to read comments about abdominal pain below right (can be left or back too) rib cage. I too suffered for about a year with horrible abdominal pain. I had EVERY test, MRI, CAT, blood work, etc and NOTHING showed up. I finally was convinced it was my gall bladder. I was VERY lucky to be recommended to an excellent gall bladder surgeon. In 5, yes, only 5 minutes he ruled out my gall bladder. He put me flat on his table and told me to raise my legs to perform the Carnett test. The pain was awful but he said "you have ACNES" (abdominal cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome. He sent me to a pain institute instructing them where to inject linocaine (trigger point shots). The first shot 100% knocked the pain out but only lasted a few days. The relief from the shot did CONFIRM it was ACNES. 98% of doctors never heard of it. After an exhaustive search I found an amazing hernia surgeon in Phoenix who also never heard of it but quickly researched it (there are plenty of links - google). On 9/2/21 Dr Gillespie at St Joseph's Medical Center performed robotic laparoscopic surgery cutting my T8, T9 and T10 abdominal nerves. The actual surgery took 29 minutes. I left the hospital that afternoon completely cured. He does accept new patients for ACNES. My posting have brought several ACNES patients to him who were also cured. Feel free to contact me if you need more information.

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@jgroudan

Problem is my pain radiates from below navel to under my xiphoid. It’s always down the middle. I have had all the scans, meds and appts. Now been four years and slowly keeps getting worse. I’m depressed, can’t work and hard to keep my head above water.

I have had around 9 different injections. Only one time worked two years ago. That was when my daily pain was a 5-6. It’s now 7-8 and all the time. Once a pain mgt doctor at one of our hospitals did lidocaine and steroids on each side of my stomach. Pain next day went away for two days and came right back. Neurologist says it’s neuralgia and miss firing nerves. Issue is I don’t think carnetts sign works with me. I don’t have many options left to try.

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