Hi everyone, please could someone help.
I’m 22 years old (23 in feb). I get very severe lower abdominal pain that is not hormone/period pain related or cycle related.
To best describe it, it starts as a “niggle” and an uncomfortable feeling and then over the space of I’d say an hour - progresses to a very widespread, sharp, static pain all across my lower abdomen (below belly button level). It’s associated with extreme bloating and the pain is that severe breathing/sucking in even the slightest, lightly pressing, or sitting properly on a chair is almost unbearable. I’m a social worker so most of my day is sat on a chair in the office and I literally have to lean to one side. The pain does not go away completely although staying as still as I can and lightly breathing keeps it bearable. Passing gas will sometimes relieve the pain a little and for a couple of minutes, although it barley does anything, and in fact passing gas when it’s doing this can hurt itself!
I have a relatively healthy diet, I eat a lot of fruit and veg, and some meat. I also try to drink lots of water. I would say on a scale of having loose stools, and being constipated, I am more towards the constipated end of the scale, although it is nothing really problematic and I usually go daily or every 2 days. I am 5,4 and just under 9 stone so not over or underweight.
The thing is, I first experienced this type of pain about 4 years ago, although it would be very rare and probably happen once every 1 or 2 months. That’s why I never went to the gp. Over the years it’s appeared to progress in frequency and severity of pain. For the last 6 months, it happens almost daily, but barely on a weekend when I am not at work? I don’t know if it’s associated with starting to eat earlier when at work, stress, or sitting position. However I still eat at about 9:00am (not that early?) and I only have something like a breakfast bar and a piece of fruit which is what I’d have at home. I’ve kept a food diary, no pattern or identifiable triggers in regard to certain types of foods. I don’t drink coffee and don’t drink milk - I have alternative milk in hot drinks if I do have one.
The pain is getting that severe now it is effecting my daily life. I literally can not work properly or concentrate when it’s doing it - it can make me wince!
I thought IBS but does IBS really cause this severity of pain where you can’t suck in or breath normally? That any movement of the lower belly is so painful. If I do suck in all the way, the pain is so splitting and travels to my sides and back (nearly cried when I did this today).
I’ve never gone to the Dr about it because when it’s not there, there is literally no problem. I have a flat stomach, I can breath normally. I think because it’s been progressing over time it’s not flagged up as an immediate problem too. If I’d never have had it before, and suddenly got what I experienced today, I would have gone to A&E immediately. I’d be scared to let the Dr press on my stomach to examine due to pain!
When the pain is present, it usually only goes away later in the day when I do go to the toilet. But when the pain first starts, I literally don’t need the toilet and can’t go even if I try as an attempt to make it better!
I’m booking an appointment at the GP tomorrow as I can’t stand it any longer and I am starting to worry. But I worry they will just write me off as being “fine” because I’m young and appear “healthy”. But I need answers and I need relief!
Any comments, similarities or methods of relief would be very much appreciated!
Thank you!
