Severe abdominal pain and extremely swollen belly

[DaniahAQ]

Hey girls,

So for the last 5 days, I've experienced really bad pains on the right side of my stomach. My stomach also started swelling very badly on the right side. It even is so bad that when I go to urinate, it's so very painful (not the pee itself or my private parts - JUST above my private parts/abdominal area).

I thought if I rested in bed and took my daily tramadol, that things would get better..but it only got worse.

The pain spread all over my abdominal area and my stomach is extremely swollen (more swollen than what it's become in the last year due to endometriosis) and it's so painful when I use the toilet and even when I try to sleep at night.

Last night, I went to the emergency room to see if they could help me and they literally were hopeless. I spent over 6 hours in hospital for them to only give me a urine sample, blood test and basic X ray...all results were negative..there was nothing wrong with my blood test or urine samples. So they sent me home, even though they could clearly see that I wasn't alright and was in severe pain and that my stomach didn't look normal.

I asked them to perform and ultrasound or an MRI scan to get a proper look at what's going on but they refused.

I got sent home with just ibprofin (which doesn't help at all).

I've been bed bound ever since and don't know what to do.

Does anyone know what may be going on with me? I feel that doctors don't take you seriously unless you're literally on the floor bleeding to death.

[Kirst625]

Sorry to hear you are in such pain without answers. I'm afraid I don't know what to advise completely apart from don't give up on your quest to find the answer. You know your own body. I am undiagnosed but am starting prostap injections next week to determine next steps. My very good GP (took me years to find her!) very much wants me to have a laparoscopy and is fighting my corner. Which is a first and helps me keep strong. So try to keep going til you can find someone that will do the same for you. I too get a similar pain to what you describe at ovulation and during my period. They think I also might have interstitial cystitis. I think you are diagnosed with Endo already? Have you been referred through to a specialist centre? Other peeps might be able to advise far more helpfully but didn't want you to feel alone X how are you feeling today?

[DaniahAQ in reply to Kirst625]

Thanks for getting back to me.

Yes. I have a consultant doctor at st Mary's hospital. I had to go to Chelsea and Westminster the day of the emergency because it was the closest hospital at the time.

The only advice they gave me (even though they could see that I was in clear pain) was to go and see my consultant at st Mary's and see if he can help me...basically they're fine with me waiting over the weekend in the pain I'm in without any proper looking after. And then I have to go on Monday and see if my consultant is a) even in hospital that day ; b) available to see me with all the other appointments he has booked up from months ago.

I just feel helpless.

[Kirst625 in reply to DaniahAQ]

It must feel awful indeed 😥 Unexplained pain can be worrying too i think, adding to the sense of feeling helpless. I think either more testing and / or stronger pain relief would have been far more helpful. It's hard to know what to suggest as I'm in Wales and might have different systems in place. We have an emergency phone line for evening and weekends to advise on whether we need seeing by a doctor or hospital so I would have tried that, then likely on to a&e, if no joy I'd have probably got back on the phone line again for advice on next options. Obviously I'm not an expert but the intensity and duration of the pain really sounds like it needs investigating as soon as poss. And reading on here it sounds sensible to not put everything down to possible Endo just in case. Have you family / friend support you could you call on to help back you and help you fight your corner? If it worsens in the meantime I'd definitely go back to a&e and be as firm as poss about what you need (I know easier said than done!) but I'm hoping the call tomorrow will give you a route forward if not. I think reading on here we have to be quite prepared for a fight to get our needs met, but it's ok to do that - things need checking out and pain relief has to bring what the title suggests. Best of luck, keep me posted X

[KimPV]

I’d call out of hours dr, and get them to prescribe some other form of pain relief. They can’t leave you this way surely.

Failing that call an ambulance , they will have to take you seriously then.

Wish I could help more take care and keep fighting xx

[DaniahAQ in reply to KimPV]

Hey! Sorry for the late reply. Have literally been trying to sleep this pain off. Have been bed bound since last week.

When you say out of hours doctor..do you mean my GP or consultant doctor? Does the consultant doctor usually have out of hours ?

Yup. It's pretty shocking. They've left me with nothing but ibprofin and expect me to barge my way to see my consultant (without an appointment) and that he'll just see me.

Thanks for the advice darling. I truly appreciate it. Wish me luck. Xx

[KimPV in reply to DaniahAQ]

When you call 111 they should offer you an out of hours doctors appointment. There are out of hour surgeries all over for when your doctor is closed.

Other wise I’d go back into a n e and demand pain relief.

I’m so sorry you’re in so much pain.

Good luck

[KimPV in reply to DaniahAQ]

Have you tried calling you dr surgery and asking for a call back? Rather than an appointment? Then you can say you’re in too much pain to come in, can they give you something else to help you?