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Acute Sporadic Episodes of Severe Abdominal Pain

Following is my case, please see if anyone can help or relate:

I randomly get "periodic episodes" of severe stomach pains that occur roughly about 2-3 months apart, almost always a few hours (anywhere from 1-4) hours of having a dinner (that is, almost all episodes occur at night time right before or at about bed time); each generally lasting 7-9 hours on the average. There have been a few shorter episodes and a few much longer, with differing intensities but generally a typical episode on the pain scale level of 1-10, 10 being worst, starts at about level 1-4 with peaking at about pain level 7-9 for the most part of an episode and then suddenly diminshing after about 6-7 hours of severe duration.

Note, the pattern of each episode is almost always about the same from start to finish - a sensation (kinda "feel like") of some heaviness in the stomach, then gradual increase in pain in abdominal area (about half an hour to an hour after that "heavy feeling"), which then quickly shots up to a severe pain scale level 7-9 that would last most through the night and then eventually resolving on its own after about 5-8 hours of peaking.

During a typical episode what I experience, almost always in the same order of occurrence: (1) A feeling that an episode is about to happen, a few minutes to about half an hour right before it actually starts - (this is important to mention because this is an onset of an episode where my body alerts me to stop intaking any food/drinks of any sort; howeveer, this initial stage is also full of anxiety and mental pressure with an unpleasant "sixth sensation" of a sort, if you will, that I am about to start facing yet another night of restlessness; (2) A mild to severe pressure in stomach and general abdominal area, lasting for a few minutes to about half an hour, that would signal positive that the episode has now begun; (3) a wave of cyclical/sinusoidal pain wave that suddenly increases in intensity from severe to extreme; typical time duration for each sinusoidal pain-wave lasts about a 1-2 minutes duration each, a low-peak-low acute cycle of sharp stabbing/burning sensation and intense pressure in the general mid-abdominal area, lasting about 5-7 hours; (4) during the peak pain hours my stomach muscles/wall may harden several times for 5-10 minutes for each time; I may lay down, get up, kneel, crouch, fold in fetal position, walk, pace, rub/massage my tummy, and try to use toilet to allow me pass gas/stool or throw up to help lower the pain and to get some relief from constant churning going on in my belly; (5) a feeling of chill/cold occurs during the early hours of an episode, followed by mild to severe dryness in mouth, that eventually is followed by a bit of nausea and/or mild-to-severe burbs upon which I "make" myself to vomit that often yields positive in throwing up of whatever may had been leftover inside the stomach by then; (6) the pain generally peaks out after 5-6 hours of acute/sharpness in severity, eventually subdueing itself almost suddenly; (7) I finally able to go to sleep after about 6-8 hours of intense pain.

I am generally so tired and full of fatigue towards the end of each episode that I fall asleep in no time and wake up in the morning all fine as if nothing ever happened - with no pain or any signs of it!  Apart from being tired the morning after and having to cope with general fatigue throughout the next day due to the restlessness night, I am able to resume all functions just as normal like no problem - that is, normal eating and normal bowel movements!  

I must state, during these episode, I do not have any fever (despite feeling chills/cold), headache, backache, diarrhea, blood in stool/vomit or anything else of that sort. I make myself to go to the bathroom several times during an episode to see if that would help and I am able to go with normal bowel movement (while the pain in the belly is still going on) and pass normal stool - with no extraordinary smell, blood or any abnormal discoloration - suggesting that the issue is not with my large intestine (colon).  I strongly suspect that this whole thing occurs and is confined to my small intestine. However, no doctor, gastrointestinal specialist, and even expert surgeons have been able to diagnose or detect any problem with any of my organs or digestive tract.  

I have had all sorts of blood and stool tests, ultrasounds, x-rays, colonoscopies, endoscopies, barium swallows, tests at the best-of-the-best hospitals and by the best-of-the-best specialists in my area but, alas, yet all to none avail. I do have insurance despite of which it has still cost me several thousand dollars in deductables.

I have had tried maintaining a food diary to isolate if there may be an issue with my diet, an unknown food borne allergy or malabsorptions, but, that too had not been helpful except to suggestively (but not conclusively) suspecting some ingredients such as certain fruits and veggies, etc, that perhaps may be the culprits. However, none of those suspected food items can be positively identified to be the actual culprits because some episodes had occurred even in absence of the suspected ingredients!

As a subject for a case-study: I am (otherwise) a healthy adult male with healthy lifestyle and normal dietary habits. I don't smoke, don't drink, nor eat/abuse junk/fast food nor go on eating binges. My preferred choice of drink is simply plain cold water. I avoid all sorts of sodas, sugary/salty drinks/snacks, and coffees etc. as much as possible. I do take a cup of hot black tea every morning and occasionally a glass of plain low-fat milk at bed time. I, in fact, have what known to be a balanced/healthy dietary lifestyle. It has been ruled out that I do not have intolerance to dairy, eggs, cheese, wheat/breads, cereals, etc.  I prefer chicken and fish over red meat, however, I have not shown any signs of indigestion after eating a meal containg beef or lamb meat.  I do get some stress on times but generally it's no more than any guy next to me and probably just what an average healthy normal adult would get during a working week. I do get to relax and excersize time to time (but not as regularly as I used to some years ago) since I pack quite a busy daily routine that does not allow me to even think or feel about having any extraordinary level of stress.

My stomach problom started about two and a half years ago (October 2009) and has been so typical in its recurring patterns that, by now, I have become accustomed to handling each occurrence as to just endure the pain through the whole night rather than rushing to an ER or going to see a doctor about it.  That said, it is still quite troubling (and annoying!) when it occurs and I have not (yet) lost all hope in finding a cure for it.  If anyone else out there suffering with similar issue(s), please kindly share. Thank you so very much.
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Avatar universal
Female - 66 years old
I have absolutely the same problem that many of you have and you have no idea how *nice* it is to know that I'm not the only person who is suffering with this pain and no explanation as to why!! I had considered (and only just 'considered'...lol) telling my family GP about it but since you all have had so many tests,procedures,etc.,I'll definitely be saving myself the trouble,now! The first time I experienced this pain was about 7-8 years ago...about 4-5 hours after supper and it lasted about 6 hours. I hadn't had it again until about 6 months ago and it's happening 1-3 times a week,now!! I have found that I dare not over eat...I have to be careful to not eat any meat (beef or pork) and not a lot of chicken or fish! Last night I was suffering again until about 2:00 a.m....I had 3 mouths-full of baked ham! I've given up having butter on my mashed potatoes and trying to stay completely away from any fat,of any kind at suppertime. Then I make a huge mistake (I think) by having a very small bowl of ice-cream at 7:00 p.m.! I'm starting to think that the ice-cream is a/the culprit (the kind I eat has a very high fat content)! This evening I'm having a small bowl of chicken soup for supper and I'm going to try to stay away from the ice-cream container!!
I haven't read about many of you having "spasmodic" pain...my spasms last about 20-30 seconds and then eases up/off for 3-5 minutes or so and then another spasm lasting 30 seconds or so...and yes,it's pretty much about a "10" on the pain scale (I've found that deep breathing during the pain helps 'deal' with the spasm). I don't get nauseated (no throwing up) nor do I need to use the bathroom....I just have pain directly above my navel/belly-button! Pepto Bismol did help to ease the pain many times but never stopped it (and I'm saying about 4-5 tablespoons...not the piddly little amount suggested on the bottle)!
Have ANY of you ever been tested for "H-pylori"?? (Helicobacter pylori....a type of bacteria & these germs can enter your body and live in your digestive tract). It's "curable" with 2 different antibiotics but I'm allergic to most antibiotics,couldn't take those so I'm left to suffer.
It's a very simple blood test...nothing invasive! I tested positive for it about 20-25 years ago but was having no pain,then....just a VERY "sensitive stomach"!
*My* pain,now could very well be caused by/due to the bloody H-pylori....which,btw can also cause ulcers!
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
I apologise for the 2 identical posts!
Avatar universal
Female - 66 years old
I have absolutely the same problem that many of you have and you have no idea how *nice* it is to know that I'm not the only person who is suffering with this pain and no explanation as to why!! I had considered (and only just 'considered'...lol) telling my family GP about it but since you all have had so many tests,procedures,etc.,I'll definitely be saving myself the trouble,now! The first time I experienced this pain was about 7-8 years ago...about 4-5 hours after supper and it lasted about 6 hours. I hadn't had it again until about 6 months ago and it's happening 1-3 times a week,now!! I have found that I dare not over eat...I have to be careful to not eat any meat (beef or pork) and not a lot of chicken or fish! Last night I was suffering again until about 2:00 a.m....I had 3 mouths-full of baked ham! I've given up having butter on my mashed potatoes and trying to stay completely away from any fat,of any kind at suppertime. Then I make a huge mistake (I think) by having a very small bowl of ice-cream at 7:00 p.m.! I'm starting to think that the ice-cream is a/the culprit (the kind I eat has a very high fat content)! This evening I'm having a small bowl of chicken soup for supper and I'm going to try to stay away from the ice-cream container!!
I haven't read about many of you having "spasmodic" pain...my spasms last about 20-30 seconds and then eases up/off for 3-5 minutes or so and then another spasm lasting 30 seconds or so...and yes,it's pretty much about a "10" on the pain scale (I've found that deep breathing during the pain helps 'deal' with the spasm). I don't get nauseated (no throwing up) nor do I need to use the bathroom....I just have pain directly above my navel/belly-button! Pepto Bismol did help to ease the pain many times but never stopped it (and I'm saying about 4-5 tablespoons...not the piddly little amount suggested on the bottle)!
Have ANY of you ever been tested for "H-pylori"?? (Helicobacter pylori....a type of bacteria & these germs can enter your body and live in your digestive tract). It's "curable" with 2 different antibiotics but I'm allergic to most antibiotics,couldn't take those so I'm left to suffer.
It's a very simple blood test...nothing invasive! I tested positive for it about 20-25 years ago but was having no pain,then....just a VERY "sensitive stomach"!
*My* pain,now could very well be caused by/due to the bloody H-pylori....which,btw can also cause ulcers!
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
I am a 63 y/o female, suffering this debilitating pain so many of you describe, for 20+ years now. I have been to the ER numerous times and be "diagnosed" with a myriad of issues ranging from chronic appendicitis to "maybe a ruptured ovarian cyst?" to stomach flu. All were simply good guesses and not correct.
Never nauseous nor constipated, but if I force myself to vomit it typically brings some relief, though not complete resolution. The pain lessens enough that more often than not, I can fall asleep for a while.
My episodes seem to occur once or twice annually and I've never been successful at pinpointing a 'cause' whether of food etiology or environmental. However, I've noticed several of you have mentioned mold allergy, bulk/high fiber foods and lactose intolerance. While I have tested positive for mold allergy, I'm not 100% certain that is my personal trigger; however, the fiber and lactose components could be culprits, something I have never considered but will DEFINITELY stay away from now as I have recollection of ingestion of such food items prior to having an attack!
Bentyl is the only Rx that has had any positive effect, but only to a partial degree of easing the pain from a 10 to a 7 and also helping me fall asleep, as it cause drowsiness.
Finally, thank you Swarovsky, for H-pylori! I had ulcers years ago but am now allergic to many antibiotics, also. I am going to mention this possibility to my Doctor as well.
This is the first time I've found others who suffer with this issue and, at the very least, I can provide this thread to my Doctor to show that it isn't "all in my head". Should I have any beneficial updates/information about this problem, I will return and share with the thread.
Avatar universal
I am a Mold Patient, and have noticed that 3 out of my 4 attacks have been right after visiting Moldy (funky smelling)houses. My 4th attack was from a bad egg salad sandwhich and other travel food I was not used to for 2 days of airport hotel food. IBS symptoms are typical of Mold patients. Sensitive immune systems are typical of Mold patients too.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Has anyone been diagnosed with Diverticulitis?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I've also experienced the exact same symptoms as described above and I was finally diagnosed with eosinophilic esophagitis. It's basically upper GI inflammation caused by reflux and/or a food allergy. You have to get a biopsy of your esophagus taken to be diagnosed as it can often appear "normal" with just a scope. I was given a prescription for a PPI which helped a little but eventually I discovered I had a mushroom allergy and I was reacting to foods with mold in them including some cheese, beer and wine. Hope that info is helpful for some of you too.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Hello Mellowmel3, after your 2 diagnostics, did you get cured or continue having pain?
Avatar universal
No, after July and August 2015 episodes, it has not recurred.  Don't know what triggered it although I had undergone a cardiac cath July 7, 2015 where they go in thru your groin and feed a catheter up to your heart thru the abdominal aorta which runs alongside your spine.  I wonder if maybe some nerves got irritated which triggered the spasming and, once the inflammatory response subsided, so did the episodes.
Helpful - 0
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