Severe abdominal attacks

[amandayrurd]

About once a month I have severe abdominal pain that lasts for 6-12 hours. The pain happens at various times of the day and has not been connected to any food I eat. It wakes me up in the middle of the night if I am asleep. The pain does not increase or lessen with bowel movements (if I do have a bm it's often soft and thin). The pain is located around my belly button and is constant, sharp and twisting. Sometimes sitting in a fetal position helps--standing straight is very painful. Occassionally I will vomit from the pain. It comes on very quickly and I often get chills and hot flashes (though no fever). I am very tender to the touch.

When the attack ceases, I'm often sore for the next day or two (like I've done too many sit-ups).

I've had numerous tests that all come back normal (upper gi, small bowel follow through, CT Scan [though not all the way to my cecum], ultrasounds, etc.). My gallbladder has already been removed in hopes of helping (it didn't help), and my appendix seems to be normal).

This past weekend I was admitted to the hospital. Three shots of morphine did not take the edge off. Finally, a dose of Toradol seemed to help.

Any suggestions? I go to a new GI doctor later this week.

Amanda

[amandayrurd]

Thanks for the suggestions. After more testing it was discovered that my liver scores were high. I just had an ERCP and sphincterotomy performed. Now I'm waiting to see if it was successful for if I'll be getting more attacks.

[Lisa4kids]

I get something similar.  It happens more frequently when I am not moving my bowels regularly...my bowels spasm, which causes a stomach spasm.  It's the most intense pain (worse than labor, and I've had four kids) and it lasts around 3 hours for me.  
Do you feel like you have any gas at the times of those attacks?  I get the same thing with the chills and hot flashes also.  I find that even though it's painful, walking it off works better than lying down.  My gastroenterologist said for me to roll around on the floor and just keep moving.  I am looking into using an anti spasmotic medication if it continues...I've had lots of tests, and the only thing I have wrong, other than IBS is excess acid in my stomach, accompanie by GERD.
good luck!

[MedicofOz]

Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is the very possible diagnosis. You can google it. I am sure you will definitely say : "this is me".
Are you Mediterranean (FMF is very common in İsraelis, Egyptians, Turkish, Italian and Arabic populations) in origin.
Anyway , I advise you should go to a gastroenterologist or a rheumatology clinic, they will start a magic drug called "colchicine" and order some genetic tests.

Cheers from MedicOfOZ

[amandayrurd]

I should add that I was diagnosed with gastroparesis and originally thought that was the reason for the pain. However, during my last attack, a Cat Scan revealed that the contrast was moving just find through my stomach.

Thanks.

Amanda