Could abdominal pain be IBS

I am a 40 year old female who eats well and exercises regularly up until 01/05/06. That night I had a burning pain around the belly button area that did go away in my sleep, but left me with a different kind of pain after the burn. I have seen an OB/GYN for possible female problems that turned out negative, had blood work done, a CT scan with contrasts on abdomen and rectum that says organs are fine, saw a surgeon for possible hernia and there was none, had urinalysis come back o.k. so now I am in the waste basket of elimination as to what it is. Family doctor is saying IBS since testing so far points to no problems, but my pain does not go away and is under the ribs in the center of my chest with lots of pain between the shoulder blades. It is a soreness that tells me it is not IBS and when I push a grocery cart, I get sharp stabbing pains in the center of my chest just below the rib cage. I am a healthy person prior to this and realize that having abdominal pain so widespread means little chance of finding out what is really going on. I can't even run or work out from the discomfort and really feel something else happened the night that the burning sensation ran across my stomach and belly button. I might add that I really dont have alot of stress in my life & I am a relatively happy person. My husband is concerned that my family doctor is not being thorough and so I am. This cramping pain is pretty intense and I have been prescibed medicine of LEVSINEX.375MG. Is there anything else from what I have said that could indicate another diagnosis. I might also add that I have taken fat blockers and carb blockers but not consumed any since a couple of weeks before this happened. Please Help.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

IBS certainly can be possible.  Before settling on that diagnosis, you can consider a more thorough evaluation of the upper digestive tract.  This can include an upper endoscopy or upper GI series - which can look for GERD, an ulcer, or inflammation of the upper digestive tract.  

A HIDA scan with CCK stimulation is a specialized test that can evaluate the gallbladder ejection fraction.  If low, sometimes removing the gallbladder may help in improving your symptoms.

These options can be discussed with your personal physician.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_b

[Canyon711]

You should see a gastroenterologist. it does sound like it is something more than you primary care should be handling. Tests can rule out other things and when nothing is found then they will dx IBS but until then I don't think I would be content with that diagnosis. IbS usually is lower in intestines and stomach, not up in back.

[alana miller]

I am a 28 year old female who also experiences severe upper abdominal pain. The pain is very intense and I think at times that it may have some thing to do with the elimination process. I notice that when I have a bowel movement I may trigger the pain and then other times when I may have been constipated or havent had a bowel movement I tend to experience the pain also. I also had my gallbladder removed about a month ago, the doctors thought that was the cause of my pain and distress, but apparently not since I'm still having so much pain. I also have acid reflux and the doctors have told me that I have IBS. Does anyone else experience these symptoms? I have had an EDG upper endoscope test where they did not find anything wrong other than acid reflux, I have had a small bowel x-ray, blood work and before gallbladder removal a HIDA scan and numerous ultrasounds. I am at times under stress quite a bit, but the attacks of pain come even at times of no stress. If anyone has any input or experiences to share I would love to hear from you. Thanks! GOODLUCK TO YOU ALL!!!

[alybeary]

Hi Enuff, I am 44 years old and am having the same symptoms as you. My pain started with my period like cramps, but then never went away after my period ended. This all began about 2 months ago.  It appears the pain has settled in my upper abdomin (abdomen) and chest area.  In the last 2 months I have had an upper adominal (abdominal) ultrasound, blood work, urine test, stool test, endoscopy, colonoscopy and abdominal/pelvic ct scan with contrast, all coming out normal with the exception of my blood work.  I tested positive for H. Pylori. So my doctor initially put me on 2 antibiotics and an antiacid medication, which did not help the pain.  Then my GI doctor put me on anti spasm medication, Bentyl and Librax, neither has worked for me.  My pain seems to be worst at night just before bedtime and in the morning.  I see my doctor this afternoon and am afraid he will diagnose IBS.  I am very discouraged at this point. I have a gynecologist appointment next week.  I feel bloated all the time and most of the time don't feel like eating anything. It has affected my entire lifestyle.  So I can certainly relate to how you are feeling right now.  I hope you find some answers.  I haven't had too much luck.  We'll see what my doctor says today.  I'll let you know. Thanks, Diane

[snooka]

hi alana,
i am a 24 year old female experiencing the same problems as you, or so i think. i have been in alot of pain for going on 3 years now. about 2 years ago i went to the hospital because while working at my restaurant job i started getting real bad pain on my right side, just below my ribs. the pain would come and go but would usually last for hours. well it started on a busy night at work so i couldn't just stop what i was doing and leave so i tried to stick it out. it ended up getting worse and i was doubled over and eventually vomitting. i wasn't vomitting because i was sick but the pain was so intense (burning, stabbing,etc.)pain and my body couldn't handle it so it would result in vomitting. i had many test done including the HIDA scan which showed that my gall bladder wasn't working right so i had that removed. about a month later i started getting the pain again so i went back to the doctor. i had a colonoscopy, catscan, barium test, blood work, etc. but nothing showed anything. the doc ended up telling me i have IBS and have spasms where my large and small intestines meet. he put me on medicine to control the spasms but it does not work. well i was back in the hospital saturday night after leaving work again because of the pain and vomitting but of course they found nothing. i experience this pain every day of my life but i have to stick it out. it seems to only get bad when i am up moving around and then once i rest for a bit i feel fine again. it does not make any sense but i know there is something wrong and i can't continue to deal with this pain anymore. it is emotionally draining me. to me this sounds alot like your problem. i just don't understand how doctors can't find anything when we know there is something wrong. i wish i could find a doctor that would like to reallly help me  and not just tell me something and take my money. i really hope a doctor finds out what is wrong with you and me and all the other people out there with the same problems. if anyone has any information or symptoms like my mine i would love to hear from you.

[alana miller]

Hi snooka, I hope you will be able to find some relief and some help for your stomach issues. Trust me, I know how dibilitating and frustrating they can be. I am still expieriencing alot of these "attacks" they seem to come out of no-where. I get a very intense pain in the upper midline of my abdomen, and it moves through my stomach, into my chest, throat and sometimes the pain radiates to my ear. I thought maybe acid reflux was the culprit b/c I do have acid reflux, but I take prescription medication 2 times a day for that, and it provides no relief from the pain. I also get dizzy and fatigued when I have the pain, as well as other days when I don't. Do you get dizzy or lightheaded too? I have been trying to research and figure out a possible cause to these symptoms and the pain, but not much luck as of yet. What you have going on may be gallbladder related though, you should have an ultrasound of your gallbladder done to rule out gallstones or gallbladder disease. Have you been to a gastroenterologist? If I figure out anything I will let you know, and if you do, please let me know also. Thanks & Good Luck!!!

[alana miller]

Oops! I wasn't thinking, but now I see that you did have your gallbladder removed, so please disregard the advice about your gallbladder. I will keep you posted on any info I find out okay? Take care!!

[bunnycula7]

Hello Everyone,
I just found this site and have to say I have been feeling the same way with the same pain in my belly button area and above.
Sometimes the pain is like a stabbing pain and at other times it is just an annoying pain that just stays there. But I have also been feeling a pain in my pelvic bone area at times and am not sure if it is from the same thing or if something else is going on too. I seem to have alot of gas too. I would love to hear from more people about there symptoms, I have not even begun the doctor thing yet. I go next week. This has been going on since mid march. It is driving me nuts. I thought it was from my period, but when that came and went.... it was still here. Its frustrating.

[Nutritionist]

Most of these queries don't sound like issues of IBS.  If you are interested in finding a permanent solution to the real problem, please contact me at ***@****

[maria158]

A related discussion, ibs was started.