Severe stomach pain through to back

[Pearlie434]

This year I have been having bouts of severe stomach pain  (center, bottom of ribcage) going straight through to my upper/middle back. I thought it may be food related, but it has happened after eating different types of foods (meat/not meat, various levels of greasiness as well). Also it tends to happen 5-12 hours after I eat, often waking me up at night. It usually lasts about an hour and consists of me curled up on the floor in a fetal position, but kneeling. This is the only position that helps. Also, drinking large amounts of water helps too -1liter at a time. A couple of times it went away after vomiting, while other times it went away after defecating, and sometimes after an hour it goes away by itself, leaving me to urinate often from all the water.  So far it's happened only a handful of times, but lately, it's been occuring  more frequently, and I can have a similar sensation, but a lot less severe. Again, alleviated by drinking much water. This discomfort is not lower-back. It is more between T4 & T6.
I went to the local clinic and basically was charged $150 for having my blood pressure checked and urine analyzed. I really want to know what this could be so I can go to the doctor and say test me for xy and z, since I have no insurance. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.  

[ashkansharifi]

I was also experiencing extreme pain in my stomach. To express in details it was like heat from inside causing to dry mouth and heat on my tongue for long time. Extreme pain in the stomach area feeling like having a fire inside of me. I experienced whole my body become literally red. I couldn't really find any answer from west science to solve this disorder until I came to India and got introduced to Ayurveda. Ayurveda is an ancient indian science which has very different perspective towards west.

Based on Ayurveda every person has a different constitution, Wind, fire and earth. If we like to have a healthy life style we have to keep the all 3 elements balanced in our body. When we have the 3 elements balanced we feel, healthy, happy and joyful. This science is very simple but has a depth in understanding nature out and in.

I am Pitta person, meaning my fire is overtaking on the other two elements thats I was feeling so much heat and dry mouth and pain in my stomach. I should cool myself with cold nature food to keep the balance and harmony.
Zucchini, cabbage, white rice, Broccoli, Potato, Coriander (seeds and herb) , Cocao, Coffee, Okra, Banna, Apple, mango, Coconut, Pomegranate etc. are having cooling effect on the body and should be consumed by Pitta (Fire) people specially in warm seasons.

I should take very little or highly avoid following foods having fire element in summer time:
Tomato (oh I god i love them), dried fruits and nuts, garlic, onion, Spinach, Spirulina, or any food that has a lot of Iron in it. Highly avoid sour and salty food in summer.

The main basic is to recognise which food is good for Pitta person is  by its taste. Any food that is sweet, Astringent and bitter is good for cooling the pitta people.

If you like to figure out exactly which elements are dominant in your body, please take online test to determine yours:
https://www.banyanbotanicals.com/info/prakriti-quiz

If you like to change your perspective towards health and life in general I highly recommend you to read few books on this topic written by Vasant Lad and David Frawley. “Ayurveda: The Science of Self-healing : a Practical Guide” is one of the most popular books.

[cassieve]

Hi guys my name is Cassie. I am 43. I was so relieved to find these posts today. I read every single one of them. I too deal with 90% of the symptoms discussed here. Horrible upper tummy pain woke me up this morning at 6:32 a.m., it is 10:45 a.m. now, and I am sipping on one of the only "somewhat-reliefs" i can find. BUT THIS IS NOT FOR THOSE WHO DEAL WITH HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE and certain other ailments, so please just take my info here with caution. I am sipping on "Stash brand Licorice-spice tea." I brewed it up and steeped it for 5 minutes for best results. I want to type a whole lot more about things but to be honest am in WAY too much pain right now, at this time. {also I know most of these posts are very old, but wanted to type anyway to try and help.} God bless you all, and I will try to keep up with this website. Very informative and interesting people you all are. May Godspeed healing to us all. From, -Cassie

[dub5876]

Oh my gosh I put a call into my doctor but she hasn't called me back... I wish she'd call me back. I need to know what this is...

[Jadetigercg]

Five years now I've been in pain, but the extreme doubling over fetal position pain only started last year. It's in the middle of my body, right under the breastbone or high in the chest, and it cuts through me and upwards to my back. Lately it feels like a blockage, like all the food I've eaten that day sits in one spot, forms into a huge mass and then pushed through a small opening. When the episode is over I feel almost total relief, plus some fatigue. Usually the following day I feel a lingering pain, maybe internal bruising. I also don't have a bowel movement very often sometimes it'll be 4-5 days. It's like my whole digestive tract shuts down. As far as treatment goes, I had a round of tests 4 years ago and last year. In round one I had a gastric emptying study that came back normal. I've had two endoscopies. First round didn't show anything. The other showed inactive mild chronic gastritis. I had 2 ultrasounds. My first showed nothing, my second showed gallstones but the largest was too small to cause discomfort, plus the pain is never on the right side. Usually I have two types of pain. The one that just lingers through the day and the other that wakes me up hours after I've eaten. It's not uncommon for me to experience acid reflux after sweet of acid things. Since alot of you are going the standard medical route, I wanted to ask if any of you have tried approaching the problem from a nutritional angle, or an allergy angle. I've never done either and since our doctors are commonly coming up stumped, I'm probably going to try looking elsewhere. I was in so much pain last year that I was really willing to try anything, so let me save you a little money and time. Don't try the natural path approach. There are much cheaper placebos out there. There was nothing scientific about it. It was more spiritual, chi, energy, etc. I know this thread is old but if anyone has found some relief, please update. So far my extreme pain episodes happened after Korean BBQ (very greasy), something spicy, and Mac and cheese. Usually the pain doesn't kick in till hours after I eat but last night it was immediate. It was also the first time I had 3 back to back extreme episodes. It was in public and very embarrassing. My friend had to drive me home as I yelled in pain. Throwing everything up when I got home stopped the episode, though that hasn't always worked in the past. So far the only way I can deal with the pain is curling up in a ball, using heat packs and possibly drinking water shortens episodes, hard to say. Anyway please post your findings, I'm sure several people are anxious for some answers.

[Luvvie111]

I've been expierencing this exact pain. It is in my upper stomach right in the muscle to the left upperside what feels to be under my ribs. At times it's extreme and others not so bad. Also back pain and neck pain. Feel like my muscles are really swollen (knotted) not much helps. I just sent to the ER last night and doctor said "basically, I do not know what's wrong with you". They did urine test on organs and nothing abnormal showing. Comes and goes as it pleases and sometimes after I eat. Insee most of these comments were made a few years ago can someone please help me? Also another important issue, extreme fatigue. I'm always always ALWAYS so tired and expierencing a lot of headaches as well. Daily

[Janl226]

Luvvie111, I am having the same symptoms.  How are you doing these days?

[kari123456]

STOMACH BLOCKAGE

that's what mine was.
this exact pain
they did every test possible and finally found it when I made them give me a CT scan WITH die. Lower intestines.

[BethinTraining]

Would an endoscopy show the stomach blockage?  I cannot take this pain anymore.....  I had my gallbladder out and have no ulcer according to the endoscopy?   If the endoscopy would not show the blockage then I am getting this CT you mention.  My event this time was triggered by my totally emptying my bowels.  After that my stomach was hollow (it seemed) but the pain in my upper stomach through the back (feels like a steal bar has been shoved through my middle) was so bad I was curled in a ball crying.  The pain is coming and going now - but when it comes, it is intolerable.  Nothing seems to help -- eating, no eating, drinking, not drinking...I am at the end of my rope!!!

[lilysmum78]

omg I have suffered same stuff for a few years now so glad im not alone was feeling like i made it all up that is also how my dr makes me feel test after test showing nothing grrrrrr infact right this minute im in pain as to y i found this site. once it was so bad the dr did a urine test and sent me straight to the er as it showed something but by the time the er tested my urine it was ok weird as morphine was given and sent home.I find a hot water bottle helps and i lay on it but im over it makes life hard as it comes whenever it wants

[chopster]

it cant be gall bladder symptoms as i have this problem for years getting worse and still having tests i also had my gall bladder removed last year?????? its ruining my life as its most of the time now and doctors dont know what to do????

[Banned1]

Hi there:

I'm so sorry to hear that you are still suffering.  I am, too.  There are so many things it could be including pancreatitis, sphincter of oddi dysfunction and post-cholecystectomy syndrome.  

I wanted to let you know about a free Yahoo! group that I belong to.  Do a web search for yahoo! groups.  Once you are in there, search the groups for "sphincter" - no kidding - and you will see a number of groups dedicated to pancreatitis, sphincter of oddi dysfunction and undiagnosed symptoms.  There are four or five great groups there. Michele's and Madi's groups are well worth joining but it takes a couple of days to get approval.  Many of us are undiagnosed.  I'm glad your pain isn't debilitating and I hope it nevers gets to that point but the members might have some ideas that could help you.  Plus, since it's a specialized group, you are talking to people who are actually living with the same thing.

Good luck and Godspeed!

Sam

[Banned1]

Hi there:

I'm glad you went ahead and had the surgery.  Many people have loose bowel movements post-cholecystectomy and there is medication to treat it.  You can try fibre products like metamucil that will make you regular, they don't make you go.  It just firms things up a bit.  Otherwise, a quick visit to the doctor and you could get on an anti-diarrheal medication.

Good luck and Godspeed!  Keep us posted as to how you are doing?

All the best,

Sam

[crambone]

well,glad to see you found out what was bugging you,,i get similar pains like you did,not so intence,but they have checked my stuff out via ct scans and say nothing is wrong,,,2 times!,,barrium,and iodine used on each,so who am i to argue?
i realy dont know what to think of my "phantom" pain,,,but id kill to know exactly what it is.

[Pearlie434]

two weeks ago, I had the severe pains that lasted almost all day. I went to the ER, and they did all the tests, my liver enzymes ast, and the other one were off the charts! like in the 1000's normal is anything under 34! They set me up for an emergency ultrasound the next morning, and I was told it was gallstones. I decided to keep the gallbladder, since they didn't give me any other details. The next week, I ate ribs and was predictably in pain that night, despite having supper and an empty stomach afterwards. So, We went to a different hospital, since these pains didn't go away all day either, and they gave me 2 choices: either have the gallbladder taken out laproscopically now, or wait and when it becomes infected, have the big incision and be out of work for 2 months. I was getting tired of the pain, so I agreed to have it taken out after trying to have them take out the stones only and them refusing. I am reading horror stories about all these people who had theirs out a few years ago and have the ***** all the time, weight gain, gerd, acid reflux, and a host of other problems, while the real life (not online) people I talked to have no problems at all. I'm worried. I had it out Sunday, came home Monday, and had 2 bm's. one was normal, the other was soft, but not loose. Normal after eating veggies for the first couple of days. The only side effect I'm experiencing, is that at night I will sometimes wake up and feel like an acidic feeling at the bottom of my stomach. Do these other effects come on after some time? or is it diet/health related? am I going to get diarrhea after the bile cleans out the **** in my intestines like some slow moving drain-o? I really hate diarrhea, and I don't want it. I like my nice little rabbit-pellet like clean butt poop that I've always had. I tend to get paper cuts on my butt if my poo is too messy. Should I not worry about it?

[Banned1]

Sorry to hear that your appointment was a bust.

The University of Maryland Medical Center has a good article on the benefits of licorice root and it's use in the treatment and prevention of stomach ulcers.  If it works for you, right on!
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/licorice-000262.htm

Good luck with your real appointment on the 30th.

All the best,

Sam

[Pearlie434]

Well, I didn't get anywhere with my Doc visit. Basically just went in with my BF, and brought up my symptoms. She says she can't do anything without me having the $200+ general exam + te$ting. So... I have a real appointment on the 30th.

On a brighter note, I started taking 1.35g/day of Licorice root capsules, and I noticed on the days I take the Licorice, I have no back/stomach discomfort! This is referring to the daily discomfort I've been having, not the severe pains. yesterday, I didn't take the Licorice, and last night I was up for a while with a stomach ache. I tried taking Rolaids, but the relief lasted only 15-30minutes. This stomach ache/back pain lasted until this morning, when I had breakfast and a Licorice pill. Anyone have any ideas?

[Banned1]

Hey Pearlie434:

You've made some really interesting connections: thyroid, multivitamins, etc.  

Hang in there!

You're in my thoughts and prayers.

All the best,

Sam

[Pearlie434]

I've been doing a little expirament; It seems like my back pain goes away slightly if I don't take my daily multivitamin.... What would the connection be there? I'll have to stay off them for a few more days and then take them again and see if there's a definite correlation.

[Pearlie434]

Yeah, I've read up on the panic attack the other day and the scary shaking thing seems like it.  But the site I looked at also looked at causes for panic attacks, the top two on the list being hypoglycemia and hyperthyroidism. It's been a while since I've been to the doc, and have never been diagnosed with either one. I hope I don't have either, I like to eat sweets! Also, radioactive iodine to kill the thyroid just so I can be on thyroid meds the rest of my life sounds like a bunch of BS!

[Pearlie434]

Hmmm. IDK. The stuff I read on GERD says it's more of the burping acid-in the-back -of -the throat feeling and Heartburn. I very rarely get that. But it is worth having the Doc check it out. Thanks.

[crambone]

what about GERD?
i had same basic stuff,and i had ALL the test,and nothing wrong with my pancreas or gullbladder!!,,,no stones,calcifications,lesions,enlargments,,,nothing!,,amalyaes,liypas good,,,so only thing left realy is gerd or ulcer,and i had a barrium swallow,no ulcsers,suprisengly as much as i worry!
gerd/and esophigeal spasms can cause this weard pain dead center,that extends into your back,,,i have been getting it for over 7 years now,and it has never realy gotten any better/worse in all that time,,,but try not to eat too late,and try not to stress,it is the 2 things that seem to get mine going,,,alcohol is bad too.

[Banned1]

I'm really glad to hear that your severe pain is better.  From a layman's terms, many of your symptoms may be caused by panic attacks.  Check out this page, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panic_attack for information.  It discusses chills and your extreme anxiety relating to fear of death.  

Good luck on the 2nd!  I sincerely hope you feel healthy and happy soon.

All the best and Godspeed,

Sam

[Pearlie434]

I've been doing ok. I haven't had the severe pain since last month. I am bothered on a daily basis by this nagging upper backache. It's weird, I tried Chiropractic for it, but in order to get relief I'd have to go just about every day. It got to be too expensive going once a week, and it didn't seem to be helping, so I stopped. It seems I have to force myself to drink lots of water to alleviate this discomfort, but then I'm always having to go pee. I'm also starting to get these weird episodes where I all of a sudden start shivering uncontrollably and can't stop even by turning up the heat. When I get these (it's only happened twice so far) I come down with this unexplainable and irrational "fear of death", which makes it worse. I have an appointment with a doctor, but I have to wait until Jan 2nd. I hope they can help based on my symptoms.

[Banned1]

How are you doing?

All the best,

Sam

[Banned1]

Hi again:

I did some research and decided not to try them.  I'm afraid they might cause more harm, given that even the simplest of foods can cause such excruciating pain.

If you do try them, let me know how it works out for you?

All the best,

Sam (banned1)

[BethinTraining]

I think my liver cleanse may have resulted in this most recent flare-up.  (The cleanse is just fresh lemon juice, water, agave and cayenne peper. It did empty my bowels, but that is probably what caused the flare-up.

[Pearlie434]

Has anyone ever tried any of the "liver and gallbladder cleanses" the olive oil and apple juice home remedy, or "Gall cleanse", which is supposed to dissolve them. http://www.gallstonesite.com/    Do these work?

[Pearlie434]

Thank you so much for all your posts! It is great to feel like I'm not alone in this and this pain does have a root cause and some of you can sympathize with me. When I do go in, I will post my results, so that someone like me who was doing google searches has an easier time narrowing this down. Thanks again, everyone! -P