sudden severe upper mid abdominal pain

I have experenced sudden severe upper mid abdominal pain about 4 times now that lasts from 45 min to 2 hours and is then just gone. I have tried to relate to foods but can find no pattern and as I said the pain has no warning just becomes severe in a matter of seconds. The first time I was in a store and felt as though I had been kicked in the gut just below my sternum. The pain is very sharp like massive cramping and feels as though my abdomin (abdomen) swells below my ribs and even my back hurts. No position provides relief. I dread this pain as it is the worse pain I have ever experenced. Thanks

[boron]

How old are you?
Do you think it could be heart -related pain? Difficult breathing, pain in the neck, left arm...?

[jbryan]

my mother is experiencing the same situations...from the swelling to the sudden feeling of being kicked in the stomach. She ends up crying and doubled over and just ahs to wait for the pain to subside. no doctor has been able to give her a reason, and i am trying to help her figure this out. It's been happening for a few years now, shes been in the ER for it a few times, but all they do is load her up with pain meds and tell her nothing is wrong. I wish there was some sort of answers i could find online.