IBS and Ultrasound

I am not a wimp, and can endure quite a bit of pain over a long period of time before I will seek treatment. But there have been 2 times in the past 7 years when I've been in such excruciating and worsening pain in my upper right abdomen, over a period of several days, that I have checked myself into the ER. The second of these was just last night.

Both of these times, I had normal vitals, normal ultrasounds, and normal CT scans. The first time, I had normal blood work. This time, they could not find, after 4 sticks & stirs, any veins that they could get blood out of, so we gave up on that. Palpation didn't trouble me. There was no rebound tenderness, and I had no fever.

Both times, the pain resolved while I was at the hospital, following the ultrasound. I mean immediately. It was as if the pain had just left the building, leaving the body quiet. Both times, I was told that they didn't know what was wrong with me, and I was sent home. Since I was now pain-free, I was left satisfied... but wondering.

I'm posting this in the IBS forum, because I have had IBS before, always relieved with dicyclomine 20mg (Bentyl). This time I'd forgotten how much Bentyl to take, took only one, and panicked when it didn't work. So I'm sort of wondering if, in the apparent absence of anything "real," maybe these episodes were IBS too?

Why would the pain abate after the ultrasound? Is this just coincidence? Or is it possible that the soft vibrations and manipulation with that ultrasound machine could have actually relaxed my bowel into ceasing its painful spasms? Could a person then treat IBS with a conventional vibrator?

I appreciate any insight on this!
Always me, Janee

[myJanee]

So.. no one has any ideas on this? Is it a dumb question? Or am I invisible?
Janee

[KeyD]

My story is similar to your's except my pain is severe and I cannot tolerate even clothing touching my RUQ during the "attacks."  My attacks last about 5 minutes before calming to a dull ache or disappearing all together. There's usually several weeks between episodes but usually once I have one I'll have several more over the next few days. Because my pain is so sporadic I've never been evaluated by a doctor during an episode. I was just to a GI doctor who told me to ignore the pain, it's nothing to worry about. A surgeon said it may be a spasm in a sphincter. I'm still looking for answers and a way to fix the issue.

[stella0625]

I have had IBS for about 7 years and it is getting worse. I now have "thickening" of the walls of my intestines in places and after my hysterectomy, my bladder adhered to my intestines. I went to the ER last month because of the pain and they said IBS so sorry. My GI doc told me no one can die from IBS and fibromyalgia, but they sometimes wish they could. AMEN! No matter what I eat, how much fiber I take, I will have at least one incident a month that is intolerable and pain most every time I go to the bathroom. I take 2 of the dicyclomine now, and he said I could take 3. If you catch it early, the gurgling, and the early pain, dicyclomine will help, but most likely they will just say sorry, you have IBS. I think it's a word to say we have no idea why this is happening to you but we have to call it something. Good luck, it's no fun!

[myJanee]

Hi, Stella and KeyD!
I know that I'm lucky that my incidents have been so rare lately. One thing that I do that I am pretty positive is helpful is that I go for a walk every single day, without missing a day. I've done that for since July 2001. I think that cereal, plenty of water, and the exercise have all been very good for me.

I suspect that the IBS is also stress-related, because I've been under a good deal of stress lately, with my husband's recent passing (brain tumor).

I still wonder about the ultrasound, though, and whether using a vibrator on an IBS belly would help.

[snowleopard]

I have IBS and have suffered painful spasms which can last for hours and only relieved once I start passing motions which end up being the runs. It is just like being in labour! I had seen 3 different gastroenterologists and prescribed various things which didn't work for me.  The last guy I saw recommended that I didn't eat any grains.  No oats, bran, wheat etc, only eat white bread, no digestive biscuits, white rice yes, only cereal I can eat is rice krispies.  I have to tell you that this goes against everything I have been told in the past but believe me the result has been amazing.  I hardly ever get pain now and if I do I know what caused it.  I have put on 2 stones in weight, as I was under weight before and my troubles caused me to have osteoporosis.  I always used to have pain whenever I ate but now I hardly worry and feel a lot better.  Have you thought about getting a Tens machine?

[lagoya]

just read some of the posts above just to say first sorry to read of your husbands passing difficult time for you and naturally stressful,the vibrator idea who knows alot of the pain can be from trapped wind hence lying down can ease the pain  and maybe having the ultrasound relaxed those tensed muscles and releasing those spasms i find a hot water bottle good .anyway  everything is worth a try i suppose.peppermint tea ia also good,

best of luck