Unexplained Stomach Pain

[Avery_Grace]

Hello.  I have been experiencing severe stomach pain for about six months now.  It is mostly localized in my lower right abdomen, but as the pain gets worse it spreads throughout the lower abdomen and to my lower right back.  The pain ranges from a tearing feeling to a stabbing sensation.  The pain is so severe that I can not move.  I also feel very nauseated and throw up throughout the whole ordeal.  Along with the nausea I experience vertigo and am very weak.  This episodes generally have a sudden onset,  last about two hours and then they gradually stop.  After an episode I still feel very nauseated and can't keep food down.  The residual pain feels like a dull ache.  It may be another few days or week before I have another attack.  Throughout my entire five day menstraul cycle I am in pain.  I have lost nearly 25lbs since these attacks have gotten really bad.  And the pain continues to get worse from month to month.

I have seen many doctors about this.  They have run CT's, ultrasounds and found nothing.  I was put on birth control for three months with no relief from the pain.  They eliminated cysts and gullstones.  Can anyone please help me!  I just want a direction to go so I can find someone who can help diagnose me so I can move on with my life.  Thank you so much!

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

Going by your symptoms five possibilities are coming to my mind.Firstly,it can be pelvic inflammatory disease which can be caused by an infection of the pelvic organs.
As you are a female, so this possibility is high. It can also be due to fibroid uterus or  torsion of ovarian cysts(already ruled out in your case). Ultrasound abdomen and cervical swabs are needed to rule them out.

Secondly, possibility of irritable bowel syndrome is also there. Diagnosis is made on basis of clinical evaluation.

Thirdly, appendicitis has to be ruled out.Pain of appendicitis is severe and is associated with vomitings and fever.

Fourthly, Crohn’s disease can be the cause of this pain. Crohn's disease most commonly affects the last part of the small intestine, usually located in the right lower abdomen. Diagnosed by barium enemas and colonoscopy.Last possibility is of kidney disease which has to be ruled out by kidney function tests.

I sincerely advise you to consult a physician and get yourself evaluated.

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted if you have any additional queries

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi

Thanks for the post!

There are various possibilities of a right lower abdominal pain radiating to the back. Stone in the kidney or ureter or an ovarian cyst usually presents like this. So also it can be a pain of appendicitis, where the appendix is placed behind the intestine. Ultrasound, CT or MRI of lower abdomen or whole abdomen would have ruled this out.

The other possibility you can explore is Irritable bowel syndrome. The walls of intestine go into spasm often and cause sudden excruciating pain. It could also be pain of chronic intestinal obstruction relieved by vomiting. Maybe a barium study of the digestive systm will be able to diagnose the problem.

I think you should discuss this with your doctor. It is difficult to comment beyond this without examining and results of various tests. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!