Severe Chronic Abdominal Pain Accompanied by Vomiting.

[Xiozee]

Someone I know has had severe chronic abdominal pain for the past 6 months or so. She is a vegetarian. Most every time she eats, she gets a sharp and very severe pain near her stomach area. Once the pain peaks, she usually vomits. We  have been to the emergency room before but they sent us away after giving her temporary medicine. What could possibly be wrong with her and what can I do to help?

[Fee14]

Has she had an abdominal ultrasound done and some baseline bloods to rule out gallstones. It is possible that she may also have common bile duct stones. If thats the case she will need to have surgery and have her gall bladder removed.

Try her on a really low fat diet, this usually settles things down a little and may help stop the frequency of the attacks.

[Xiozee]

Hi, thanks for your reply.

Well, I've had to take her to the emergency room twice, at two different hospitals, and they both basically said/did the same things. They gave her some nausea and pain medicine and sent her on her way. Although she did get an ultra-sound and everything checked out. The second time I took her she was able to get a CAT scan, and they said nothing was abnormal there either. Both doctors said the same thing you did, that she should see the gastroenterologist, but unfortunately, due to financial reasons she is unable to go. I was hoping to find some way to at least ease the pain and vomiting at least until we are able to take her to the gastroenterologist. However, even though she's been taking the prescribed nausea and pain medicine, her symptoms have not let up, if anything they've gotten worse. In fact, I just got back from taking her to the emergency room. Today the vomiting and abdominal pain lasted much longer than usual, from around 5pm all the way up to 2-3am. I can't imagine how inconvenient it is to vomit after every meal and snack.  

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Welcome to the MedHelp forum!
Tuberculosis of the gut, chronic intestinal obstruction, Crohn’s, IBS, sever acidity are a few possibilities that need to be ruled out. I would recommend the concerned person to see a gastroenterologist (a specialist who looks after the diseases of our digestive system). Take care!