Abdominal pain for 10 days...still no solution

I have been in and out of the hospital for the last 10 days with recurring bouts of severe take your breath away, double you over type of abdominal pain.  Have had CT, upper endocscopy, lower endoscopy, barium swallow....all negative yet I still can't seem to eat any solid food without it aggravating the symptoms.  When it hits it is upper left quadrant radiating to my mid back and can last for hours.  After it subsides my insides feel raw, irritated, burning.  I have been out of work for the last 2 weeks because of it.  When the pain is intense I have all sorts of gas and air that builds up in my left quadrant which feels stuck like it can't move anywhere.  I will belch and pass gas but no relief.  I think I have another internal hernia again or scar tissue that is partially obstructing or intermittently obstructing my intestine.  I go back to the surgeon today for a follow up and am scared she is going to tell me there is nothing else she can offer me and I have to live like this.  I have only been able to take liquids since it happened and at times can't even do that due to the nausea and feeling like things are backed up.  Just looking for a little reassurance that this is not all in my head!  I know there are others out there that have had similar issues and tests were all negative but exploratory lap revealed the internal hernia and/or adhesions causing the problem.  I am scared that I will go home, try to live with it and end up with a perforated bowel or dead bowel and a whole host of problems that could be avoided yet I don't want to be labeled a hypochondriac.  Any advice from others that have struggled with similar issues is welcome.

You're doing the right thing by seeing your surgeon.  You have to be your own best health advocate.  It sounds l ike you've done all the right things.  The next step should your pain continue is, as you say, exploratory surgery. 

Please let us know how you do at the surgeon's today.  I am seeing my surgeon today too as I have ANOTHER incisional hernia that needs repair and the pain is getting to me. 

Thinking of you...............

Thanks for the support.  Sorry to hear about another hernia for you.  I know you have had your fair share of problems with them.  The surgeon still thinks it is a medical thing causing all the excess air in my intestines but doesn't know what is causing it.  Took me off all of the meds they put me on while I was in the hospital and back on a course of Flaygl and Cipro for the possibility of small bowel bacterial overgrowth.  She did treat me with this back in Feb when these intermittent episodes started and I did get relief temporarily for 6 weeks but sx recurred.  Another coure and I was good for another six weeks but  since then the episodes are increasing in frequency and intensity.  Who knows if it was "cured" by the antibiotics or just coincidence that I was sx free and then another episode hit.  If I am no better by Monday she will put me on the OR schedule so I feel a bit better that there is an "end" point to the continued suffering.  Meanwhile no work for me and stay on liquids.  She explained that she needs to get the excessive gas under control before she has to go in  otherwise she may not be able to do it laproscopically so I will be patient.  I did tell her my biggest fear is that I am having bouts of intermittent obstruction like the previous internal hernia yet by the time they do the CT scan I have been laying down on the gurney for hours on end so it has reduced itself.  That is the only relief I get is if I lay down.  Sitting up worsens symptoms; eating worsens symptoms; belching and flatulence are excessive but provide no relief.   I am worried if we wait too long that I will perforate my bowel or have bowel necrosis set in and be in a lot worse shape than I am now.  The pain just isn't normal.  It is too intense and lasts for too long for it to all be related to excess gas.  It is a burning, raw, irritated kind of deep viseral pain that is not letting up.  That is how it is most of the time now with episodic grab you in the gut, twisting, wring out your intestines take your breath away pain.  I hope there is an answer soon!

 keep us posted.  Did doc look for twisted bowel or adhesions or scar tissues on bowel ?  Pray all goes well with you!!
blessings, Tami

Hi everyone,

Does an internal hernia show on a CT scan? I've had one with contrast and an Upper GI. Gallbladder disease was suspected. I've also had a HIDA scan and an Ultrasound of the Gallbladder, Kidney and Liver. None of these showed anything abnormal appearantly. Funny thing is when I read over the UGI report it said possible Hernia expected. Yet the dr. that ordered the test said all my tests were normal. All I can say, this URQ pain is not normal. Makes me wanna cry sometimes.

I had your symptoms...bloated after eating small portions, feeling overfull for hours, not just 4-5 hours but for 8 hours at least. Feeling overfull on liquids. The worst tummy pain I have ever had. Belching, nausea, and even vomiting. Extreme rumbling and movement in the intestines, like an alien was in there. Loud rumbling, worse than at any time before.
The day I vomited the meal from the day before, I went to the hospital, and begged for help. I had a partial small bowel obstruction caused by adhesions.
If they can't see it with a contrast CT, or a Barium swallow follow through, you may have the internal hernia in the Peterson's space which is almost impossible to see on the usual tests.
You may need your surgeon to go in lap and take a look. Don't wait, because people die from this, or lose bowel that we can't afford to lose.
One thing the doctor reccommended since I had a partial obstruction and trying to avoid surgery, was the massage my stomach a lot, and walk after I eat or drink anything. Sometimes this helps.

These are my exact symptoms and my biggest fear.  I certainly don't want to have another surgery if it can be avoided but I feel like there is something that is causing all of this pain and bloating, etc.  I am trying to hold on till Monday and if no better she will put me on for exp lap.  It has been a tough two weeks and is a vicious cycle to get into.  Not eating, not being able to work and no relief....you get into this mode where you feel hopeless that they can't find what is wrong and wonder how you are going to cope with it if there is no solution?  Thank God for this message board where you can come for moral support and encouragement.