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jen1021
BucketHead
PeaNut 327,283
July 2007
Posts: 744
Layouts: 0
 |  Posted: 3/3/2013 9:07:55 PM
OK, here is the story. Over the past about 2 years I have been having these fits of terrible abdominal pain. Twice it has been so bad that I have ended up in the ER. I have been poked, prodded, scoped from both ends, and scanned. Nothing. Thankfully they have cleared all cancers, gall bladder, kidney stones, liver issues, everything.
So last night it hits again. About 10:00 my stomach starts aching. By 11:30 I was shaking cold and sweating. By 1:30 my DH had to take me to the ER where I made a fine entrance by vomiting at the admissions desk. Yep, I am classy like that.  They gave me fluids and pain killers. They took blood and urine. Everything came back fine. My white blood count was a tiny bit higher than usual but they weren't concerned.
So, any ideas? |
Jen
OLW: Better
Jan: 6 (and counting!) | |
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Tuva42
PeaFixture
PeaNut 41,763
July 2002
Posts: 3,556
Layouts: 17
Loc: Somewhere in the middle...
 | Posted: 3/3/2013 9:10:13 PM
I think I'd go see a GI specialist. Could be something like Irritable Bowel Syndrome. I think if I were you I'd start keeping a food diary. Track what you eat each day and see what you've eaten on the days you have these attacks. |
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jen1021
BucketHead
PeaNut 327,283
July 2007
Posts: 744
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 3/3/2013 9:19:50 PM
Checked that. I was also checked for Crohn's (sp?)and a few other things. On the advice of the GI I did a food diary and we didn't see any patterns. I also followed the "white people" diet (no garlic, no whole wheat, super bland foods) and still had a few episodes. This has been really frustrating!! |
Jen
OLW: Better
Jan: 6 (and counting!) | |
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scorPEAo
AncestralPea
PeaNut 181,836
December 2004
Posts: 4,982
Layouts: 0
Loc: YouSeeDavis
 | Posted: 3/3/2013 9:22:13 PM
A friend of mine had similar symptoms and she underwent every test a gi specialist could do. They finally sent her to a neurologist and she's been diagnosed with silent migraines. She's on an anti-psychotics (schizo drug) and she seems to have it under control. She hasn't had a vomiting episode since December. Hers started in July and got progressively worse. I hope you don't suffer that long! |
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callypea
PeaAddict
PeaNut 113,672
October 2003
Posts: 1,558
Layouts: 0
 | Posted: 3/3/2013 9:30:42 PM
My niece was diagnosed with abdominal migraines. She was making frequent trips to the nurses office complaining of her stomach hurting. My sister got tired if picking her up from school when there was no sign of stomach virus. Numerous visits to doctors who asked if there was a family history of migraines (yes) and diagnosed her. Nurse wasn't thrilled with giving Advil to a child complaining if stomach pain but it helped!!
Hope you're able to get an accurate diagnosis soon! |
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Stinky Rose
SUIT UP!!!!!!
PeaNut 93,427
June 2003
Posts: 31,240
Layouts: 18
Loc: Smiths Station, AL
| Posted: 3/3/2013 11:19:34 PM
I had the exact same episodes you have - same symptoms exactly!
Then I was diagnosed with a gluten intolerance and going gluten-free has changed my life!!!
Like everything in my life, I researched the crap out of it and then dove right in and never looked back. It's worth checking into. |
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scrappintoee
luv my bulldoggies
PeaNut 24,213
November 2001
Posts: 5,425
Layouts: 106
 | Posted: 3/4/2013 1:48:14 AM
Wow, that sounds horrible! I hope you feel better/ get a diagnosis soon! I hadn't heard of abdominal migraines before---!!!?? Maybe that's what you have? | |
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Zella
PeaFixture
PeaNut 434,965
August 2009
Posts: 3,325
Layouts: 5
Loc: Puget Sound
 | Posted: 3/4/2013 3:03:53 AM
Abdominal migraines are certainly possible. I would suggest you find someone who SPECIFICALLY knows about this, which might mean a neurologist, possibly even a rheumatologist, a pain specialist. . . but I think this is worth pursuing. I had them when I was a kid, I know believe. My daughter has them. They are horrible.
And you know, irritable bowel can't be ruled out, per se; it's a diagnosis of exclusion. If you have some combo of diarrhea/constipation/belly pain/nausea and no other cause can be found, you have irritable bowel. DD and I have this too. I have found no specific food triggers, no foods that are always safe, and damn little in the way of treatment other than phenergan for when the nausea is bad. IBS can definitely cause the kind of problems you mention. I have no idea why the symptoms suddenly get bad, or why they suddenly improve.
Yeah, the IBS sucks too. |
Trying to live each day for itself
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KittenOnTheKeys
PeaFixture
PeaNut 498,237
February 2011
Posts: 3,064
Layouts: 0
Loc: SW
 | Posted: 3/4/2013 4:32:02 AM
Keep a food diary. Watch specifically for gluten/wheat and casein/milk. Both of these intolerances/allergies can give the symptoms you described. |
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enjoytotheend
AncestralPea
PeaNut 359,333
January 2008
Posts: 4,038
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 3/4/2013 5:28:40 AM
Have you had a HYDA scan for your gallbladder? I had the same symptoms and ended up in the ER many times. My gallbladder looked normal on the ultrasound and scans. It ended up that my gallbladder was only functioning somewhere in the 20's percentage wise. Luckily I had one good ER doctor tell me to come back fasting & they did the test. I got my gallbladder out the next day. | |
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jen1021
BucketHead
PeaNut 327,283
July 2007
Posts: 744
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 3/4/2013 7:43:59 AM
Thanks for all the advice! I am making an appointment with my regular PA today and we'll be discussing some of these. I get regular migranes all the time so I wonder if it could be an abdominal migrane. I will also ask about the HYDA scan. It keeps presenting as gall bladder so it makes me wonder...
You Peas are awesome! If anyone can think of anything let me know. |
Jen
OLW: Better
Jan: 6 (and counting!) | |
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Sarah*H
Bring me that horizon!
PeaNut 239,162
December 2005
Posts: 27,905
Layouts: 413
Loc: The final frontier
 | Posted: 3/4/2013 7:57:48 AM
That sounds exactly what happens to my kids when they get abdominal migraines. Their pediatrician thinks that low sodium may be a trigger for them. |
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jen1021
BucketHead
PeaNut 327,283
July 2007
Posts: 744
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 3/4/2013 10:08:14 AM
I did a quick web search on abdominal migraines and that could be the cause. I am heading in on Wednesday and let you all know. Thanks, again!! |
Jen
OLW: Better
Jan: 6 (and counting!) | |
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scrapmaven
PEA-T-A-Mom's kitteh is a fraidy cat.
PeaNut 90,665
June 2003
Posts: 15,739
Layouts: 0
Loc: Wherever my little mind takes me
| Posted: 3/4/2013 9:49:08 PM
There are so many things that it could be and you might even need a sub specialist. That is a specialist w/in a specialty field. Meanwhile, don't accept a rule-out diagnosis until everything else has been ruled out. I was misdiagnosed for years w/IBS and GERD, neither of which I have. My biggest advice is to keep pressing and follow your intuition. If you think they're missing something then press your doctor or go to a new one. Push for what you need until you get it. I wish you the best and hope that you'll find relief and answers right away. |
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I'd like to help you out. Which way did you come in? | |
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jen1021
BucketHead
PeaNut 327,283
July 2007
Posts: 744
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 3/4/2013 9:56:36 PM
Thanks for the encouragement. My PA has been awesome but the GI specialist I went to told me it was in my head. He says sometimes women reach a certain age and start missing their children being babies. That's when they come to him. A dick? Yeah, kinda. Anyway, I will keep pursuing this because it is impacting my life in a negative way and I want it to stop. I'll let you ladies know if I find out anything else. Thanks again for all your help! |
Jen
OLW: Better
Jan: 6 (and counting!) | |
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obsidian
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 300,909
March 2007
Posts: 2,154
Layouts: 1
Loc: Waikato
 | Posted: 3/4/2013 9:57:03 PM
Nobody mentioned endometriosis. The slightly elevated white count can be an indicator. And it will not show up on a scope. Check when in your cycle your pain is. | |
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Nicole in TX
The Peas did what we do and went insane over it
PeaNut 16,696
June 2001
Posts: 18,170
Layouts: 65
Loc: Not so obvious
| Posted: 3/5/2013 4:56:48 AM
Ladies, if you have not had a recent colonoscopy, please ask for one. I was having similar symptoms and, not to scare you, but it ended up being colon cancer. If I hadn't gone to the GI and begged for one, I would be dead by the time they had done the standard screening at 50. I am 41. |
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hop2
AncestralPea
PeaNut 43,893
July 2002
Posts: 4,356
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 3/5/2013 5:05:00 AM
I pea often, has anyone checked your spleen. (Pain lower left that can affect walking ) | |
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leftturnonly
Will trade mosquitoes for cookies.
PeaNut 416,788
March 2009
Posts: 19,591
Layouts: 0
Loc: Living in Kim's Perfect World, again.
 | Posted: 3/5/2013 8:06:47 AM
I've never heard of abdominal migraines, but the symptoms sure do fit someone I know who's had trouble all their lives.
I just sent them an email to check it out.
Jen, I'm truly sorry you're having problems. This thread *may* just be the beginning of an answer for someone else. (fingers crossed!)
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If PC is the way to get to Heaven, I'm going straight to Hell.
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*theCakeGirl*
PeaFixture
PeaNut 220
April 1999
Posts: 3,508
Layouts: 148
Loc: Upstate NY
 | Posted: 3/5/2013 8:24:19 AM
My daughter has abdominal migraines. It sadly took 3 years to finally diagnose. She has to watch the nitrates, caffeine and just overall processed foods.
I had every test known to the medical community run and they came back saying it was IBS and basically in my head. Going gluten free helped TREMENDOUSLY but I'm still having issues. I eat rice chex, rice and a hershey kiss every now and again and drink only water. I still wake up in the middle of the night with horrible pain that brings me to tears. Some days I can't leave the bathroom. Ha! Yeah it's in my head and I enjoy the misery 
I hope that you find an answer and some relief. |
http://www.nomadescollection.com/denisem
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scrapmaven
PEA-T-A-Mom's kitteh is a fraidy cat.
PeaNut 90,665
June 2003
Posts: 15,739
Layouts: 0
Loc: Wherever my little mind takes me
| Posted: 3/5/2013 9:20:27 AM
Scrapmaven - do you mind me asking what you were finally diagnosed with?
I'm happy to share, but I don't want to frighten you or anyone else. I have gastroparesis, that is uber slow digestion. It's a motility disorder and I am treated by a neuro-gastro doctor. The tests to diagnose this are more extensive than the tests for GERD, ulcer, etc. GP isn't for wimps. Hehe. |
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I'd like to help you out. Which way did you come in? | |
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MergeLeft
Typical Liberal
PeaNut 221,236
August 2005
Posts: 19,113
Layouts: 67
Loc: Houston
| Posted: 3/5/2013 9:29:45 AM
My daughter has abdominal migraines.
My daughter has been tentatively diagnosed with these, as well. It was a process of elimination - basically they tested for anything else it could have been and when it wasn't those things, they said it was abdominal migraines. I have regular migraines and they said she may develop them eventually, too.
We find that she has to sleep off the abdominal migraines just like I do with regular ones - frequently she will vomit, and then sleep, and when she wakes she is completely recovered. |
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LBP
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 211,963
June 2005
Posts: 2,091
Layouts: 0
Loc: SW Virginia
| Posted: 3/5/2013 10:34:03 AM
My sister was having those same symtoms. After an CT scan it showed that the tube to her kidney is obstructed. They are going in and putting a stint in.
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Newbie2
StuckOnPeas
PeaNut 178,513
November 2004
Posts: 2,188
Layouts: 0
Loc: New England
| Posted: 3/5/2013 11:03:50 AM
I have had IBS for most of my life and I have gotten those pains before...once it was so bad I went to the ER and they found my appendix had ruptured - my white counts were very high..
They said my appendix had been slowly leaking, I know, sounds odd. You might want to ask the question, though...? | |
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flanz
AncestralPea
PeaNut 211,902
June 2005
Posts: 4,636
Layouts: 2
| Posted: 3/5/2013 12:00:02 PM
Jen1021 and I Pea Often - I hope you get proper diagnoses and treatment very soon. I'm in the same boat, trying lots and lots of tests and healers to figure out what the heck is wrong with me. I want my life back and I think I know how you feel!
We need to remain hopeful and positive and believe that we will feel good again!
Hugs to you and to everyone else suffering, and hugs as well to those of you who so freely share your personal experiences to help those of us posting with questions. It is so helpful not to feel alone! | |
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