Persistent Abdominal Discomfort, F34
Greetings, roughly two months ago, I experienced an intense episode characterized by a deep, dull pain centered in my abdomen, which radiated to my mid and upper back. The discomfort was not localized to either side but was strictly centralized. Over a duration of about four to five hours, the pain was unyielding, occurring during the nighttime hours, and traditional pain relief methods proved ineffective. Fortunately, this incident was an isolated one—until today, when the exact same sensation returned. Again, it struck at night, lasting for another five hours, and despite taking painkillers, I found no relief. I did, however, take some reflux medication four hours into the ordeal, following the painkillers, which alleviated the stomach discomfort somewhat, but my back pain remains persistent. The only potential trigger I've discerned is my lunch on both occasions, which included fatty items such as bacon and salami, although I’ve consumed similar foods frequently without incident previously. Additionally, I noted that my blood pressure soared during these episodes, which seems typical under such distress, and I also experienced sweating. Thankfully, I didn’t encounter any nausea or vomiting, and while I did have a bowel movement, it wasn’t diarrhea. Based on what I understand, my symptoms do not appear to align with gallstones or pancreatitis, but I'm uncertain. What might this indicate? Thank you for any insights. For context, I gave birth three months ago, and prior to this, I had never experienced such pain. I am a 34-year-old female and a non-smoker.
Answers (1)
8/11/2025, 3:21:22 AM
OpenHealth AI
It seems you're experiencing recurring abdominal discomfort that lasts for several hours and may be linked to certain foods. It's understandable to feel concerned about these symptoms, especially given their intensity and impact on your well-being.
Possible Explanations
The symptoms you've described could be related to several conditions, including:
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): Fatty foods can exacerbate reflux, which might explain your pain and alleviation after taking reflux medication.
- Biliary Colic: Although you doubt gallstones, episodes of pain following fatty meals suggest that the gallbladder could still be involved.
- Muscle Strain or Spasms: Given the back pain and your recent childbirth, muscle tension could contribute to your symptoms.
Next Steps
Here are some prioritized actions you can take to manage your symptoms and monitor your condition:
-
Dietary Changes:
- Avoid high-fat foods, particularly during lunch or dinner, since they seem to trigger your pain. Focus on lighter meals that are easier to digest.
-
Symptom Tracking:
- Keep a diary documenting your meals, symptoms, and any other changes to help identify triggers. This can provide valuable information for further evaluation if needed.
-
Pain Management:
- Continue using over-the-counter pain relief as needed, but monitor their effectiveness. If the back pain persists, consider gentle stretches or heat application to the back area for relief.
-
Hydrate:
- Stay well-hydrated, as it can assist with digestion and overall comfort.
-
Monitor Symptoms:
- If the episodes become more frequent, last longer, or you experience new symptoms like severe nausea, vomiting, or fever, increase the urgency to seek medical advice.
-
Consulting a Healthcare Professional:
- If your symptoms do not improve with dietary changes and tracking, or if you continue to experience episodes, it may be helpful to explore these symptoms further with a healthcare provider for a more comprehensive evaluation.
It’s great that you’ve ruled out several serious conditions, but keeping a close eye on your symptoms will empower you to manage your health effectively. Don’t hesitate to reach out for more support or if you have other concerns!
Related Questions
Am I Experiencing Silent Heart Attacks?
To give you some background, I'm a 19-year-old female, standing at 5 feet 3 inches and weighing 260 pounds. My weight gain can be largely attributed to a series of psychiatric medications I was prescribed, although I have lost twenty pounds and am continuing to shed more. Over the past year, I have encountered a range of symptoms that have left me perplexed and frustrated. These include severe chest pain, issues with acid reflux, shortness of breath, frequent dizziness, chronic fatigue, and persistent pain localized predominantly on the left side of my body, such as in my arms and legs. Additionally, I have experienced random itchy rashes, swelling in my fingers, toes, hands, and feet, as well as sensations of numbness and tingling, often confined to one side. Notably, I've also struggled with significant brain fog and memory lapses, alongside minor twitches in my eyes, lips, fingers, and limbs, as well as neck, jaw, and back discomfort. My primary healthcare provider attributes all of these symptoms to deficiencies in vitamin B12 and vitamin D, claiming that my dizziness is merely a result of an ear infection—though I lack any other symptoms apart from the dizziness. I am currently on Lamotrigine (300mg, taken twice daily) for focal seizures, which she believes is solely responsible for my dizziness as well. I’ve attempted to communicate that my experiences feel much more dire and that my pain and cognitive difficulties cannot be sufficiently explained by simple vitamin deficiencies. Unfortunately, she insists that, being young, many of my concerns likely stem from these deficiencies or hormonal changes linked to my menstrual cycle. Just a few hours ago, I developed a troublesome itchy rash on my right arm and leg, followed by intense chest pain and difficulty breathing—sometimes feeling as if I need to yawn to take a decent breath. I also experienced indigestion, excessive belching, and sensations of heaviness and tingling in my left arm and shoulder. Now, I’m feeling discomfort radiating from the back of my neck, across my left shoulder, extending into my fingers, and down my left leg, accompanied by the same heavy tingling sensations. While the pain isn't unbearable, it's certainly concerning and distracting. I recently visited the ICU for cold and flu-like symptoms, but tests ruled out covid and the flu. I also don't have a fever, though I still have a slight runny nose. I take Esomeprazole to manage my acid reflux, but its effectiveness has been limited. I do not have diabetes or pre-diabetes, although I am aware that I am overweight. Heart disease runs in my family, and I have a tendency towards health anxiety. Throughout last year, I sought medical attention multiple times for similar symptoms, yet X-rays and blood tests yielded no clear diagnosis. Since my last hospital visit for chest pains, my symptoms have noticeably intensified. For context, both my mother and sister have been diagnosed with Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease (UCTD), but I have not received a formal diagnosis myself. I have high blood pressure that is not currently medicated. Due to the persistent fatigue and pain, my activity level is rather low. I apologize if this message seems disorganized or if I come across as overly anxious. I’m genuinely at a loss regarding the reasons behind my symptoms and how to alleviate them, which is incredibly frustrating, especially when it feels like medical professionals often downplay my concerns. Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts!
Concerns About Shoulder Recovery: Eight Weeks After Surgery for Hypermobility Issues
I’m a 34-year-old female diagnosed with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS). I underwent surgery on December 11 for a rotator cuff and labrum repair, along with tightening my shoulder joint to better accommodate my hypermobility. Recently, I was asked to leave physical therapy early on Monday due to experiencing noticeable clicking sounds and unexpected pain in my shoulder. Throughout the week, I have been dealing with intermittent discomfort, prompting me to follow up with my surgeon this past Friday. After examining my shoulder and taking an X-ray, he expressed optimism that targeted muscle strengthening could help stabilize the area. However, today has been particularly challenging, as I’ve been in a near-constant state of pain. Simple tasks, such as lifting a cup of coffee, have become difficult, and any movement of my arm exacerbates the pain. It feels as if my shoulder isn’t seated properly, and I can’t seem to reposition it. I plan to reach out to my surgeon’s office in the morning for further guidance, but in the meantime, I would appreciate any insights from others who may have experienced similar issues. I’m feeling quite disheartened and generally prefer to avoid the emergency room when possible. Thank you for your understanding and support.
Severe Discomfort in Left Side Affects Sleep and Appetite
I’m an 18-year-old female experiencing extreme discomfort. As mentioned in the title, this pain began around five hours ago and has reached such a level that I can hardly eat or get any rest. The source appears to be my left armpit, from which the sensation travels down my arm and across the left side of my chest. I desperately need help to alleviate this issue, primarily because I’m deprived of sleep. Since I drank alcohol earlier, I can't take any painkillers like Advil. I also attempted to reach out to the non-emergency medical line in my area, but unfortunately, my phone service wouldn't connect my call. I didn’t want to add to my stress by dealing with customer support while feeling this way. I would appreciate any suggestions to relieve this pain. I've tried various methods like stretching and changing my position, but nothing seems to provide relief. The pain doesn't feel muscle-related, nor is it superficial; rather, it's a persistent internal ache that I find hard to articulate, yet it's quite dull. Any guidance would be immensely valued as I navigate this discomfort.
Evaluating My 8-Year-Old’s Persistent Abdominal Discomfort
I apologize for the lengthy account, but I feel it’s necessary to share my daughter’s situation. For over three weeks, my 8-year-old daughter has been suffering from constant and severe abdominal pain. At first, she rated her discomfort between 4 and 6 on a scale of 10, but it has now escalated to a range of 6 to 8 during the past week. In the first week, she also experienced a fever and a runny nose. Our family doctor suspected a urinary tract infection (UTI) and prescribed antibiotics on the fourth day, but these did not alleviate her pain. On the seventh day, I took her to the emergency room where an ultrasound and urine analysis were performed. The doctors ruled out appendicitis and indicated the possibility of mesenteric adenitis, which involves the lymph nodes in her abdomen. While her fever subsided by the tenth day, her pain intensified. When I returned to the ER on the twelfth day, further ultrasounds and blood tests returned normal results, and the physician suggested that constipation might be the issue. However, I pointed out that she has been having regular bowel movements without any straining. The doctor referred us to a pediatric specialist. During this entire ordeal, my daughter has been unable to attend school due to the significant pain, which often leaves her cringing in distress and struggling to sleep. She has been walking around the house hunched over, holding her stomach. On the fourteenth day, we visited the pediatrician, who ordered an X-ray that revealed moderate stool accumulation in her colon. When I inquired about treatment options, he advised increasing her activity, ensuring she drinks plenty of water, and encouraging her to return to school to aid in her recovery. At this point, I was alternating Tylenol and Advil every three hours for pain relief, but it was proving ineffective. I began monitoring her bowel movements, which remained at about 1 to 2 daily, scoring a 4 on the Bristol stool chart. Nevertheless, the intensity of her pain prevented me from sending her back to school. By the twentieth day, she reported pain in her neck and a shoulder, and I noticed swelling in the lymph nodes beneath her ears. On the twenty-second day, I returned to the ER to secure another referral to the pediatrician. The doctor expressed skepticism about mesenteric adenitis since it had persisted too long, and given that her lymph nodes were not enlarged during the previous ultrasound, recommended that constipation was unlikely due to her normal bowel patterns. He suggested that the issue may primarily lie in her mind-gut connection, implying that simply helping her resume her usual activities could be beneficial. Frustrated, I was advised to have her undergo a bowel cleanout just in case. Now we are on the third day of this process, with only a couple of small, soft bowel movements daily, yet she continues to experience significant pain. We are currently awaiting another appointment with the pediatrician. I am left bewildered by her condition. It’s worth mentioning that she is typically a lively and cheerful child, deeply engaged in school, sports, and activities with friends. She is shy and polite at medical visits and often struggles to comprehend the questions posed to her, which may hinder her ability to fully communicate the severity of her discomfort. I fear this leads to my concerns being dismissed as exaggeration.
Experiencing Left Hip Pain and Swelling in Leg
I'm a 27-year-old male. The day before this issue arose, I had some mild discomfort in my groin area, which resolved later that same day. However, when I woke up the next morning, I noticed a dull pain in my left hip, prompting me to walk with a noticeable limp. As the day progressed, I began to experience tightness in the same leg; it felt heavy. During a brief stroll, I encountered shortness of breath, a quickened heartbeat, and mild dizziness. Upon returning home, I observed considerable swelling in my left thigh, including a visible vein. Now, two days later, while the swelling has lessened, the limp persists. I haven't experienced any fever or elevated temperature. What might be the underlying issue causing these symptoms?