Abdominal gaurding and nausea, could it be Peritonitis? Please help...should I go to the ER?

I have sarcoidosis, not Lupus, supposedly anyway, but my symptoms and complications are very similar, it another system attacking autoimmune disorder.

I have been having strange chest pain, difficulty breathing and pressure in my chest and abdomen for months now that comes and goes. I went to the ER a few months ago for severe chest pain and breathing difficulty that I suspected as being possible pericarditis or pleurisy. The doctors couldn't diagnose me, but my doctor later had me do a CT scan that revealed a granuloma in my lung from having had inflammation due to sarcoidosis.

But for the past couple weeks I have noticed times where I noticed my abdominal muscles were contracting involuntarily, it felt like I was sucking in my stomach or crying without trying. It also feels like th top of my stomach is empty and sinking in, while the middle and lower part of my abdomen is bulging out. I try to relax my muscles, but it's impossible. I looked it up and I'm having what is called ABDOMINAL GUARDING. Last night it was really bad for many hours, where my stomach and back started hurting from spasms and I almost threw up. I feel bloated right now and have mild pain and pressure around my stomach, not in my stomach. It feels like inflammation and I know it's autoimmune related. I haven't been vomiting yet, I'm only slightly constipated and the pain isn't usually severe, but it's still distressing. It doesn't feel like a digestive problem per se, but a connective tissue problem surrounding my abdomen.

Could this be Peritonitis? Has anyone in here had it or know anything about it?

I'm afraid if I go to the ER they won't have a clue how to help me and send me away, or have me do many tests that I've had already in the past months that will just come back as inconclusive. I just don't know what to do. All my GP and rheumatologist say is "I'm sorry you have an autoimmune disorder, most likely sarcoidosis, but I can't treat you because we're not 100% sure what one it really is.".

I even left a message for my doctor today, but the nurse called me back and thought I was "JUST HAVING STOMACH PAIN". She had no advice for me other than to make an appointment or go to the hospital.

Post Edited (pink blobs) : 5/2/2011 6:35:26 PM (GMT-6)

It's annoying, but I can't really tell how dangerous it is. It's definitely one of those grey area symptoms, where you have a hard time deciding whether it's seriously urgent or not. My muscles seem to be relaxing a little bit right now and I can keep my food down. Thanks for the advice. I hope having not gone to the ER today is a big mistake.

If it's worse tomorrow I'm going for sure. The problem is that I really don't know how to detect inflammation of the abdominal membranes. My symptoms are mild but bad enough it's a tad alarming. I just want to know what the warning signs are for conditions like peritonitis, pericarditis and pleurisy.

Post Edited (pink blobs) : 5/3/2011 12:56:35 AM (GMT-6)

Ahh. My stomach keeps feeling better and worse throughout the day. My stomach keeps feeling very distended--it even looks so.

Right now I'm only slightly constipated, but I have been going most days but I feel like I'm not going as much as I should. I went to the bathroom today, but it made no difference as to how I felt. My stool was slightly dark, but no signs of blood.

I'm also starting to feel more nauseated and have been dry heaving now. My skin is very red and inflamed all over my face and body. My abdomen is slightly hard when I press on it. I just keep feeling my muscles tense up, then I also get what feels like a "tearing" sensation on the outer wall on the left side of my abdomen. When I slouch over, my stomach sinks inward more than usual. I feel like I've lost muscle tone over the course of a few days.

It's the most bizarre thing I've ever had.

Post Edited (pink blobs) : 5/4/2011 2:54:07 AM (GMT-6)