Has anyone experienced this sort of pain?

Hey Everyone,

Every single time I have a bowel movement or when I wake up from sleep (due to pain 99% of the time), I get this horrible pain at my breast bone (EDIT: the pain is more so in the very high, epigastric region). It's so terrible that I've been having to take dilaudid. I ended up going to the hospital a couple days ago because the pain was a 10/10 and the pain pills were not working and I was throwing up all day. They had to give me some dilaudid throw an IV, along with Zofran and lots of fluids. The odd thing is that I actually feel better for a few moments after I throw up. I feel less pressure. When I'm experiencing this pain, I feel a LOT of pressure in that area and throwing up relieves that for a short period of time.

An endoscopy was done and everything is good. A colonoscopy was done and apparently I have inflammation but it's not a lot and it's all my rectum mostly. I honestly don't know what to do. This pain is a 10/10 and I am experiencing it every single day. I cannot imagine living like this for very much longer. The doctor told me to try buscopan but it hasn't helped. Have any of you experienced this terrible pain? One would think that my pain would be lower abdominal pain but it's not. The doctors are unable to figure out where this pain is coming from. Any suggestions would be immensely appreciated, guys. I'm getting so desperate.

Sounds like possible Costochondritis:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/costochondritis/basics/definition/con-20024454

But I'm not quite sure because normally it's not relieved by throwing up. I had that pain as well a long time ago in my sternum and went to the ER. They didn't do much for me tho and eventually it went away about 2 weeks later. Did you get any x-rays?

Red_34 said...
Sounds like possible Costochondritis:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/costochondritis/basics/definition/con-20024454

But I'm not quite sure because normally it's not relieved by throwing up. I had that pain as well a long time ago in my sternum and went to the ER. They didn't do much for me tho and eventually it went away about 2 weeks later. Did you get any x-rays?

I've never heard of Costochondritis. I'm going to read up on it ASAP! Yes, they did xrays but nothing significant came up. Would Costochondritis show up on an xray? Thank you very much for replying!

UPDATE: Just read the link you sent and that sounds exactly like what's going on. My pain does feel like a heart attack (what I think one would feel like). It's horrible 10/10 pain. It said it goes away on its own and that's exactly what happened last time! Some how it miraculously disappeared but now it's back >.<

Old Mike said...
Did they check your gall bladder.
When I had my attack I thought it was a heart attack, after vomit from the pain it went away
for some time, gall bladder was like a bean bag. Had to go,but that was 18 years ago now.
Old Mike

Isn't the gallbladder, Mike. I was kind of hoping it was so that I'd know what was causing the pain but the gallbladder was fine. Thanks a bunch for replying!

UPDATE: They didn't do a lot of extensive testing so I'm going to ask them to make sure it isn't my gallbladder, Mike. Apparently your blood work can show up normal but your gallbladder could still be messed up. They ruled it out from looking at my blood work.

Just got home from the hosp yesterday with very similar symptoms. Turns out it Was my gallbladder even tho all my blood work came back normal. Said it's rare to present that way but it does happen. Took three trips to the ER but it finally ruptured and I was in surgery within two hours after that. So keep an eye on your gallbladder even if they don't think it's that at first.

MeByTheSea said...
Just got home from the hosp yesterday with very similar symptoms. Turns out it Was my gallbladder even tho all my blood work came back normal. Said it's rare to present that way but it does happen. Took three trips to the ER but it finally ruptured and I was in surgery within two hours after that. So keep an eye on your gallbladder even if they don't think it's that at first.

Thank you very much for your comment! Yes, my blood work came back normal, as well. OldMike told me that it sounds like gallbladder issues but they didn't do a lot of extensive testing. They ruled it out very quickly. I'm going to bring it up again and see if we can do some further testing. I'd actually be happy if it was my gallbladder. At least then I'd be able to eliminate the cause of the pain.

Old Mike said...
You said they did some test on the gall bladder, what test.
You can see stones with ultrasound, then there is a nuclear image test, and I suppose others,
I don't remember if my blood work was off or not.
Mine presented say a week prior to my main attack with what seemed like indigestion, lots
of burping, chest fullness.
Then the first attack.
Your body will let you know in no uncertain terms, that something is wrong, the pain
was exquisite. There is also a possibility of a stone in the central bile duct, which is actually
more difficult to deal with.
Old Mike

Thanks for replying, Mike. I had the following things done (a few months ago): x-ray, ultrasound, MRI, endoscopy and some kind of test in nuclear medicine where they inject a dye as well as some test where I had to eat eggs that had dye in them and they followed the food through my system. They all came back fine. I did have stones in my kidney but they were very small and the doctors said that I would just pass them. No stones near the gallbladder though. This was all done a few months ago though. Perhaps things have changed? When I went into hospital this time around, only x-rays, blood work and urine was done. I went into hospital for the exact same pain last time and there was nothing going on with the gallbladder so I suppose that's why they didn't bother doing the tests again. What do you think, Mike?

With me I went in in June with the pain the first time. They did a ct scan and it showed no inflammation in the gallbladder. This time I went in last Monday but because they had such a recent scan they dismissed the gallbladder right away. No fever, no elevated wbc. Got my pain under control released me tues. went back on thurs got my pain under control released me the same day. Went back on tues and this time they did an ultrasound. The inflammation showed and the rupture, but they still weren't sure what the rupture was. Did another ct scan which showed it had ruptured. Wish they had done the ultra sound the first time I went in on Monday instead of relying on the numbers. Left them scratching their heads. They said even my liver levels were perfect.

MeByTheSea said...
With me I went in in June with the pain the first time. They did a ct scan and it showed no inflammation in the gallbladder. This time I went in last Monday but because they had such a recent scan they dismissed the gallbladder right away. No fever, no elevated wbc. Got my pain under control released me tues. went back on thurs got my pain under control released me the same day. Went back on tues and this time they did an ultrasound. The inflammation showed and the rupture, but they still weren't sure what the rupture was. Did another ct scan which showed it had ruptured. Wish they had done the ultra sound the first time I went in on Monday instead of relying on the numbers. Left them scratching their heads. They said even my liver levels were perfect.

What a scary situation :/ The fact that they couldn't figure it out until it ruptured. That's just terrifying. I'm doing to talk to my doctor about this and bring up you story. Makes me think that it may very well be a gallbladder issue even though none of the tests are picking up on it. QUESTION: How has your quality of life changed since losing your gallbladder? Thank you once again for your replies. They're much appreciated!

delta30 said...
it is a breath test, at least you can rule that one out. not knowing what's wrong with you is the hardest part i think, i hope you'll find a solution soon

Thanks a bunch for your well wishes. I really appreciate it! Through reading everyone's replies, I'm feeling quite strongly that it might be costochondritis.

Please check back in and let us know when they get this figured out. Every time someone on here goes through something and they figure it out, we all get a little smarter lol. Or at least better abled to help the next time. Hang in there.

MeByTheSea said...
Please check back in and let us know when they get this figured out. Every time someone on here goes through something and they figure it out, we all get a little smarter lol. Or at least better abled to help the next time. Hang in there.

Thanks for all of your help! I will definitely check back. I doubt it's related to UC now but nonetheless, I shall share what I find out. Fingers crossed I get some sort of diagnosis because there is a certain amount of relief that comes with knowing what's wrong.

Well here is a possible read this thread from the crohns forum.
Is it the Entivyo.
www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=17&m=3678182

Also have they ruled out pancreatitis.

Old Mike