Upper abdominal pain - Please Help!!!

I started to get severe abdominal pains in December last year (at the time I was 32 weeks pregnant). These "attacks" lasted between 1 and 4 hours and would start in the upper center of my stomach (right below my ribcage) and gradually worsen and radiate to my back, chest and shoulders. I vomited on a few occasions and felt clammy. No change in position helped. After my daughter was born I got approx 6 attacks in 2 months and then... nothing. I could not relate it to food as I got the attacks sometimes after having eating nothing at all. My doc sent me for an ultrasound and they found small stones in my gallbladder. I had not had an attack in about 3 months but they decided surgery was the best option for me. about 4 weeks ago I had my gallbladder removed via keyhole surgery.

The surgery went well and I was home the same day. 5 days later I experienced exactly the same pain as before and was admitted to a & e and then Surgical Assessment where I saw numerous docs. At first my bloods showed some unusual liver results (they never said what) but returned to normal the next morning. I had another ultrasound, which showed no obvious retained stones or leakages. I was discharged with the suggestion that it was "just one of those things" but I was referred for an MRI. I have no idea who referred me for this and nor does my G.P (he had no idea i had been referred).

I went for my MRI appointment earlier this week and am awaiting results 9even though I have no idea who these results are being sent to).

Since surgery I had around 5 attacks in 3 weeks then nothing until last sunday when...Bam! another attack!

I saw a locum GP a few weeks ago (could not get appointment with regular gp) who suggested that maybe the pain was due to reflux!!! Bare in mind that my doc tried omeprazole to start with and that had no effect whatsoever. I have also tried gaviscon when the attacks happen but this does nothing.

Right now I am feeling really lost. At hospital the surgeons and consultants made me feel like I was overreacting - if they checked my notes they would see I have a high pain threshold (I gave birth with no drugs) so when I say a pain is a 9 outta 10 it means it really hurts. My GP does not sound interested at all and suggests that it is the surgeons problem and I am to go back to him, only I have no idea who it was and how to reach them.

I am terrified of the pain happening again. I have a 10 month old daughter and work shifts (often alone) and have no idea how I will cope if this becomes a regular thing.

I need some advice. What could this pain be? Who do I need to pester about this pain??

Please Help

Ria
-x-

Ria...You can find who order the Mri by calling were you had your Mri and they can tell you who ordered the test. Also you can call Health Records at the hospital were you had surgery and they can tell you who your surgeon was. I have worked for health care for 25 yrs and I know a few things about how things are done.

I am sorry I have no help for your problem I have never experience that except when I have had bad indigestion and boy that was painful and did go in my back and shoulders but subsided by the next day.

I hope the other info, I gave helps you out. I hope you feel better real soon.


Bless you, Amy

PS - with the pain being below the ribs (rather than central chest), does it come on after eating? Just wondering about duodenal ulcer?? If it happens again check how long after food it was - I think duodenal ulcer is 1 or 2 hours after eating. And keep pestering your GP - he or she can speak to the surgeon on your behalf instead of just saying "I don't know" !

MMM