Abdominal pain and fibromyalgia

[Rich44]

Hi

 

Have suffered from fibromyalgia for about 10 years now resulting from a 3 week stint in hospital with glandular fever. I've tried all the usual stuff they offer antidepressants, pregabalin, tramadol and at present am on top whack cocodamol 8 tablets a day.

 

Anyway that's been stable for awhile with painkillers although I had to buy an auto as couldn't face gear changes anymore and I use a walking stick.

 

4 weeks ago came down with abdominal pains, saw GP who poked me and gave me antacids.

 

Week later went back as pain much worse and was referred to emergency assessment unit at hospital (took an hour to get thru on phone)

 

I spent 4 days in hospital 2 on nil by mouth (with no drip) they did 4 blood tests and on the Sunday said you don't have appendicitis go home despite no other diagnosis just have a weeks worth dihydrocodeine and we can't always explain abdominal pain we think it'll go away on its own.

 

So went home, phoned GP Monday morning he was horrified, didn't believe me at first that they hadn't done any scans etc until he had seen discharge paperwork.

 

Ordered emergency ultrasound which had a week later (after chasing hospital). Ultrasound showed fatty deposits on my liver but gp doesn't think that's the problem.

 

Saw different gp Friday who was again flabbergasted that hospital did nothing, she's hand picked a non-surgical consultant to refer me to and ordered up CT scan and endoscopy (all of which could have been done during hospital stay and we're discussed in front of me, no idea why they weren't done).

 

I know I've got to wait now but how long does a referral take, ct scan wait?

 

I'm in constant pain, on 30mg of dihydrocodeine 4 times a day. If I get out of bed for more than an hour or so I'm in incredible pain despite painkillers. GP has signed me off till Christmas which doesn't inspire me with much hope. I've lost about 5kg in last month and I'm only eating one solid meal a day too.

 

I've tried asking for more/different painkillers but was refused. Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions?

 

I'm going to put a PIP application in tomorrow as been thinking about it for awhile due to the fibromyalgia I know that's a long uphill battle as a separate issue. I also have a complaint in with hospital due to the way I was treated when there.

 

My dad had non-hodgkins lymphoma when he wasn't much older than me (I'm 38 now)and in his late 50s had a kidney removed due to a deep tumour in it. So have the cancer thing running thru my mind 24/7 too.

 

If anyone has any suggestions or thoughts I'd be really grateful as stuck in bed fearing the worst.

[patrickq1]

I had Fibromyalgia and similar pain but pain releif much improved because I've switched to solpadol what a difference that has made I was on , also if you take too many of dihydrocodine it does upset your abdominal also the pain increase even more if you smoke I had a triple bypass now I am on the mend but do switch to solpadol and take the recommended dose

[Rich44]

Solpadol is 500mg paracetamol and 30mg codeine it's just a brand name for it, that's what I had before this pain started and the dihydrocodeine is supposed to be for that as it's about 1.5 times stronger than codeine apparently.

 

No in really boring don't smoke nor drink don't go out at all either tbh too tired and in pain for that.

 

Thanks for reply

[citizenB]

 

I know I've got to wait now but how long does a referral take, CT scan

wait?

 

I would imagine it all depends on the area and waiting list and also the urgency.

[Rich44]

Yeah I thought it'd be something like that which was why I was very upset they didn't do it whilst I was an inpatient was bizarre one Dr would come round and order an ultrasound then the next would order a ct scan then the next would say let's just go in with a laparoscopy.

 

Oh well going to phone Dr in morning see if I can get something stronger for the pain in the meantime

[citizenB]

It certainly doesn't make sense they didn't do these tests/scans whilst you were an inpatient I wonder if it might have something to do with budgets ?

 

Have you tried a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel ? Sometimes gentle heat helps to reduce abdominal pain.

 

I hope you don't have to wait for too long.

[Rich44]

Thanks, yeah I wondered that too.

 

I did try that I found that made it worse, had a nice warm bath last night then ended up curled up in bed in agony. Came close to calling an ambulance in fact.

 

Fingers crossed I hear from hospital in next day or so, she did want it done urgently and that was Friday so...

 

 

Cheers

[citizenB]

Ah, sorry to hear that

[mr_mastiff]

Thanks, yeah I wondered that too.

 

I did try that I found that made it worse, had a nice warm bath last night then ended up curled up in bed in agony. Came close to calling an ambulance in fact.

 

Fingers crossed I hear from hospital in next day or so, she did want it done urgently and that was Friday so...

 

 

Cheers

 

Just a quick question have you ever had any form of abdominal surgery before?