Bloating, colicky cramps and feeling unwell

[Ruby777]

I have starting having gastrointestinal issues about a month ago after a round of IVF which unfortunately failed. As background, I have severe endometriosis pretty much everywhere in my abdomen including my liver, diaphragm and on my sigmoid colon. In the past, while I do suffer occasionally from some mild GI issues, it has not been too bad, besides for the pain around the liver area.

Fast forward to a month ago, after the failed round of IVF, I started being quite constipated, going to the toilet maybe 2 or 3 times a week and feeling mildly bloated. 8-9 days ago, while on holidays, I woke up in the middle of the night with extreme pain in my abdomen ( felt like really bad gas pains ) and it almost felt like my intestines were burning. This was accompanied with being very bloated and having a lot of gasses ( sorry about TMI) . This has continued for a few days, after which I had even worst cramps and diarrhoea for 2 days. Every time I eat anything I become so bloated it is uncomfortable and I get widespread colicky ( strong cramps) pains all over my abdomen. I went to the Urgent Care on Thursday, where they did blood tests, an Xray and urine test. They said they don't think it is a blockage because it doesn't seem like it on the Xray. My blood tests are normal but they said there is a little blood in my urine ! They basically sent me home and told me to contact my gynaecologist for the endometriosis part of it.

I have been home for the past two days and the cramps continue, at some point so painful I feel like I can't breathe. I am now so anxious about these symptoms and I do not know what to do. Has anyone ever had something similar appear out of the blue and lasting this long? I am thinking to go back to A&E tomorrow if I am still unwell, however I am scared they will send me home again with no answers. I am also starting getting mini panic attacks throughout the day feeling like this might be very serious. Sorry for the rambling, I just don't know what to do.

[Carys]

Are you UK, I know the flag shows that but you said 'urgent care' in the first paragraph ? You know your own body, and I am of the firm belief that people do really know when they are genuinely unwell. I have had cramps so bad with my IBS, only a few times over my lifetime, that I feel scared and am doubled in pain and breathless but it has passed relatively quickly. It has been rare though, and certainly related to trapped wind but can be astonishingly painful.
I think for you to be in pain for so many days, to this level, it merits further investigation and assistance. You already have some health complications with the extensive endometriosis and having had recent gynaecology interventions (for want of a better word) there could be reasons for this pain (or it could just be a bad IBS episode ;o) I would say seeing a doctor again is something you should do, and I'm not trying to scare you as clearly you have had some checks one, but if this feels unusual to you and you are suffering badly, then don't leave it. A and E isn't great for this type of thing, they will do some 'obvious' tests and if vitals are all good and so on then it won't go much further (IMO). Ring your doctor out of hours and explain the pain you are experiencing, there will be some contact that can be made with someone to get advice ? Ring 111 ? See if they can get you to see someone more specialist.

[Ruby777]

Thanks for your reply Carys . I have been in the UK for 2 years now . I went to AE first and they said that this didn’t seem like an emergency so they sent me next door to the hospital to ‘urgent care ‘ to see a nurse . The nurse then sent me back to the hospital to the surgery assessment unit . I’m not too sure how the system works here as I have not used it before. I do have a specialist following me in Oxford for the endometrios and I sent them an email to explain the pain I am in but they told me they would get back to me .

I do feel like something is off and definitely warrants more than just an X-ray and blood tests . This afternoon the pain has not been too bad ( although I still get odd cramps on and off ) and I had a few normal bowel movements today .

I am now scared it might be cancer or something sinister . My health anxiety is not helping

[Carys]

How are you feeling now Ruby ?