Holy Stomach Pain

[RunningWild]

So about once or twice a week, i get this horrible stabbing pain in my stomach/abdomen. It is very severe, like a 9 on the pain scale, but comes in waves. It makes it hard for me to stand up straight, and usually just goes away after a while of horrible, exhausting pain.

Ive never been diagnosed with stomach issues with my POTS, but I know they are common. Anyone have any ideas on this one?

[janiedelite]

If it comes in waves, it could have something to do with your peristalsis. Could you be having neuropathic dysmotility? Or an obstruction/pseudo-obstruction because of a section of GI tract that isn't working properly?

[Katybug]

When my GI issues (which are all tied to my dysautonomia somehow) flare up, one of the major issues is he severe abdominal pain I get. It is definitely the worst pain I hve ever exprinced when it is at its peak. I believe, in my case, that mine is caused by extreme smooth muscle contraction of the smooth muscle in my GI tract. I have high levels of an anaphylatoxin that causes smooth muscle contraction and I also gain relief from using a Belladonna ALK script when it happens. was not able to find any OTC treatment to relieve the pain. I sometimes experience diarrhea with the pain but even if I can treat te diarrhea OTC, the pain would remain.

I am sorry you are having this pain...I have spent nights in the fetal position on the bathrrom floor with it, so I really do feel for you. I would urge you to see a gastro to chec and be sure that there is not something acute that has gone wrong since this sounds new for you and also so that theycan give you something to relieve the pain. It is not unusual for the GI to prescribe Belladonna ALK (Donnatal) for people that have IBS type symptoms.

Good luck and feel better.

[RunningWild]

Thanks for the responses. I really have no idea what its related to, but similar to Katybug, it has me in the fetal position on the bathroom floor, the pain is that bad.

I have an appointment at Cleveland Clinic in two weeks with Dr. Fouad. Maybe I can ask her if it might be related, or I'll talk with my PCP about getting a referral.

[Chaos]

I have similar issues. I think it's related somehow to the POTS but you should still get it checked out since it sounds like it's new to you. Personally, I've had these pains come and go over the last three months. They occur in different parts of my gut but definitely feel like a muscle spasm and intensely painful. Even once the acute pain is relieved, that area may remain sore for days afterwards. Like Katybug, sometimes it's associated with diarrhea but sometimes not.

[Dizzysillyak]

My gall bladder was doing this. My doc gave me belladonna liquid for the pain, but eventually I had it removed.

My pain was exactly like you describe.

I wish I hadn't had my gb removed tho. I learned later that gb problems can be related to celiac disease.

So getting off gluten should've fixed it for me.

This happened before I knew anything about holistic medicine. I understand a gall bladder cleans might

have helped too .. Tc .. D

[jackiemxoxo]

Yes, I also get these sharp stomach pains and they are very hard to relieve. I tried to figure out for awhile what triggered them but I think they are just related to dysautonomia. Although I do go through phases where they are worse then get better. I think my GI symptoms are the worst thing about dysautonomia besides tachycardia. Hopefully you can find a GI doc that puts you on something that can give you relief. I have tried everything but I still get the pains.

[bellgirl]

Boy, can I relate to this....I even had a colonoscopy, had just one polyp, (thinking I had bowel cancer or kidney stones), because of it...I was dying with it for a month or so, and I had experienced it on and off for several years before, without yet having my diagnosis of Dysautonomia. I also finally noticed that it was related to peristalsis in the bowel. I have urogesic blue for bladder spasms, and because it is a smooth muscle relaxant working on the sympathetic nervous system, I tried it, when it rared it's ugly head again, and finally was able to get relief, but it took 24 hours. I would definitely get some GI testing done, just for peace of mind. I eat yogurt with active cultures, and it doesn't happen as often or as long anymore. My heart goes out to you...it is awful...Prayers

[kmichaelson]

Yes, I've had spells of pain like you described too. I had an endo and colonoscopy as well, but everything looked normal, which was kind of a relief, but at the same time made me wonder what the heck IS causing it! It feels like very really severe cramping/contractions in my stomach and like descriptions of ulcer pain I've read, but no ulcer showed up.

[blueskies]

I had bouts of this pain, lying in the fetal position on the floor, for about 4 years. And then the severity went away. I still get the same pain but it's much much milder, although it lasts longer. The old pain used to last about an hour. This pain can last about 4 hours and will wake me up when it happens at night I can't sleep until it settles but I can certainly bear it and no more lying in fetal position sweating like crazy and gritting my teeth. I had a colonoscopy, endoscopy, and a couple of other tests but nothing came up that would explain the pain.

I did have my gall bladder out after I'd had the pain for a while. That specialist said definately caused by gall bladder. They took out my gall bladder, which apparently was full of stones, but 2 hours after going back to the hospital room from recovery I was in the fetal position with the same old pain. I felt like an idiot. And a poorer one at that. Anyway, with some luck that intensity of pain is gone for good. I can bear the lesser one.

[puppylove]

I had the same thing and got an endoscopy which came up normal. A year later I was still having the pain nausea etc. and I asked for second endoscopy and GI doc reluctantly did a second one- this time a stomach ulcer! If your endoscopies/ colonoscpies are not recent, you could ask for a second?