#HealthHelp #PainRelief #ChronicPain
Hey everyone! I’m in a tough spot and really need your help. 😟 I’m a 24-year-old woman and right now, I feel like I’m stuck in this painful nightmare. The ER gave me the boot after checking for any life-threatening stuff, but the agony? It’s at an **11/10**! I can’t keep living like this!
Here’s a bit about me:
- Age: 24, Female
- Height: 5’3” | Weight: 170 lbs
- Gained 30 lbs this year, despite eating super healthy and staying active.
- Suffering from chronic migraines and extreme fatigue—diagnosed with **ME/CFS** in February.
- Struggling with life-long **Eosinophilic Esophagitis** and a ton of random allergies.
So, out of nowhere yesterday, I got hit with this brutal stomach pain. It started low, crampy (think food poisoning), but then escalated, spreading throughout my abdomen. The pressure made it feel like my back and ribs would implode. I had pain with every breath, and my stomach was contracting so badly, it felt like labor (just to clarify: NO, I’m not pregnant!).
The doctors ruled out serious issues like appendicitis or gallbladder problems. They pumped me with meds—two doses of morphine and fentanyl, steroids, Toradol, and an NSAID—just to ease the screaming and crying. I even had a seizure after all the meds hit me! 😳
Here’s what they found:
- Ultrasound & CT showed my large intestine looking like a **target**—indicating some kind of **colitis**.
- Lab results showed high white blood cells (WBC at **13.93**), high neutrophils, low lymphocytes, and a lot of WBCs in my urine but no bacteria.
Now I’m dealing with awful back/rib pain on top of the stomach issues. The meds are wearing off, and I feel like I’m spiraling down again. I have a new job starting tomorrow and I’m terrified I’ll get fired on my first day! 😩
**What should I do next?** Has anyone been through something similar? Any insights or tips that can help me manage this until I see my doctor on Monday? I’m *desperate* for answers! 💔
I would say go back to the ER. Do you have any history of pancreatic or kidney issues? (Pancreatitis/kidney stones etc).
Hard to say without actually seeing all of the scans and lab data, but this sounds like some sort of infectious or inflammatory process. Pancreatitis has been mentioned, but that should have been seen on imaging, and with your symptoms I would assume the ER would have done the blood work. Are you on chronic steroids for the eosinophilic esophagitis?
I don’t think the ER is going to get you an answer. ERs are primarily for identifying and treating emergency conditions, they are not equipped or trained to take a deep dive into mystery problems.
At this point I think you have two options. If the pain is unbearable, you could go back to the ER and ask to be admitted for a more complete workup, or try and get an urgent visit with a primary care provider.