So many tests yet no diagnosis

[doggo]

Hi there. I'm a 22 year old female from Australia and I'm dealing with sudden flare ups of excruciating upper abdominal pain that only prescription codeine tablets help once it happens.
I've had CT scans, upper and lower abdominal ultrasounds, gastroscopy, colonoscopy and blood tests/allergy tests. Everything has come back not only normal but optimally healthy. I'm grateful for that but also very confused. The pain is unbearable when it happens, but it does happen rarely. It's upper abdominal pain which comes on slowly then suddenly I'm on the floor crying. It radiates to my back too. It first happened only once in 2015, then once in 2016, but then in the first 6 months of this year it has happened 2-3 times. Bowel movements are regular and normal, no blood or anything.

Does anyone have any ideas? Any other tests I could do? Thanks for your suggestions and time in advance.

 

[Scipio]

Hello and welcome. One additional test you might ask your doc about is a capsule camera endoscopy. It provides a comprehensive look at the small bowel with clarity that no other technology can match. That's how my Crohn's was finally diagnosed.

 

[Lisa]

Have any issues with your gall bladder and kidneys been ruled out?

 

[Jabee]

This may be an odd question, but have your doctors looked for any intestinal malrotation as a source of your pain. A friend of mine has this diagnosis. I've pasted a link to a fairly good article describing what this is. Having recurring undiagnosed abdominal pain like you do sounds awful. I also second a capsule endoscopy as another diagnostic tool.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4100975/

 

[gatheryerosebuds]

I second Scipio's pill camera recommendation! I too went through many of the classic diagnostic procedures -- colonoscopy, upper endoscopy, MRI, etc. -- and (most) of my blood work returned normally. But the pill camera was what finally found Crohn's disease in my small intestine.

It is also true that there could be another issue going on that isn't Crohn's disease or some form of colitis. I would explore those possibilities too if you haven't already. Keep us posted!

 

[doggo]

Thanks for everyone's responses
In terms of gall bladder/kidney issues, they would have come up in other tests I've done such as ultrasound or CT scans, same with possible intestinal malrotation. I'll suggest to my doctor the camera endoscopy and see what she says.

 

[mtseeg]

Are there any patterns to the pain (e.g. after eating, certain time of day, etc.) or does it come out of the blue? How long does it last and does anything seem to help?