emmasith

I have exactly the same thing on and off. Sometimes, about once every few months, the pain is so severe and constant (about 8 hours) I am throwing up and can barely move. Other times the pain is more of a dull ache constantly, and this is often the case a few weeks after one of the 'attacks' of pain.

I've read some of your other posts and think it might be linked to anxiety (at least I hope it is - the other potential causes worry me). Maybe it's IBS? I thought I had this and still feel I may, although I don't have the other symptoms of IBS such as diahrea/constipation. I went to the doctor quite a few times after avoiding it for a long while and he basically told me it was probably just an irritable stomach and stress, but likely not IBS. He also excluded other causes simply by my age being young (I'm 18) which I thought was really off. Before this he referred me to psychologist when I was complaining of anxiety. Although I was never diagnosed with a specific disorder, I'm pretty sure what I have is generalised anxiety disorder as I often feel anxious for no reason - I have some social anxiety but mostly my anxious feelings come from nowhere. I'm still meant to be seeing a psychologist and I've been on the waiting list for about 8 months but to be honest when my turn comes I'm going to decline it. I feel I've made enough progress on my own these past months and I don't want to be reminded of earlier this year sitting in the mental health reception when things were much worse.

None of my family believe I have anything wrong with me either. They say I'm being a hypercondriac and ignore me, which makes me doubt myself and it took a lot for me to finally see the doctor. I've even been accused of making it up to get out of going to college so I can definitely feel your pain of when families don't believe their own.

Sorry - this has turned into an essay about myself! But I feel we have quite a few things in common.