Functional abdominal pain syndrome
Common Questions and Answers about Functional abdominal pain syndrome
pain
After numerous tests and 2 surgeries, what first appeared to be gall bladder disease, and then Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, is now being diagnosed as Functional Abdominal Pain Syndrome (FAPS). (IBS is also under the designation of FAPS, but my illness is not the IBS type.)
My pain is throughout the entire right upper quadrant of my body: abdomen, chest, ribcage, shoulder, arm, back, etc.
Our GI has diagnosed her with Functional Abdominal Pain. As he describes it, he says that she is registering normal abdominal functions as painful events.
She is in most pain first thing in the morning. She has been taking Prevacid for 5 weeks now with no reduction in pain. There is no pattern to the pain. It can flair up at any moment.
Is this a real diagnosis? Does it make sense? How do we help control the pain? Are there other things we should be doing or testing for?
My teenage daughter has been having right side lower quadrant pain for over 7 months. She has had some vomiting and it has interferred with her daily activites such as school and church.She has had bloodwork done,CT Scans with contrast, MRI, upper GI series, ultrasound, endoscopy and colonoscopy with irritations in terminal ilieum noted but no diagnosis yet, We have seen two GI specialist and all they have tried are meds ( several different ones) with minimal help with pain.
Hello,
A complete medical history, clinical examination and work up are important for correct diagnosis and management. The causes related to nausea,diarrhea,abdominal pain are food poisoinng,gastroenteritis,stomach flu, lactose intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome etc.Parasitic infestations like amoebiasis and giardiasis will also cause watery stools, abdominal cramps,nausea,fever etc.She should take a light diet and drink plenty of water. See a Paediatrician.
He was diagnosed this week with chronic functional abdominal pain syndrome. He is being treated with librax now.... Hopefully this will help. The pain is on left lower side.
CT chest may be needed.Chronic pancreatitis and Functional abdominal pain syndrome (FAPS) may also cause this kind of pain.
Lastly,an important cause of such pain along with blood in stools is found in inflammatory bowel disease(Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis).
It would be better to get CT abdomen done which can clear cut confirm a diagnosis from the above possibilities.Pls consult a gastroenterologist and get CT abdomen done.
Hope it helps.
CT chest may be needed.Chronic pancreatitis,cardiac pathology and Functional abdominal pain syndrome (FAPS) may also cause this kind of pain.
Splenic enlargement and ovarian cysts in females can also cause such pain.
It would be better to get CT abdomen done which can clear cut confirm a diagnosis from the above possibilities.
It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided.
Narcotic bowel syndrome (NBS) is a subset of opioid bowel dysfunction that is characterized by chronic or frequently recurring abdominal pain that worsens with continued or escalating dosages of narcotics. This syndrome is underrecognized and may be becoming more prevalent. In the United States this may be the result of increases in using narcotics for chronic nonmalignant painful disorders, and the development of maladaptive therapeutic interactions around its use.
Other possibilities which need to be evaluated are Functional abdominal pain syndrome (FAPS),inflammtaory bowel disease especially Crohn’s disease, mesenteric ischemia, peritonitis, abdominal aortic dissection and infarction.GI malignancy can also cause such symptoms and needs to be evaluated.I sincerely advise you to consult a gastroenterologist and discuss these possibilities with him.Colonoscopy and upper GI endoscopy may need to be done to confirm the diagnosis.
Hope it helps.
Infectious mononucleosis is caused by EBV(Epstein barre virus ) and is characterized by fever, sore throat, muscle soreness,diarrhea ,abdominal pain and fatigue.The important thing is that the virus lies dormant in the B cells indefinitely after symptoms have disappeared, and resurface at a later date.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional bowel disorder characterized by mild to severe abdominal pain, discomfort, bloating and alteration of bowel habits.
Hello,
Some possibilities for your symptoms are gall bladder disease,GERD(gastroesophageal reflux disease),pancreatic disorder,Functional abdominal pain syndrome (FAPS),inflammatory bowel disease,fibromyalgia and ovarian cysts.
I feel that consultation by a gastroenterologist along with ultrasound uterus and ECG(to rule out cardiac causes)will help in confirming a diagnosis as without examination,pinpointing a diagnosis is tough.
Hope it helps.
Pain due to GERD and petic ulcers is associated with nausea and is relieved on taking antacids. Functional abdominal pain syndrome (FAPS),ovarian cysts and pelvic inflammatory disease can also cause abdominal pain.So pls specify the side and site at which you are having the pain,so that I can help you with the differentials and investigations required to confirm a diagnosis.
Take care and do keep us posted on how you are doing.
Hi mrrssssar
There's a good chance that some of your symptoms may have to do with the gallbladder removal., specially the diarrhea, which btw affects a significant number of patients who undergo such a surgery.
Regarding your lower left quadrant abdominal pain:
There's a good chance that this pain is directly related to Endometriosis.
In my opinion,your symptoms are related to irritable bowel syndrome as all your investigations are normal. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional bowel disorder characterized by mild to severe abdominal pain, discomfort, bloating and alteration of bowel habits. In some cases, the symptoms are relieved by bowel movements.Diarrhea or constipation may predominate, or they may alternate (classified as IBS-D, IBS-C or IBS-A, respectively).
An important example of this latter type of pain is the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It is not clear what causes the abdominal pain in IBS, but it is believed to be due either to abnormal contractions of the intestinal muscles (for example, spasm) or abnormally sensitive nerves within the intestines that give rise to painful sensations inappropriately (visceral hyper-sensitivity).
Hello,
The various possibilities for your symptoms are gall stones,GERD(gastroesophageal reflux disease) and irritable bowel syndrome. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional bowel disorder characterized by mild to severe abdominal pain, discomfort, bloating and alteration of bowel habits. In some cases, the symptoms are relieved by bowel movements.Diarrhea or constipation may predominate, or they may alternate (classified as IBS-D, IBS-C or IBS-A, respectively).
Hello,
Since most of the causes leading to such symptoms of left side abdominal pain in the flanks have been ruled out,some of the possibilities which may need evaluation.They are Functional abdominal pain syndrome (FAPS){ pain that persists > 6 mo without evidence of physiologic disease, shows no relationship to physiologic events (eg, meals, defecation, menses), and interferes with daily functioning.
Second possibility is of underlying lung pathology which is pressing upon the diaphragm CT chest may be needed.Chronic pancreatitis and Functional abdominal pain syndrome (FAPS) may also cause this kind of pain.
Other causes for your wife’s symptoms can be kidney disorders, ovarian cysts,inflammatory bowel disease and ectopic pregnancy.
It would be better to get CT abdomen done which can clear cut confirm a diagnosis from the above possibilities.
My left iliac vein was being crushed between my spine and artery. This could be the lower left abdominal pain. Blood then goes back down into your external and internal iliac veins causing pelvic congestion and rectal bleeding. Another vein compression condition that frequently happens with it is Nutcracker Syndrome. I've had every test done that you've had and they all came back negative. Finally an Interventional Radiologist discovered my condition recently and had a stent placed.
I was told i have functional cysts and I am in pain almost everyday. Its always on my right side. My gyno kept pushing the pill on me, and eventually I tried it. Within 4 hours of taking the pill my chest got very tight and i was so dizzy that i couldnt function. So I never took another after that. From taking that 1 pill, I was dizzy for a week . What I want to know is if there is another way to keep the cysts from forming?? Without having to take hormones.
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