H has had many issues with his health the last 10 years.
Often, he has a great discomfort in his abdomen and feel nauseated and looks pale.
He has had every test imaginable.
Years ago our S (adopted) was diagnosed with abdominal migraines–fairly common in children.
A few years ago a friends D was diagnosed at age 17.
And this has suddenly made me think—?
We are now researching this as a possibility. It is rare but not unheard of in adults.
Anyone here?
Hi Oregon101 – no experience, just sympathy – it sounds scary and painful! Has he kept a food/stress diary (helped me when I was dealing with GERD symptoms) which helped me figure out the pattern of events that led to pain. Do you feel confident in your PCP? Not second guessing your choice – just wondering if another doctor might see DH and come up with new ideas.
do the tests show anything?
also can you travel to a place like the mayo clinic?
Just make sure it isn’t abdominal angina—sounds like he has had agazillion tests, just make sure this one has been ruled out.
I had never heard of abdominal migraines until my daughter was diagnosed as a child. I am not aware of this being an issue with adults, but I hope testing will give your husband some answers.
I had never heard of abdominal migraines until this thread!
Neither had I. Good luck Oregon.
At one point I was having tremendous abdominal pain and really thought I had a major health issue. I finally, out of dumb luck, narrowed it down to a supermarket salad bar. I don’t know the exact issue but when I stopped getting my lunch salads there my pain went away.
Recently a number of people I know have had infections in their colon without accompanying fevers. Just very bad abdominal pains. These were difficult to diagnose and even more difficult to get rid of.
Anyway, good luck . I hope you discover the cause soon.
Wow, it’s always tough to feel bad and not be able to figure out why so I hope that something is identified soon that can help you figure out how to eliminate his pain. I would periodically experience terrible pain in my lower abdomen (so more intestinal area than stomach). I eventually figured out it would occur after I ate guacomole (which was really the only time I would consume avocados). I just figured that there is some type of enzyme or something in an avocado that I am unable to digest. But the pain would occur about 30 minutes to 1 hour after eating and would last for 1-2 hours.
Some interesting info online. One suggests abdom migraines may come from food triggers or swallowing too much air.
My only thought is to make sure you ask what symptoms would merit an immediate ER visit. I had unexplained abdominal pains for years and one day landed there. Major issue. Since then, rarely a repeat.
Not abdominal migraines, but headache migraine sufferer for years with aura, nausea, light and sound sensitivity. I eventually discovered many environmental triggers for my migraines, but never a food or drink trigger. Are abdominal triggers always food related? Best of luck to you, the search for those elusive triggers can be very hard!
Thanks of the support. H had kidney cancer 6-7 years ago (is all ok) and only found that because he had so many stomach aches thus had a C-scan. A few years later he had a very bad gall bladder removal (think giant zucchini gone rotton ) and is ok from that. The following year (!) he had a twisted intestine and had major surgery the first day of our vacation in Palm Springs. The twisted intestine had cause visits to the ER as well and many and varied tests. But none of this has taken away his bloating and discomfort. He has a tough time keeping weight on.
Currently, he is trying a Low-FodMap diet. This excludes a huge amount of various foods. No onions, garlic, avocados and so on and on and on. He has been on it for 3 weeks and is not seeing results.
The major research for this diet is happening in Australia and is direct for IBS and other digestive issues. It is a wicked one for me to cook.
I do think he swallows too much air when he eats but this cannot account for all of his symptoms.
I will ask about the abdominal angina.
He has not discounted the idea of stomach migraines (my AHA!) and is going to try some meds for that. He is a doc and so is not a very good patient --tries to minimize things. But he is not well, does not look well, and does not act well. It seems at this point there is nothing life threatening but certainly life disrupting.
Thanks! Will update as we learn things…
Promised to update as a good thank you for your responses.
Since I posted he has had one episode where he did take the medication (if anyone needs the specific meds pm me) for a stomach migraine.
Yes, he had an amazing result --within one hour later his abdominal pain was gone.
So! Bittersweet, we wait for more episodes to make a true confirmation.
Still this has been the first true idea (mine 
) that has at least looked like a forward motion.
That said, I only have even thought of it due to a client educating me.
So true the adage:
Teach to learn.
My lifelong motto.
I will go ahead and post the medication. H was sleeping when I wrote earlier and
I could not remember the name.
He takes Sumitryptan 100mg. This is a migraine medicine. Same taken for head migraines.
He does not know yet what the triggers are that leads to a migraine.
The low fodmap diet did not make a difference at all. That was a super difficult diet
to follow and to cook for day after day.
We cannot yet rule out that a specific food is the cause so will pay attention to this possibility.
With our S and the other person I know it was not a food reaction as they woke with
a stomach migraine.