Severe stomach and intestinal pain

So, this morning my little girl woke up with some pretty intense abdominal and stomach pain... and I can't help but wonder if it’s all connected to the fact that she hasn't had a real bowel movement in three days. Is it actually possible for that kind of constipation to feel like you're being torn apart from the inside? It sounds a bit dramatic—perhaps—but the discomfort seems quite genuine. If anyone here has dealt with something similar and managed to find some relief, I would truly appreciate your insight. Just a side note: we won't be heading to see any doctor or visiting a clinic like Mayo Clinic just yet—we need to get her symptoms stabilized first, and even that part is still a work in progress.

Emily Peterson15 said:So, this morning my kid woke up with some intense pain in her gut and stomach area... I'm wondering if it hurts because she hasn't had a bowel movement in three days? Is it actually possible for that to feel like it's tearing you apart from the inside? If anyone has dealt with something similar and fixed it, I could really use the advice. Just a heads up, seeing any kind of doctor is going to have to wait a bit until we get our health insurance situation sorted out. (And that’s still a work in progress)

Yeah, that’s probably it. Honestly, just try to focus on getting things moving first. Maybe just try adjusting her diet to see if that helps.

If this doesn't settle down soon, you really need to head to the ER. Intense abdominal pain isn't just some minor discomfort—it can be a massive red flag for serious issues like internal bleeding, ectopic pregnancies, or bowel obstructions.

Rebecca Lee said:well, it’s certainly a plausible explanation—it really is. perhaps you might consider focusing a bit more on your dietary habits first, just to see if you can manage a regular bowel movement through nutrition alone before jumping to anything else.

Everything has finally settled down—I managed to go to the bathroom just now, and the pain has subsided, thank goodness... though there is still that lingering, uncomfortable sensation afterward...

Angela Wright said:If things don't start settling down, you really ought to head to the ER. Intense abdominal pain isn't something to just brush off—it could be a sign of serious issues, like internal bleeding, an ectopic pregnancy, or even a bowel obstruction.

Oh, I nearly forgot to mention... I haven't seen any blood in my stool. I suppose that's usually the red flag for intestinal trouble, isn't it? But since there's no blood, does that mean I can skip the doctor? And actually, if I do need one, which specialist should I be looking for to get my GI tract checked out? Any recommendations?

To a psychiatrist 🙄

I went through the exact same thing... It was brutal for two weeks. Some kind of stomach flu, most likely. I couldn't sleep, couldn't eat—anytime I tried to get something down, the pain would just hit me immediately. I didn't bother seeing a doctor, so...

Paul Bennett6 said:A psychiatrist 🙄

please...😠 honestly, you're the one who needs a professional to take a look at your headspace☕

Melissa Phillips4 said:I had a similar experience myself... I was in pain for about two weeks—some kind of stomach flu, most likely. It reached a point where I couldn't sleep or even eat, because the moment I tried to swallow anything, the pain would just flare right back up. I didn't end up seeing a doctor, so...

Aha, well, having that specific detail certainly helps clarify things quite a bit. 🙂

Emily Peterson15 said:Oh, I forgot to mention... there isn't any blood in my stool. I assume that's usually the sign that something is actually wrong with the gut, but since there's no blood, maybe I don't need to see anyone? Also, which specialist should I be looking for if I want an intestinal exam? Any recommendations?

Just because you don't see blood doesn't mean it isn't there.
It’s pretty obvious that this pain you're feeling is tied directly to constipation. You need to fix your diet—start eating more yogurt, fruit, and vegetables. And stay away from bananas; they tend to bind things up.
If this keeps happening, go see a doctor.

Angela Wright said:A lack of blood doesn't necessarily mean there isn't any in the chair.
It seems pretty clear that your discomfort is tied to constipation—it’s one of those things where everything just... stalls. You might want to try tightening up your diet a bit; more yogurt, more fresh fruit, plenty of vegetables. And maybe steer clear of bananas for a while, as they can actually slow things down.
If this keeps happening frequently, you should probably go see a doctor.

Haha, alright then, I guess I will. 🙂