How do you determine when a pain or discomfort is real

Ssue

My DH has been hyper sensitive to any discomfort 

He has never been like this and has had cardiac pain and DPT in his legs causing great pain in the past. 

He told me he had chest pains so I took him to ER. When getting there he starts singing and totally jovial as they check him in and denied chest pain. EKG fine 

Last night couldn’t stand dizzy and vomiting had to call ambulance. Cat scan of brain no problems, blood work, ekg, and urinalysis ok. Diagnosed with dehydration. 

Keep trying to keep him hydrated and eat but fights it saying he is full.

Thanks for letting me vent 

David J

Up until a few years ago, we were regulars at the emergency room:  Suspected stroke, suspected bowel impaction, abdominal pain, and more. All at DW’s insistence to be taken to the ER. I understand your need to vent!

Dave

Nowhere

My husband suffered chronic headaches, then abdominal aches, for several years. One day he went to the ER with a severe headache and it flip flopped to him being discharged with a diagnosis of “constipation”.  The doctor looked back at his many tests and lack of findings. Luckily he called in a specialist who recognized he was suffering somatic delusions. A story his brain repeated that he was ill and in pain. The pain/worry would even drive his BP way up. He was prescribed Seroquel and within two days of starting .25 mg at night his morning rants of, “I need to see a doctor”, abruptly subsided. I think one almost has to explore every possible reason though first ... just in case. Good luck!

Battlebuddy

  I found this very interesting . My husband too has complained of abdominal pain . I took him for tests which included two CAT scans and various blood tests . Nothing was found. As of last week he suddenly has no pain and doesn’t complain of anything. I even brought it up to him and he didn’t know what I was talking about. My daughters theory was that he was experiencing normal cramping related to his bowel moving and it had become misunderstood in his mind. It presented to him as pain. 

JoseyWales

It's so interesting that this complaint is common. DH has been complaining about abdominal pain for about 2 years. He's had a colonoscopy, blood work (twice), an x-ray, 2 CT scans and an MRI with contrast. Nothing. He's been to a gastroenterologist. They believe it's irritable bowel syndrome, but meds for that have side effects that would make alz worse. So no meds. Not so surprisingly, it gets worse at night when he's upset about everything in the world and pacing the house. He now has an RX for clonazepam, and he stops complaining about his stomach shortly after taking his meds. In the morning he complains that his stomach hurts, and he stops complaining after he's eaten breakfast. So, not recognizing hunger pains are a part of this.

I used to feel so bad for him and I can't tell you how many doctors visits we've been on for this issue. But about a month ago I was helping him get dressed and my stomach growled. He complained that his stomach was doing it again hurt.