I experienced my first attack of pain 9 years ago and it was that severe I thought I was having a heart attack. A&E told me the cardiogram came back normal and suggested the pain was a pulled muscle. I felt extremely embarrassed.
I have suffered ever since sometimes daily, weekly and monthly.
In June this year I had a severe attack and collapsed at work. To cut a long story short, I have since been admitted to hospital 5 times and experience pain daily, sometimes hourly. Because I live in Britain the health care is free but it has taken months to get a diagnosis as I waited 3 months to see a cardiologist to rule out my heart.
I do a desk job, customer service. Work are in the process of medically retiring me.
The GI specialist has told me I will be unable to work for the foreseeable or maybe never again. I am on Tramadol and Diazepam both which dont stop my big attacks they only stop the little stabbing pains I get hourly.
Is anyone else unable to work? What impact has this had on your lives?
Does this illness class as a disability?