My apologies on coming iin late to this thread, but I felt compelled to comment. I have been in a similar situation since age 18. I'm now 45 and have a pretty active lifestyle and decent health. I did not have my symptoms through trauma as your son did (maybe?),
and I began to have similar attacks, was sent home with a nice shot of Demerol in my butt which made me feel great, placed on Bentyl for a couple weeks, then everything was OK until the next attack, which varied from 6 months to 2 years later. I went through several upper GI's and they told me that I had an irritation in my Duodenum, which would likely become an ulcer as I grew older. I used Maalox and Mylanta with very little success.
Just as a side note, my father had similar problems and they had finally diagnosed him with Diverticulitis (I think they were still not sure) when he was in his 60's. Anyway, abot ten years ago I had another attack, and Doctors Bert & Ernie gave me a shot and admitted me to the hospital. after two days of meds, they sent me home. The surgeon at the time had suggested removing my appendix, but said that I didn't present with the rebound tenderness like an inflamed appendix, so I had them discharge me. One year later I was back in the hospital, the same surgeon saw me and remembered me, and we agreed to cut the thing out. It was inflamed, and he said that it was post secal (sp?) meaning that the thing was turned around behind something and so I didn't get the rebound tenderness normally associated with a hot AP. Thinking my problems were finally fixed, and I really did feel much better (I guess so, I amlost died from the infection) I had great health until three years later. I developed an abdominal abccess at the same spot that was the size of a baseball, finally felt like I was going to pass out, so I went to the doctor. Needless to say I wound back to the surgeon, and he cut it out, and sugested a colonoscopy. After healing up, I had the colonoscopy done and was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. Went on meds for a few years, and they didn't seem to help much, but I didn't get any attacks, or what attacks I got were pretty mild. Then I got a new Primary Physician who also is an Internal Medicine specialist, and he is of the oppinion that Crohn's shows itself sometimes every day, but in my case upon the change of weather. That pretty much seems to fit what's going on with me. I have been relatively drug free, recognize when the attack is happening, and I sometimes think that they might be wrong because I feel so good, but this is as close to a bullseye diagnosis that I have experienced. Anyway, sorry for rambling - If you feel the need to express any frustrations to me, email me at szymczak~delanet.com and maybe we can get closer to helping your son. I'd hate to see him suffer until he turns 35 or 40 to get appropriate help.