For 2 months now i've been suffering with pain in the upper left quarter of my body - it radiates around my left ribs, front and back, over my shoulder and down into my stomach. I've been to the doctors several times since then, initially being told that it was probably a muscular pain due to recently starting at the gym. I stopped using the weights at the gym and the pain remains. So, I went to the gp again yesterday who now thinks it may be gastritis - due to the belching, repeating of food, growling stomach and feeling of fullness, oh and the pain! I've had a blood test for the h.Pylori bacteria and awaiting the results. I'm rather hoping that it comes back positive now so that I can begin treatment to get rid of it.
However, there is one more thing which is concerning me, which I noticed this morning. When I lay down and look down my chest, me left ribs stick out further than my right. Is that normal (never noticed it before)? I'm wondering, if I do have gastritis, perhaps because my stomach is infected it is causing it to swell and push my ribs out a bit? If anyone else has, or has had this problem could you let me know. I need to set my mind to rest as i've been concerned about the pain for a long time and i'd like to rationalise my thinking! I will no doubt raise this with the gp when I collect my test results next week.
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ok, update - couldn't wait until next week. I had the most uncomfortable night last night so went to the gp again. He said that I may also have a hernia which is causing the lump in my abdomen. I've got have more tests next week to confirm this though. Also, i'm now on ranitidine to treat my stomach pains.

I'm only 24 and i've got gastritis and now a possible hernia . Feels like i'm falling apart!!!

Is there any special diet that I should go on to help relieve the symptoms? Any advice from fellow gastritians would be greatly appreciated!