it was really enlightning to read some of your comments
on pain on left side under rib cage .2003 I even had gallblader removed .Stones were found because of all the tests I had and wahla this year the same old discomfort is back .I also get so frightened .It comes and goes . What is it?

I started off with my left shoulder freezing up on me last year right after my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer... the pain soon spread to my left breast and continued in and under my left arm. I was sent for a mammogram and later for a breast biopsy but no cancer was found. The next month my husband was hospitalized with pneumonia and I started getting pains under my left rib cage. The doctor did X-rays thinking I had pneumonia as well. X-rays showed a little fluid so I was put on antibiotics. The pain did not go away! They told me to use heat... helped a little but it did not go away! They did an ultrasound for my lungs - nothing odd showed up. They sent me for a CT scan - nothing odd showed up.

Since then I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and am being treated with gabapentin. The pain has gotten worse! Sometimes the ribcage itches but there is no break-out. The pain can be from dull to taking me down to the floor! I talked to my doctor about it and she gave me some Lexapro and sent me to a pain-management doctor that put me on Opana and said it sounds like IBS (as I have been having diarrhea a lot) and told me to change my diet (NO coffee, alcohol, sugar, nutrasweet, equal - and cut way down on sweets, breads, pasta, rice and potatoes and ALL carbohydrates!) She also told me to increase my water intake to 84 oz per day! (seems like a LOT to me!) She also wants me eating 5 small meals per day. (I have NO appetite with this pain so that is VERY hard for me!) She also suggested yoga... which I tried and couldn't make it back off the floor for all the pain in the side!

I was sent to a gynecologist for hormone testing... came out pretty normal - little low in progesterone (which he is supplementing with bio-identical hormones) - He did an internal ultrasound and found out that I have 3 fibroids in my uterus (which explains my bleeding between periods) - He also found an odd looking cyst on my left ovary - he tested for cancer but it looks okay... So... now I get sent for an abdominal CT scan - this time with having to drink the YUCKY barium stuff and having an IV solution for contrast... the results should be in this week...

I feel like a human guinea pig sometimes! I have had SO many tests over the years just to learn about the fibromyalgia 5 years later and NOW THIS! It is getting so bad I can't even do my normal housework anymore! I hope the latest tests offer some answers!

Firstly, I feel so much better having read just about every story, particulary those with exercise related issues. About two weeks ago after a five a side football match in which I got hammerered by a football to the back, full pelt, I noticed the same pain everyone has been decribing just under my left rib cage, under the bottom rib in fact. But to be fair, pain is may be too strong a word, it's more of a feeling I don't like. I just assumed it would go away.

Unfortunatley I am an incredibly paranoid person. I am 27 with three very young children, 6ft 2" and very fit and healthy. I go to the gym three or four times a week and play many other sports inlcuding the very strenuous squash. To top it I have a high profile, high stress job in construction. Finally, I saw a friend of a friend lose his short battle to cancer February of this year at the young age of 27, the day before his childs 1st birthday!!! To attmept to cut a long story short this terrified the s**t out of me! Since then I almost convinced myself there was something inside somewhere, I still do it now.

But having read about anxiety and costochordritis (If that's how it is spelt) I feel a bit better. I am still going to get checked out but generally my health is pretty damned good. I quit smoking a short time ago and feel ten times better for it, although all this started after I quit swhich is a little annoying

I must be honest and say I do have bleeding gums but to be fair that's been there for a few years and I never go to the dentist so my bad. It gets better with increased brushing if that helps anyone else.

In my mind the anxiety ties into my symptoms as well as the muscle strains which would explain why it didn't go away fast enough for my liking.

Thanks to everyone who has posted and I will post my findings after I been to see the doc'. If anyone has any other stories of a similar nature with stories of dianosis that match I would be eternally grateful.

i am 13 and have a really uncomfortable feeling in my lower left rib cage. The pain isn't to bad but i get breathless after a minute of running...i am really fit, so this is not normal for me. i am on three soccer teams and have played since i was 3, so this is very strange. Another thing is that before this started my left foot has been "falling asleep" or "tingling." Now the sharp pains when i am running and now its every minute. all are on the left side of my body...i dont know if it could be related but i want to find out whats wrong...I have read a lot of articles and it all says info. about the stomach...and i am getting agravated because its not in my stomach its in my ribs. Please if you have any info. tell me.

Going to finally see the doctor tomorrow. Having the same gnawing pain under the left rib cage, constant indigestion, stomach is FULL all the time, loose BM's and upper back pain. I'm really scared it's something bad. I had a colonoscopy 3 months ago and had 1 polyp that they removed, not a problem and I am lactose intolerant. So, I have read that it could be my gallbladder or an ulcer. Anybody have any ideas?

Pain below left rib cage on abdomen. Sometimes sharp. Slight pain even to mild touch. At the same time, about a week ago, pain along rib cage in back. I usually recover from bruising like this by now. I didn't have any impacts, just exercise.

I have a pain just below the left side of my ribcage, doctor thought I might have an ulcer, but it's not that kind of pain, feels like a ball of pain if that makes any sense? like a tightened cramp, and it's not from exercise! Can you get a hernia there or is it too high up? driving me nuts....

I have been in pain under the left rib also. I can't even have 3 beers and I am in pain to where I need to lay down. I don't know if it is an ulcer or what. I also vomited up some mustard yellow thick fluid the other day and I think it has to do with this pain I have been having. Any suggestion's? Please!?!

me too!!! same thing!!! pain in back, acid reflux, ect ect ect i've been so scared...i'm thinking it's an ulcer. need to make an appt but scared. someone please let me know if you find out anything at all!!!

I am going in for a colonoscopy and ekg on Wednesday, Sept. 9th. I hope they find out something. The ekg is to check out my stomach for any ulcers I guess. I also have acid reflux and IBS, but this pain is totally different than I have ever had with those symptoms. I will find out more soon and reply. Thanks

I have been having the left rib pain for about 2 years now. Some days are worse than others. I have had Catscans.Xrays, Stresstest, echos. You name it. Physical Theorpy. The pain is so bad at time, I feel like screaming. 5 doctors have not come up with any thing yet. This is really anoying.
My life has become crap. I don't seem to want to do anything. I come home from work and crash. I just can't seem to handle the pain very good anymore. I think it's driving me insain. Why is it the doctors can't find the answer. I have spent so much money on all of these test. I am not going to afford much more. But I need so badly to find the answer.

Same for me Ethel.
I have had pain and heat around lower left rib for about two years now. I also get back pain and a rumbling stomach with periods of constipation and diarhea. I have had muscular pain but I think my back has compensated for pain elswhere.
My GP does not take me seriously now and will only treat me for a bad back (Moiprel and Tramadol) with no results.
The stress I have suffered (thughts of lung/heart disease) has not been fun. I am finally going for an x-ray this week so I will see.
My quality of life is suffering badly, I now do very little and am in constant discomfort. I cannot carry on like this.

Had enough of this,
I am like you, my quality of like is really bad, I don't want to do much of anything. I just don't understand why they can't find any what's wrong.
I have had so many test, you would think something would show up. I really think I may have torn a muscle or something, but they keep looking at my organs. They act like you don't have a clue of what your talking about.
I hurt more when I lay down at night or when I sit for a long period of time. I can't even lay down and relax.
I have another Dr's appointment in about a week. It seem useless anymore. It's like they don't believe a word you are saying. Over-the-counter medicines don't seem to do a thing and the Dr's just say I will see you in a couple of months. Doesn't seem like they even care is you get better or not as long as they get paid.

I developed all of these symptoms 2 weeks ago after moving 2 heavy futon mattresses. I thought I had pancreatitis but my doctor said no. To shorten the story...a rib was misaligned at T8 in the spine, and causing nerve pinch which shows up in front under left ribs, and also inflammed muscles under ribs on the side under my arm. Also screwed up my shoulder in back near scapula. Find an enlightened chiropractor, not a doctor. MDs rarely check spinal alignments. Also try a hot castor oil pack (Google the instructions)

i was terrified to find this page after having this a couple days. i am 33, get a lot of exercise, eat very healthy, and get drunk pretty much every day. i thought i finally busted open something important. i don't have insurance and don't live in america. i was dreading what to do about this. i mailed a doctor friend who said "possible diaphragmatic irritation" and suggested ibuprofen and hot compresses for a week. (i also quit drinking) 2 days later it seems to have done the trick. may not work for you, but certainly wanted to share my experience.

I am having the same problem.
Except very recently it has been coming more often then before... I'm afraid that something is actually really wrong with me.... So do I need to see a docter or should I just watch what I eat and do? At the moment it doesn't hurt when I breathe, but when the pain comes it does. Help?

i have the exact thing but its weird like its right under my last rib but almost near my stomach and its when i run/jog i went to football practice and i had no problem until we had to do winsprints they didnt hurt at first then about half way through IT HURT!!!!! and when i stopped i could catch my breath because when i take a deep or even a normal breath it hurts right under my left last rib so i take fast short breathes AND I HAVE ASTHEMA so not only iam i wezzing but i can only take very short breathes BUT THE WEIRDEST THING OF ALL IS SOMETIMES ITS UNDER MY LEST LEFT RIB AND SOMETIMES ITS UNDER MY LAST RIGHT RIB WHAT THE HECK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!

I have been having pain below my lower left rib cage. It comes and goes, its an uncomfortable sensation and ache really. not stabbing or shooting pain, like a tight muscle that needs to be rubbed, but rubbing does not help. (I don't excercise or nor have I lifted anything heavy. It almost feels like cramping but to high to be my ovary I think. It is tender to press on it. when it worsens I feel it in my lower back, by then I feel like it is my kidney. It is plain aggravating. I have heard everything from irritable bowel syndrom to a pulled muscle and I have no idea but from the sound of this forumn I am not the only one who suffers.

ok everyone i have an appt with the gastro dr (which i have never been to before) cause the pain gets a little scary sometimes...i can hardly eat without heaving reflux. pain in the ribs feels like it's radiating through my breast. i will let everyone know the outcome and hopefully it's not something serious. the one thing i worry about is i take pain meds on a regular basis due to chronic back pain from an accident 5 years ago so i'm afraid the meds have messed something up. anyways i will let you know what they say!

i went to the GI doctor yesterday due to the exact same symptoms. chest pain, headaches, muscle twitching, inner left leg pain, sour taste in my mouth, burning in the back of my throat, nasal stuffiness, heartburn...i'm a messsssssssss!!!! i didn't want to eat anymore cause i didn't know what was gonna happen. i am 33 by the way...anyways he diagnosed me with GERD and he gave me nexium 40mg. i took it last night and it gave me a really bad headache, weird taste and made me a little dizzy. i called the dr and let him know and he said it was probably too strong so they are going to try me on the prilosec OTC...if i am not feeling better in 10 days they are going in to find out what's going on!!! this really sucks!!! hope the info helped a little...hang in there everyone!!!