Stomach, Ulcers, Gastric Bypass Forum - Severe Pain Under Rib Cage And Through to Back

Conditions and Diseases > Stomach, Ulcers, Gastric Bypass Forum > Severe Pain Under Rib Cage And Through to Back - Gas??? (Page 1)

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Q: Severe Pain Under Rib Cage And Through to Back - Gas???

asked by: cityrachel on January 22nd, 2005

New User

:?:

hi - taking a chance writing here - have ahad occassional "attacks" where I feel the pain coming on and within moments I am in full-fledged agony - what feels like a sever pain under my chest - above my stomach - radiating through to my back - practically makes me feel I can't breathe! On two occasions I threw up. When i've haad this, i've begun to take charcoal pills, thinking it's gas and this will help absorb the gas. Sometimes this has heped. Twice an ambulance has been called for me as the pain is agonizing. The first time I had this - about a year ago - I thought it was a heart attack - (it wasn't...). Then it went away for a while, and now, the past three - 4 weeks, i've had about 5 "attacks" - some milder - they are agonizing, but only last 15 minutes - last night was the worst - lasted more than an hour, and I had no appetite and was exhausted afterwards. It isn't only after i've eaten, and my diet is pretty good and health - i'm following weight watchers, and tend to eat non-greasy things. I had a decaf with skim milk about an hour before yesterday's pain, but hadn't eaten in 3.5 hours beforehand.

Any thoughts? If it's gas - as it seems to be? How come there? What's causing this? I will call doctor this week, but thought others might have had experience.

Thanks

Replies(26)

jandalee

replied on January 28th, 2005

New User

Re Attacks

Gallbladder disease or stones ,maybe. I feel your pain, the symptoms are horrible.

jettamarie

replied on January 29th, 2005

New User

Same Issues

I also suffer from the same kind of attacks. They are so painful that they are completely debilitating. My doctors have ruled out kidney stones and gall bladder issues and now want to run a mydrid of tests. Does any one have any experience with this? Or know of someone who did and can help point rachaelcity and I in the right direction? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

sandyallen

replied on January 29th, 2005

Extremely eHealthy

You should go see a internist and let him know all of the symptoms you are having. A Dr. Cannot treat you unless he knows everything. If that Dr. Does not seem to be helping you then go to the next Dr. And keep on doing this until you find the answers that you want or need.
Are you an anxious person. Do you deal with a lot of stress in your life. What about your diet, is this good for you.
Sincerely,
sandy

jandalee

replied on January 29th, 2005

New User

Hydascan

That test will rule out gallbladder disease or stones. Sometimes the stones are too small to be seen by cscan or xray. The hydascan makes the gallblader contract at the end of the test and they will be able to see most of the problems. It will only hurt if you have stones so be prepared for the pain.

Thomas76

replied on January 31st, 2005

New User

Stomach Pains

Been having the same problems the last few weeks. Every morining I wake up with these treble pains in around my ribs and back, I have normally lots of lower back pain when I first wake up. Been off work for last 9 weeks with my back & leg problems now this!! It's seems like i've got lots of gas but can't seem to go, feels like I want to vomit. I rules out heart burn all thats stuff I had a xray done on my stomach 2 months ago which came out good. So I guess i'm stuck going back to see the dr again and again seems to give me the run around. If anyone finds out there answer to there symptoms please post !!! It might point me in the right direction

thanks

chambers320

replied on January 31st, 2005

New User

Pain After Eating, Soreness, Etc.

I had your exact symptoms as well and was recently hospitalized for it for 8 days. I have chronic pancreatitus. The pain started under my breastbone and traveled to the center of my back between my shoulder blades. There are several ways to find out if this is the problem. Lipase test thru bloodwork. Also x-ray and/or sonogram of the pancreas and gallbladder. If you have gallstones that is one of the leading causes of pancreatitus. This is a serious disease and causes irreversible damage in some cases. I would call your doctor today!! Hope you get to feeling better, I know your pain and I now have to live with it.

lf1188

replied on April 16th, 2005

New User

Still Batteling the Beast

I have been having severe attacks since december, day after christmas I had my gall bladder out, many many stones. January of 2004 I had gastric bypass surgery, december 2004 had my gall bladder removed. I have been having severe severe pains, that start in my lower section on the right side of my back and radiate to the abdomin. It is horriable. I have been taken by ambulance from work to the er many times, I was been admitted into the hospital many times. I just got out yesterday since last sunday. They did a colonoscopy and upper gi, found I have a lazy bowel and ulcer on my staple line on my stomach, to treat the ulcer they told me to take antacid which please note I have been taking since my bypass surgery in january 04, and they gave me a prescription for ibs. I had to call my dr today because the pain is bad I am ready to go back to the er again. It is not my overies or scar tissue this has already been ruled out. It is a mystery and no one knows what is wrong with me, I am worried about losing my job, because since january of 04, I have not been able to work a full week. :(

surgeonassist

replied on April 23rd, 2005

New User

If you want to know if it is due to the gallbladder without expensive hospital testing, a doctor I work with has a simple test you can do at home. Eat a tablespoon of crisco. If you have an attack or become violently ill, it is indeed your gallbladder.

tene1

replied on May 31st, 2005

New User

Rib Cage Pain

Hi, I have been reading about rib cage pain on your site. I have had the type of rib pain described by several of your members. The pain was severe and would start in the pit of my stomach, radiate up and to the right side of my chest and into my right shoulder and back, and under the shoulder blade. It was terrible. I was finally diagnosed as having a hiatal hernia and was having an attack, caused by eating or drinking a sweet sour combination. I stopped eating or drinking those combinations, and the pain did go away. I really thought I was having heart attacks. One of the last attacks I had lasted about 3 hours, and almost unbearable.

Now, I am having another kind of rib cage pain. Both sides of my ribs, and they start at the bottom of my rib cage and radiate up and around to my back. Sometimes it lasts a few hours and sometimes less. I have never had it last for an entire day. It is quite uncomfortable.. Does anyone else have this problem? Thanks, ernestine

subie90

replied on June 3rd, 2005

New User

Sounds like gallbladder!

tene1

replied on June 4th, 2005

New User

Rib Cage Pain

Nope, I had my gall bladder out about 10 years ago. This pain has just started within the last few months.

Thanks for the reply.

quinnz

replied on June 11th, 2005

New User

Hi there city rachel, I noticed your post, and i've never been here before, but couldn't help but notice the similarities in my own situation. Six years ago I had an onset of unbearable pain, I even induced vomiting in a parking lot during a walk with a friend, because I felt like I would die from the pressure behine my ribs. I couldn't ven stand up right. Too make a long story, at least a little shorter, I spent 6 night running back and forth to the er, they finally discovered pancreatitus thru blood work and I was hospitalized for almost a month. If you haven't had them check your amalyse and lypase thru bloodwork you really should, at the time they couldn't explain why I had it, but eventually they found stones in the duct and the gb had to come out. I still have terrible pain at times. I have finally made an appointment with th layhe clinic in mass, hoping to get this strightened out finally. Good luck to you, and don't be afraid to tell your doctors what you want them to check for, in this day and age, you have to be a little aggressive to get things done . Good luck and don't let your self suffer too long. God bless lucy :)

uwecstudent

replied on June 12th, 2005

New User

Pains

This is my first time using this site. I was hoping someone could help so that I don't have to go to a doctor. (poor college student). I have been having some stomach problems. The problems started a week ago on june 4th, 2005. It started out while I was at work. I felt like I was really full all of the sudden, but I had only eaten 2 bowls of cereal that day. The pain wasn't a normal stomach ache....Instead it was more of a "knot" in my upper stomach. The pain comes and goes. It seems to be more intense when I am standing, apposed to sitting for an hour. I do not really have an appetite, but seem to eat just to see if it will help the pain. Sometimes I wake up with the pain, sometimes not. I have the discomfort throughout the day. It varies in severity. The pain has not been soo bad that I have missed any work, but would much rather be at home. I feel like I need to burp all of the time, or have a bowel movement, but find it difficult to do either.
I am a smoker and am affraid this is just adding to the pain.....I know...Just quit smoking!
Please help with any suggestions!!!
Much appreciated
william

shahan

replied on June 25th, 2005

New User

Stones

You mention 'severe severe pains, that start in lower section on the right side of my back and radiate to the abdomin.'

have you had an ultrasound of the kidneys to rule out stones? Or an ivp to rule out stone(s) dislodged somewhere down the renal passage (e.G. Dislodged in the ureter(s)?

Dancer for Christ

replied on May 22nd, 2007

New User

Rib Cage Discomfort

Have you tried chiropractic? Your ribs can be out of place or rotated and cause much discomfort. I just had that happen. Getting an adjustment made a huge difference.

Sick of Hurting

replied on November 26th, 2007

New User

Rib & Back Pain

3 days ago (the day after Thanksgiving) I ate a bit of homemade noodles & felt extremely full. Just figuring that I ate too many of them (not realizing that I really didn't eat that many) I went to lay down. The longer I laid there, the worse I felt. Finally I fell asleep. About every 5-10 min I would wake up with severe pains centered below my rib cage, & then they would spider web through my back & into my shoulder blades. Then the nauesa set in. I started vomiting a yellow substance with phlem that really burned while coming up. This went on for 5-6 hours. Along with hot & cold flashes. Finally everything subsided enough for me to be able to sleep. when I woke up I felt like I had the flu. But throughout the day I would get severe waves of this pain. This has been going on for 3 days now. Now when I get the waves of pain they are so bad that it almost takes my breath away, & has actually dropped me to my knees. I have never experienced anything like this before, & not curently having insurance, I am hesitant to go to the doctor.

lpar

replied on February 11th, 2008

New User

pain under ribs

I was out with my mum last week when I started getting pain under my ribs, which got worse as time went on. After about three or four hours I went to the Hospital casualty because I was scared I was having a heart attack or something(I'm 46 ). Anyway, after an ECG,x-ray aand blood tests, the doctor said it was because of constipation with gas etc trapped under my ribs. I felt a bit embarrassed (And I'd only opened my bowels the day before). He suggested an enema(which made me more embarrassed),which I had and also have to increase fibre and fluid in my diet. Anyway,just wondered if anyone else has had this problem
Thank you

iammrstoday

replied on February 13th, 2008

New User

stomach pains pain into my back

In 1976, I stated with feeling full, nearly every day, after eating then my stomach hurt as if it was cramping; it felt like a led ball. The pain radiated to my back and became server as if a knife was in my back. I wish I could burp to relieve the pressure. I tried Tums, Gavescon, Alkaselsa, soda water and nothing helped. I went to the ER, and doctor. I had X-rays, ulcer medication, The Bernstein test, and they could not find anything. They chalked it up to a spastic stomach. They said to see a psychiatrist. I was careful about what I ate, drank no alcohol, or smoked. I did not see the Psyc. I was just married and my husband had become abusive to my son and a lot of pressure at work. It stopped a couple of years later when I quit my job to stay home with our new daughter. It is back as of last week. What is different? Money problems, loss of Hubbies job, back to school, and lost of my teaching job due to cut backs. I have had more pressure than this all my life so why now? Maybe medicine has improved over the past three decades. I have also suffered from IBS the past 18 years and they seem to be related. I have tried deep controlled breathing, sitting up to sleep, walking and the computer to distract my self. May be a trip to the ER will help.

sal38

replied on February 11th, 2009

New User

stomack,ribs and back pain

hi,i had a really stressful day few days ago, did not eat anything until 9pm evening, dont normally do this, the same night i had stomack ache, just put it down to not eating but the last 3 days the symptoms have got worse, a dull pain in my stomack and ribs, my ribs feel sore from the pain and also in my back, iv taken indegestion tablets which seem to work during the day but i can only take them with food. on a night time the pain is really bad when im sleeping and it keeps me awake, had to take time off work because im tired from not sleeping. any advise would really help please?

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