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Pain Under Rib Cage

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Doglover

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Joined: 09 Oct 2005
Posts: 1
Location: USA

Pain Under Rib Cage Posted: 10-09-05 11:23am


Hi! For the past several years I have had pain that varies in intensity under my rib cage. Sometimes the pain is on the right side of my ribs, sometimes on the left and sometimes all around including the middle under my breastbone. I had my gall bladder removed a few years back, so I know the pain isn't stemming from that. I have asked several doctors what it could be and have been told it could be excess gas in the colon and was told to just make sure I keep regular, which by the way I am. I am a gassy person in general, even though my bathroom habits are very regular. One doctor even suggested the possiblity of having an inflammation of the rib cage area called costchronditis or something along those lines. I still tend to think it is all gas related since I do have an excess amount of gas a good deal of the time. The other thing I thought of is maybe a hiatal hernia? I just don't know what to think and I am starting to think the doctors don't know either. What do you think?

pjw8

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Joined: 07 Feb 2006
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Pain On Left Side, Under Rib Cage, Gas, Acid Refulx Posted: 02-07-06 15:35pm


Hi, i know several people have posted to this site. Someone said that pain on the left side, near the rib cage, upper stomach, is related to spenal (?)flexure syndrome and that is caused by stress. But my symptoms are cyclical. They occur intensely every other day but I can always feel them. How can stress be so regular? Or is the symptoms of ongoing stress related to the cyclical digestive system. Doctors have told me nothing despite various tests including an endo colonoscopy.

vixy7

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Joined: 28 Mar 2006
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Location: Australia

I Have Almost Stopped Eating Posted: 03-28-06 19:52pm


:( it's really interesting to read over the posts so far, as I can relate to a lot of your stories. I have always had stomach upsets, and been sensitive to fatty foods, which like many of you was attributed to ibs (before any tests had been done to rule out anything seriuos). However, over the last couple of years, and increasingly over the last six months, things have gotten a lot worse. I have had every test you can imagine, have taken many medications including nexium and flagyl. Apparently there is nothing wrong with me - I am perfectly healthy. I am afraid to eat. I am losing 2-3 kilos per week, because I cannot bear the thought of the repercussions of ingesting food. I eat smaller meals than my 6 year old, and I am starting to worry. I don't mind losing weight, but not under these circumstances. I am 28, and I smoke - I don't drink often my symptoms are: upper mid-abdomen pain and pressure, especially after eating, and lying on my back. (pocket of gas?) underneath rib cage on left side ** gastric reflux - although I think this is a symtom of the symptom... Stomach has skrunk considerably and cannot tolerate much food. I cannot bring myself to believe that it's stress related, or in my head. I have a course of steroids I haven't started yet - specialist thinks it 'may' be chrohns disease, but I doubt this will work either. I don't know what to do anymore really... I am becoming depressed, and possibly perpetuating the symptoms because of this. Thanks for letting me share

BlackLotus

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Joined: 28 Mar 2006
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Location: Texas

At Wits End. Posted: 03-28-06 22:50pm


For a year I suffered with chest pains. My mother had passed away suddenly and I found myself a collapsing one afternoon which resulted in being rushed to the e.R. My sister drove me and I had some sort of seizure and she pulled over and called 911. I was rushed via ambulance at this point. I had every heart test known to man ran on me, resulting in a three day stay in the cardiac unit. All of my tests came back normal. I was sent home with the advice of seeing a grief counselor. I was told I wasn't "dealing with the loss of my mother." I accepted this. The body can do strange things. My chest continued to hurt. Two weeks before hurricane rita hit, I collapsed on a friday afternoon. As soon as I could crawl to the phone, I began to call gastro doctors. I was able to get in the next friday. The doctor immediately wanted to have an upper g.I. The following monday, I went in for the upper g.I. Very ill, and in a lot of pain. The results were I had a hiatal hernia in the lower third of my esophagus. I was put on nexium and librax for a few months. My doctor said the hernia "wasn't bad". By december, I had a new problem. I began to have some serious pains on the left side, underneath my rib cage. Since january, I have had a cat scan, a small bowel series, and just a few weeks ago, a colonoscopy. Every test I have had has been "normal". All the blood work, the small bowel series, all of it. During all of this, i've just about lost my mind. We have spent a small fortune on these tests and I am still barely able to function now because of the severe pain. My cat scan results were "normal" except my colon was full of stool. I am not prescribed any pain meds because i've had a problem with constipation. February, I spent 80% of the time curled up in a fetal position in the bed. Alternating between a heating pad and an electric blanket. A week after my colonoscopy, my gastro Dr. Decides to refer me to a surgeon. So here I am, the day after my appt. With the surgeon. Scheduled for yet another cat scan before he can determine what is the matter. I have been on so many drugs for antispasmodics, reglan, you name it. I broke down in his office. At this point, i'm mentally and physically exhausted. He gave me few options. One being he could operate on the hernia, but that it didn't seem to be bad based on the results. I've been told I have ibs, then told I don't. And I hurt. All of the time. I guess I mostly wanted and needed to vent. To find some solace, yet sadness in the fact that there are so many people, just like me, suffering. My gall bladder is gone, I "might have scar tissue". Is this it? Suffering? Not allowed to take pain medications for this? I feel like my life is crippled with pain now. I can't plan anything, i've stopped going out unless I have to and i'm only 37. I just can't believe that this ... Is it.

van71

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Joined: 25 Feb 2006
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Left Side Pain-back Too? Posted: 03-29-06 10:58am


You guys are not alone, I have only had the left side pain under my ribcage for 3 months now but it is draining and frustrating. Does yours radiate to your back also? Some days are better than others, but it is always there. Sometimes it is an ache, sometimes it is shooting pains and sometimes it feels like I have a golf ball there. Food can aggrevate it, but it is there regardless. I recently had my gallbladder out, and that seems to have made it worse. I had a ton of tests done before I had gb out (ultrasounds, catscans, bariumm xrays, endoscope) and they cant figure it out. I am getting worried it may be pancreas related, but the drs are making me feel like I am crazy....

misterogers

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Joined: 08 Apr 2006
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Location: Boston

Possible Splenal Flexure Syndrome Symptoms Posted: 04-08-06 08:47am


I am a 24 year old, fit male who has had similar symptoms for the past 3 years: - mild to intense pain in upper left abdomen, just behind rib cage - mild to intense pain on corresponding position in my back - when intense, pain feels as if it penetrates through my body - pain comes only during or after sleeping at night - pain comes generally with gas - pain intensity may be higher when larger quantity of food is eaten - stretching and physical activity alleviates the pain more quickly i have not been to see a doctor about this. From my first experiences with the pain, I associated the pain with lots-o-gas. At the time, I had just moved to guinea, africa, so I associated the increased gas with the change of diet. However, since returning home about 9 months ago, I still have had lots-o-gas, and a couple of nights each week the pain returns. I'm now used to it however, so it doesn't really affect my lifestyle. After looking through the web pages, I think this may be splenic flexure syndrome. But, I can't be sure, there is hardly any info available on the web. If anyone has stumbled across an effective treatment, please let us know.

rob44136

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Joined: 20 Jun 2006
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Re:pain Under Rib Cage Posted: 06-20-06 15:14pm


I have had sharp, knifelike pain under the left ribcage for about 20 years, on and off. Mainly related to eating more than just a small amount of food, and gas. A health food store employee got me relief. He said it was splenic flexure syndrome, where the bowel spasms just under the left rib cage. Digestive enzymes taken to prevent gas.... And peppermint oil capsules (pepogest) to sooth the bowel and prevent spasms. I used to get these spasms 3 times a week. I've been doing this enzyme/pepogest regimen for the last 3 years. I've had only one slightly bloated attack since.

KGLK

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Joined: 12 Sep 2007
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Re: Left Side Pain-back Too?
Posted: 09-12-07 21:12pm

van71 wrote:

You guys are not alone, I have only had the left side pain under my ribcage for 3 months now but it is draining and frustrating.

Does yours radiate to your back also?

Some days are better than others, but it is always there. Sometimes it is an ache, sometimes it is shooting pains and sometimes it feels like I have a golf ball there. Food can aggrevate it, but it is there regardless. I recently had my gallbladder out, and that seems to have made it worse.

I had a ton of tests done before I had gb out (ultrasounds, catscans, bariumm xrays, endoscope) and they cant figure it out. I am getting worried it may be pancreas related, but the drs are making me feel like I am crazy....

Please dont let anyone say you are crazy. I got that from some, but not many. It still hurts and adds to your fear and anxiety. I have all the same problems for 6 years now, worse after gb out. I am starting the GERSON therapy next wekk. It is a wholistic treatment that basically resets your body on a cellular level. Since I have done just about everything else to no avail, I will keep this site posted on my progress, i am so praying i can stop the pain!!! God Bless, and good luck to you, KK

ninachgo

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Joined: 23 Sep 2007
Posts: 1

Pain Under Rib Area Posted: 10-01-07 22:44pm


I had been sick for exactly one year with pain under my rib on my right side. I couldn't even sleep on my right side or else it hurt even more and keep me awake. It almost felt like I had a football shoved under my rib and their was pressure there it felt that way. It also radiated to my back side. It always happened after eating so I started loosing weight because I was afraid to eat. I was tested with everything under the sun. All tests came back negative. I found out it is celiac disease which is kind of an allergy to gluten which is found in flour and wheat items like bread, pasta, etc. Now that I do not eat those foods, I am fine. I was also tested for celiac, but it came back negative because I wasn't tested until recently and I had already stopped eating the gluten containing foods. Needless to say, I will not torture myself to eat that again just be tested positive. I do have to be careful, as any kind of bread or crumbs can contaminate the foods that I eat and will cause discomfort again. I'll know right away something happened because I will feel the discomfort. I immediately have to review what I ate so that I do not eat that again. There is lots of information on gluten free diets now since 1 in 133 people have this disease that is for the most part misdiagnosed. Good luck!

richy28

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Joined: 03 Oct 2007
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pain Posted: 05-10-08 05:12am


Patients in whom extensive investigations have failed to identify the cause of abdominal pain present a challenge to surgeons. I have been in pain for over 8 years having 100's of tests, i am going for a Diagnostic conscious pain mapping laparoscopy to see if the pain can be sorted .. i had a laparoscopy done last year and they found things they didn't except to find so that says alot for all the test's i'v had done!

missmike

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Joined: 16 May 2008
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pain just under the rib cage Posted: 05-16-08 13:27pm


Hi i'm new hear but found it intereting that there are many people in my situation. I too have had minor pain just under my rib cage. I also have pain in my abdomen and some bouts of heartburn. Doctor says this is probably all related and is sending me for a colonoscopy. He says it sounds like Crohn's, Colitis or Celiac disease.

doggirl

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Joined: 10 Jun 2008
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Pain under left rib cage post partum Posted: 06-10-08 20:39pm


Hi. I'm new, and was so glad to find this site. It has given me some relief reading your stories, and I'm not feeling so alone anymore. I had a baby girl in Feb 2007 via c-section. Since then I have had digestive problems. Every couple of months I would have severe upper abdominal pain which would last about a day. So bad I couldn't get out of bed. I would also have diarrhea. Then every few weeks I would get this dull pain under my rib cage on the left side. Finally went to a gi doctor who tested me for celiac and lactose intolerance. Tests came back positive. I now have to have an endoscopy this week to confirm the diagnosis. I've been reading alot about celiac symptoms and this particular symptom doesn't seem to exist. I'm curious whether or not it is this splenic flexure syndrome. I have read that pregnancy and surgery, which I have had both of, can trigger celiac. In any event, I'm glad to hear that there are others out there with similar symptoms. I was fearful that it was something much more serious.

Sadgirl08

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Joined: 27 Jun 2008
Posts: 1

Posted: 06-27-08 22:36pm


HELLO I COULD HELP READING ALL YOUR STORIES ON HOW MUCH EVERYONE HAS SUFFERED ON THIS, I'M SORRY TO SAY THAT I TO SUFFER TO THE MOST EXTREME WITH THIS. BUT I HAVE TO SAY THAT THE PROBLEMS FOR ME ALL STARTED WHEN MY GALL BLADDER WAS REMOVED, AND THAT WAS IN THE YEAR 2005. THE PAIN IS IN MY UPPER LEFT SIDE RIGHT IN MY RIB AND THE PAIN IS UNBEARABLE I CAN'T EAT I HAVE LOST ABOUT 95IBS AND STILL GOING, I'M AFRAID TO EAT AND THIS IS SCARY I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ANYMORE I HAVE TRIED EVERY TEST. MEDICINE, DOCTORS AND NOTHING. IT'S NOT FAIR THAT WE HAVE TO LIVE THIS WAY AND DEAL JUST DEAL WITH IT, DOCTORS NEED TO SEARCH BETTER BECAUSE I KNOW THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH ME, I HOPE EVERYONE ELSE GETS SOME RELIEF OR ANSWERS TO THIER QUESTIONS SOON.

tigator27

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Joined: 02 Jul 2008
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pain under ribs Posted: 07-02-08 08:51am


thank you all. i also suffer, as does my 80 yr. old mother. i'm 43. i was diagnosed with haidle hernia, acid reflux, had an endoscopy(thats where he found and afterwards showed me the picture of my hernia). the pain is pretty constant in my chest i just try to blow it off and attribute it to the gas and the food. i can tell you what helps. while i'm working and sweating it seems like my foods digesting and the pain subsides for a while then i start getting hungry and pig out which for a little while the pain goes away. so exercise seems to be one key. i noticed when in the hospital after going through the barium tests, heart tests etc. that the bland food at the hospital made me feel good, also not smoking probably helped. i take prilosec because insurance raised my nexium from $25 to $75 but nexium was good stuff. prilosec seems to work when i stay on it. i've also taken prevacid, propulsid. but you gotta take the pill every day. thats not easy especially when your feeling good. my bro. in law also has reflux and he was told that your stomach will try to reproduce itself in your chest if no treatment. not sure what that meant. good luck and god help us

Pain Under Rib Cage