Pain Under Left Side of Rib Cage (Page 13)

I've had almost identical symptoms to yours for 2 years now continuously. I am 29 years old, male and used to be built like a tank. 2 years ago I started getting mild, chronic upper left abdomen pain...gnawing, ulcer like...but no acid reflux, etc. It has continued non stop for 2 years and now radiates accross my entire left side, up under my left ribcage, etc. I have had every test in the book done, from an upper endoscopic ultrasound to check for pancreatitis, to full body CT, to upper and lower endo for cancer, ulcers, cysts, etc and a hydrogen breath test for H-pyloric infection...nothing, NADA, ZIP. According to the docs, I'm healthy, with only a vitamin B and D definciency they can't seem to discern as well as a slightly elevated Amylase level (which again, I had an endoscopic ultrasound, the GOLD standard for detecting pancreatitis and it came back 100%, without a doubt, negative).

I lost 70 lbs last year. I have chronic fatique, weakness, trouble sleeping, heart palpitations, etc. I have an easy life. I have had the weight gain, loss prob for 10 years now. Lost 80 lbs when I was 23, gained 60 back, then at 27, lost that 70 lbs, now have gained 30 back. My doc thinks its stress. I honestly don't know anymore. He may be right. This IS a relief to see others that have the same symptoms. I thought I was alone. IBS does NOT match my symptoms, nor many of the similar ones to mine I see on this site.

The ONLY thing that seems to alleviate the chronic nagging pain is lying on my back. It goes away almost completely when I do that which is SO strange.

I've also found that after taking clidinium, nexium, prylosec otc, Viokase, and every drug int he book to try and help this prob that extra strength Tylenol does a better job than most. If I take Tylenol PM, I find often the next morning I am hungrier, and pain free well into late morning/ early afternoon.

I wonder if its something we're eating?

Does anyone here use Splenda artificial sweetener on a regular basis?

Also, does anyone here drink coffee or 2 or more caffeinated drinks a day?

How about alchohol, how much, when?...and does your consumption of any of these things line up with a starting point of your symptoms??

Splenda is something you should avoid, it's nasty stuff. Do a search for it and you'll find people with all kinds of problems. Myself included.

As for your other symptoms...have you finished a round of antibiotics recently? Like Cipro or Levaquin, perhaps? Do a Google search for quinolones. I'd post a link, but apparently it's against the rules to do so here. Or just PM me and I'll give you the links directly.

Yep, same here. I don't have much of an apetite anymore. Between ages 25 and 26 or so, I went from about 200 lbs down to my current weight of 165-170. I get full easily as well, and I stay feeling full all day. Just recently, constipation has become a problem, although rarely. I took some Dulcolax after Thanksgiving dinner made me miserable for days. Wow, that stuff works. Not sure I'd do that again.

But anyway, it is just interesting to me that your symptoms match mine so exactly. If I ever get to the bottom of this, I'll certainly post back.

Hey nlvs - Don't know if you'll see this...but have you ever talked to your obgyn about Endometriosis? I too have this upper left abdom pain...in addition to other pains and issues that seem to be correlated to my menstrual cycle...and have been previously diagnosed with IBS (gastro disorder) and Endometriosis (gyno disorder). It might be worth looking into. Take care and good luck!