Griping pain under right ribs & reaching round back towards shoulder blade. Any ideas?

[MrsMeow]

I've had on & off gripy/trapped wind type pain under my right ribs for at least the last two years, very periodically, can be a few times a week then nothing for a few weeks.

Last Thursday I had the same kind of pain, took some Windeeze tabs which usually work but didn't this time, ditto Ranitidine. Kept taking them on Friday and felt really bloated despite this, then on Friday evening I noticed the pain had eased under my ribs but was around the right side towards my back. Long story short I was up Friday & Saturday night, felt sick every time the pain came although wasn't actually sick and still have the pain now although it seems to have eased very slightly.

I can feel it more now in my ribs towards my armpit. It's really weird and frequent, kind of like contractions although there doesn't seem to be any pattern. It's got to the point though where I'm waiting for the pain to come.

I just called my doctors and there's no appointments left for today so she told me to call back in the morning. It's nowhere near bad enough to go to A&E but I'm just a bit concerned about what might be going on as last time I had something similar it was a stomach ulcer that was bleeding. I know it's no that this time though as the pain is literally just under my right ribs and spreading up that side.

Has anyone had anything similar? Is there anything stronger than I'm taking that may help, I could pop out to the chemists if so.

Thanks - and sorry it's so long!!

[MyCatHasStaff]

I had gallstones and this sounds quite similar. If that's what it is, the pain is when a stone is being passed out of the bile duct, and as soon as it's out the pain eases. I also had dull achey pain as well. An ultrasound would show if that's what it is. Try to avoid any fatty foods because that can trigger it. Best to get it checked.

[voodooroses]

I had gallstones the pain your describing is exactly the same. Best see GP and try to cut out fatty foods from your diet.

[TittyWhistles]

Ouch! I've had this. It comes with an attack of IBS at its worst.

It's like my torso is being wrung out like a dishcloth or a I'm being given a whole body Chinese burn.

If thats what it is, Carry on eating as normal (fibrey stuff, fruit and lots of water) to get it through your body. Not eating makes it last longer, your GP can prescribe Mebeverine Which will help the spasms. Hope you feel better soon.

I follow a gluten free diet now and don't get IBS as much.

Hope you feel better soon

[MrsMeow]

Thanks v much everyone, gallstones would make sense. My mum had hers removed a few years ago and she said yesterday that she had similar pains sometimes. I know it's not the right thing to do, but I've only eaten 2 rice cakes today (scared to eat in case it triggers it off again) so I wonder if that's why it's eased off a bit?

Tittywhistles, thank you. I do sometimes have IBS symptoms, my stomach is the bane of my life to be honest, runs in my family! I think I'll try and get into the Drs and see if they can give something to help.

Thanks for the replies :)

[MoreBeta]

Gallstones without a doubt. That pain up under the right rib cage and up into the shoulder blade is classic. Describe that to your GP and he/she will immediately agree.

Do not be fobbed off. There is no cure. You need an ultrasound and if gall stones are found get a operation booked to have the gall bladder out. My mother wasted 2 years messing about with her GP fobbing her off and ended up in A&E with the consultant going balistic at the lack of care she had had.

[MrsMeow]

Thanks MoreBeta, flippin heck, I don't have TIME to be ill!

I'm sorry to hear about your mum, it was a very similar story for mine too and resulted in her collapsing at work (luckily in a hospital) with the pain. She put up with it for way too long to be honest. I think that's why I feel a bit of a farce actually - mum likened the pain to "worse than childbirth" but mine is no worse than early contractions really...! I just know I'm a pain in the bum about trying to ignore pain, hence the stomach ulcer business...

Thank you, I'll phone in the morning, even just to see if I can get some stronger antacid or something.

[EdMcDunnough]

I saw your title and immediately thought gallstones.

It sounds like there could be the start of a blockage, if it is getting more frequent, which can turn into pancreatitis if not treated so you must go to the GP tomorrow and try to get a referral.

My mother was given ranitidine for a few months during her attacks - it was pointless, she had it out in the end which solved the problem entirely and should have happened sooner.

[EdMcDunnough]

Oh and in the meantime, if no one's said it already - avoid anything spicy or fatty. That will help a bit as those are what tend to be the worst things for it. Give your gallbladder a bit of a rest iyswim.

Stick to regular, carb and protein type things, nothing fried, try and avoid too much dairy etc. No chocolate or alcohol.

[MrsMeow]

Thanks Ed, I can phone the drs after 8am tomorrow, they have a triage system so will see what they think.

I've had some toast for dinner, bit worried about eating much. Luckily I avoid spicy or rich foods because of my ulcer, but will cut down on the fatty stuff too :) no alcohol though? Oh maaaaan!!

Thank you :)

[MyCatHasStaff]

When I had an ultrasound, we could see what looked like sand in the gallbladder, with just one or two bigger stones so I think I had passed most of them. I decided to wait and see what happened, and although I've had a few much less painful episodes, I changed my diet radically to try to stop any more forming (have fallen off the wagon lately so am a bit worried they may be forming again) and so far have got away with not having the gallbladder removed. What I'm trying to say is make sure you have the ultrasound before agreeing to have surgery so you know what is going on in there.
Also, it's a bit of a fine line between eating and not - if I went too long without eating that brought on an episode, so try to eat something if you can. Hope you feel better soon.

[MrsMeow]

Thanks again Cat :) I tried to get in to see the doc this morning, to no avail so I have an appointment for tomorrow morning.

The pain is still there, sometimes goes for an hour or so but then comes back and seems to be moving round to the bottom tip of my shoulderblade if that makes sense? I feel a bit of a fraud though as I'm nowhere near in that much pain that I can't do things but I'm just a bit worried that it's not let up since Thursday. Anyway will see what they say tomorrow.

I'm sticking to bland stuff & fruit to eat. Boring but I don't want a repeat of fri & sat night!

[IAmNotACaterpillar]

Just read this thread - I thought of gallstones straight away. I hope you get sorted out - believe me if it is gallstones and you dont get sorted it will only get worse - I ended up with pancreatitis as well. Low fat diet (sorreeeee!) and be kind to yourself.

Good news is that if it is gallstones as soon as you have gallbladder out you will feel loads and loads and loads better!

[MrsMeow]

Thanks Caterpillar.

I saw the doctor this morning, she's prescribed Omeprazole which I have to take daily and Co Codamol for the pain, and I've also had bloods taken inc. for liver function which I have to call back for in two days, so kind of in limbo until then! At least I have better pain relief now though I suppose. I've not been taking anything as paracetomol wasn't working and I can't take aspirin.

Low fat diet sounds v boring but I was dieting anyway so it's just given me a kick up the arse haha!

Hope you're ok now :)

[MadgeHarvey]

Hi OP - glad you're on the way to sorting it out. I'm two weeks the other side of surgery for removal and now going back to hospital tomorrow for a suspected stray stone in my common bile duct! Just when I thought it was all over!
Anyway - just wanted to advise you to take dietary steps to avoid the inevitable constipation that comes with taking co-codamol and save yourself from a whole world of unpleasantness later! Good luck with it all!

[MrsMeow]

Thank you Madge, gosh what a nightmare for you! Will they be removing the stone for you? I hope it's over & done with quickly :)

I thought of the constipation earlier, not one of the nicest side effects! I might just try taking the co Codamol at night (when the pain is worse for some reason) and stick to paracetomol during the day.

Do my symptoms sound similar to what you had before your removal? My mum was certain that it would be down to my gallbladder, and the symptoms do seem to fit what I've read on google in a medical encyclopaedia, but the doc didn't mention it at all and seemed to focus more on my stomach ulcer. I suppose she'll want to see the results of the liver function test first though...

[MadgeHarvey]

Your symptoms sound word for word like mine pre-op! As for the blood tests - I'm a bit pffft about those too! Mine were all 100% normal before and after and also normal today! I'm seeing the consultant tomorrow - if he thinks it is a stone they remove it via the same sort of process as an endoscopy so thankfully more surgery!
Funnily enough my GP wasn't really all that on it being gallstones when I first saw him but I was able to ask for a private referral - have that through DH's work luckily.

[MadgeHarvey]

I mean, of course, NO more surgery

[MrsMeow]

Oh that's not toooooo bad then, hopefully a quick in & out for you? I had an endoscopy when I had my ulcer and it really wasn't that bad so hope it all goes well :)

I was wondering just how much could possibly show up from a blood test but I'm no Dr so I'm not going to question it!!

I've taken some Co Codamol so feel a bit away with the fairies at the minute, but the niggling pain is still there. I wish it would bugger off to be honest, I've had it since Friday (in my back anyway) and its not got worse or better since then, just moved around a bit. It's a pointless pain! As I've said, it's nowhere near bad enough to stop me from doing anything, but it flippin hurts and I'm tense waiting for it to come. Feels like I'm in vvv early labour again!

[MadgeHarvey]

That is a good description of how it feels actually! Like labour pain but higher up! I found as things got worse that the co-codamol did nothing for the pain so Dr prescribed co-dydramol - that was also pretty useless so a week before he upped it to Tramadol. I kid you not - I didn't crap for 10 days after that! Was given Movicol to get things moving again but in the end it was a packet of dried apricots and an OD on Andrews that solved it. Not that I'd recommend that - it wasn't pretty!

[MrsMeow]

Ugh it's just the worst isn't it? Last time I had co codamol was when I'd been knocked over by a car and hurt my leg. I enjoyed the "off my face" feeling for a few days but OMG the constipation! It honestly hurt more than my leg did haha! So yeah, I'll bear that in mind

[PurpleAndPoppyWearer]

Ah, I see you have already been well and truly diagnosed! Another gallstone sufferer here, I saw your thread title and came to suggest it in case anyone else hadn't.

An ultrasound last week confirmed my self-diagnosis. Luckily I have private insurance, but just based on my description of the symptoms (pain under rib cage shooting up to shoulders, painkillers don't help, worse than being in labour) the consultant was all set to whisk out my gall bladder.

I read one time that drinking apple juice can help with some attacks. I have tried it three times and one time it did help (a lot) so I guess it's worth a try.

Since my self-diagnosis I have been avoiding high-fat/creamy foods and it seems to be working for now.

Good luck OP.

[MrsMeow]

Thanks Purple :) sorry you're another one suffering from this horrible pointless pain! The apple juice is a great tip, thanks, I'll get some tomorrow I think. I'm getting really fed up with it now, it feels like I'm just hanging round waiting for the pain to come and go so I can get on with stuff.

I'm avoiding as much crap as poss (no bad thing!!) but I had a bowl of fruit for lunch and it still hurt so I feel like pigging a big fry up or something haha!

Are you just trying to control your symptoms with diet, or will you be having it removed?

[MadgeHarvey]

I was told today that besides eating zero fat for the next few days I should only eat very soft or mushy stuff - I've been living on bloody bananas and Ready Brek anyway! Haven't heard the apple juice thing but if it works for you it can only be good! Also consultant said to avoid hard fruits like apples as they can irritate symptoms - I suppose it kind of makes sense? Or am I so off my head on painkillers that I'd believe any old shite?

[PurpleAndPoppyWearer]

The website I read actually suggested apple juice mixed with apple cider vinegar, but that tasted disgusting! And the one time it worked for me, I just drank apple juice. Instant relief. Worth a try, eh?

I will probably have surgery, health insurance permitting. I have two young DCs and just can't continue to have debilitating attacks. I saw my gall bladder on the ultrasound and it looks like a pea pod, a string of small gall stones.

[MrsMeow]

Madge that would actually make sense - I had two granny smiths before bed and OMG the agony! I can still feel it now, like I have bits of apple stuck in my chest. Won't be doing that again, maybe ready brek & bananas are the way to go...!

Good luck for today, let me know how you get on :)

Purple, good to know you have the option of surgery. I know my mum was out of action for a good few days but it totally changed her life after she had hers removed, not least because the pain stopped. I know what you mean about the DC, I felt bad enough last night as I had to take the co codamol and it always knocks me about a bit, so the kids kind of looked after themselves really they're 12 & 8 though so not too bad.