Would it be silly to ask for an urgent referral for these symptoms?

[DevilledEggs]

I’ve suffered with heartburn for a long time. I’ve been prescribed various medications to help but they only offer temporary relief.

Recently, I’ve been getting sharp, painful stabbing pains at the top left of my stomach. Usually during or after eating. I also suffer bloating and general abdominal pain along with some occasional IBS.

DH and went out for a meal tonight and I’d not even finished before I started getting pain in between my shoulder blades and lower back. It feels like food is stuck in my back (I know it’s not, but that’s how it feels). The pain in the left of my abdomen has returned and I’m so bloated I feel ready to burst. Now I have mild but uncomfortable pain in my back and between my shoulder blades as well as in my abdomen.

I’ve been to my GP for various symptoms recently (including itchy skin, new headaches , cystitis and vertigo) so I don’t want to be viewed as a hypochondriac but something seems very off with my digestive system at the moment.

Will I sound silly asking for an urgent referral for an ultrasound on my abdomen?

Did the food have a high fat content?

I reckon it could be really useful. You would be reassured firstly so this needs further examinations.

Sounds like gall stones.

@Myhouseismyprison It was grilled chicken and salad. It did have a dressing, but this is happening after nearly every meal.

Sounds like your gallbladder possibly

Agree, sounds like gallbladder problems. Itchy skin is also a sign of a problem with the gallbladder.

Also, I would suggest always suggest checking, especially if the symptoms are new and different to your normal.

Gallstones had me thinking I was having a heart attack. Look at Biliary colic symptoms. The pain radiates my back, neck and shoulders and I feel bloated.
I've got stones, but not thankfully had an attack in a while, but oh my days when it does I've not known any pain like it.

I agree with everyone that it could be gallbladder and worth checking.

Sometimes my ibs presents like that if the food is especially fatty but a chicken salad wouldn’t do it.

Is gallbladder pain not usually on the right hand side? This is on the left under my rib cage.

I think it's probably your gall bladder as well.
Ask the GP to refer you for a scan

Same here. I thought I was dying. Felt like something trying to give birth through my rib cage.

I had similar and was then diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease. They diagnosed me via a blood test initially and then further probing and samples etc.

Would gall stones warrant an urgent referral or will the standard route do?

I’ve looked up the symptoms for gall stones, but I’m not sure they fit. The pain isn’t intense and it’s on the left side, not the right. Of course, it could still be those.

My gallbladder pain was always on the left not the right. I had two awful attacks this year and had my gall bladder out in October. Your symptoms sound just like mine. By the end every and any food set it off

OP, I’d push for a scan. Have you had any surgeries in the past, like a hysterectomy? My sisters scar fussed to her bowel and she hadn’t a clue, just uncomfortable pains after eating, she also vomited for a few days prior to being admitted to hospital with extreme pain as her bowel was very close to bursting! My point is, don’t ever feel silly and always get yourself checked immediately if you notice a change or worsening of symptoms.

Diverticulitis pain is often on the left, however gall stones (just like kidney stones) can result in pain not actually near the stones. Doctors often dont accept this and when I had gall bladder pain and it was across my front like a tight belt, I was told very definitiely that it couldnt be gall bladder because thats only on the right hand side.

It certainly could be gall stones. I’ll speak to my GP, I just feel rather silly, especially as I’ve been to them multiple times recently. I don’t usually go, but it’s all come at once.

I had the exact same symptoms with gallstones. Only thing different was that I had upper right quadrant pain and not left sided pain. Everything else is exactly what I had though. Mine settled in the end and I didn't need surgery.

Go to the Dr and describe your symptoms and let them determine what needs doing and at what urgency.

I had gallstones so it seems when I had those exact symptoms- please take it seriously -I kind of fudged it for months aged 35 and ended up with emergency surgery on holiday in Spain and was in ICU for a burst gall bladder

Gallbladder is left hand sided pain often

Handily you don’t decide whether it’s urgent, the professionals do.

As a general guide, pain that stops you sleeping merits medical attention.