To think something MUST be wrong with me?

[Sotuko]

Now and again I get these crippling pains in my stomach - high up just below the rib cage. Feels like my insides are being twisted and ripped apart. The pain radiates into my chest and down my shoulder, so much so that I panic and think I'm having a heart attack.

The first time it happened I'd just eaten fish and chips. I was with my grandma and didn't want to panic her, it was about 20 minutes after we'd eaten. I tried to keep a poker face but the pain was deliberating and I had to stop and just sit in agony until it went away.

A few weeks ago I'd been to Pilates, came home and had a bacon sandwich. 20 minutes later I got funny pains in my upper abdomen so assumed it was my (rather tight) sports bra. I took it off and oh my god the pain ... I laid on the coach and it started radiating into my chest, down my arms, up the side of my face and into my back. I genuinely thought this WAS a heart attack and shouted of DH - as it went in it got worse and I ended up in tears. Just as DH was about to call an ambulance it went away but it had lasted a good 15 minutes.

Today, I did body combat, came home, felt fine, had an egg sandwich, 20 minutes later it hit me like a ton of bricks, lasted 15/20 minutes then disappeared again.

What on earth could it be??? I'm thinking celiac disease? But then why doesn't It happen everytime I eat?? I notice today I took 9 months pregnant too despite normally being quite thin and flat.

Have you got clay coloured stools? Another vote for gallstones

That sounds just like my indigestion. When I get it it is more painful than childbirth. Sometimes it even hurts right inside of my collar bone.
Get some gaviscon or remegel in and if that shifts it next time then at least you know.

Is it on the right OP? GP should be able to get that scanned, it does sound like classic gallbladder problems.

Another vote for gallstones

I was going to say it sounds like the kind of indigestion/trapped air I get when I eat certain foods and sit in the wrong position.

It's crippling and sudden and goes all around my chest and neck. I find Rennie's Deflatine tablets (not regular Rennie's) to be magic. Maybe keep some in your bag and see if taking one helps.

Ive just had my gall bladder removed as an emergency case and all i say is dont ignore it!! Better to be booked in for an op than be rolling around on a toilet floor in a&e for 5 hours before you get pain relief then end up in hospital for 7 nights as it had started to die inside me!
Looking back i used to get pains like you but put it down to indigestion (big brave northern lass!)
Please get checked out

Gallsones! Get thee to the GP - the pain is excruciating.

I had my gallbladder removed 25 yrs ago. One thing that really helps during an attacked, for me anyway, is to keep moving. I swear doing jumping jacks unblocked my bile duct every time.

I had the thing removed after being worn out from years of jumping jacks (I was so fit lol) and eating almost zero fat meals.

My vote is for gallstones too. Get yourself to your GP.

It could be gallstones or pancreatitis. You will likely experience these symptoms after a fatty meal. You should make an appointment with go for blood tests as may need a referral for a camera test

Had this when pregnant -indigestion and gaviscon relieved it. It was also after fish and chips - fatty food exacerbates it.

If you have some in the house try that while you wait for gp test?

I put my milder gallstone attacks down to indigestion for years, maybe 8 years. i would only have a bad attack every 18 months or so and always after a fatty meal, once a fry up, once a cream tea and the worst one, which lasted for more than 12 hours, cheese and potato pie!

I would put other, minor attacks down to indigestion and swore by remegel. Obviously merely a placebo and the attack was dying down of its own accord. It wasn't until the one that stuck in the bile duct and gave me jaundice that it dawned upon me it wasn't just indigestion.

My mum had had gallstones but her pain was on her right side, not central like mine. My pain wasn't sharp like a cut, but still severe enough to worry me it might be heart related. Get thee to a doctor and have a think about if you want surgery. The consultant was a surgeon and only really interested in a surgical solution, the GP may recommend avoiding fatty food as an alternative.