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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Calling the MN medical encyclopedia - sudden onset rib pain?

37 replies

RadioDorothy · 19/11/2018 22:11

MN collectively diagnosed my gallstones last year, so I'm hoping for an insight into this as I'm bemused. About 5 hours ago I suddenly developed awful pain around my ribs on both sides, but mainly the right. It's stabbing me in sporadic waves, and taking my breath away. Nothing happened just before it came on - no lifting, twisting or coughing. I had been suffering from a bit of heartburn but that's normal (I'm out of omeprazole).

Moving around doesn't worsen or relieve it, neither does laying flat. I feel fine apart from the pain and ate some dinner, which had no effect.

I can't think of a single organ around there, it's way too high for kidney and too far out for liver. I do have a folate deficiency that I'm taking folic acid for, and I had a suspect liver related blood result recently so I'm scheduled for a liver scan soon. I had my gallbladder removed last year.

Any ideas? I'm propped up awkwardly in bed, it feels sort of colicky but very localised around my sides and back - a big wave feels like it meets in the middle of my back.

OP posts:
TheRealHousewifeofCheshire · 19/11/2018 22:13

I was going to say gallstones... Confused pancreatitis?

LizzieBennettDarcy · 19/11/2018 22:16

I think you need to phone 111 and ask for advice.

Sudden onset pain needs investigating.

ChanklyBore · 19/11/2018 22:18

Costochondritis perhaps?

Bambamber · 19/11/2018 22:21

My first thought was also costochondritis

WrongKindOfFace · 19/11/2018 22:22

Trapped wind?

ByGaslight · 19/11/2018 22:31

It could be pancreatitis, which can cause elevated liver enzymes. It could be a problem with your bile duct. If the pain is as bad as gallstone pain I would ring the NHS helpline.

You can get a dysfunction of a sphincter to your bile duct after having your gallbladder removed, which can feel like gallstone pain. Taking any kind of opiate including over the counter cocodamol or codeine can make it much worse. Buscopan generally relieves this sphincter pain and it's not usually serious but can occasionally be linked to pancreatitis.

NicwNacw · 19/11/2018 22:35

Does it get worse when you take a deep breath?

dahliaaa · 19/11/2018 22:37

I’m going to follow this because I’m also a year on from gallbladder removal and I’ve now got continuing right side rib pain. Very uncomfortable and actually more frequent than the ‘gallbladder’ pain I had originally.
Feels like something still ‘stuck’ there and then radiates into back. GP stumped.

Sorry you’ve got this OP. Definitely call 111 if things escalate quickly.

Nicoandtheniners · 19/11/2018 22:37

Dd gets chostochronditis and it sounds like that.

sazzle27 · 19/11/2018 22:37

Livers are a lot bigger than most people realise... personally I would be looking for an OOH gp appointment, if only for better pain relief to get through the night

Odd how it is both sides, although it makes some conditions less likely...

Are you clammy? Sweaty? Indigestion type pain?
Suspect that it suddenly came on..
Any family history of health problems?

sazzle27 · 19/11/2018 22:38

How does it change if you lean forwards while sitting?
Have you had any pain relief other than buscopan tonight?

Original poster
RadioDorothy · 19/11/2018 22:56

No change with a deep breath - very very slight relief leaning forward, still stabbing but not as intense?
Family history predominantly alzheimers and heart disease!
It certainly started as indigestion type pain, kind of shifting heartburn, but now very much focused around right rib at the back. No reflux feeling at all now - I don't feel unwell or clammy, it's just a distracting 6/10 pain in exactly the same spot. But my gallbladder pain and an inflamed kidney I only ever put at an 8! I'm quite stoic.
Would chostocondritis be sudden onset?
No pain relief yet, I might still have some buscopan somewhere.
Dahlia I remember you, still no improvement? Poor you, that sucks. I've mostly been fine!

OP posts:
Original poster
RadioDorothy · 19/11/2018 22:59

Incidentally, the GP wasn't terribly clear but that blood result was a possible indicator of fatty liver?

OP posts:
sazzle27 · 19/11/2018 23:02

Any change to diet this evening? Try new foods?
What was dinner?

And it it isnt too personal...
Male or female
Age (general decade is ok)
General body shape

sazzle27 · 19/11/2018 23:02

Family history both sides (maternal and paternal), or one sided? Any particular age of onsets, or more in old age?

Original poster
RadioDorothy · 19/11/2018 23:16

No, normal diet today - porridge for breakfast, bit of toast for lunch, turkey sausages with mash and veg for dinner! Pain started before dinner anyway.
Female, mid 40s and pre-menopausal.
Family history both sides, heart issues as early as 50s.
I am short and 4 stone overweight, all on my middle. Blush

OP posts:
MissMarplesKnitting · 19/11/2018 23:18

Kidneys are way higher than most people think. Could be kidney infection

sazzle27 · 19/11/2018 23:29

If i was in my "day" job I'd be over-cautious....and probably refer you for bloods and ecgs...
(We get called out for a lot less normally!!

Personally, with your family history and symptoms, there's a whole host of thkngs it could be - cardiac-related through to something quite benign...

I know it's a pain in the bum but for me... 111 for an OOH gp appointment tonight, to be on the safe side..

Original poster
RadioDorothy · 19/11/2018 23:29

Hmm have definitely been prone to those in the past, had umpteen scans and xrays looking for elusive stones. But I always had flank pain with that, this is very much high up and to the sides - if you raise your hands and clamp your elbows into your sides, that's about where it is - where your elbows are tucked in.

And I'm currently drooling over the marmite thread, so I'm not in the least bit nauseous. But pain still the same as it was 6 and a half hours ago.

OP posts:
Original poster
RadioDorothy · 19/11/2018 23:31

Thank you very much Sazzle, for your expert advice! I'm a "sleep on it" kinda girl, I'm going to relax and try to sleep, and if it's not gone by the morning I'll toddle off to my GP.

Thanks again Flowers

OP posts:
sazzle27 · 19/11/2018 23:34

In all fairness....
If I put my "me" head on..,, I would do the same.
It's only my "work" head saying you need to be checked out!!

Best of luck getting to sleep, and hopefully it is simply something like trapped wind.. 👍🏻👍🏻

Original poster
RadioDorothy · 19/11/2018 23:39

It'll probably vanish as suddenly as it arrived, and we'll never know! Fingers crossed anyway. If it would hurry up and fade to a dull spasm I can probably sleep, although I really want some toast and marmite right now.

OP posts:
Original poster
RadioDorothy · 19/11/2018 23:41

As my doctor friend would say, no one with a life threatening condition fantasises about what they want to eat.

OP posts:
Armychef30 · 19/11/2018 23:44

I had my gallbladder removed last year was a light relief for a while but started again a few months later with sudden pain under my right ribs , turns out the bile duct is also enlarged and infected presents simalar though not as severe symptoms to gall bladder pain may be a possibility x

Original poster
RadioDorothy · 19/11/2018 23:46

Oh crap Army, really? Bugger it. Was the pain towards the back of the ribcage?

OP posts:
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