Gnawing stomach pain, help

[pollypleb]

I've had a sort of burning, gnawing pain in what feels like my stomach/stomach lining for 4 days now. Right below my ribs in the centre of my torso.

It's not excruciating but it is noticeable and it's making me worried. I'm still eating but I've lost my appetite a bit. Google has brought up things such as gastritis and stomach ulcers but I'm wondering if anyone else has any ideas? I haven't been sick but the sensation has made me retch a few times and I had bad diarrhoea on one of the days too. Not sure if it's related.

I obviously know nobody can diagnose me here but I haven't been able to get a doctors appointment this week so it'll be next week now and even then I don't know if they'll be able to do much. As I said it's not horrific pain, more niggly. Any ideas?

I get this sometimes and need to take antacids that I got from the doctors. They seem to work for me. Sometimes it can be really sore. Maybe try taking some gaviscon and see if it eases? Maybe a phone call to the gp too to put your mind at rest

I had pancreatitis caused by a gall stone and it started like that- gnawing pain across the centre of my stomach. It got much worse and I ended up in hospital.

I had the same before Xmas & the GP said it was gastritis & prescribed tablets that are antacids.

Like the above poster recommended, try over the counter antacids until your appointment.

It could be a raptured appendix. I had the same kind of pain, worsening every day, over a few days. My GP told me it was probably IBS. By that evening I was crawling on the floor with excruciating pain and then just went to the hospital, where, sure enough, it was a raptured appendix.

I had this for 6 months solid a few years ago, and had a gastroscopy (camera down my throat into stomach) to check for the cause. Absolutely nothing. It was put down as "functional dyspepsia". It's a lot better now, but if it does flare up I take lansoprazole (prescribed by GP) or Rennie's, and eat a bland diet for a few days.

Don't worry too much, if you go to GP they will most likely say the same - change your diet and try some tablets.

Sounds like gastritis to me. You should visit your GP for a proper diagnosis.

Does anyone know what causes gastritis? I've been eating really well this week and no alcohol so it seems ironic that my problems have only started now

I will of course try to see the GP next week if it doesn't improve but it's so bloody hard to get an appointment at the moment, even a telephone one. If it gets worse I suppose 111 or a&e is an option but it's not painful like other posters have described.

I think gastritis can just happen. Equally you may not have gastritis at all, like I said I had it for 6 months but no gastritis. Just dyspepsia. Have you been stressed lately? Stress can cause it. For me my GP thought it was long term use of antidepressants that had affected my stomach. I stopped eating certain things - I never have orange juice, vinegar, anything pickled, flavoured crisps, fizzy sweets, very spicy food any more. All those things trigger it for me.

Don't go to A&E unless it becomes severe pain. If it's only dyspepsia/gastritis that's really not an emergency. Try changing your diet first. You can also get tablets from the pharmacy - try Nexium. They have similar to what a GP could prescribe, but less strong.

Can I add that if you should keep an eye on your bowel movements and if you get anything that looks black or red or smells metallic, you should go straight to A&E. This happened to me and I needed emergency surgery. What I had is very rare though so probably not that! If it stays the same probably GP is best. 111 is an option if you can't get a GP appointment.

I nearly always get gastritis after a viral infection, even something as minor as a cold. So as @AnxietyGirl8 says, it can just be one of those things. But you need a proper diagnosis and the appropriate treatment.