Pain around the ribcage

[sailorsgal]

I've had around three episodes and it was so bad the other day I went to A&E. They think it might be gallstones though they didn't scan me. Was told to see the GP.

Anyone with gallstones?

Are you sure it's not a virus? I had this which was very very painful?

Would a virus last 4 months though? And I have one episode then nothing for weeks. This weeks was the worst.

It could be a locking of the the rib joints and subsequent spasm of the intercostal muscles. It can come and go and be very painful. If other diseases like shingles and gall stones have been ruled out, see a chiropractor for a rib check. The spine will probably be involved too if it is a rib problem.
Good luck,
Green Partridge

sailorsgal - if it is gallstones you will have a pain starting just under your breasbone and running round the lower edge of your right rib cage round to the back and in severe cases it then runs up into the right shoulder blade.

Sound familiar?

Is it a pain that is deep inside your ribcage, or sort of on the skin?

beenbeta thats exactly how it is.

Can you get rid of gallstones?

I did read somewhere that green tea was good for gallstones.

No you cant get rid of them by yourself. I know people talk about apple juice and all sorts to dissolve them but really you need to get to your GP and push hard to get an ultrasound scan. Then you need your gallbladder removing if the stones are there. It will only get worse. I struggled on with mine for several years until I had a full blown biliary cholic when a stone gets stuck in the duct. My mother the same,except her gall bladder nearly burst and she ended up in A&E.

Dont be fobbed off. Tell your doctor the exact symptoms, where the pain is and tell him/her that you know that is typical of gall stones.

Eat light meals and very little fat until you get treated - heavy fatty meals and alcohol ill make you feel much worse.

beenbeta I had a scan last year which the A&E doctor looked at but there wasn't anything there. But that was last July so I soppose something could have developed since then.

Thats strange. I would have it done again.

The classic pains you have sound pancreatic.

Have you also had blood tests for liver function? Also, its the small stones that are the worst. They get stuck in the duct and are very easily missed.

beenbeta the scan was for an unrelated problem so I wonder if the stones have appeared since then.

Sailorsgal - I had an op to remove gallstones last March. Had suffered exruciating pain (DSis who also had them reckoned worse than childbirth!) which was getting more frequent.

Had keyhole surgery - was in hospital overnight, supposed to be off work for 4 weeks but felt like total fraud after about 3 days so went back early. Have 4 small scars which have much reduced over last 10 months and can now eat as much brie as I please!

Untreated gallstone problems can lead to pancreatitis which is even worse so do get it looked at.

dweezle thanks for that. Will go back to the GP next week.

A bad attack I had last week was after a goats cheese and caramelised onion panini and I am partial to brie aswell.

MIL said they used to be a saying "fair, fat and forty" which described the type of person who gets them. Well I am two out of three.

Sailorsgal I had severe bouts of pain just like the one you describe above.

When I was scanned there was nothing found and the dr was positive I had an ulcer, not gallstones.

I ended up with an emergency op (collapsed at work) and my gallbladder was full of very small stones which aren't picked up on a scan.

I found that any pain I had was far worse after eating a meal with a high fat content.

Def see your GP!

Yes def sounds like gallstones. After 1 cancelled clinic op and then taken in for week after developing pancreatitis and enduring 3 more cancelled ops, I am now praying they will do it on the new scheduled date of 1st feb!