Griping pain under right ribs & reaching round back towards shoulder blade. Any ideas?

[MrsMeow]

I've had on & off gripy/trapped wind type pain under my right ribs for at least the last two years, very periodically, can be a few times a week then nothing for a few weeks.

Last Thursday I had the same kind of pain, took some Windeeze tabs which usually work but didn't this time, ditto Ranitidine. Kept taking them on Friday and felt really bloated despite this, then on Friday evening I noticed the pain had eased under my ribs but was around the right side towards my back. Long story short I was up Friday & Saturday night, felt sick every time the pain came although wasn't actually sick and still have the pain now although it seems to have eased very slightly.

I can feel it more now in my ribs towards my armpit. It's really weird and frequent, kind of like contractions although there doesn't seem to be any pattern. It's got to the point though where I'm waiting for the pain to come.

I just called my doctors and there's no appointments left for today so she told me to call back in the morning. It's nowhere near bad enough to go to A&E but I'm just a bit concerned about what might be going on as last time I had something similar it was a stomach ulcer that was bleeding. I know it's no that this time though as the pain is literally just under my right ribs and spreading up that side.

Has anyone had anything similar? Is there anything stronger than I'm taking that may help, I could pop out to the chemists if so.

Thanks - and sorry it's so long!!

Whoops forgot to say, I'll pick some apple juice up and try that later on. Don't like the sound of the vinegar though, sounds a bit harsh doesn't it?!

Well. Saw consultant today - he's the nicest man and an expert in his field - after a bit of prodding he thinks I've got post-operative pain. Now - I know diddly squat about all this - but it just doesn't feel like post-operative pain. It feels too much like the pain I had before removal. Anyway - have an ultrasound Tuesday so we'll see where that goes. In the meantime............zero fat diet and stick with the bland mushy stuff. Shares in Ready Brek anyone?

Yeah, I thought that about the vinegar!

Pear juice is also supposed to be good.

Poor Madge. Sounds horrid.

Thank you! I'm just pissed about the diet really! Skimmed milk is the work of the devil! Oh well - fingers crossed for a speedy resolution for me and all of you!

Oh no, so you're no better off then really? At least you'll know for sure on Tuesday though, I hope it doesn't get any worse for you before then.

I like the sound of pear juice, I must admit! I have some apple juice on the go, so will see whether it helps. Can't take meds tonight as I'm ferrying these flippin kids about until gone 9! My pain does seem to have eased slightly today though, thankfully. I've still got the odd twinge under my shoulder blade and feel as though I have indigestion, but no "contractions" thank god, so hopefully it's settled down now, maybe the Omeprazole is doing some good? Who knows!

Keep your chin up both :)

Ooh gallstone pain is awful. I had the worst night of my life due to gallstones.

A hot water bottle gave the best relief I found.

Interesting reading, I'm going through this all now, I hope you get some relief.

I collapsed 6mths ago, 3GP visits eventually one said arrh galstones?, numerous blood tests, ultrasound, now waiting for MRI in 2weeks time to see if stone is stuck in duct. If it is then its the thing down your throat under sedative but awake. I'm quietly terrified, I'd rather be put out? My consultant said best operation is one avoided so he trying not to take my gallbladder out even though I've got lots of stones. I've got 1yr old and 5yr so would prefer not an op but don't want years of worrying is another attack coming.

ssmile - I was terrified too of the yukky thing down the throat - so terrified! They did sedate me though after much begging and looking like I would burst into tears at any moment! I'm told afterwards that it's not a GA - but the drug they give you means that afterwards you cannot remember a single thing that happened to you during the procedure. I can't say for sure but I can tell you this - I have absolutely no idea what happened to me and don't remember a bit of it! Push for the sedation. I also had the MRI but here's the silly thing about that - they now tell me that between the MRI (clear) and the operation (in my case just 24 hours) it's perfectly possible for a stone to move from the gallbladder to the bile duct so it all seems a little pointless doesn't it? I'd have to say I think it's better to have the thing out - it's going to happen eventually and is there ever going to be a perfect time? Good luck to you anyway!

Thanks madge I hope you pain sorts out too and readybrek is ok. Yes I'd need sedating as I gag easily I did use lots of Hypnotherapy type breathing to cope with my second (planned) c-sec after awful panic attack whilst they were trying to do the first emergency section. So I hope I can use the "be calm" techniques. But it does worry me like you said this could be one of many stones that move do I have to go through this several times when having gallbladder removed would remove that issue! I hate the feeling of being out of my control to make decisions about my body. Hohum guess just getting old and all my chocolate consumption is catching up with me. Rather ironic I'm at my lowest weight for 10+yrs after losing 2.5st since Jan!

mrs meow hope the Apple juice helps maybe its the acid? I may try it too. I've found eating low fat &small portions has really helped me. Gd luck.

Thanks guys, sorry to hear there's others suffering too - what a pain in the arse eh?

I was knocked out when I had the endoscopy, I really didn't want to be just sedated but they didn't offer me the chance anyway, maybe because I was an inpatient.

Phone for results of bloods today. All negative so . Seeing Dr on Tues so until then, I'll be joining you Madge with the readybrek diet! Met a friend for breakfast this morning and had a bacon sandwich with fat cut off but my god have I paid for it all day! Necking apple juice as I type haha!

Gallstones. It's a fucker. I just got my gallbladder out three weeks ago owing to the pain of the bloody gallstones.
Good luck getting it sorted! x

ssmile it may well be the weight loss that has brought this on, did you know that? Same for me, lost 2 stones and more since January, had DC2 a year ago and went hell-for-leather to lose the baby weight. Glad I have, but didn't bargain on gallstones!

I also have two young DCs, 4 and 1, and I really want my gall bladder removed. I've had attacks at least monthly for the past six monthks, in August it was once a week and the pain stayed for hours. In my last attack I had to just lie there in a ball in pain whilst my baby boy crawled around me. Way more painful than labour, one of the lowest points of my life. I never want that to happen again.

Hope the apple juice is working, OP x

I hope you get some resolution to your pain purple its SO horrid when you have such young children to care for when an attack hits, I was terrified I would pass out.Yes I had read and I ticked all the trigger factors, age, pregnancys, weight loss, was overweight Hohum I feel Luckly I've only had two bad attacks (unfortunately I ended up in ambulance with both my DDs) and I think my healthy diet has helped but this last week I've been back at work, new position, more stress and as result my healthy diet went out window and after polishing off a large bag of ministrals the tell tell ache came back on my right side :-( I SO don't want my weight to creep back up again I must stay mindful of what I'm eating.

pictish - how are you finding your recovery? Smooth or harder than you expected? It's 3 weeks for me too and I still feel quite crap tbh - just wondering how it is for others?

Sorry about your bacon sandwich pain mrs - I could have told you that was a dumb idea but would you have believed me? I always like to find these things out for myself!!

Tbh I felt like utter shit for the first week after the surgery, like I'd been run over. The second week I just felt ill. Now I'm feeling a lot more myself.

Seems its pretty common! Can I ask if anyone else's family members have suffered from gallstones as well? As I said, my mum had her gb removed, but I found out today that my late nan had hers removed too so was wondering if it was hereditary?

Purple, haven't noticed any change yet, still drinking it though!! (wondering if I should add some wine to it ) Madge, I knowwwww it was gorgeous though ALMOST worth the pain!

Pictish, glad you're feeling better after your surgery. I know my mum was knocked for 6 by it.

No known family history of it here, no. Mum has pretty bad reflux issues but that's all.
I so know what you mean about 'worth the pain' (almost) - I've just been drooling over the spag bol I made for dinner and watched them wolf down - all the time weighing up the wisdom of snarfing some up too and sticking my face in the Parmesan and breathing it in! I didn't but I really really wanted to!

My gran had her gallbladder out earlier this year; her symptoms sounded exactly like yours....pain under right ribs / in right armpit.

I know "gallstones!" has been mentioned about a thousand times already on this thread but I thought I'd add my voice to the chorus anyway!

My consultant asked about family history, yes, it's relevant! Especially in female family members.

My Aunt's had her gall bladder removed.

I just wondered can you feel a lump in the area on right just up under rib cage? Mine has "ached" a bit last couple days but no real pain but I can feel a swelling or lump there &few wks ago I had bruising hence the GP panicing it was pancras &rushed blood samples. I had had more fatty foods on tues&wed but been relatively "gd" since so hope that helps!

No family history here, but was told my two girls will need to be careful now :-( they 1 &5.

Thanks very much everyone re family history. Ssmile, I can't feel a lump on examination if you see what I mean, but I can feel 'something' when I'm sat upright, say at the dinner table or something. It feels like I have to wiggle to get comfy!

I went back to the dr this morning as the pain is increasing in frequency and getting worse, and she's sending me for an ultrasound on my liver. Just got to wait for her to call me as she wanted to speak to a senior dr first, not sure why?

Anyway. Ho hum....maybe the scan will show something?

I agree with others sounds like gallstones hope you get it sorted soon x

It feels like a slow process getting a diagnoses mrsmeow I hope you get quick scan date, my problems started 6mths ago it feels at each stage another test is needed etc....my next stage is MRI in 10days time. Gd luck with managing your pain.

My GP(s) and A&E were rubbish at diagnosing me. I've been having pains amd symptoms for six months. In the end I diagnosed myself and went to the GP with my suspicions, simply to ask for a private referral. I have to pay some of the cost, but count myself very lucky that my DH has private insurance through work.

Since being referred privately things have moved at 100mph. I have had the initial consultation, ultrasound, another consultation and now ready to book surgery, all within 2 weeks.

This is not stealth-boasting, I just want to urge any of you with private insurance to use it! We have to pay around £300 of the cost of the operation, but that will be worth it!

Good luck everyone x