What is this upper abdominal pain?

[BillyDaveysDaughter]

I've had a lot of abdominal pain, on and off for years, but more recently concentrated behind my sternum and around my ribs - sometimes it goes around to my back, on both sides.

I take omeprazole occasionally for reflux and regurgitation, so I doubt it's heartburn or indigestion and the pain doesn't necessarily correspond with eating. Rennie and Gaviscon don't really help either.

I can relieve it most nights by curling up into a foetal position but it never really goes away completely and my whole chest aches when I take a deep breath.

I'm reluctant to see the GP, I'll only be written off as fat anyway. Is this what gallbladder pain feels like?

Google costochondritis and see if that fits.

can't believe I've just told someone to Google their symptoms!

Haha!

Hmm...possible I suppose. Although I had a spell of this pain about 6 weeks ago for 4 or 5 days, then it went again until now.

So seems unlikely to be physical strain? Although I did lift some heavy stuff yesterday.

The pain can come and go. I had similar pain to what you describe. Had an abdominal scan - all clear. So I went on Dr Google and diagnosed myself

Billy interestingly DD has an enlarged kidney on ultrasound too, they think any stone had passed down a bit.

Hiatus hernia?

Here's something different to throw into the mix........
You might also need to see a rheumatologist, and have MRI scan. I also have these type of pains, but in my case the diagnosis is Spondyloarthropathy. It's an arthritic condition which affects the axial skeleton (anything like sternum, ribs, pelvis, neck, which are connected to the spine). If you have to have any arthritis, this isn't a bad one to get, it's really well controlled with a tailored set of exercises, and I also take occasional low doses of specific anti inflammatories.
Whatever it turns out to be, I really hope you get some help soon. Not knowing just adds to the stress. Good luck!

Thanks!

That was an interesting night, the pain got pretty intense and did seem to edge over to the right. But I still felt tired and was able to sleep. I woke up with some discomfort when I moved a few times, and this morning I was in a bizarre position diagonally across the bed, but otherwise it has pretty much gone.

Will see what today brings, but it has been grumbling all week and is the second time I've had significant pain so I should probably go to GP.

GERD?

Yes I already have reflux and regurgitation. This pain feels different and goes around my rib cage.

You'd know if it was gallbladder pain. I've had that (gallbladder now removed!)

I think it might be this www.healthline.com/health/gerd/chest-pain#overview1

Your symptoms are just like mine - especially the breathing in part.

Possibly costochondritis? Feel along your sternum to the joins with you ribs. Press hard on each joint. If you are now cursing me, it's costo. Anti-inflammatories should help.

By way of an update, I had blood tests and ultrasound yesterday - and I have a plentiful supply of gallstones.

Well that explains a lot I guess. Thanks Dr MN, you guys know your stuff

Glad you've got some answers!
Been following as I have very similar pains - scan booked for week after next to see what's going on!

I have similar pains to yours Billy and have been wondering if it's gall bladder.

Mine flare up every now and again, last time was about 4-6 weeks ago.

I'm currently lying with a hot water bottle alternately on my front and back which seems to be the only thing that eases my pain. Did heat help ease your pain?

@MrsGotobed - sounds familiar too! Mine flares up every few weeks, pain is awful for couple days and then nothing. Pain is mostly at night - very odd! Hot bath and hot water bottle does help. But sometimes I was crawling on the floor in agony...
Hope you're sorted soon

Can't say I ever tried heat...but then I thought I had heartburn or an ulcer, never gallstones! Pain has been absent all day, just had to make many trips to the loo, one whilst on a conference call - grim).

But I have just this minute got into bed and it's starting to flare up now. Pesky little gritty stony bastards.

@BillyDaveysDaughter Bedtime is the worse time for me, hope you get some relief and sleep

Buscopan will help with the pain.

Been really bad again - Dr suspects gallstones. Scan on Monday will look at both Kidney and gallbladder.

Fed up.

Aww poor you. I was pacing for a while the other night...its such a horrid pain.

Go easy on the fat intake, to reduce the gallbladder activity, take paracetamol and buscopan, and hang in there.

I saw the consultant today. He took a look at my scan, asked me a few questions, pressed very accurately right over my gallbladder and watched me flinch and squirm, passed me a consent form to sign and said I'd have an appointment for the surgery within the next 12 weeks. He wants to whip the thing out ASAP.

I've been pretty relaxed about it all, NOW I'm scared. I'm severely emetophobic and so frightened of being sick after the anaesthetic. I said as much to the surgeon and he pulled a "hard luck" face.

Does it help to know that you'll be very much sicker very much more often if you leave it untreated?

I don't plan on leaving it untreated.