Pain under rib

[asmuchuseas]

Over the last 15 years or so I've had a pain on and off under my right rib area gallstones were always suspected. I've had ultrasounds 3 or 4 times to investigate and there has never been anything untoward found apart from a polyp on my gallbladder.

The last ultrasound I had the scanner was really thorough and checked all of my abdomen and everything was fine.

This pain isn't constant and I can go ages without it bothering me. Over the last few days it's started again. It feels almost like trapped wind and I do get wind when I have the pain.

Today all I've eaten is a yoghurt and some slices of meat and had no pain, I've just eaten dinner and the pain is back and I've got wind.

Given the current situation I'm not sure whether I'll even be able to get a GP appointment to get checked over. Has anyone else ever had anything similar? I'm not sure if it's an IBS thing or something more.

Thankyou
I will mention it to the GP when I speak to him.

Text from my GP they want to repeat my bloods again in 6 weeks.

GP has called me this afternoon to say after my ultrasound yesterday he's referring me to surgeons. The polyp on my gallbladder has grown since my last ultrasound so it will be a case of monitoring or removing it - which I think he meant my actual gallbladder and not just the polyp

I’m glad that you’ve heard back from your gp, do they think the polyp could be causing your digestive issues or do they think that is another issue?

Have you been advised how long you may be waiting? I hope it’s not too long for you.

@lostandfound55

I’m glad that you’ve heard back from your gp, do they think the polyp could be causing your digestive issues or do they think that is another issue?

Have you been advised how long you may be waiting? I hope it’s not too long for you.

My GP didn't say much other than he was referring me and wanted to check I wasn't vomiting or jaundiced. I guess once I've been referred I can ask the consultant if those issues are related to it. I have no idea how long I'll be waiting for an appointment. My ultrasound appointment came through within a week so hopefully I will hear about my referral soon.

I'm going to keep posting in here to use as a diary to keep track of my symptoms.

Had a reasonable day today. Drank lots of water and had a turkey sandwich (small) for lunch and I little trifle. No niggles.

I made a quiche this afternoon and ate a slither of it. But within 5 minutes I had a pain under my rib and wind 😕.

I’ve just came across this thread.
This is a long one so please bare with me.

Around 2 weeks ago, I started getting pain in what I think is kidneys/rib cage, back, upper & lower, and in my sides. I spoke to my GP, did a urine sample and was given nitrofurentoin for a week. With no relief I called back up today and spoke to a nurse who has repeated my urine sample and done some swabs for things like BV. Even though she doesn’t think that can cause the pains I’m having ‘it rules it out’ I think I could have an infection down there as I’ve recently started the pill after having the mirena taken out in September and I have read it can cause infection sometimes?
My anxiety is through the roof😥 to the point I’ve not wanted to move for the majority of the time I’ve had it, not wanted to interact with anybody it’s been awful.
I say I’m in ‘pain’ the pain isn’t constant and it’s not a pain that really hurts it’s mainly annoying.
It’s there now but slightly in my knee and groin.
I will also add, these ‘pains’ have been both sides but mainly left sided.
I was thinking fibromyalgia as I do already have CFS/ME.
I’m looking for some advice/words of wisdom to get me through to Wednesday when I see the nurse. (Didn’t actually see her today, did the tests myself and gave them to reception)
Sorry for the long one, I’m just really worried I suffer with major health anxiety. Thankyou for reading

Just to add - I seem gassy at night time, but not burps.
In the morning I’m very quick for a wee too.
My pain isn’t just under ribs etc it’s both sides and it’s kind of everywhere. Also sometimes randomly the pain makes me feel slightly winded and sicky but then goes off. X

@MrsGxx chat to me! I have health anxiety too. In fact I'm just an anxious person full stop.
My 'pain' isn't a pain as such. Just a niggle all along the bottom of my right rib area. Sometimes it feels achy, sometimes it's like a digging in kind of feeling, sometimes it's like a stitch.

I am gassy, bloated, windy most of the time. Have you possibly got IBS?

@asmuchuseas I am very anxious. If I feel something that I shouldn’t like a pain or a niggle that’s it... I’m down. My google search must hate me! I become sweaty, panicky & haven’t left the house for 2 weeks, I know exactly how you feel.

I seem waaaay worse at night, strangely. I do have the slight niggle in the days but at night everything hurts. My back, sides, pelvis, stomach all of those areas. Last night it felt like it was really stinging me in my side. Mainly my left but I do get it slightly in the right too
I don’t get ‘bloated’ that I’ve noticed but I do have gas... I fart like crazy, but again it tends to be loads at night and less in the day.
I think I could have IBS I have diagnosed CFS and I know it can come as a symptom.
I also think I could have some sort of reflux. Not all the time but sometimes I wake up to a burning throat! 😳

I have terrible acid. I was prescribed Lansoprazole and they help.

Again, like you any little twinge or niggle and I'm panicking and googling away.

I've been told I have ibs and in the past after having investigations for this niggle previously they've always told me it is ibs related. I've had this on and off for a very long time though. So maybe my issue is the polyp in my gallbladder causing me issues. I guess I will find out once I've seen a consultant at the hospital.

Don't be afraid to keep going back to your doctor though if you don't think something is right.

I have gallstones and lots of ibs symptoms like frequent bowel motions and wind. I don’t know if they are all related or not. The consultant did not seem to think they were so I’m waiting for tests now to check.

@asmuchuseas I don’t suffer constantly with acid it’s now and again for me but when I do get it, it’s awful.
I’ve felt niggles on and off today in the front but it’s really in my back at the moment in the middle roughly.
Are you still doing day to day stuff? It’s done me for 6 with my anxiety making me not want to do anything or socialise at all.
It could possibly be IBS related although I didn’t realise it could cause such pains at the front especially ribs.
When do you go to the hospital? I see the nurse on Wednesday so hopefully il get some answers.

@Luckyforsome I’m not sure what’s related and what’s not. The nurse did some swabs and urine sample for me, & said she would probably go down the route of muscular if they are fine which I won’t take. I will ask to just see a doctor and ask the possibility of gall bladder etc

After a couple of weeks of no issues. Last night I got the niggling ache under my rib but then I started to get pain in my back and in my shoulder blade and in my rib cage. I couldn't get comfortable and the pain kept coming over in waves . Paracetamol eventually eased it.

My DP thought it I had a trapped nerve in my back but I don't think it was. My shoulder blade, shoulder and neck all are very sore still today and achy.

I've got a telephone appointment with a gastro surgeon in two weeks time.

Sounds like my gallbladder though doesn't it?

Keep a good diary, but he aware it may not happen straight away. I get this pain, it's not my gallbladder vas mine has been removed, but the pain is triggered by fat so I follow a low fat diet but even the I can be triggered by something.

I am keeping a diary and trying to be mindful about what I eat. Christmas diet has definitely set that pain off I am sure.

I know it's unlikely that anything will be sorted with the consultant any time soon. I've read other threads on here where people have been left a long time before having anything done.

I'm being referred for a gastroscopy. The consultant suspects it could be H. Pylori as my symptoms don't match up to gallbladder problems and he said polyps are usually not symptomatic unless they are over 1cm in size.

I've had similar symptoms OP. Had gallstones and had my gallbladder out years ago, so it's not that for me.

Have you considered that you could have coeliac, gluten intolerance or lactose intolerance (considering what you've been saying about bread, milk, quiche etc)?

I have had acid reflux on and off, and the discomfort under the right ribs. Now I have low stomach cramps and wind, with occasional constipation. I stopped eating lactose and gluten for a month, at the end of which all my symptoms had gone. I started eating them again mid December because you need to have been eating gluten every day for 6 weeks for a coeliac test to register. Sure enough all my symptoms came back.

Meant to say - I have downloaded a (free) food/symptom tracking app to try and get a handle on what's triggering things.

I have considered maybe it's a food intolerance and I might start with cutting out gluten. I have pretty much all the symptoms for H. Pylori and my mum has had it - so now I'm wondering if I've got it from her at some point. My symptoms seem to come and go. I can have the ache/discomfort for a few weeks then it subsides but always returns. I suffer with the heartburn and indigestion all the time and I burp a lot!

What is the app called that you have downloaded?

It's called My Symptoms (Food Diary and Symptom Tracker). It's really good actually- foods are easy to select and enter, and there are lots of symptoms already on there that you csn select, but you can also customise it and add other ones.

Been relatively ok for a couple of weeks but yesterday I got stomach ache and the pain was mainly upper left. It was more like a burning sensation and I felt gassy and bloated.
This morning I feel like I've been punched in the stomach, I feel so tired, even though I slept well for me. Slightly constipated and bloated. And I just feel wiped out. I want to eat something but not sure I dare. I've just been sipping hot water. I may try a banana just to take the edge off the hunger pangs.

I've had a couple of days of constipation. Then late last night I started with stomach cramps, bloating followed by diarrhoea which I've still got this morning.

I'm still having stomach troubles. Diarrhoea has stopped and in constipated again. Stomach is constantly churning under my left rib and I'm getting the occasional cramping for needing the loo but I can't go.
I took a stool sample in on Friday to my gp as they're testing for H. Pylori and the receptionist has called today to say the doctor wants to discuss my sample with me tomorrow. I asked if there was anything to be concerned about. She said my notes said just to discuss via appointment.

Slightly panicking.

GP has just rang. I have H. Pylori and that's more than likely the cause of all my symptoms.

Well the niggly ache is back. I haven't had it for weeks. I took the meds for H. Pylori and I thought it had stopped it. Back to doctors again to get re tested for H. Pylori as I keep getting heartburn as well again.
I'm having full bloods done, chest X-ray and sample to see if the meds eradicated the bacteria or not.

I'm beginning to wonder if this is just down to anxiety and I'm having this unexplained pain.