Pain in left side under rib - health anxiety

[Overthinkingnotdrinking]

I’ve had a pain under my left rib in my stomach for a few months now. Have been referred today for tests for everything under the sun, ovarian cancer, coeliacs, ultrasound, fecal test, blood tests. I’m absolutely beside myself with anxiety. Had a full panic attack earlier, now the slightest twinge of pain in my tummy is making me think it’s stomach cancer. Not sure why I’m posting, my family think it’s crazy how anxious I am.

Hi, I have suffered the same, both the under rib pain and the health anxiety. How bad is your pain on a scale of 1-10, 10 being crippling, falling to the floor in agony, pain? When my HA was bad, I could’ve sworn that mine was at least a 5/6 at times, but once I had an ultrasound and bloods and all was confirmed as fine, it magically dropped down to a 1 and only niggles now and again. That was a year ago so I’m going to assume it’s nothing serious! I was told probably muscle pain from sitting in certain positions or not stretching enough when exercising.

I’m certainly not saying this is all psychosomatic but HA can really exacerbate every little twinge and ache, it’s amazing how the power of the mind can affect our physical well-being!

Sorry if you feel this doesn’t apply to you and you have unmanageable levels of pain. I think if you haven’t lost considerable weight or have any other symptoms of stomach cancer over several months it probably isn’t anything sinister x

@DasAlteLeid it sounds exactly the same. Thank you so much for your message. I’m kind of sure it’s probably a bit of something not serious wrong with my tummy and the rest is anxiety. But the other half of me is freaking out it’s pancreatic cancer and then I spiral into panic. I do appreciate your reply x

I have had the same but with me it is under the right rib.

The GP sent for bloods and an ultrasound, which led to an MRI as a lesion found on the ultrasound which was all stressful but it turned out to be some sort of common benign cyst.

It's all been pretty stressful and still not got to the bottom of the cause of the pain- most recent idea seems to be it could be coming from the back, or tummy as have adhesions post surgery.

I found they did a range of bloods to start with to kind of guide them and rule stuff out- so for example full blood count, inflammation, things like pancreas liver function and kidney tests.

I hope you get some answers soon, I guess it is good they are checking things out properly but as someone who is also anxious I do understand.

My GP also did things like listen to my heart and lungs which made me start to worry about things like lung cancer, but am trying to stay calm etc.

Is the pain in your actual ribs, or does it feel like it's organ pain? I have costochondritis which is inflammation of the joints that connect the ribs to the sternum and spine. It causes me horrendous gnawing pain on my left side, muscle spasms and twitches and stabbing pains. The GP wanted to run every test under the sun and kept wanting more bloods drawn, an xray etc to rule out anything sinister but ibuprofen gel and not wearing a bra have helped the most.

Major health anxiety here and have also had the pain you describe which can be awful but as someone else said as soon as all was confirmed ok the pain went slightly back down.

Have a Google of Splenic Flexure Syndrome ❤️

If you get it on the right side which is where I get it the it could be Hepatic Flexure Syndrome, basically it's gas that gets trapped in the colon.

I managed to click the cartilage between my ribs (I think) when stretching one day and ached on and off for months. It was like a finger popping noise and a sort of twang in my sternum

Thank you everyone. It’s good to hear people understand the fear. My DH & mum are acting like I’m completely bonkers.
I can’t tell if it’s organ pain, or rib pain. The dr said she couldn’t either so best to test for everything under the sun. It’s just a list like ovarian cancer, bowel cancer, kidney function.. and loads more. By the time she’s read the list I was in bits. I know that the tests being carried out is a good thing, but I am not sane enough to see that and instead just go off the deep end.

Hello. Did the pin eventually go? I have been experiencing similar for about a week now. Its very intermittent. Not excruciating but there is a pain there. I too have health anxiety and think it’s the worst case scenario. I know how you feel. It’s more towards the left of my belly button is that makes sense, and under my ribs! Hope it’ll settle soon xx

Did you figure out what this is? Sounds like you have exactly what I'm going through at the moment

@Orangesandlemons77 Hi was your MRI scan done with a contrast dye or without ? Like were you given a contrast dye to drink or was it injected into you? Also was it just of your ribs or was it of your small bowel / abdominal area .

I had this but on the right hand side. It was really bad achy pain and I was really worried but it randomly went after a while. In my case it was cyclical so by the time I saw a GP it would have gone then it would come back again. Reading the above I think it was Hepatic Flexure Syndrome and that it was worse at certain times of my cycle for some reason.

I have pain on and off, under my left rib and my doctor sort of grabbed me from behind as they do with Helich manoeuvre and poked me in that spot, and said “oh yes there’s a particular junction there of the colon that can protest a bit”

I've been having this too (both the pain and the health anxiety). Feeling awful and so conscious of the pain and as a previous poster has said it feels magnified having health anxiety.

Did anyone ever find any answers?

The doctor checked my stomach and I didn't feel any pain but when I sit I can absolutely notice it. Having full blood work done and an ultrasound to check ovaries in case it's a cyst but the pain just feels too high up for that now.

Hi

did you ever get an answer with what was wrong
🤗