Stomach problems

[Lees83]

I don't expect anyone to diagnose me and I am currently being investigated but I have terrible HA so if anyone has experienced anything similar which turned out to be nothing serious please let me know to calm my racing mind.

Recently I've had the following symptoms: Upper left abdomen pain which sometimes goes to my back. Pain is very low level, just niggling really, maybe a 3-4/10. A little bit of indigestion. Loose poo which sometimes float (not yellow, not fatty but kind of smelly). Sometimes pains under right rib ( again low level). Thr problem is all this is constant and has been going on for 4 weeks.

Had lots of blood and been prescribed lansoprazole which I've been taking for 2 weeks but not noticed any difference yet. GP thinks gastritis. Currently waiting on ultrasound. Obviously my mind has gone to pancreatic cancer or pancreatitis.

Has anyone had this which turned out to be nothing serious? I'm 41, slim and no health issues. No weight loss.

It's probably important to mention that back in 2021 I had similar issues which calmed down. Ultrasound back then showed gallstones but not serious enough for surgery.

Sorry for the long post. I can't seem to focus on anything else at the moment, I just need some reassurance.

I was going to say gallstones before I got to the part you mentioned gallstones!

@LydiaTomos thank you for replying but my pain is mainly upper left side/stomach area and left back pain. I think most of gallstone pain is under right ribs which goes to right should blade. Mine doesn't really do that

Those syptoms sound just like mine..gallstones,and i had them out the old way..cut across my abdomen and 65 huge green stones later..many years ago.. im now well,except for a hiatius hernia that also causes those pains and indigestion you get.Personally i put half a spoonful of bicarb in a cup of cold water and 99 times out of 100 the indigestion goes and so does the pain..avoid all fatty foods..drink lovely cold milk and stay on the meds.i take 20mg omeparozoles twice a day,every single day religiously, otherwise i wouldn't be able to eat,honestly.Anyway hope this helps and hope you get your scans asap cus it'll show exactly what's wrong if anything, i think.Good Luck.

@TRULYSCRUMPTIOUSME thank you for your advice, I will try it out. Did you also have pain on your upper left abdomen and into your back with gallstones?

From my extensive & unhealthily obsessive researching of stories from actual sufferers of gallstones & literature, the pain can be left/middle/right inclusive & exclusive of each other. Into the back. Only the in the back. Only middle, upper back or both. Only in the front. Involve lower stomach pain. Include bad bowel behaviour & not include bad bowel behaviour.

But a cursory Google will only lean into right sided pain. Presumably much of the other pain is caused as a result of an irked gallbladder but not by the gallbladder itself, if that makes sense?

Ring your GP & get seen

@Caerulea Thank you, that's helpful to know.

I'm currently being followed up and waiting for my ultrasound but it won't be for another few weeks so its helpful to hear from others in the meantime.

Offering support as I await similar - went for a CT but couldn't have it as recently had bloods back showing I'm hyperthyroid. Cancelled it but it's been booked back in (locum couldn't tell if they were aware of hyperthyroidism and said he couldn't get in touch with them) so will just turn up again and see what happens. I'm also worried about my pancreas as my mum had issues with hers. At the moment I can't eat much and just small and often or I get craps under the ribs and retching. Could be coeliacs but, like you, I have to wait over a week for a blood test to rule that and Graves out. Everything feels so slow when you can't eat and know you are ill!

*cramps not craps! Those are weirdly normal.

@LydiaTomos I had the most horrific pains ive ever suffered besides child birth..in the early days id get a horrible tightening around my lower rib cage,that over time got so bad that i just couldn't move at all..after what seemed like an eternity it started to go away..I saw the doctor who insultingly put it down to having so many children..cheek,ive got 3..I suffered this getting worse for a year until my partner took me straight to A&E,luckily they took me in and later on after a scan,i was told had multiple gall stones..but i was told many times by these doctors that there was no way i had gallstones as i wasn't fair fat and forty...no i was blonde 8 stone and 21...The doctor used to shout..'here's the girl with the gallstones'..very odd! Anyway yes you do get pain there that radiates around to your left shoulder and into your back..I wouldn't want to wish gallstones on anyone as it really causes so much pain if untreated.oh my gallstones were made of cholesterol..not the type you can make a necklace from..blimey who'd want one anyway lol..hope ive not bored you or frightened you lydia.best wishes.👍😉🤞💖

I've been on lanzoprezole for three weeks and am only feeling the benefits now so it can take a while. I had the sore oesophagus due to acid coming up type symptoms.

I was on omeprazole initially but it got changed. The GP said it's cheaper than lanzoprezole so they tend to prescribe it first but if it's not helping they prescribe lanzoprezole.

The pain I had with gallstones varied from a general mild discomfort to worse than giving birth. It radiated through to my back and I was so glad to get rid of my gallbladder after nearly a year of pain. Good luck OP!

@PanicAttax I hope you get your scan soon and that all is OK.

I think what worries me is the low level niggling pain that's there most of the time and the fact that it's mainly left sided/back. I also don't have any reflux or heartburn which makes me think it's not gastritis. Oh and the floating loose stools. So not sure if this is gastritis or gallstones.

Appetite is fine, no nausea or vomiting.

Hello, did you ever get to the bottom of this? I have the exact symptoms. I am 15 weeks pregnant with my third also. It’s a niggling uncomfortable ache under my left ribs. I can also feel it when I take a deep breath in. Worst after eating for sure! X

@millyskye3 tbh never got to the bottom of this but my symptoms pretty much went away around the end of summer. My GP always suspected it was my gallbladder playing up, but I haven't had problems for a while now so hoping it will stay that way. It could be your gallbladder, gallstones is quite common in pregnancy x

It’s just so odd that it’s left sided? Definitely feels inflamed and when I eat or drinks it’s really apparent. Also if I lay in my left side and take a deep breath I feels like a balloon within my rib cage or like a stitch feeling. I’m constantly worrying about Pancreatic Cancer or enlarged spleen. Thankyou!