Really worried (as usual)

[Fedupwithworrying]

About 10 months ago, I had strange pains in my right abdomen below the ribs and a feeling of being bloated or swollen. I went to my GP who referred me to a specialist gastro guy. I had some Xrays done of all my major organs and gallbladder. I had full bloods done. I had blood occult (blood in faeces test), I had a full examination. The specialist said that he felt I had anxiety issues and hence he didn't want to do further tests as he couldn't find anything wrong. He thought it may be IBS but wasn't bothered really. I've got health anxiety and I've spent most of the last 15 years feeling that I had some form of cancer - I have had so many tests it's unbelievable and I'm so fed up with it. Anyway, I have had a good few months with no symptoms but guess what, my abdomen feels funny again and i've had diarrhoea on and off for the past week or so. Last night I felt that every time I lay on my right side, it felt uncomfortable - not painful just the feeling of it not being right. This morning I had a couple of bouts of diarrhoea - I've taken Immodium and it's settled down. I have no other symptoms - no pain as such, no weightloss, still got my appetite, nada. My question is what would any sane person (ie one without health anxiety) think or do about this situation? Should I leave it and see if it goes away or should I head back YET AGAIN to my poor GP with another moan? I am, like all people with HA, worried they've missed something... but of course, I have to say that I have had so many symptoms in the past and convinced myself I'm dying, then as soon as the doctor says "you're fine" they magically disappear - at least for a while.
Sorry for the rant but I need sensible thoughts on this please.
Thank you so much.

Hi fedup,

You could be describing me there.

I had the blood, scans etc and nothing could be found. They said it maybe that my pancreas is sluggish when digesting fatty foods.

I have noticed that if I eat certain foods like lamb, pork, alcohol or anything high in fat it flares up.

My symptoms are;

1, pressure under the right rib
2, not painful but uncomfortable feeling.

The best way I can describe it (if you have ever been pregnant) is when the baby used to stretch/move and you felt a pushing feeling around the rib area. (daft I know but its the only way I can explain it)

Anyway - why don't you eat a high fibre diet, cut out fatty foods and alcohol (if you drink) for a week and see if it calms down. But book an appointment with the doctor just to make sure.

I must say that I am feeling the pressure under my ribs now as I type but don't know whether its in the mind!

Hi zahrah - wow, that's just it - just like a baby moving - how weird....I'm so glad you said that - you are spot on, that's just how it felt. I did eat garlic chicken last night and I am not great with garlic which oftens upsets my tummy. Also, we've had visitors and I've been cooking all sorts of quite rich foods so I guess that doesn't help. I wonder if my HA is just over-reacting when I think about a pain or something it just blows it out of all proportion. How did you get rid of your feeling?

OK - I just put up with it when I know what I have eaten (although I confess to thinking its cancer or something else - I blow every pain I have out of proportion)

If I have a rich/fatty food fest then I know I am going to suffer within a couple of hours.

I just eat lots of citric fruit and other fruits, salads, pulses, rices, low fat meat (chicken breast)etc to cut down on the pressure and it does go away eventually.

In fact if you have anything citric in the house now - eat &/or drink it and then just eat plain fodder for a couple of days - resist the temptation to eat rich & fatty for the next couple of days and just see if the pressure subsides.

a good recipe that works (for me anyway) is;

boil some rice and add a good helping of coconut milk (half a tin) and half a lime (squeeze and add the lime as well)in the water.

fry some prawns (king of course) in olive oil(only for a couple of minutes and not a lot of oil just a dash) add some fresh coriander, bit of fresh grated ginger, the other half of the lime (just the juice) add the rest of the coconut milk and cook for another minute - food for the gods yet it doesn't play havoc on the pressurised area and it is a very light meal.

You could also swap the prawns for another low fat protein like chicken or other types of fish.

thank you zahrah - I will try that for sure!! I really really appreciate your help. Thank you sincerely.

Hi, you could try peppermint tea after eating anything fatty.

i have found it works well for me. I think the pregnancy description was spot on for describing where this pain/discomfort is.

we have crohns & bowel cancer history in the family so i have been tested for theseas well as many other blood tests and they all came back negative.

when i have a patch i also go to bland food or cereals (porridge oats) for a couple of days.

i think everyone always thinks of the big C when something doesnt feel right so you are not alone with worrying i could be that.

hope this helps.

thank you sue. Have you had these symptoms often? I wondered how long it usually lasts and as it's been a while since I last had this, I can't really remember. Thanks v. much for your answer. Nice to know I'm not alone. I have found my paranoia about the Big C is so much worse since I had kids...

I find mine is worse when i'm stressed. I am very careful what i eat now. nothing fried, no BBQ's, no pastry. I discoverd that the only cooking oil i can cope with is Carrotina oil from Asda, otherwise i cant have a roast however i can tollerate the fat in chocolate

Another thing i found was that the problem arises if i wear tight fitting clothing around my tummy for too long.
the pain happens because everything has been pushed up above the waistband, especially if i have been sitting for too long. (i refuse to accept i might have put on a few pounds lately!!!!)

I think we all assume the worse before we know what's really wrong.