Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Women's health

Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have medical concerns, please seek medical attention.

Original poster

Pain under left rib cage/under left boob - pls help

32 replies

ELRainbow · 08/12/2023 19:25

So for the whole of this year I've had such uncomfortable pain under the left side of my rib cage (under my left boob) it's such a weird pressure type of pain where I just want to grab whatever it is inside and rip it out???

It's so hard to explain how it feels buts it just not right

I have had blood works which said my red blood cells are larger than normal but my B12 and folate levels are normal??, ultrasound recently said I have a mild fatty liver and a small cyst on my right ovary but it's only 1.6cm... my doctor said these results don't help with knowing what's wrong. Also when my doctor press in my abdomen on the right side it hurt really bad..??

Anyone has this horrible problem it's making me depressed and I stuffer from anxiety so it doesn't help

OP posts:
ohhollyfred · 08/12/2023 19:34

Did the ultrasound look at your gallbladder? Does anything trigger the pain or is it just there all the time?

Original poster
ELRainbow · 08/12/2023 22:52

Pretty sure it did look at my gallbladder and everything was fine & honestly it just feels like it's there all the time it's very weird..

OP posts:
FawnFrenchieMum · 08/12/2023 22:55

Bowel narrowing? Have you had a colonoscopy? Any other signs of bowel changes?

Original poster
ELRainbow · 08/12/2023 23:00

Haven't had any changes In that department no but my doctor has took a sample of you know to see if anything shows

OP posts:
newhousenewhouse · 08/12/2023 23:06

I had this for years. Went away when I got divorced! Think it was stress.

Original poster
ELRainbow · 08/12/2023 23:07

@newhousenewhouse really? Did you go doctors at all?

OP posts:
newhousenewhouse · 08/12/2023 23:11

I think I did but was dismissed was a long time ago sorry

N0tfinished · 08/12/2023 23:32

I'm getting my gallbladder out next month and that's where the pain is. Almost under the rib.

Original poster
ELRainbow · 08/12/2023 23:33

@N0tfinished I hope that goes all well for you. How did you know something was up with your gallbladder? Would it not show on an ultrasound?

Also was the pain on the left side yeah?

OP posts:
Missingthesea · 08/12/2023 23:53

Your gallbladder is on the right, not the left.

I get this pain too OP - I think it might be costochondritis, though it seems a bit far away from the breastbone. I've had it occasionally for about 3 years. Tends to happen in the evening, if I happen to bend over to do something. Always on the left.
Sometimes the whole of that side of my ribs hurts. It's a really odd sensation, rather like cramp, and sometimes I seem to feel the muscle "rippling". I've had a lot going on the past couple of years so have never got around to speaking to a GP. I've seen it mentioned on another thread on here and no one seemed to have been able to get a diagnosis!

Original poster
ELRainbow · 08/12/2023 23:54

@Missingthesea it's so stressful I just want an answer as it's so uncomfortable 😩

OP posts:
Missingthesea · 08/12/2023 23:58

It is, isn't it 😒 I suppose at least we're not alone! I find leaning slightly towards the right if I need to bend down, helps. It's a real nuisance though, that's for sure x

icecreamisforwintertoo · 08/12/2023 23:59

I had something similar after I had covid. It came and went for about a year. I think it was Costo chondritis too although never formally diagnosed as such, it was just one of many long covid symptoms. I rarely get it now though

Strawberryjams · 09/12/2023 00:01

I have this too and have had it now for several years. I think the way @Missingthesea describes it is perfect. I wouldn’t have been able to put into words about the rippling feeling.
I do find though that it’s worse when my weight is higher and happens less often when I’m lighter. No idea if there is a correlation! I also have Crohn’s disease so not sure if it’s linked to that. I recently had Covid and suffered from costochondritis, apparently common with autoimmune diseases. It was same side but more constant than this other pain.

Edit: just to add that when the bending over triggers it I need to stand or sit up really straight and press it. Takes a while for that burning feeling to go away but the bruises dull ache stays around.

Fedup0707 · 09/12/2023 00:02

Any shoulder pain alongside it? Could he worth getting spleen checked?

Original poster
ELRainbow · 09/12/2023 00:07

@Strawberryjams hello, I recently just did two tests to see if it could be in the direction of Crohn's disease or diverticulitis. I was even asked if it ran in my family but it doesn't so confused

What did you do to help your pain?

OP posts:
Original poster
ELRainbow · 09/12/2023 00:07

@Fedup0707 nope no shoulder pain

OP posts:
Original poster
ELRainbow · 09/12/2023 00:08

@Missingthesea that is so true it makes me feel less stressed knowing some people have the same but also sad because it's so hard to figure out what it is. I feel like nothing helps me unless I grab it and just stand still 😂😂

OP posts:
notquitesoyoung · 09/12/2023 00:21

Is the pain worse when you breathe deeply and end up shallow breathing as a result?

Original poster
ELRainbow · 09/12/2023 00:22

@notquitesoyoung not all the time but sometimes when I have the pain I have tried to do a deep breathe and it hurts yeah.. it's very odd

OP posts:
skysmumm · 09/12/2023 00:23

I had this for half a year. I was so scared it was cardiac related I ended up giving myself panic attacks. Costochondritis. It's miserable and nagging and always rears its ugly wee head! Codine helps!

Rosecutting · 09/12/2023 00:24

Not experienced your exact symptoms op but for some time was getting back pain, chest pains, hot/ cold sensations to hands and feet and feeling of needing the toilet ( when I didn’t).
After an array of tests which showed nothing ,
saw a chiropractor who diagnosed several impinged nerves .Following a course of treatment have been symptom free since.

Just a thought, but could it be a sort of nerve pain if everything else is coming back negative ?

Strawberryjams · 09/12/2023 00:27

ELRainbow · 09/12/2023 00:07

@Strawberryjams hello, I recently just did two tests to see if it could be in the direction of Crohn's disease or diverticulitis. I was even asked if it ran in my family but it doesn't so confused

What did you do to help your pain?

Did you get the results back yet? I’m not sure if it’s linked but although I’ve always had issues with my bowels I was only diagnosed during lockdown and I would say this issue has got worse from around that time. My weight does fluctuate due to meds and I find it happens more when I’m heavier. I always described as like a popping feeling and feels like a burning sensation. Only thing I can do when I get it is straighten up as much as possible and press the area. Im only allowed paracetamol due to my crohn’s so my dr gave me an ibrufen gel for the area but tbh I have never tried using it!

Strawberryjams · 09/12/2023 00:30

Oh also Crohn’s doesn’t run in my family either which seemed strange given the questions I get when I was hospitalised or am at appointments. I must be the lucky one in the family, just hope my child doesn’t have it because of me 😢

notquitesoyoung · 09/12/2023 01:01

@ELRainbow we've had various bouts in our household of similar pain, excruciating when doing more than shallow breathing and we're 99% sure it's been a virus. It's been reoccurring in older teen DD's case over 4-5 years both pre and post covid. Originally it lasted for 6 weeks, subsequently much shorter bouts. Have you had the pain for the whole year or on and off for the year?