Became really fit and developed agonizing side stitch

[CarolynKnappShappeyShipwright]

I started running 3 years ago and it kicked off a life changing health and fitness journey for me. I went from over 13 stone to 8 and a half stone. I work out almost every day. At the gym I regularly come in the top 10 in their MOVEs rankings, I can swim fast, do back to back spinning classes…

BUT after running just a couple of km, I get an agonizing stitch on my right upper stomach/lower ribs area. I have tried so many variables, controlling my breathing etc but nothing seems to help. It feels like a knife is being twisted around.

i did go to the doctor who referred me for a scan and they found a small gallbladder stone but she said it was unconnected because it would cause pain when digesting, not running, and it was just a coincidence.

I have a place in the London half marathon which I desperately want to do. I’ve run a half marathon before when I was just starting out and 13 stone… so why not now that I’m super fit!? I can’t even run 2k in 15 minutes now without being in agony.

Grateful for any insights! Thank you

Have you tried running a bit slower ?
Worked on posture whilst running?
Eat bananas and apples every day ?

Just things to try

I always got stitches when I ate anything before running or if I went off too fast.

I always ran first thing in the morning before food or drink started off slowly.

Would this be worth a go?

(ex runner due to achilles injury)

Thank you for your reply!

I’ve tried going slower and working on my posture. I actually have a running coach and she is also completely baffled. I don’t eat fruit every day religiously but I supplement well and have a good diet.

for a long time I thought it might be psychological because I’ve been under a lot of stress but it doesn’t affect any other sport

Thanks @Droolylabradors and sorry to hear about your injury.

The thing is, I haven’t changed anything apart from having lost a lot of weight and getting much fitter. I have always run on an empty stomach in the morning. I’ve experimented with eating first, drinking, not drinking water etc.

I’ve had to pull out of recent races limping in agony and it feels so upsetting to do that

how frustrating!

i’d pause the training schedule, coach etc while you seek to get to the bottom of this.

barring anything simple like eating too close to running would seek a second opinion about the gallstone. was the opinion from a GP or specialist?

Perhaps also get a check of your ‘core stability’ in case there is some kind of weakness or injury there

Would stop with the races too, for the moment. Might try other cardio to see if the same thing happens

Thanks @Loopytiles - it was from my GP. I’m willing to pay privately if needs be for the right specialist- but who to see? I’ve had an unsuccessful sports physiotherapy session….

I have a lot of energy to spend so do a lot of spinning, swimming, body attack (aerobic) classes and no other cardio seems to affect me the same way. Actually maybe sometimes I get the ghost of a stitch in body attack so maybe it’s something to do with the jumping up and down movement of running…

Have you checked it's not your Iliotibial Band becoming inflamed? I had the same sort of pain from running, although not with any other kind of exercise. Google IT Band stretches to see if they help. It worked for me.

Thank you! I’ve googled it though and it says the pain would be knee pain? My knees are fine for now.

Sorry, not an sports injury expert, but I think ITB syndrome can affect both the knee and the hip. I had pain in my side just where you describe, and doing the stretches 3 times a week cleared it up, so thought it was worth a mention.

Thank you @FinnJuhl - I’ll definitely add the stretches in to my routine, they’ll fit in nicely

I’d get copies of the scan images and any letter(s) about the scan findings & look up whatever specialist covers the gall bladder 😆 You can usually self refer for a consultation but it’s expensive, obviously, especially if they suggest certain tests.

Running is high impact / force on the body, and it’s probable your heart rate will be higher running than other forms of cardio. that could impact on both muscle type injuries and your digestive system.

I had this, and also had a scan which found nothing. Basically they said it was muscular. It got worse and worse to the point it would flare up after running for only about 30 seconds.

I had to stop running. Wait a while for it to fully recover, and am now starting again building up really slowly while also working on core strength.

However, I wasn't as fit as you - I'd only been running maybe 6 months when it started. I hadn't had any problems before then though.

I got something like this when I was running 10 years ago.

I'm still trying to work out what it is.

My suspicion is that it is my hiatus hernia jiggering about as I get it really bad every time I do heavy lifting or gardening or chainsawing or anything else involving the upper body.

I've had xrays, ultrasounds, endoscopies, 24 hour pH tests, gallbladder out, I've restricted my diet for various different things and am due another endoscopy in a fortnight now I'm in France and got to restart the whole investigation again.

I'd recommend not letting the investigation go, and keep on until you get a result. And if you do - post it here!

I get stitches if I run too early after drinking/eating.
I need at least 2 hours after food and at least half an hour after drink.

I should mention I only get it outdoors, never on the treadmill.

my core strength is pretty good, I do an LBT class twice a week.

overall, I’m 100% fitter than I was when the stitch didn’t plague me!

money is tight at the moment but I might try changing doctors, at my practise you are allowed to ask a second one, and then failing that, pay a private specialist… maybe a sports doctor?

Your stride is too long I bet. When you are outdoors running there is a big impetus to just GO. Try reducing your stride, might help!

I get awful stitch if I eat anything at all for hours before running - a cup of tea half an hour before is all I can have. Means only running first thing in the morning unfortunately.

Hi @CarolynKnappShappeyShipwright- was scrolling Mumsnet for a possible solution to my stitch and came across this thread form last year. Was wondering if you ever figured out what was causing it? I have a similar issue - I train in the gym 4 times a week and generally in good health but I just can’t run outside as a couple of mins in I get agonising stitch, so frustrating! Thanks!