1 year post op I get pain under my ribs scar side when I eat ! It’s like a stabbing sensation that lasts for a few hours . When I wake up in morning all feels fine but as the day goes on it gets worse .
im allso getting nauseous when drinking water or even preparing food and it stopes me drinking through the day through fear of this feeling any help please .
Hi Mbads, I would speak to your cancer nurse so they can assist you. (They should have left you a mobile to contact them on?)
Hi,
Would be interested to see what sort of response you get from this post. I'm almost 10 years post op and I'm still experiencing the pain in my rib cage.
Did you have an Ivor Lewis procedure ? I'm assuming it's right had side, around ribs 5,6,7 ? Is the pain radiating along the whole rib cage from the sternum around the side to approximately where they drained fluids from your lung cavity after surgery?
If this all sounds familiar then I suspect you are representative of most of us.
The pain is there for me quite literally ALL of the time, it just varies in intensity. Most of the time it's noticeable, sometimes it's excruciating. For me, tends to be worst after eating. I don't experience it after drinking water.
I manage my pain with Pregabalin (200mg twice a day) and Tapentadol (100mg Slow Release twice a day). Also, when it's particularly bad with topical EMLA Cream and/or Patches to the affected areas. This seems to help.
For quite some time after my procedure I felt the nausea you talk about - this lasted for at least 2 or 3 years. It returns to this day if I eat food that is too oily.
If you can find a good pain management specialist they might be able to help with electrically stimulating the nerves - gave me some relief but the pain kept coming back so I'
I thanks for responding Peter you have taken the words out of my mouth ! It was the Ivor Lewis
It is exactly how you describe and like you say it’s there all the time but seems to come and go in intensity especially when eating .
Iv described it to my surgeon as though on some days it’s like a broom handle shoved into my ribs and other times like a sharp pencil but it’s with me always in some form or another . Iv had scans to investigate but been told all looks normal as normal as our bodies are now anyway .
I do find different foods tend to make different pain levels .
I’m resolved to thinking this is the price we pay for this kind of surgery but I’m considering trying acupuncture soon as I’m not realy one to keep taking pain killers
When I wake up thirst thing it’s as though it’s all most gone but as day progrrsses discomfort just grows .
Hi 3 years post op and can sometimes get discomfort under my ribs right side after
Pushing a heavy door open in town
Lifting anything with much weight
Or if I wear tight or high waisted pants
Or after uncomfortable seating in a resturant where I’ve had to lean forward to eat. Always need a back support.
I’ve put it down to muscular discomfort. It takes a few days to go off and the most I take is paracetamol or a heat pad. The nausea may be caused by something else there are many causes. Nausea for me means low blood sugar and a need for food.
I find too warm drinks go down better than cold. Still early days for you. Try eating a little but very often?
Hello, I have just come onto this sight, I mainly use McMillan forum. I am nearly 5 months post op, just finished post chemo. It has been a relief to read these posts as I have had this feeling. I have numb ribs and the feeling which is difficult to describe is “I know my right side is there” I would not say pain, sometimes discomfort. Muscle ache? I got a cough with the post op chemo, the team said I had likely strained the muscles and the nerves in this area would still be knitting together It gets worse after I have had a physical day. I had the Iver Lewis robotic procedure.
It is hard as my head jumps too “is it back” does it get less as time goes by.
It is reassuring to read your posts.
Thanks Jennie
I’m glad you have got some comfort from the answers on here as you say it’s a relief that these feelings and discomforts that we suffer are the after effects of what we have all been through let’s just keep sharing for each other .
Hi Jennie, I hope you don’t mind me asking did you still have to have you right rear 5 rib moved for this Op? Did you have many complication? I asked Newcastle who refused me because I wasn’t living in their area…. So had to settle for laparoscopy and still recovering from complications, having had a leak, pneumothorax and dvts!
Thanks Tracie
Could I ask how you got on with the acupuncture Mbads please. If it helped I might be tempted to try it although I don't like needles. How are you getting on?Thank you
Sorry Iv not had any acupuncture but I wouldn’t disregard it .
So I am 7 years post op and I would say the whole of your intestines has a new set up from the surgery they have to detach everything inside to do the surgery, the down side of this surgery is the adhesions or scar tissue that forms it can be very uncomfortable, unfortunately there is little you can do apart from rest at night time in a good position, moving as much as you can in the day time, stress is also a huge factor its surprising how much stress is felt through stomach and causes gutt issues so it's totally understandable anything that worries you, or physically stresses your body will evoke a gutt reaction which in turn agitated scar tissue.It took some time for me to adjust to the new me but you can get there . Maybe something with an anti inflammatory pain releiver might help.
Thank you Tina 7 years since op that’s great! How do you feel about your health and wellbeing after 7 years , hope life is good ,Iv come to realise that’s exactly as you describe it and that it’s a case of just getting use to it !
I find when I’m more active and busy and hat it’s less of a problem .
As time has gone on I feel like there is less dumping and my food tolerance is getting better than it has been in the first year . This to me is a sign my body is repairing still and can only get better thank you Tina
Have to agree, but it takes time and the dumping can sneak up on you when you least expect it with no rhyme or reason, all I can say take the time, the biggest thing to remember we change normally throughout life but this definitely changes things, accepting the changes is more than half the battle, it can be a battle because I am not going to lie and say its not hard. I also had the added bonus of mets in my left lung three tears ago, they believe a rogue cancer cell got into my lung during the IL procedure which is a risk they warn you off, thankfully with a positive attitude and the way I present, whilst classifying me as palliative patient they treated the tumour with radiotherapy removed the damaged lung and tumour and I now have a regular three weekly cycle of Trastuzumab, to make sure any other rogue cells are kept in check,it was cycle #66 this week. Small price to pay to still be here. I found gentle warmth from hot water bottled and anti inflammatory ointment to apply to areas by scar tissue helps 😊
Reactive hypoglycemia
stomach Cancer
Post op sleeping position 
Alcohol 