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?
Bad dumping incident?
GERD and nightly heartburn 
Lanzoprazole and side effects
