IBS Diagnosed. Anybody experience bloating, an inflatable ball like symptom under right rib cage and shoulder pain? Constipation related.

[Teddie123]

Anybody suffering with the same? Interested to know your stories. Gas and constipation related. Gall bladder, liver ect all good.

[Rose_7]

Yes, I’ve had exactly the same. ‘Inflatable ball under right ribcage’ describes it perfectly. I’m only just diagnosed after a year of on and off symptoms that went into overdrive last week. Have a colonoscopy scheduled to rule out anything else, but the consensus is this is IBS which can sometimes be localised. Helpful post on here named the area as the hepatic flexure - and posts about that here describe my symptoms to a T. Hope this helps.

[Teddie123 in reply to Rose_7]

Good Morning Rose

Thank you so much for your reply. I'm not alone and there are others with the same problem.

I had a colonoscopy in January this year and was told I had IBS. I thought things would be easy to manage... just the opposite really... the anxiety and stress that comes with it are another issue on their own. 🙄

I look forward to reading all about your advice on this site.

Have a nice day.

[Rose_7 in reply to Teddie123]

No trouble - and quite reassuring for me to hear you have the same and have already had a colonoscopy that showed nothing scary so thanks for your message too. I’m assuming getting cancer ruled out definitely will help me to feel less anxious and effected by symptoms, though I guess the prospect of this sort of GI disturbance being a chronic condition is also not so good. Sorry you’re feeling bad and best wishes feeling better.

[GrannyAnne]

I have pretty much the same too. A few weeks ago my right shoulder was also very sore when the other pain was bad. Paracetamol did take the edge off it but I was also prescribed codeine in case I needed it whilst I waited for an US scan. I also had loads of blood tests which all came back very normal. The scan was also clear!! My GP won't send me for a colonoscopy as he did a Faecal calprotectin test which was also very normal. He sees no need to send me for one!!

Do you also feel like your upper abdomen is fluttering at times? I get this a lot & sometimes say that an alien is trying to get out!! Its very irritating & painful at times. Sometimes buscopan does help. I've been told that it is all really gas either moving along the colon or getting trapped &, I have to admit that by the end of the day I can usually expel loads of it.

I also find a few yoga poses to be very helpful in moving things along as well as massaging my colon area from lower right, up to the ribs then along the transverse part & down the left side.

I'm now trying to find out just why I produce quite so much gas in the first place. I regularly take probiotics & eat a varied diet. It may be time for me to pay to see a registered dietician to get some help with all this.

As you say anxiety doesn't help but the pain certainly causes more of this!!

[Teddie123 in reply to GrannyAnne]

Hello there Granny Anne

Thank you so much for your reply. I am finding out more and more that I am not alone with this. I take an antacid called lansoprozole which i have taken for years but i am convinced this does not help IBS....anybody have issues using this long term please mess me.

I have also been advised to read about hepatic flexure syndrome as Rose kindly pointed out in this forum, very interesting.

After months, honestly months i have an appt with the gastroenterology team in a few weeks time and hope to get myself sorted out. I have seen my gp ( always a different doctor, so have to start explaining everything again...) so much since being diagnosed (colonoscopy) in January I honestly feel like I'm becoming a regular attender.

Best wishes for a good day.