Left pain by ribs

[Jaygee87]

Hi all!

I have been diagnosed with IBS since about 15 and I am now 33.

The past 18 months I have terrible pain in my left side about half way up my ribs. It feels like stitch and sometimes it really catches my breath. I have it everyday and particularly at night when in bed. I have recently been hospital and they have found I have a severe fatty liver, but have said this would not cause this issue. I had a chest x ray also to rule anything else out.

I had a colonoscopy about 3 months ago which was clear. I suffer with diahrea weekly which has been put down to my liver.

The pain is very sporadic, and its becoming a worry. Everything I read points to something wrong with my pancreas but the doctors just say I'm too young.

I was wondering if anyone else has this issue and got to the bottom of it? I am hoping its something like trapped wind, but I cant see why I would have that daily.

[Hidden]

Are you a heavy drinker?Or overweight. I’m assuming that you’re had tests to include a ultrasound/ct which would have found any pancreas issues. Even a general blood test can detect pancreas function. Your fatty liver was probably found by a blood test to start with.

Have you had a stool test?

[Jaygee87 in reply to Hidden]

Hello! Thanks for your response. Not a heavy drinker but I am overweight which I am trying to fix now. They did an ultrasound on my liver but not my pancreas. Not had a stool test either which I find a bit bizarre.

I am getting so fed up with the pain that I'm tempted to pay for a CT scan.

[Hidden in reply to Jaygee87]

I don’t think it’s your pancreas. Tho I’m not a doctor. If you look this up your be convincing yourself of all sorts of stuff. This mind is a powerful tool. You must have had blood tests.I would suggest you ask what they have tested for. Also for now you can pop onto Amazon and get yourself a kit for h pylori. Cheap as chips. So get both the stool test and blood test kits. Are you taking omeprozole or any ppi?

[mno123]

My son had severe pancreatitis. He was on life support this time last year. He had a stone from his gall bladder that went into his pancreas. They had to put him on life support as his organs started to shut down. Thank God he survived. He is now a diabetic and injects himself twice a day. Don't leave anything to chance. X

[Jaygee87 in reply to mno123]

What were his symptoms if you don't mind me asking? They did an amylase test and me and it was normal so they ruled out pancreatitis.

[mno123 in reply to Jaygee87]

He had severe pain in middle of his ribs. I have had pancreatitis myself the pain is central of your stomach just under your ribs. Will penetrate through to your back. Blood test confirmed it.x

[wigglewoggle]

That's roughly where I get pain, and it can be pretty persistent although not sharp usually unless am very constipated (nothing wrong with my pancreas as far as I'm aware). You could try something like deflatine or windeze if you think its trapped wind. But if you're worried do get it checked out properly.

[Jaygee87 in reply to wigglewoggle]

I've tried getting the doctors to listen but they won't have it that I think its my pancreas. Do you get it after eating certain foods? I've eliminated dairy in the hopes that it was that, but its made no difference

[wigglewoggle in reply to Jaygee87]

Sorry about the delay. I definitely get discomfort after eating certain foods... red meat and beef in particular is guaranteed to give me stomach aches, also beans and some lentils. I'm ok with small amounts of dairy, but have found that caffeine gives me stomach cramps, so have had to give that up.

You have to figure out the diet stuff by trial and error I'm afraid - its very different for each individual.

Has your doctor offered you any kind of antispasmodic to help with the pain like buscopan or Colpermin (peppermint oil pills)? If pain is being caused by cramping those can help. Although warning with Colpermin - it works but I found that over time it gave me minty heartburn so I tend to stick to the weaker peppermint tea option usually.

[wigglewoggle in reply to wigglewoggle]

You could keep a food/pain diary for a few weeks to see if there is any correlation between the two.

[twinkiedog]

Hello there! I had terrible terrible pain in left side around that same region and it go on for days before letting up for a little while and I had a kink in my colon at that spot causing my pain. They went in like they do in a colonoscopy and straightened it out for me and my pain went away. The doctor said it was like a little tiny loose knot. Maybe something you could look into not sure? They only found it by having a camera in my colon

[twinkiedog in reply to twinkiedog]

I have read the comments about it being you pancreas but I’ve had experience with someone who actually died from pancreatic problems and their pain was in their back, not ever traveling to their side.

[Jaygee87 in reply to twinkiedog]

Funny you have said this. When I had my colonoscopy they said my colon was a bit twisted. Maybe this has come back again.

[Hidden in reply to twinkiedog]

I’m wondering if this is what I have. I feel like I have a constant bubble or knot on my left side, just below my ribs. It doesn’t really hurt but it’s always there. Did you ever feel it spasm a little bit? Could you feel it when bending? I’ve had IBS for over 30 years and this has me worried.

[Jaygee87 in reply to Hidden]

Yes this is what mine is like. Its not like a horrendous pain.. its just always there like a dull pain and it spasms too. Sometimes when I breathe in it hurts too. Its very weird!

[Hidden in reply to Jaygee87]

Me too!

[Virgo-8 in reply to Hidden]

I have the same thing and a lot of gas in that spot. Been going on for years. On & off of course. I’ve had every test done all conclude IBS. I suffer from extreme nausea when I have one of these attack do you? If so what does one do for the nausea? I was diagnosed with IBS over 40 years ago. Still looking for wonder cure.

[Jaygee87 in reply to Virgo-8]

I'm finding im burping a lot lately too! I have an appointment with gastroenteritis so hopefully I can get to the bottom of it. Sometimes I feel sick yes! I'm now at the point where I cant even eat cheese anymore as the diahrea is so awful. I'm now eating a low fat diet just to try and ease my stomach problems.

Its comforting to know other people have this issue as ive been worried sick about it.

[Virgo-8 in reply to Jaygee87]

I am lactose intolerant also. The foods I can eat are very limited. My doctor keeps telling me it’s stress. We know stress contributes. Anyone who doesn’t have stress after last year is in the minority. Yes it’s very helpful to know we are not alone with the ibs. You are not crazy. 😊 I do take 1 fiber capsule every other day to help with diarrhea.

[Hidden in reply to Jaygee87]

I burp a lot and toot a lot!

[Hidden in reply to Virgo-8]

I do experience nausea as well but not sure if it related to IBS (my doc thinks so). I’ve also just come off of antidepressants so I know that was the start of my nausea. I also have h pylori so I’m a damn mess! I have been taking an anti nausea drug but I’m trying hard to not take it every day. I suffer from anxiety as well so that doesn’t help!! The more I worry about the nausea, the worse it gets. Do any of these things happen to you?

[Virgo-8 in reply to Hidden]

OMG yes! Doctor prescribed Xanax which I don’t want to use as I’ve been clean coming up on 29 years. After tons of tests over the years it all comes back to ibs which my doctor says is a Bitch. Yes, all this causes me anxiety! I use Cbd oil as it is legal where I live. It does help me relax.

[Hidden in reply to Virgo-8]

You sound like me!! CBD is legal here as well and a friend just gave me some edibles but I’m scared to try them!! How do you take your CBD?

[Virgo-8 in reply to Hidden]

Drops I use 1 in am, 2 in pm & 1 in afternoon if I’m real anxious.

[Hidden in reply to Virgo-8]

I’m assuming with THC?

[Virgo-8 in reply to Hidden]

Hemp