This last year I've seen experiencing a lot of upper abdominal pain, mainly on the right. When I say upper, I mean up to just under my breasts. I also sometimes get shoulder blade pain, mainly but not limited to the right. I became really concerned this was my liver but I've now had several liver blood tests, a full upper abdomen ultrasound and a liver MRI all of which have been fine. One GP who examined me (just pressing round my abdomen) said she felt like it might be my bowel. IBS does run in the family. I have noticed the pain is worse when I do need the toilet. It also seems triggered by movement. Generally I go to the toilet a few times a day with no real issue. So my question is, does anyone else experience pain in these areas/ like this? Does movement trigger pain for anyone else?
Thank you
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What you have written resonates with me. Same upper pain and yes to the shoulder blade pain as well. No single food or drink makes it better or worse, it just appears and then Im awake all night with a churning, noisy stomach and the pain. Its worse in the morning when I stand up or need to go. As I hadn't had them for a while, Ive also had blood tests, plus a FIT test, HPylori and an upper US-all clear. The only thing that's been said so far is that my colon was apparently full-so I was constipated. This was a shock as Ive always been IBS-d to the best of my knowledge. GP said its reasonably common for people to change to IBS-m as they get older and the constant change in bowel habit can be really painful 🤷♀️
Thank you for responding ValDee. I haven't been able to figure out any food patterns either. I forgot to say H.Pylori also clear. I'm sorry you are experiencing the same issues, but also relieved in a way that it could be IBS (I was very anxious with lots of catastrophising!). Thanks again.
You are very welcome. Catastrophising is really common and sometimes really difficult to stop doing, so you sound normal to me! Mind you, my idea of normal may not be the best thing 🤣😂🤣
Yes I have had these pains for years, it’s where the colon goes round a corner, if you have a slight blockage it can cause pain either right and left just below breast, if you look at a picture of the large colon you can see where it goes around the body, just google large colon image on google, I get it more if I have not been drinking enough or not eaten enough of the right fibre, do you suffer constipation?
Thank you that's really helpful. I don't really suffer with constipation I didn't think, but can do on occasion. Other days I can go several times a day, such doesn't feel normal. I am guilty of both not drinking enough and not eating enough fibre though. I will double my efforts to increase both and see if that helps.
It has to be the right fibre or you can make it worse, soluble fibre soaks up the water in the colon and in turn help the food pass through easier, insoluble can help if you suffer with it being hard to go to the toilet but it’s not good if you have diarrhoea as it don’t soak up the water so you have more watery stools. Just because your going a few times a day does not mean you don’t have a blockage and getting pass by, if you have a blockage and eat to much fibre it will just block you up more. If I feel a blockage or bloating happening I first of all even if I an having loose stools I take lactulose to help move the blockage through then I slowly add the fibre, please research into soluble and insoluble fibre it can make the world of difference, just following the five a day rule don’t work for IBS sufferers as potato without the skins is soluble so it soaks up the water but cabbage kale cucumber lettuce are insoluble so not so goo if your suffering loose stools. And you must drink plenty, if I have not had enough liquid in the past 24 hours my colon soon lets me know, I have suffered for over 30 years with IBS since a crushing accident at work and it’s only since lockdown that I found out about the fibres, I spoke to my doctor about it and he said oh yes you must eat the correct fibre depending what your bowl is doing at the time. Why are we not told these things in the first place. I hope this is of some help to you. Take care Lewis
The symptoms you describe are more associated with the gallbladder.Did they ultrasound this area to check for stones.People can often get stones develop if they crash diet...apple juice helps here....due to the malic acid helping to dissolve the tinier bile crystals.The other overlooked reason for pain in this area is the pyloric valve...this can spasm and often pain relief comes with massage or use of a hot water bottle.
Research Dr Eric Berg youtube...he talks you through all the techniques to relieve spasm in the various valves in the digestion system....there are four that can cause issues and similar bouts of pain .
If you are experiencing intermittent constipation and normal...then this can be related to the gallbladder too.....often helped by taking a digestive enzyme with aloe vera (Optima Amazon.)...also a product called livercare is very helpful in restoring liver and bile function...thus reduce constipation and those pesky gripes.
Thank you for such a comprehensive reply. Yes the ultrasound checked my gallbladder and found no issues. I have noticed (as have had several blood tests now!) that my bilirubin does fluctuate but as always within normal range GP said no concerns there. I wonder if is worth giving apple juice a go in case they were that small the ultrasound missed them?
I also have some Liverel from Vitabiotics that I bought when I was worried it was my liver (again GP assures me all the bloods and both scans wouldn't have missed anything) - so I will get back to taking these daily as well.
The ultrasound will detect stones "and sludge"....sludge are just bile crystals that clump together and caused bile flow to slow.I didnt mention SIBO.....but if you are on PPI or have low stomach acid...you will often get the same types of pain in the same region.Best wishes.
It sounds like it isn't my gallbladder then, they definitely scanned it Thank you, I'll look into SIBO
in reply to
I had very similar symptoms and it turns out it was my gallbladder two large stones and black sludge disease gallbladder. Had to have it taken out was not fun but it sounds like they’ve had all the test done. I will also add that my poop was weird colors like green or black or a bight yellow color.
Hi, I've experienced similar pains and have had lots of tests to eliminate the cause, but so far, no diagnosis. Have you had a colonoscopy? Not very pleasant, but reassuring - I was diagnosed with Diverticular Disease as a result. At least it helps me manage some of the symptoms.
I have found that drinking plenty of water or herbal tea is very beneficial, as is eating a daily apple, gentle daily exercise, keeping eggs to a minimum, trying to keep on top of my anxiety, and mediating all help to keep the pain and bloating under control.
These suggestions may not work for you of course, but I hope you find something that does. Good luck 💖
Yes the problem with colonoscopies..is they look for the obvious signs of inflammation and disease...but heres the things they cannot see..Loose junctions..i.e.leaky gut...are really in the deeper tissue...where inflammation and infection can reside without being seen by a scope....which is precisely why these conditions become intractable and longterm with fluctuation in flareups and relief.....you really have to deal with inflammation... by using adaptogens...and infection in muscosa by adaptogens...avoiding sugar and yeast...and continue with good probiotics and fibre......(green bananas) which are low in glycogen and fructose and therefore di not digest in the upper tract fermented foods do not aggravate sugar and yeast already in the bowel...but help dampen down bad bacteria...get the microbiome back and Relief often follows once you tighten up the junctions. ...lower the yeast and sugar in your diet...
Update...
I should add...the adaptogens that seem to work best are raw ginger....raw garlic or (allicin) ....apple cider vinegar....aloe vera...cabbage juice (glutamine)....lysine(amino acid)..pomegranate(works in the lower bowel) slippery elm bark, zinc carnosine....
Kimchi...Sauerkraut....These help the probiotic to overcome bad bacteria ...restore ph...repair mucosa.
No I haven't had a colonoscopy, or any investigation of that type. I'm going to try some if the things that both yourself and Jomico has suggested, and go back to the GP if these don't work. Thanks for your response!
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