Chest and back pain?

[azahar]

Hi folks.

I'm currently waiting for an appointment in April with gastro consultant at hospital for ongoing bouts of diarrhoea/fatigue/low B12 and folate etc. But this is a fairly new development in a lifetime of digestive discomfort (only since May last year).

What I wanted to ask about is the (generally) daily pain and discomfort I experience after eating lunch and dinner (never breakfast, breakfast is always fine). I'd be interested to know if people experience the discomfort in the same way and what they do to combat it. I've tried various combinations of antacids, buscopan and painkillers which never work reliably.

After a meal, I start to swell up with gas and start to release it from both ends, my belly and sides hurt, my head often gets sore, I often get heartburn (just burning, not taste in mouth etc), I gurgle.

But another part of it is that my chest around my breasts, my actual breasts, and back and shoulders get sore and stiff. All I want to do is lie down and take off all my clothes because of the pressure, especially my bra (which definitely fits and is the most comfortable bra I've ever had when my insides are not throwing a fit). I get irritable, lethargic and find it hard to focus. It's really sore to bend or put any pressure on my abdomen or chest. Is this just the heartburn extending out? Or because I'm in discomfort my posture changes perhaps? Any insights and ways to deal with it gratefully received.

[Catty1234]

Ask your doctor to investigate you for gallbladder problems , as this is how I went on for years before being diagnosed with gallstones x

[azahar in reply to Catty1234]

Thank you for replying 🙏 I hope that you got that dealt with and are feeling better? If you don't mind my asking, did you have this kind of discomfort all the time or just after eating? I only feel like this after food (or if I'm very hungry!).

[Catty1234 in reply to azahar]

Hi I’m in hospital atm with a stone lodged in bile duct and pancreatitis , am awaiting ercp and removal of gallbladder . Hopefully you havnt got this , I did get the symptoms after eating x

[azahar in reply to Catty1234]

Oh you poor thing! How long do you still have to wait? Fingers crossed it's done very soon. Thank you so much for replying especially given your current situation, means a lot. Wishing you lots of luck and a speedy recovery x

[Catty1234 in reply to azahar]

Ercp is next Friday , god knows when gallbladder is coming out , you take care and thank you x

[xjrs]

Pain that is specifically in the middle of the chest and the back between the shoulder blades can be related to heartburn. Hope your gastro consultation goes well.

[azahar in reply to xjrs]

Thank you for responding, much appreciated.

[Sallybt]

Hi Azahar, I had very similar symptoms to yours. Bloating, pain in my ribs. Couldn't wear a bra sometimes (very often) and clothes felt very tight and uncomfortable. I had no energy, felt tired , gurgling and painful abdomen after I ate strangely not after breakfast but lunch and evening meal, also nausea. I was eventually diagnosed with SIBO (after months of suffering) by a Naturopath. I have been on SCD diet for just over 3 weeks and now feel great. I'm starting to 're introduce foods that I haven't been able to have on the diet so far ok so hopefully the bacteria is dying off. I have also been taking natural antibiotics, digestive enzmes and HCI . It hasn't been easy. Maybe worth looking into. Good luck.

[azahar]

Thank you so much for responding. I've looked into SIBO and I'll definitely ask about it at my consultation. I'm not going to all out with trying to treat myself at this stage but I'm on day 3 of being on a very strict meal schedule with no snacking and I'm noticing a difference to my energy levels and brain fog. Thanks again x