I hope everyone is doing well, I am still experiencing this type of pain for the past 6-7 months constantly with loose stool along with some new pains ( mid back ache under my rib area on the same side as my bowel pain. I've been to the Dr's a couple of times before Christmas and once this month about it and because I've had all the major test done they don't seem interested. I am due to see a gastroenterologist at some but when that will be i have no clue? I think they think I'm crazy. My mental health is getting affected by it pretty badly, I was just wondering if anyone had any advice or had been through something similar.
Thank you.
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Macca1utd
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Hello , sounds awful , on the plus side if all your tests came back clear that's great news but on the down side your still in pain !,it's true to say I and many people I've spoken with seem to get unexplained pain from time to time , connected to the IBS, but as yours is constant I'm surprised their not looking into it more , is it possible for you to go private even just to get diagnosed , if nothing else it would perhaps ease your concerns , or maybe you could ask your gp for a second opinion , good luck , sorry I can be more helpful x
Yes I keep trying to tell myself that I've had a lot of test and they've been negative but when I'm in pain all day everyday, my anxiety won't give me a break. It's really exhausting.
I am due to see a bowel specialist but when that will be I do not know. I called the gastro department at the hospital a couple of weeks ago and they told me it could be a while yet.
I could go private but not sure I could afford that at this moment in time.
You're probably not crazy and you can't know what they think if you haven't asked them (hopefully they would give you an honest answer). But problems with your gut can affect your mental health. There's a link between the gut and the brain. When your gut is not working as it should it definitely can cause mental health problems by just the way our body functions.
In an ideal world consultants would do all the current available examinations related to bowel problems, functional gastrointestinal disorders to rule out any currently known underlying disease/disorder that affects the proper working of our gut. And it's only then, when all the tests and examinations came out clear, they would say that it's probably IBS.
Unfortunately we don't live in an ideal world and funding and time in public health care systems all over the world is limited. Besides consultants need to be clinical suspicious / aware of rare disorders that can cause gastrointestinal problems and should have a holistic view/approach. Also this is not always the situation.
That's why I'm still trying to get a proper diagnosis for my functional bowel problems. Here, in the Netherlands, I did have all kind of examinations but till now everything came out clear so it's probably IBS related consultants say.
However my gut/body does tell me something different and that's why I asked for a second opinion in a tertiary hospital abroad (Belgium). I'm in a fortunate position that the organisation I've worked for (I'm receiving an invalidity pension) pays the hospital invoices, or at least 80/90% of the total amount.
Trust your body and try to be tenacious despite the fact it will cost a lot of energy but also know when to stop looking for an answer and accept the situation. A quote from Lifehack "Just because you acknowledge a situation is unfair, doesn’t mean it won’t hurt. Dealing with sadness, anger, frustration, and disappointment is tough business."
I also need to remind myself that in the end this could be the same for me, accepting the situation as it is, but for now I haven't settled yet with the working diagnosis 'probably IBS' or functional gastrointestinal disorder without known underlying cause.
I honestly think that's what the GPS think, I seem to always be at the doctors or calling them every week with the same issues. These past 6-7 months have been ridiculous to be honest.
I think my metal health really hasn't and isn't helping my situation. I'm just in constant worry that I've got something really bad going on and I just can't seem to break this cycle. It's driving me nuts!
I agree it is very unfortunate that it takes a long time inbetween referrals and tests. It's probably been around 3 months I've been waiting for this gastro appointment now and it dosnt look like it will be any time soon either.
I will take a look at that link you have sent me, thank you. I really hope you get to the bottom of you're problem also.
hello I think I spoke to you before. Maybe 🤔…I’m so sorry months later the pain/ache is still there. Like I may have said before 5-6 years for me with the pain/ache and no further forward. I am going to Drs in next couple weeks as there may strangely be a link to your feet ?? and liver ?? So I see if this has any anything …good luck with everything I hope you find answers
hi yes I’m well thank you. The pain/ache was originally always just tucked under my front right bottom rib. I would describe like someone is holding onto my rib. However, the last 6 months the more significant ache/pain is directly parallel in my back bottom right rib ..if I push onto the area with my hand the ache goes .. if I stretch it out or I am standing up and occupied with work I don’t overly notice it. But if I sit down it’s like there is a balloon under this rib area. I have been spraying magnesium oil on the areas which slightly helps. I have had numerous tests cameras and scans everywhere. My only slight scare I had was a blood test 8 months ago came back with elevated ca-19 however a further blood test 3 months later it had come down into a more acceptable range. I will have this test repeated again to check it is still coming down. But scans everything all clear. The Dr says it is a mystery he may never solve and it may be that the pain has been there that long that my body/brain just keeps the pain sensation there (that bit threw me a bit)..
I hope you get some answers I would be intrigued to know if ever these pains will go. And what the cause is.
Thanks for replying back take care and I hope all goes well for you
It's funny you say that, I have a constant pain/ache under my lower right rib which it's situated to one spot around my side/ back area. If I push on it, it really hurts and the sensation I get with it, its as if some one is just pressing there finger in to my ribs really hard.
I've also had ct scan, xray, colonoscopy, endoscopy, nasal endoscopy, ultrasound, numerous blood tests, stool samples, fit tests. All of then came back clear apart from my stool calprotectin levels were high in the 200 range, so I'm awaiting to see a specialist but I was referred 2 months ago and still heard nothing yet.
I'm glad all your scans and test came back clear, that's a relief! I hope that has gave you some sort of comfort.
its a frustrating and emotionally painful situation as well as causing physical pain. I have been in this position for seven years non stop. I still dont truly know whats going on after a mountain of tests. Its a daily battle of illness, flare ups and pain. I hate it. I am currently saiting to see a colorectal speciailist but colonoscopy was clear so who knows. I am thinking of paying to see a neurogastroenterologist as I am sure there is a connection between my enteric nervous system and all this issue.
I hope your gastro referral isnt too far off and they can help you.
Where do I start on the pain front. Top to bottom I have chronic acid reflux and failed peristslsis so have chest arm hand and torso reflected pain from that. A huatus hernia, stomach has slow emptying which causes aches and lain, I have pancreatic and liver cysts monitored every two years. My gall bladder was removed and since then my bowel has been horrendous. Two years of chronic diarrhoea folowed by two years of chronic constipation complete with pain ongoing. Life is stressful and wearing. Hope you can find relief.
I have read a little bit about it and I can relate to alot of the symptoms, I will be bringing this up with the specialist anyway. Can diverticulitis be localised? I've already had a colonoscopy 7 months ago which was all clear, I think that's why the GPS keep fobbing me off.
Check out MALS. I had been diagnosed with IBS and suffered awful pain under my right rib for many years. I discovered MALS doing my own research and asked my doctor for a scan to check. The scan confirmed MALS and SM A S
Thanks for this 👍🏻. I was also thinking of chronic bowel ischemia, intestinal ischemia, as possible underlying cause. Asked my former gastroenterologist if I've had a specific scan for this because I don't remember I had.
Just sent an additional message to my former gastroenterologist in the regional hospital asking her if MALS and/or SMA syndrome could be the underlying cause of my all symptoms, including the functional gastrointestinal disorder. I do remember something did show up on a MRI I had in the past but don't remember if it was addressed, this anomaly in my abdomen, and if it would affect the normal function of the arteries in my abdomen.
If this will comfort you, I have exactly the same thing, pain wise. Pain at a single location, exactly 3 inches right of the belly button, some dull pain , sometimes burning sensation and rarely a short cramp…Recurrent and I had it for the last 3-4 years. Had all the tests. In the process I have learned I also have a gallbladder polyp but the pain is not relevant to that. Chronic constipation, rarely diarrhea and initially I lost 10-15 pounds but regained it. Having seen the clear colonoscopy and a good abdominal CT, and ruling out the malign thing, the doctors do not even prescribe a medicine and maybe even do not listen anymore. But the pain is there with me for the last 3 years. In my situation I am positive that the pain is ascending colon related, it is scary that it is at a single point, if there is such a specific pain there should be smth wrong with that point I tend to argue but the doctors do not seem be impressed with that... One even said, sometimes IBS pain is at a singe location, which does not make sense to me as IBS should have a gas impact... but it is what it is…Pain is manageable but other intestinal symptoms are quite disturbing. So this is it, you are not the only one. And I would say our mental health affects much in the intestines. When I think and worry too much on that it gets worse and somehow I act hypochondriac… I will let you know if I come up with smth new.
Yes It's very strange for the pain to be localised and very worrying. I've always been told by health care professionals that ibs is NOT localised, this is where most of my anxiety comes from. I've been having this weird symptom for 6 months constantly everyday on top of other things. Sorry to hear you have been suffering so long, I really feel for you and if you do hear any more information on this please let me know, it would be very much appreciated. I am aware that anxiety can definitely make matters much worse but I'm struggling to get off the anxiety carousel at the moment with all these symptoms going on with little to no answers.
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