Hi Pippa. I have appreciated your experience and have a question. I have been diagnosed with IBS but have almost no pain or cramping below the belly button. Although this does occur ocassionally, often when I need to go but can’t due to constipation. The pain is more the upper abdomen about 3 inches from the navel and to the right all the way to the ribs. I am not sure if that is where Gallbladder is. I often feel pain directly to the righ of the naval (when looking down at your own abdomen) I am working on food triggers but it does appear fried foods cause me issues, and some vegetables. Today I ate lo mein type noodles as I have before. I have had non stop gas and burping, this seems to happen almost every time I eat but especially after any kind of fried food, which I have been avoiding in general. I am going to start a food journal but curious if you ever experience this too.
Pain can occur just about anywhere with IBS and everyone experiences it differently with different levels and types of pain. I used to have problems with fatty and fried foods because of my acid reflux and it occurred long before my IBS started. This reaction is now a lot better, although I still have some trouble with fats which cause me to vomit. Salame is the worst offender For some reason, some fats just lie in my stomach undigested until they are vomited up later.
Hi Pippa,
thank you for your continued advice. I never feel nausea or vomit, thankfully! I absolutely hate vomiting. Question with your IBS do you have undigested food particles? I have been passing better formed stools for the past few days, still light in color but better. they are not yellow but a very light brown where for a while they were not formed and were yellow.. however I am always seeing the undigested food.
I’ve never had undigested food in my stool; it was only pain, nausea, constipation, loose stools or diarrhoea I had. I haven’t had a flare up in a long time because I try to avoid stress as much as possible.
I have got slight pain in RUQ aswell. I’ve had blood tests done for liver function and some other stuff and also ultrasound on liver, kidneys and gallbladder…the doctor was happy with the results. The pressure/pain seems to disappear quite a lot but has flared up recently which I can only think was caused by alcohol and fatty foods. Do you drink alcohol often johnny? I think mines triggered by eating fatty food or alcohol. (bit of a binge)
I also have slight anxiety which is reflected in headaches/worry i have a lot. Dad has IBS but I’ve never been diagnosed with that.
Very similar symptoms to what you are experiencing. What are you going to do next to find out what it could be?
Hope you symptoms get better 
Hi Stj000342, sorry to hear you are having some troubles as well. I think we have similar pains. It is never severe, morebof a dull persistent ache. Also your Dad has IBS and his symptoms are similar? Is it more of a flare or constant for him, same for you. Do you feel pain when it is not flaring up?
I do not drink a lot of alcohol, but I do have the occasional fatty food which seems to cause me the most problems. I might drink once a month, maybe twice if there is something to celebrate! With that said I had pizza yesterday and was good… so i have selective IBS it seems lol. I am currently pending follow-up on my gallbladder, but GI cannot see me until September. I am going to a new GI for a second opinion before seeing a surgeon about my gallbladder. Before they take the thing from me I want to be sure it is causing my problems. I have heard mixed stories about Gallbladder removal and would hate to have it removed only to cause worse issues.
I am also see my GP Monday. I need to discuss my anxiety about my health with him. it is beginning to impact my work and home life. I quit googling which has helped a ton. My dad said when. they were younger they did jot have the same resources we do, therefore they were not attempting to self-diagnose. I wonder if this is becoming a growing problem in our society today. I am sure it drives the doctors crazy!