My ongoing digestive problems are... ongoing! My doctors is sure its IBS and has referred me a GI specialist to discuss, so just have to wait for the appointment. My "flares" last for weeks on end and my main symptom is upper discomfort under my ribs which can radiate to the back. This can be predominately on the left and then the right with stinging pains which can be all around my colon, which again come and go. However I am not in great pain, its more discomfort or a dull ache. There can be mad dashes to the toilet and cramping pain in my lower abdomen is linked with that. I just wanted to know if anybody suffers with upper discomfort. I asked is it potential gallbladder issues but they seem to have dismissed that and said I would be in agony. The joys of this disorder....
Also I ca have breaks from this. Over Christmas and January I was symptom free…?
You can get pain just about anywhere with IBS; some people can get ribcage pain with it. Gallbladder problems would be agony as your doctor said. However, if your doctor has dismissed this and is sure you have IBS, I would accept this. I have had a low level dull ache with my IBS.
I am sorry to hear about your problems but it is not at all unusual to have a bizarre mixture of symptoms. I have had symptoms for most of my life (and I am far from young now!) and the symptoms have varied not only over time but can change almost daily. I either do or have suffered from all the symptoms you mention plus many others. I believe that in the end we have to come to terms with our reality of our condition. It is currently incurable and treatment options are limited or non-existent for most of us.
I recently saw a new G.I consultant, having seen others over the years.This one was very, very thorough and he checked everything possible. Although he found some minor ( possibly contributory ) factors he was ultimately convinced that all alternative explanations had been ruled out. I think it is time to learn how to cope better with my IBS symptoms and live with it as best I can.
I hope you feel a bit better soon.
IBS pain can move about your abdomen. The pain you describe sounds like this shifting pain. My pain moved from left to middle, right and sometimes into my back. However, the pattern of pain would change with each flare up.
Thank you for your replies. I have also taken the bowel cancer test too which results should be in by early next week. I sometimes have bright blood when passing a stool but not every time which I am sure is hemorrhoids too. But you can’t help worry yourself sick over it which then makes the whole thing worse. When I am out and about not thinking about it, my symptoms are pretty mild. Its when I sit down and then start worrying and it all returns… Its a miserable worry when you have digestive issues!
My ibs started in my teens, although i’d had episodes before without knowing what caused it. Since my teens i have had pain like a dull ache, sometimes more severe beneath the ribcage, usually on the left and at its worst when lying in bed. So this could be a symptom of irritable bowel, yes.
I also get this dull ache in my left shoulder, strangely enough, but both the rib cage and shoulder pain have declined in frequency since i started being very restrictive with my diet. I still have pretty much every other symptom though so this could be coincidental!