Hi,
I've been having recurring pain under my lower left ribs for 5 months now. Dr has tested bloods, all normal. Had full cardiologist check, ecg etc all normal. The pain initially felt like a really uncomfortable ball under my ribs and I struggled with sitting for a couple of days. Standing, walking etc all ok. Lying down helped but not on my back as it felt like something was pulling at my ribs.
Was put on lanzoprapole and felt not too bad. But after a small holiday, lots of food, moderate alcohol it niggled away but not so bad as first time and recently it's flared up horribly. I had one day I had to stay in bed as the pain went all round lower left side and stabbing pain in the back. If I sneezed it was very very painful.
I've got a gastroenterologist appt in over a week so should find out more but wondered if anyone else has had similar symptoms?
I've no idea if this is related to pancreas but I have had multiple doses of antibiotics that I've discovered can cause this in pancreas. My pain is most definitely left side and right at the bottom of the ribcage.
Hi, did you ever find out what was causing this pain?
Hi,
I didn’t get a diagnosis but I did get a lot of tests. I had ultrasound, ct scan with contrast dye and endoscopy. They all came back normal so lots of good came out of it in that anything serious ruled out. I ended up on lanzoprapole for 2-3 months, lost 20lbs in weight, turned my diet around with lots of good food and only drink the odd 1-2 glasses of wine every 2-3wks now. Not had that pain since but gastroenterologist said to come back if I did as even he was curious to find out what was going on.
Have you experienced similar?
Thanks for the reply. Glad it was noting serious. Yes I have. Mine might be slightly different though. I have intermittent pain on my left side below ribs which sometimes radiates to the back. I also have pain/uncomfortableness when I press my abdomen or lie on my stomach. I am terrified it might be pancreatic cancer.
I’ve had all those thoughts. I was honestly shocked they found nothing. Have you been to your dr? Get blood tests to cover everything as a start. Tell your gp of your pain and insist on an ultrasound and ct scan. Don’t stay in pain and let the worry eat away. Im wishing you the luck I had. Let me know how you get on.
I get this from acid reflux. It can get quite uncomfortable, and you swear it's some dreaded disease (like Pancreatic cancer). I even get pain and spams in my back and chest, down my arm. Try taking some Pepto Bismol. It temporarily coats your insides, protecting it from the acid attacks. If you feel relief within 1/2 hour or hour, then you know it's probably acid reflux causing your problem. (Pepto will make your poop black for a couple of days, so don't freak out over that). You will then have to take some some over-the-counter acid blocker for a couple of weeks or more. And cut down on high acid foods until you heal. I prefer Pepcid AC if I'm not real bad. If that doesn't work, Nexium. Both seem to have the fewest side-effects, for me, anyway.
I have had this problem also for 6 years. I have had every test available. I take Omeprazole or Prilosec. It does seem to comes and go. It really bothers me when I have an empty stomach. I do a low carb diet in the winter months with lots of soy products and it does seem worse then. I would love to figure it out.
Have you had any scans done?
Are you still having issues Tom? I still get pain intermittently but think it’s stomach/acid related. I have to watch what I eat/drink. How did you get on?
I’m surprised how so many people report similar symptoms yet nobody seems to link them. Sure it can only be stomach/acid related but it appears to be more common than we think?!
So interesting. I have this too. It's like a burning pain on my lower left rib cage. Sometimes the soreness wraps around to under my arm. In the past year, I've had a CT Scan, ultrasound, and colonoscopy. I have diverticulosis, and acid reflux. Alcohol makes it worse, so I gave up wine. It comes and goes....definitely stomach related, I think. But no actual diagnosis. When my back hurts too, I always worry about pancreatic cancer.
Hi Fiona, yeah still having the same issues. I have had some MRI scans done on my pancreas and small bowel I will let you know when I hear something.
Hi.. I do low carb too and it seems to be worse when I'm lower in weight.. But unrelated to WHEN I eat.. But it's worse also when I'm on my feet for a while.. Like gravity is pulling something? It comes and goes, but its been terrible lately, and wrapping around my back. I've had EVERY TEST.. Exploratory surgery even.. No answers.. Any other ideas? I'm stumped.. Sometimes the pain literally disables me and I HAVE to lie down. It's not related to when I eat, like gallbladder would be.. Sigh.. 😩 Anyone?
Hi Tom. Just checking to see how you're getting on? I read elsewhere that you had an embolisation done? I had one done to and have similar pain. Do you think there could be a connection?
Hi Roger, no I do not believe the two are related. My embolization was done many years ago and I had no complications. I also know loads of people who have had embolizations and had no issues. My problems only started very recently and are more to do with my digestive system including pain in upper left quadrant and back. I have had an mri scan which came back clear however a recent calprotectin test showed signs of inflammation as it was elevated. This is an indication of lots of horrible conditions including IBD and bowel cancer. So I'm probably going to need a camera next. So still unsure of the cause and feeling anxious. Hope you find the cause of your discomfort. I would consider asking for a CT or MRI scan because you could be having issues with your pancreas.
Hi all I have been reading this thread and just wonder if any of you are having these symptoms. When I am upright and walking around I feel nothing, but when I lay on my left side under the rib cage area I have discomfort with pain and if I lay on my right side it feels like something is pulling the left side to my right and it takes ages to get comfortable. I have had a CT scan with a barium meal and still waiting on the results which I will get on Monday. Over a year ago I had a Bariatric Sleeve done and he repaired a hernia while in there, so I am hoping nothing wrong there. Any ideas please
"If I sneezed it was very very painful."
"left side and right at the bottom of the ribcage"
Is it on the outside edge of the abdominal muscle? ACNES can be outrageously painful. Familiarise yourself with Carnett's test. If you think it's ACNES go find a pain specialist.
ACNES can be caused by a pulled muscle, and a short episode of stress can make the pain go chronic (i.e. via Central Sensitisation).
The pain can cause a reflex reaction which can cause back pain, higher up due to the path the nerves take.
I just now ran across this post looking for something unrelated but I wanted to tell you that I've had this on and off for years. I was finally diagnosed with splenic flexure syndrome which is basically trapped gas that can't move out of the bend of the large colon. I control it with following a diet that is good for people with irritable bowel syndrome and I was prescribed Bentyl which helps me tremendously when the pain starts up. It relaxes the colon so that the trapped air gets out of that bend and moves down and therefore relieving the pain.... the pain feels like there's a fist or a ball sitting up under your rib cage like you want to move it out from under your rib cage and the Bentyl relieves it so well.
Hi tom
I know this was few months ago but I’m having the same issues and was wondering what your outcome was?
I’ve just been diagnosed with hypothyroidism and have been feeling awful for months but I have this tugging/pulling sensation not so much pain tho on my left hand side below my bottom rib I’ve also got a lot of what feels like trapped wind on both sides ultrasound was clear and I’m now booked in for a colonoscopy because my calprotectin was high aswell.
James
What information do you have about antibiotics causing pancreas problems?