Hi all. I have been suffering with pain in upper left abdomen below the ribs for 7 months now. I've had loads of tests and nothing has come back showing anything. Had faecal calprotectin test done and that was normal so the docs have not done an endoscopy. Sometimes the pain ramps up to where I can constantly feel it and I can agrivate it with movement such as twisting or stretching Other times it just rumbles along and I hardly notice it but it's always there. Do any of you guys ever get this?
The best way that I can explain the location of the pain is like this. Make a fist with your left hand and place it half way down your left rib line just underneath. Where your little finger rests is where the pain is mostly. I does travel about a little bit but it's mostly there. This normal for ibs?
I think the appendix is on the RHS, although you could ask your GP if it could be something like that.
My ibs is just passing wind, i have to take a lot of medications and that upsets the lining of my tummy. I would go back and ask for further tests
BOB
Yes. The appendix is on the right. My pains are on the left under my ribs
You may need a test on the Colon, I was passing blood and it was a poylp.
They can work on anything like this on the day.
BOB
This is so weird as I have a similar thing. It's not so much a pain but more of an awareness about something not right in that exact same place. It feels like a knot or a blockage or something, can't quite explain it. When I was under the hospital for my IBS under a gastroenterologist, I mentioned it to him and he wasn't interested in it at all. I'm sure it's connected to my IBS and it seems to be aggravated there when I have a bad flare up. It also feels tender to touch at times. Years after, I was discharged from the hospital after various tests, I was just diagnosed with IBS. The weird thing is though, I went to see a psychic medium (I know!), who not only mentioned my IBS but also said it isn't and pointed to the area saying it's a hernia. Obviously I didn't do anything about what she said incase people thought I was crazy. I have never come across another person with this pain who has IBS.
This is a very common pain with IBS or with gastritis. I have had it on and off for 8 years.. When I have a flare up of either condition, it is bad. I have had so many tests but it is important to rule other things out. Do you have any other symptoms--ie--nausea, diarrhea,etc?
Yeah. I have lots of symptoms but I'm not sure if some of them are related to the anxiety and stress of the last 7 months. Diarrhea in the morning. Sometimes loose but not firm. Gas, burping. Sometimes bloating. My most worrying symptom is fatigue and weakness. That's that I am putting down to the stress And anxiety. I just feel wiped out all the time.
I've been having pain in my left like what you describe for about a year. I've had an endoscopy, multiple cat scans, ultra sounds and nothing has been found. Doc suggested it may be an issue with my splenic flexure... the problem I have is.. the pain moves... mostly on the left but at times right in the center of my abdomen but never the right. I sometimes can't tell if I'm in pain or hungry. I've lost 36 lbs since it started... mostly due to not eating as much. I've not have much diarrhea.. but seems I have constipation a lot. doc said I should follow a low FODMAP diet.. ( boy is that hard ) and I just started that yesterday... it will take a few days/weeks for that to present any relief, if any. I'm so uncomfortable and bloated all the time... I feel like someone has inflated a balloon in my stomach.
My husband has this same feeling. He says often it feels like the feeling of being very very hungry. Same spot. Sometimes he can feel it in his back. He's had numerous ultrasounds, endoscopy, colonoscopy, MRI, blood tests etc... and what have they found? One tiny cyst on his left kidney that they say is not causing this. They say it's IBS now because he is having loose bm's but I don't buy it. It's been 7 yrs.
I too have had these symptoms of pain in the left just under the ribs and into the back. Sever fatigue, muscle spasms in the mid torso area (abdominal area) a couple of days go by and I start to think all is going on the mend and then it all flares up again and seems to start like a knot in my left back area and just left of my belly button area. Gas, bloating, pressure throughout my body, heartburn, shortness of breath. Most of these symptoms I contribute to the bloating. I have tried diets of all kinds and now forcing myself to strengthen my bodies core. I've had an MRI, endoscopy, immunology Dr., colonoscopy, stool test, several blood test. I've seen a couple of regular family mds, functional medicine Drs, 2 Gastrointestinal Drs, acupuncturist, chiropractors due to the pain threw to the back pain and them thinking it's referred pain from degenerative disc disorder. The medical field has mentioned fibromyalgia, acid reflux, DDD, gallstones, repetitive back injury, and even mold in the work place. Pancreatic enzymes taken for undigested foods and then an ERCP which showed no issues with the pancreas only several small gallstones. Sorry this is so long. I've been trying to find out why this is happening to my body for over 2 years now. Good luck all. May you all have good health.. let me know if anybody finds out anything I will keep an eye on this post.
I hv same symptoms since last 5 months. Done all tests of Thoracic & Abdomen. But All Normal. Now taking Acidity tab. on direction of Doctor but no significant relief. I hv pain on left side just below & left of nipple area. I am puzzled since last 5 months. Its constant dull pain except sleep. Any one hv similar prob?
I too have had these same symptoms. I feel it most, if not all of the day. I get relief when I sleep. The strange thing that I have noticed is that is tends to be more intense during my monthly cycle.
I also have pain in my upper mid back that spans across my entire back.
I have an appointment on Friday with a new general practioner. Hoping to find out more information then or at least start the process of elimination.
Wow! I have had same left side pain under left breast under my rib for 1 and a half yrs. I hav had ultrasound, ctscan, mri, colonoscopy and endoscopy. All show nothing there. No diagnosis but still in pain. Feels like a tiny twig is stuck under my rib. Sometimes pain moves an inch or 2 around.. sometimes it leaves for a week or two at the most, but always comes back and then lasts for several weeks or months each time. I am loosing my mind with this constant gnawing pain in my side. No answers from the doctors.
Thanks for posting Leigh, I've been suffering with this same pain for almost 4 years now and it only seems to get worse and more consistent. I also find that I'll have periods of several days where it gets better, but then back to normal and I can't pinpoint why. Just recently I found the term "splenic flexure syndrome" and these posts which really seem to hit the nail on the head regarding symptoms. None of the doctors or GIs I saw mentioned this or seemed to care about the localized pain.
I tried many tests and supplements and a food log for 18 months and could not find any magic answers, but I've been on the fodmap diet for 2 months now which seems to reduce to intensity of flareups in general, but certainly hasn't stopped the issue. As far as diet goes I've found I do feel better if I eat, fewer beans, less dairy (especially ice cream and cereal with milk), less caffeine (although it usually makes me feel better at first), less sugar, and less oats. I've found the most effective temporary fixes are deep breathing and meditation exercises that engage the parasympathetic (rest and digest) nervous system. On top of this exercise (cardio and strength training) both help me to manage the symptoms. Other things that help include drinking lots of water and spending time outside / not sitting at a desk all day when I can help it. Natural light increases seratonin, which acts on gut motility and generally helps move things through your gut. Apparently 90% of seratonin in the body is in the gut and more sertonin helps to move things along. I think this is also why I feel way better after a couple drinks of alcohol (dangerous!). Obviously, exercise also helps move things along and I think working the core like someone else mentioned is a good idea.
Anyways, I think anything that reduces gas can help and some of the other stuff I've read online is that there are some medications to reduce gas. Has anyone tried activated charcoal or Beano? I'd be interested to know if this has helped anyone. I'm going to the store now to get some... I'm sorry to hear that others are suffering as well but comforted to know that I'm not alone in this struggle. I will report back if I find a cure!
Hi leigh sorry to hear you are going through this...Well your symptoms quite look like IBS...well if you are feeling fatigued then you should get checked for your vitamins level if you are not taking them especially vitamin d level....And gut and mind are closely connected and both can affect each other...so try to reduce your anxiety to calm down your stomach..
I have the exact same symptoms as your husband, in addition to "brain fog" and feeling "poisoned" for a few days after eating certain foods. I've gotten diagnoses that don't seem quite right, including IBS and "functional bowel disorder."
I get very hungry, like my stomach is telling me to eat or else that sore spot is going to get very irritated, and I can feel it in my back and it tingles and twitches. I have a tendency to overeat because of it even though I am underweight. After overeating the feeling doesn't really get better.
I've had this for 20 years or so. I improved a few times when taking antibiotics for other reasons e.g. sinus infection, and it was like a miracle. But it didn't last. A couple weeks later it would come back and become chronic again.
I'm on a very limited diet now. Desperate for info. Is it simply gastritis? Who knows at this point...
Oh my. I have the exact pain before, every single day, every time I go to work. I take calls and it was so stressful. I resigned and now, with little stress, it is almost gone. Just flare ups now and then but not to the extent to be compared before.
Is the pain in one spot - roughly the size of a fingertip?
Is the pain on the edge of your abdominal muscle, and do you not have bowel/eating etc. symptoms?
If so google Anterior Cutaneous Nerve Entrapment Syndrome.
Learn how to do Carnett's test.
Good luck finding a doctor who can treat it.
Hi Toby. I just read your post and it seems we have the same issues and have tried the same fixes. I have had ibs for years but recently, after a routine colonoscopy, theses new symptoms appeared. I've had ultrasounds, Ct scans and another colonoscopy all in the past six months. All normal. However, this pain in my back and left abdomen is driving me crazy. I've tried the fodmap diet. It's brutal and not much relief. No dairy, gas x, levsin, Advil for the back, coffee, no coffee, exercise, blah blah blah. I get relief for a few days and then, out of nowhere, my back starts hurting. Within an hour, I'm bloated and the pain in my abdomen starts. Then, I get depressed and just want to sleep. Once I fall asleep, I'm good. It will last days, five or six and then a reprieve. I'm so disgusted. I won't plan anything for fear I'm going to have to be near a bathroom or just want to lay with a heating pad. I guess it's something we just have to live with but the thought of spending the rest of my life like this really saddens me. When you find the cure, please let me know 😂 Good luck and thanks for sharing. I don't feel so alone or as crazy! Still crazy, just not AS crazy.
Yep. I’ve had the same thing for 20+ years. It’s always there. Feels like something’s “sticking out” or is out of place...was told with my first colonoscopy 15 yrs agonit was a splenic flexure issue. It comes and goes at different intensities.