Pain just below lower Ribs - radiates to right?! What is this?

[K2]

Alright a quick history... four years ago I was diagnosed with mild
GERD at the age of 22. Within the year, the GERD gave way to just
heart burn and upset stomach. I then began developing sharp chest
pains, especially when laughing, right in the middle of my chest.
Those pains soon gave way to my common dilemma.

For the past 2 1/2 years I have been having these intermittent pains
(generally last about a month then subside for 3-4 months) in my right
side. Generally either right below my last right rib or directly
across, to the right, from my belly button. I have had a liver
palette (sp?) done, a chest x-ray, and an ultrasound of the gall
bladder which all came back normal. My doctor, believe it or not,
then diagnosed it as "some strange pain that I get in my side." I'm
not lying. On rare ocassions I may be awoken in the early morning by
sharp pains in my right side, localized below the ribs, which
generally lasts no more than 3-5 minutes.

No fever, no vomiting or nausea - I do experience varying bowel
movements from hard large stools, to small, pale, loose stools during
these periods (but never diarrhea).

This is becoming a real nuisance for the obvious reasons but mostly
because I don't know what it is. Gall bladder? Liver? Hep C? IBS?
I never thought I would be bothered by such as problem at 26 years of
age.

Anyone got any ideas, suggestions, advice or similar symptoms - I'm
anxious to hear them. Thanks in advance!

Sam C.

 

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<< Group: misc.health.alternative Date: Thu, Jul 10, 2003, 11:00am
(EDT-3) From: [email protected] (K2)
Alright a quick history... four years ago I was diagnosed with mild GERD
at the age of 22. Within the year, the GERD gave way to just heart burn
and upset stomach. I then began developing sharp chest pains, especially
when laughing, right in the middle of my chest. Those pains soon gave
way to my common dilemma.
For the past 2 1/2 years I have been having these intermittent pains
(generally last about a month then subside for 3-4 months) in my right
side. Generally either right below my last right rib or directly across,
to the right, from my belly button. I have had a liver palette (sp?)
done, a chest x-ray, and an ultrasound of the gall bladder which all
came back normal. My doctor, believe it or not, then diagnosed it as
"some strange pain that I get in my side." I'm not lying. On rare
ocassions I may be awoken in the early morning by sharp pains in my
right side, localized below the ribs, which generally lasts no more than
3-5 minutes.
No fever, no vomiting or nausea - I do experience varying bowel
movements from hard large stools, to small, pale, loose stools during
these periods (but never diarrhea).
This is becoming a real nuisance for the obvious reasons but mostly
because I don't know what it is. Gall bladder? Liver? Hep C? IBS? I
never thought I would be bothered by such as problem at 26 years of age.
Anyone got any ideas, suggestions, advice or similar symptoms - I'm
anxious to hear them. Thanks in advance!
Sam C. >>

Sounds like the same pain that put me in the hospital dozens of years
ago right after I ate fried tomatoes 3 days in a row (btw, I've never
eaten them again, no matter how delicious they are). I do still get the
pain sometimes when I've eaten harsh foods. That's when I lighten up on
my diet + it always goes away.

Have you ever checked what you've eaten right before these sieges?




Alternate: [email protected]

 

[K2]

Mandy, thanks for your input... I realized shortly after my last post
that I didn't adequately describe the actual pain. The pain is
usually a dull pain, or a burning feeling. Only occassionally will I
get sharp pains --- like last night as I was lying on the couch (on my
left side) and decided to roll to my back. The sharp pains generally
seem to come whenever I'm flexing my muscles in that area. If I am
awoken in the morning by pain, when I try to sit up (causing me to
flex my muscles) is when the pain is extremely intense.

Also, I didn't want to jump to the worst conclusions... IBS, HEP C ---
could this be constipation or some kind of spasming in with the
intestine? It doesn't seem to be related to foods that I eat. I say
this because the dull pain has been present for a little over two
weeks now and I have eaten lots of different things - from salads to
steaks.

I'm wondering if it's related to anxiety??? I just started a new job
10 days ago (two work weeks) and my pain started about 13-14 days ago
- - right before I left my last job.

Anyone have pains like this associated with anxiety? Thanks again
Mandy!

Sam C.

> Sounds like the same pain that put me in the hospital dozens of years
> ago right after I ate fried tomatoes 3 days in a row (btw, I've never
> eaten them again, no matter how delicious they are). I do still get the
> pain sometimes when I've eaten harsh foods. That's when I lighten up on
> my diet + it always goes away.
>
> Have you ever checked what you've eaten right before these sieges?