Pain and pressure feeling under and at the side of left rib

[TanyaL1408]

Hi Everyone. I am new here and for the past few weeks I have found this site so helpful! 

I am waiting for my celiac test results (bloods) Scope test in 3 weeks. 

It all started with on/off pains and nausea for 3 years but in January of this year my son got diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and it hit me hard! The pain came back then but this time is didn't leave. The pain started under my right rib, radiating to the same place on my back. I went to the doctor where I had my bloods done, full ultrasound of gallbladder, pancreas, liver, kidneys and spleen! All looked good and blood results all good too. Also had a chest X-ray and all normal there too. The pain then moved to under the left rib and has been there for about 5/6 weeks. Under my left rib at the front feels like an ache that radiates to the same place on the back but around the bottom of my left ribs to the side I have a pressure feeling? I also developed an itchy, red bumpy blister rash on my feet that come and go years ago but the doctors said it was a form dermatitis? Now I'm thinking is it something to do with gluten? Sorry for the long message and all the questions. Also, is it possible that if I come back negative for celiac that I could be gluten intolerant? I get aches and pains mainly mid back but can have them lower back, groin and upper thigh too. 

In the last 8 weeks my stool has also changed (sorry for tmi)

Probably important to state that I have also developed Health Anxiety from all of this which I know in itself can cause physical symptoms.

Any answers would be greatly appreciated! Thank you.

 

 

[cristiana]

Hi Tanya

It is good you are being checked out for celiac disease.

I have had a lot of pain under the lower left rib in the past. At times the burning was overwhelming.  I posted a lot on this forum about this because it worried me so much.

I had an u/s once and I was told where the burning was under my sternum, slightly to the left, was my stomach.  But my ribs ached terribly and sometimes the nauseating pain would wake me at night, I could hardly breathe.

I think in part it was exacerbated by bloating and the gastritis-like symptoms which I get when I am glutened - it makes my stomach burn. 

I picked up a lot of interesting other diagnoses at this time.  I was diagnosed with something called costochondritis.  One doctor even thought I had had shingles without the rash, as the pain followed a dermatome.  Anyway - whatever it was,  since my blood returned to normal, the pain hardly ever returns.

The other pain you describe - lower back, groin, upper thigh - I also had that, still do sometimes: that was diagnosed as referred pain from sacroiliac issues, something relatively common in coeliacs also. 

Just a few thoughts. 

Make sure you keep eating gluten until your scope.

Cristiana

 

 

 

[Scott Adams]

Welcome to the forum! I am just checking to see if you were eating gluten daily in the 6-8 weeks before your blood test? You also need to eat it daily for at least 2 weeks before your endoscopy/biopsy. 

The rash could definitely be dermatitis herpetiformis, which is the skin manifestation of celiac disease. Do you have tiny, hard, clear and very itchy blisters? In any case, a dermatologist can take a biopsy of it to determine if it's DH. 

[TanyaL1408]

10 hours ago, cristiana said:

Hi Tanya

It is good you are being checked out for celiac disease.

I have had a lot of pain under the lower left rib in the past. At times the burning was overwhelming.  I posted a lot on this forum about this because it worried me so much.

I had an u/s once and I was told where the burning was under my sternum, slightly to the left, was my stomach.  But my ribs ached terribly and sometimes the nauseating pain would wake me at night, I could hardly breathe.

I think in part it was exacerbated by bloating and the gastritis-like symptoms which I get when I am glutened - it makes my stomach burn. 

I picked up a lot of interesting other diagnoses at this time.  I was diagnosed with something called costochondritis.  One doctor even thought I had had shingles without the rash, as the pain followed a dermatome.  Anyway - whatever it was,  since my blood returned to normal, the pain hardly ever returns.

The other pain you describe - lower back, groin, upper thigh - I also had that, still do sometimes: that was diagnosed as referred pain from sacroiliac issues, something relatively common in coeliacs also. 

Just a few thoughts. 

Make sure you keep eating gluten until your scope.

Cristiana

 

 

 

Thank you so much for your reply Christiana. That was very reassuring because this pain is with me ALL THE TIME. Sometimes it eases off and sometimes it is worse but overall it is always there in some form! Yes they had mentioned Costochondritis to me before too but I definitely think eating makes it worse. I have been gluten free for the last 3 days and I think the pain has subsided a little but hard to know? Did your pain go around to your back on the same level as your lower ribs? Did you have the pressure too? It nearly feels like trapped gas?

Thank you so much again! 

[TanyaL1408]

7 hours ago, Scott Adams said:

Welcome to the forum! I am just checking to see if you were eating gluten daily in the 6-8 weeks before your blood test? You also need to eat it daily for at least 2 weeks before your endoscopy/biopsy. 

The rash could definitely be dermatitis herpetiformis, which is the skin manifestation of celiac disease. Do you have tiny, hard, clear and very itchy blisters? In any case, a dermatologist can take a biopsy of it to determine if it's DH. 

Hi Scott, thank you so much and thank you for your reply! 

Yes I have been eating gluten forever before the test. I am 3 days gluten free to see if makes a difference? 

Yes they are small hard red blisters and the itch sometimes drives me mad! Then when they are healing the skin goes very dry and cracked. Then as soon as it clears the red blisters come back again. However, it's only ever on my feet.

Hoping I get some answers soon. 

Thanks Scott!

[cristiana]

12 hours ago, TanyaL1408 said:

Thank you so much for your reply Christiana. That was very reassuring because this pain is with me ALL THE TIME. Sometimes it eases off and sometimes it is worse but overall it is always there in some form! Yes they had mentioned Costochondritis to me before too but I definitely think eating makes it worse. I have been gluten free for the last 3 days and I think the pain has subsided a little but hard to know? Did your pain go around to your back on the same level as your lower ribs? Did you have the pressure too? It nearly feels like trapped gas?

Thank you so much again! 

Hi Tanya

You could be me ...  that sounds very familiar!   It definitely wrapped round to my back.   Pressure and burning too.

From memory, when I had it at its worse was, oddly enough, not when I was undiagnosed but a few years in.   Gluten was sneaking into my diet through an iron supplement, and I believe I was getting low levels of gluten from various other sources, even though I was trying to be gluten free.

Once I realised about the iron I stopped taking it, and that helped tremendously.   A holiday in France where I was glutened brought the pain back big time, and it was around that time that I was waking up with the pain at night (I thought I was having a heart attack and ended up in Accident & Emergency more than once!)

Anyway, for various reasons it took 8 years after going gluten free for TTG levels to return to normal.   That is when I finally felt better.  Who would think that gluten can cause so much trouble!

I still get that sort of pain when I am glutened.  A friend of mine, not a coeliac, has an official diagnosis of gastritis and her pain is very similar to mine.  Mind you - it is possible to have gastritis and coeliac disease. 

If when they do the scope they discover you are a coeliac, a gluten free diet should help this pain go away, but if like my friend you have gastritis, it would be worth trying a gastritis diet.  Try to find one that suits you. 

Generally speaking, they tend to recommend one avoids spicy food, rich food, citrus and tomato, caffeine and alcohol, and that one eats small, regular meals and dishes like chicken, potato and carrot slow cooked in a crockpot with stock and herbs till it's all almost falling apart - very soothing on the stomach.   

Anyway, all the best - I do hope you get some answers soon!

 

Edited April 27, 2023 by cristiana

[TanyaL1408]

13 hours ago, cristiana said:

Hi Tanya

You could be me ...  that sounds very familiar!   It definitely wrapped round to my back.   Pressure and burning too.

From memory, when I had it at its worse was, oddly enough, not when I was undiagnosed but a few years in.   Gluten was sneaking into my diet through an iron supplement, and I believe I was getting low levels of gluten from various other sources, even though I was trying to be gluten free.

Once I realised about the iron I stopped taking it, and that helped tremendously.   A holiday in France where I was glutened brought the pain back big time, and it was around that time that I was waking up with the pain at night (I thought I was having a heart attack and ended up in Accident & Emergency more than once!)

Anyway, for various reasons it took 8 years after going gluten free for TTG levels to return to normal.   That is when I finally felt better.  Who would think that gluten can cause so much trouble!

I still get that sort of pain when I am glutened.  A friend of mine, not a coeliac, has an official diagnosis of gastritis and her pain is very similar to mine.  Mind you - it is possible to have gastritis and coeliac disease. 

If when they do the scope they discover you are a coeliac, a gluten free diet should help this pain go away, but if like my friend you have gastritis, it would be worth trying a gastritis diet.  Try to find one that suits you. 

Generally speaking, they tend to recommend one avoids spicy food, rich food, citrus and tomato, caffeine and alcohol, and that one eats small, regular meals and dishes like chicken, potato and carrot slow cooked in a crockpot with stock and herbs till it's all almost falling apart - very soothing on the stomach.   

Anyway, all the best - I do hope you get some answers soon!

 

Thanks so much for all that information Cristiana! You are so helpful. I am on day 4 of Gluten free and I do think the pain has subsided a little. Although this could be in my head. I will continue gluten free for the next week and then reintroduce for my endoscopy. 

Will the scope test will show gastritis too? 

Will keep you updated.

[cacampora]

Hi Tanya, 

This sounds very similar to when I’ve been glutened. I feel a slight pinching/pressure right at the bottom of my right ribs. Almost like there’s a gas bubble trapped under my ribs. It’s happened enough times now that I know I’ve been glutened because it subsides within 5-7 days. All my labs/ultrasound check out. I was diagnosed with celiac a couple months ago so I’m still learning about my body on a gluten-free diet and the effects of gluten when I accidentally eat it. 

[herminia]

16 hours ago, cacampora said:

Hi Tanya, 

This sounds very similar to when I’ve been glutened. I feel a slight pinching/pressure right at the bottom of my right ribs. Almost like there’s a gas bubble trapped under my ribs. It’s happened enough times now that I know I’ve been glutened because it subsides within 5-7 days. All my labs/ultrasound check out. I was diagnosed with celiac a couple months ago so I’m still learning about my body on a gluten-free diet and the effects of gluten when I accidentally eat it. 

 

16 hours ago, cacampora said:

Hi Tanya, 

This sounds very similar to when I’ve been glutened. I feel a slight pinching/pressure right at the bottom of my right ribs. Almost like there’s a gas bubble trapped under my ribs. It’s happened enough times now that I know I’ve been glutened because it subsides within 5-7 days. All my labs/ultrasound check out. I was diagnosed with celiac a couple months ago so I’m still learning about my body on a gluten-free diet and the effects of gluten when I accidentally eat it. 

Oh my. This pain under and along the left rib happens to me occasionally and in my 5 years of diagnosis i had never associated it with celiac. It is extremely painful, and I often resort to heavy duty pain meds for relief. Last week it continued for 3 days until I took medication. I'm quite careful with my food intake so usually don't have gastric issues, but I slip on occasion. I truly learned something new.

[TanyaL1408]

On 4/29/2023 at 1:23 AM, cacampora said:

Hi Tanya, 

This sounds very similar to when I’ve been glutened. I feel a slight pinching/pressure right at the bottom of my right ribs. Almost like there’s a gas bubble trapped under my ribs. It’s happened enough times now that I know I’ve been glutened because it subsides within 5-7 days. All my labs/ultrasound check out. I was diagnosed with celiac a couple months ago so I’m still learning about my body on a gluten-free diet and the effects of gluten when I accidentally eat it. 

Thank you so much for your reply! I had went off gluten and thought I was feeling a little better after 4 days but thought I should go back on it for my biopsy. Today I feel I am back to square 1. 

Will keep you updated.

On 4/29/2023 at 6:04 PM, herminia said:

 

Oh my. This pain under and along the left rib happens to me occasionally and in my 5 years of diagnosis i had never associated it with celiac. It is extremely painful, and I often resort to heavy duty pain meds for relief. Last week it continued for 3 days until I took medication. I'm quite careful with my food intake so usually don't have gastric issues, but I slip on occasion. I truly learned something new.

Hi!! Does your pain wrap around to your back too? Or at the side of your rib? 

[cristiana]

@TanyaL1408

Just a thought - you may find some relief if you drink peppermint tea.   If there is any trapped gas which is contributing to the pressure you are feeling in that area, this might help disperse it.

I've had rib and back pain when I had to take iron supplements and this caused gas to build up - I felt like I wanted to burp, but couldn't. Mint tea helped.

If however you are suffering from reflux you might be better off trying chamomile tea.

[herminia]

On 4/26/2023 at 1:39 PM, TanyaL1408 said:

Hi Everyone. I am new here and for the past few weeks I have found this site so helpful! 

I am waiting for my celiac test results (bloods) Scope test in 3 weeks. 

It all started with on/off pains and nausea for 3 years but in January of this year my son got diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and it hit me hard! The pain came back then but this time is didn't leave. The pain started under my right rib, radiating to the same place on my back. I went to the doctor where I had my bloods done, full ultrasound of gallbladder, pancreas, liver, kidneys and spleen! All looked good and blood results all good too. Also had a chest X-ray and all normal there too. The pain then moved to under the left rib and has been there for about 5/6 weeks. Under my left rib at the front feels like an ache that radiates to the same place on the back but around the bottom of my left ribs to the side I have a pressure feeling? I also developed an itchy, red bumpy blister rash on my feet that come and go years ago but the doctors said it was a form dermatitis? Now I'm thinking is it something to do with gluten? Sorry for the long message and all the questions. Also, is it possible that if I come back negative for celiac that I could be gluten intolerant? I get aches and pains mainly mid back but can have them lower back, groin and upper thigh too. 

In the last 8 weeks my stool has also changed (sorry for tmi)

Probably important to state that I have also developed Health Anxiety from all of this which I know in itself can cause physical symptoms.

Any answers would be greatly appreciated! Thank you.

 

 

Stress seems to bring out all the symptoms...rib pain, stomach issues, weakness, itching, overall body pain. It helps if I am extra more careful with gluten.

[Dtoc]

I have the left side under rib pain. It's beyond annoying and causes me great anxiety. A massage therapist said it was possibly a hiatal hernia, which if you research HH along with the ileocecal valve, there's a connection between the 2. If I press hard on my IC valve (between the belly button and the right hip bone) it makes the left side rib pain worse.

A couple things that have worked for me is to follow a very low fiber diet, and no raw food (when I eat nuts, apples, salads, dried fruit, etc. the left side pain worsens for days after) and I also take GI relief from Thorne, which is slippery elm, DGL and aloe. 

[TanyaL1408]

Thanks everyone! I have woken up every morning with this pain in my left side even worse because I am lying on it for the last 4 mornings. Its right under my rib, in the side and very left of my back. I have had bad reflux the last few days too. My insides are always bubbling. I feel stiff all over with pains here and there, lower back starting to give trouble too and I am always tired. Suffering severely with anxiety because of all of this too. Still no blood results back either. I just want to stay off gluten now because I really think it was helping but had to go back on to make sure biopsy shows up. Thank you all for taking the time to comment back to me! 

[Scott Adams]

Let us know how things go with the test results.

[TanyaL1408]

On 5/4/2023 at 9:40 PM, Scott Adams said:

Let us know how things go with the test results.

Hi Scott! Blood test came back negative but last week but that's all the doctor said so I will get a print out of results tomorrow and post them here to see what you all think. Is it possible that I could come back positive on my scope test even though the bloods are negative? This pain/pressure is still there all the time. Even more so after a bowel movement? 

[Wheatwacked]

 

Yes, even though blood tests are negative some have positive biopsy and vice versa. Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity is diagnosed by first ruling out Celiac, and then showing improvement on a gluten free diet, which you have already seen. If you feel better gluten free, then in the end regardless of what doctors say do what makes sense. If gluten hurts you, don't eat it.  Here in the states we have TV commercials that if eating pizza with peperoni hurts your stomach, take Pepsid AC and dance down the street and eat your pizza. That in my own opinion is just stupid.  There are more than 200 symptoms, most not digestive, that mimic other diseases that are documented to improve in some cases with gluten free. So, no; it is not just in your head.  By the way Herpitformis Dermititis is caused only by gluten. Diagnosis by skin biopsy 1 cm away from an active lesion is considered Celiac.

https://www.celiac.com/articles.html/what-are-the-symptoms-of-celiac-disease-r1090

Not enough Choline by malabsorption or food avoidence (liver, eggs, beef) will cause gall bladder disease symptoms. Only 10% on western diets, eat the Recommended Allowance for choline.

42% US adults, up to 70% Canadians and 20% UK adults are vitamin D deficient. Low vitamin D is found in vertually every disease.

 

On 4/28/2023 at 6:15 AM, TanyaL1408 said:

Although this could be in my head.

When I started GFD back in 2014 some stuff improved right away, like the next day. It took a couple of weeks before I believed. Such a simple thing, but it goes against our culture so there is lots of denial.  No, it is not in your head.

[herminia]

I have a Loving family that knows I have gluten intolerance, but that I also love pastries...pies, cake, cookies. My daughter went to a party and brought back a small piece from a beautiful angel food cake served at the party and placed it on the counter, thinking it was so small it wouldn't be a problem. Foolish me, I had two forkfuls. Within the hour I had terrible nausea, pain, weakness.... Like I told my family: Don't love me so much...just keep it out of sight!

[TanyaL1408]

3 minutes ago, herminia said:

I have a Loving family that knows I have gluten intolerance, but that I also love pastries...pies, cake, cookies. My daughter went to a party and brought back a small piece from a beautiful angel food cake served at the party and placed it on the counter, thinking it was so small it wouldn't be a problem. Foolish me, I had two forkfuls. Within the hour I had terrible nausea, pain, weakness.... Like I told my family: Don't love me so much...just keep it out of sight!

Are you intolerant or celiac Herminia. I can't wait to stop gluten to see does all this settle down. Feel's like my scope is taking forever!! 

[herminia]

On 4/26/2023 at 1:39 PM, TanyaL1408 said:

Hi Everyone. I am new here and for the past few weeks I have found this site so helpful! 

I am waiting for my celiac test results (bloods) Scope test in 3 weeks. 

It all started with on/off pains and nausea for 3 years but in January of this year my son got diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and it hit me hard! The pain came back then but this time is didn't leave. The pain started under my right rib, radiating to the same place on my back. I went to the doctor where I had my bloods done, full ultrasound of gallbladder, pancreas, liver, kidneys and spleen! All looked good and blood results all good too. Also had a chest X-ray and all normal there too. The pain then moved to under the left rib and has been there for about 5/6 weeks. Under my left rib at the front feels like an ache that radiates to the same place on the back but around the bottom of my left ribs to the side I have a pressure feeling? I also developed an itchy, red bumpy blister rash on my feet that come and go years ago but the doctors said it was a form dermatitis? Now I'm thinking is it something to do with gluten? Sorry for the long message and all the questions. Also, is it possible that if I come back negative for celiac that I could be gluten intolerant? I get aches and pains mainly mid back but can have them lower back, groin and upper thigh too. 

In the last 8 weeks my stool has also changed (sorry for tmi)

Probably important to state that I have also developed Health Anxiety from all of this which I know in itself can cause physical symptoms.

Any answers would be greatly appreciated! Thank you.

 

 

Hi, Tanya... different doctors have referred to my allergy to gluten in both ways.....celiac and intolerant. I've given up on their expertise and I'm eating what my common sense tells me. I know that if I join my grandkids in a burger at McDonald's I will be very miserable, but Schlotskys has a delicious gluten-free sandwich. I look for frozen gluten-free readymade meals at the grocery store for the times I don't want to cook. I love Mexican food but always ask for corn tortillas, never , never flour tortillas. I have quit stressing about stuff. If something makes me feel sick I try to avoid it ....sometimes I don't but l will pay for it. It's just necessary to accept that we have an issue with some foods, must attend to it to keep us healthy, and go about our lives. Don't let it destroy your mental health. I see a lot of good advice on this site. Stay in touch with it.

[knitty kitty]

@herminia,

Celiac Disease is not "a gluten allergy".  Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disease.  An allergy is a different type of immune response.

One can have Celiac and also have an allergy to wheat.  

Let's get on the same page with our terminology. 😸

[herminia]

17 minutes ago, knitty kitty said:

@herminia,

Celiac Disease is not "a gluten allergy".  Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disease.  An allergy is a different type of immune response.

One can have Celiac and also have an allergy to wheat.  

Let's get on the same page with our terminology. 😸

Knitty, Please let my doctors know which I have, as both terms have been used to describe my condition. Regardless, staying gluten free has been very helpful to me, and I have long since quit believing that doctors know all.