Baffled

[Marlene]

This has happened to me a few times and there seems to be a pattern but I can't figure out for the life of me what triggers it.

Sometimes I get pain across my abdomen, under my ribcage. The pain can be anything from feeling like someone is pulling an elastic tight inside my abdomen to a searing feeling. This is often followed by frequent bathroom visits (not necessarily D but not "normal" either). Then for the next few days, I have a burning sensation on my tongue. I am also extemely chilled. This all makes me think that something is inflamed -- probably my small intestine. I have been gluten free for almost 5 months now and am extremely diligent about it. If I have doubts about any food whatsoever, I don't eat it. I don't really think this is from gluten and it does get worse if I am under stress.

Any ideas or similar problems/solutions? Thanks!

Marlene

[2kids4me]

Pain under the ribcage can be caused by a number of different systems - from liver and/or gallbladder issues, large intestine spasms in the tranverse colon, or epigastric pain (stomach/low esophagus), and then pain can sometimes be "referred" - you feel pain in one spot but its originating from somewhere else.

Mention the symptoms to your doctor and have an exam if needed.

Things to do - Keep a diary of the pain - time of day it occurs, what you ate/drank in the previous 12 hours to onset of symptoms, amount of water you are drinking (might not be enough). How long symptoms last and symptoms that follow (the chills etc). Chills can be systemic repsonse to cold, inflammation fever or pain or a combination of any of those.

Sorry you're sick !

Sandy

[nikki8]

Yes, I know what you are talking about. It feels like a tennis ball is lodged under your rib cage.

I was recently diagnosed with Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction. It is a horrible pain under the rib cage that travels to my back. I would then vomit sometimes. They figured out what was wrong by doing blood work and finding elevated liver and pancreatic enzymes-but the blood test had to be done the same day as the attack. I ended up having an ERCP to solve this problem and while they were doing the endoscopy, they noticed my poor damaged villi and did a biopsy. This is how I found out I have celiac disease. So here I am. Anyway, if you want more information, let me know. You have to be diligent with your doctor because this is a condition that many doctors are not familiar with. Many people suffered for a long time and their doctors treated them like they were crazy. But the pain is so real. I don't know about the pain under your tongue. Good luck and let me know if I can give you any more info.

Nikki

[Ursa Major]

Another possibility is a hiatus hernia, and possibly an ulcer in the esophagus due to stomach acid because the hernia lets stomach acid into the esophagus. I had/have that problem. I thought recently my ulcer came back (after I was fine for several years), as I was having those awful pains again, that would make even my back and shoulders hurt, as well as that awful pain in that exact spot you describe.

So, it apparently could have quite a few different causes, and you should really have it checked out.

[Marlene]

Thanks for the responses. I called my Naturopathic doctor the other day and she thinks it could have something to do with the fact that I had my gall bladder removed this past spring. My body is still trying to compensate. I had these pains before I had my gall bladder removed and the Gastro specialist was positive that removing my gall bladder would take away the pain. Boy, was he wrong. I want my gall bladder back since I am worse off without it. Sometimes I personally think it could either be sphincter of oddi problems or an ulcer. This is because I get that pain if I am really stressed out and both of the above are aggravated by stress. I really dread going back to either my family doctor or the specialist again. They were completely clueless when it came to gluten intolerance. My family doctor told me I had a nervous tummy and should just take a day off work and relax. The gastro specialist told me I had IBS, I needed therapy to deal with "issues" in my life, and finally blamed it on my gall bladder (after 4 years of continuously going back to see him). I wish I had a doctor that I could totally believe and trust. I am hoping that as my body heals, these pains will become less. Meanwhile, I have the achy body, fevers and stuffed up head kind of flu today. Sigh. Heaven is looking better all the time.

Marlene