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Suggest Treatment For Left-sided Rib Cage Pain

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Posted on Fri, 24 Jun 2016
Question: I have now had this intermitted pain under my left rib for almost 2.5 years. I have had xray- clear, ultra sound- clear, blood test- raised ferritin and liver count but related go overweight. I have had a stool test- clear.
I also went to gastro specialist who felt it was trapped gas and constipTion. The pain gets worse around my period time and then stays for about 2-3 weeks... It feels like a pull under my rib, stitch feeling- when i breath in it pulls like a tight stitch, sometimes i feel a slight pop like feeling when i drive the car.... When i breath deep or stretch to try to relieve the pressue feeling it feels like a squish feeling... When i was very stressed at work it almost crippled me over with pain... I have been to several gps and have been told - conatipation, trapped gas, floating rib, overweight, inflamation of the rib... Not sure why it has hung around for 2.5 years... Yes i am a constipated but when i took the stool softner it created a bad stitch pain.... Lost!?!?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Mukund Savaskar (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Pain Under left ribs / Under Evaluation

Detailed Answer:
Brief Ans-Pain Under left ribs / Under Evaluation

Hi,Dear !! Thanks for Your query to HCM.
Read and reviewed your query in context to your health issue.
The information seems to be incomplete in some aspects as follows.
Hence I would suggest you to give more detailed information as follows-
Since how long you are constipated?Do you get diarrhea,with blood /mucus sometimes?
Have you done any stool test?Any history of blood and mucus in stools?
Do you have any acid reflux/or burning feel in chest?
What type of pain-Colicky/burning ?-you get with stool softener?
How frequently you need to take stool softener?
Name the stool softener you take?
What is your Food style-vegan or non-vegan? and or -spicy/oily/fried?
Give me your days diet schedule?
What is your job work?sedentary-or travelling?
How frequently you eat outside food/ and street-fast food?
How frequently this pain is accompanied with your periods?
Any history of piles/ or peri-anal fissure?
What is your obstetric history?Any problems/Complication with delivery?
Update frequency of intake of tea/coffee/smoking / tobacco/ alcohol etc?
Do you exercise daily?
What is your fluid intake?
Update any test reports-(scan copies)- done lately ?

I would be waiting to get above information soon.

Welcome for any further query in this regard.

Good Day !!

Dr.Savaskar M.N.
M.S.Genl-CVTS XXXXXXX Surgical Specialist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Mukund Savaskar (58 minutes later)
I take movicol stool softner. Work at desk all day, little exercise, stool test ok two years ago when pain first started- no blood or mucus on stool, i do get relflux and take losec 20mg, no children, i think i am
Quite constipated, small movements only, normal diet, with take away meals, i have tried vegetarian and seems a liitle better when i stay away from wheat and meat..but that could be in my mind.
I havent had any real teating done since i went to the gastro specalist who took no further action after physical check in clinic... Blood test are now 7 months old... Could it be a stomach ulcer? I do not eat very heathy a lot of quick meals... It seems to come with my period for the past two months only... Last gp i saw last week felt and pushed my rib and said inflamations... Should i be having a scan? No gp seems concered but i am
Worried... Sometimes it goes away for weeks- like when i was on holidays in fiji last november i disaapeared after 3 days and i disnt feel it at all... Return to work and normal
Life and it came back straight away.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Mukund Savaskar (15 hours later)
Brief Answer:
IBS-C with GERD /Under Evaluation

Detailed Answer:
Brief Ans-IBS-C (Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation-with GERD(Gastro-Esophageal -Reflux Disease) /Under Evaluation..

Hi Dear,Thanks for the updates.
Read and reviewed your query updates with the health issues you have.

My Impression -

Based on the facts of your query, it seems to be a case of -IBS-C with GERD, which is unattended and undiagnosed , amongst your busy stressful job work.

It's the life style induced disease.Unless you give enough time, this chronic illness would not resolve so easily.

My Comments on your health issues-

on Recurring severe pain under left rib with Cause of The bloated abdomen/re-flux-
Outside fast food/stressful desktop work/unhealthy take away street / or hotel/ or mess food-has lead to Constipation -from improper dieting and improper fluid intake.The resultant colitis from unhealthy food-is causing pains in the left lower abdomen with under the rib discomfort, with entrapped gases,which gives pain with the inflamed bowels.You have not given any details about the blood and mucus and the type of stool you pass-which would be hard and with blood and mucus some time.
Resulting obesity accompanied illness with no exercise, has worsened it over last 2.5 yrs.
The recurring and non-resolving nature of the illness is because of the recurring food induced infection with protozoa / bacteria from the unhealthy take away food you take daily.

The cause of worry is the recurring gases ,bloating ,acidity with under the left rib stinging pains.Seems you have been negligent in getting meticulous follow up,as seen from the fact that-you don't have any latest check and check reports.

Reply to your queries-

Q-1-constipation, trapped gas, floating rib, overweight, inflammation of the rib... Not sure why it has hung around for 2.5 years...
Ans-1-No diagnosis and proper treatment with Negligence in meticulous follow up with doctors and busy desktop work stress and unhealthy take away, mess/ hotel food has kept it active even after 2.5 years.

Q-2- Yes i am a constipated but when i took the stool softner it created a bad stitch pain.
Ans-You should check with Surgeon and rule out any proctitis and spastic colon with it. Also rule out-Fissure in ano and Internal piles if any and treat it accordingly from Surgeon.
Bland healthy veg diet

Plenty of fluids over a day

Walking / or Jogging exercises for 20 min..

Take Panto-D- for acid reflux control- and Omit losec 20 mg.
Tab Ciplox Oz -(after stool test-) 1- 2 time per day x 1 week-to 10 days.
Tab Bentyl -1 x 2 per day x 5 days
Skimmed thin watery Butter Milk 2-3 times a day.

Yogurt - helpings daily x 3-6 weeks
Spinach Soup- 2 times a day would keep your bowel moving daily.

Cap Sporolac- a pro-biotic 1 x 2 per day, to establish colonic flora.-
High fiber diet with pre-biotic Apple Cider Vinegar on salads, for proper digestion and stooling.
Vit B12 and Tab Folic Acid-supplement to over come mal-absorption from disturbed bowel and digestion.

Above lifestyle and food changes would resolve your health issues in 6-weeks time
Rule out other causes of IBS with GERD(like Crohn's, food intolerance to dairy products/Celiac Disease- in your case,by consults with Physician and Surgeon and if need be by Endoscopist and Colonoscopist.

Q-3-The pain gets worse around my period time and then stays for about 2-3 weeks..
Ans-3-This has been happening only for last 2 mths and is due to exacerbation of the Colitis with hyper-circulation and fluid retention in pre-mentstrual periods and due to hormonal changes in that period.
This would resolve with Gynec Second opinion and above treatment for 6 weeks time.

Q-4-seems a little better when i stay away from wheat and meat..
Could it be a stomach ulcer?
Ans-The indigestion from Constipated bowels and accompanied entero-Colitis with IBS from food induced bacterial and protozoal infections, gives you better feel with vegan diet.
You feel better with avoidance of wheat -and meat- is because of the indigestion from entero-colitis in your case.

Q-5-Should i be having a scan?
Ans-Its not the scan and the stool test occasionally like this, which is going to help you , But it is the Consults with Team of Gynec / Physician and Surgeon doctors with proctoscopic and endoscopic check up of upper and lower bowel,which is needed for the treatment according to the findings of investigation and physical check.This approach -as suggested above would help you to resolve your health issues soon.

Hope this comprehensive and detailed reply would help you to resolve your health issues with help of your doctors there.

Welcome for any further query in this regard.

If need be, update any health issue 24 x 7 by a direct question to ME, at following HCM link-http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=70229

Dear, if satisfied, Don't forget to close this query with YOUR pleasing feedback comments to rate this reply and service, to boost the morale of incoming Emergency patients like YOU, at HCM services.


If you want to update more details and ask more update queries ,
You are most Welcome herewith !!

Good Day!!

Wishing Good Healthy Life in time to come!!

Dr.Savaskar M.N. XXXXXXX Surgical Specialist
M.S.Genl-CVTS
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Mukund Savaskar

General Surgeon

Practicing since :1978

Answered : 3606 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Left-sided Rib Cage Pain

Brief Answer: Pain Under left ribs / Under Evaluation Detailed Answer: Brief Ans-Pain Under left ribs / Under Evaluation Hi,Dear !! Thanks for Your query to HCM. Read and reviewed your query in context to your health issue. The information seems to be incomplete in some aspects as follows. Hence I would suggest you to give more detailed information as follows- Since how long you are constipated?Do you get diarrhea,with blood /mucus sometimes? Have you done any stool test?Any history of blood and mucus in stools? Do you have any acid reflux/or burning feel in chest? What type of pain-Colicky/burning ?-you get with stool softener? How frequently you need to take stool softener? Name the stool softener you take? What is your Food style-vegan or non-vegan? and or -spicy/oily/fried? Give me your days diet schedule? What is your job work?sedentary-or travelling? How frequently you eat outside food/ and street-fast food? How frequently this pain is accompanied with your periods? Any history of piles/ or peri-anal fissure? What is your obstetric history?Any problems/Complication with delivery? Update frequency of intake of tea/coffee/smoking / tobacco/ alcohol etc? Do you exercise daily? What is your fluid intake? Update any test reports-(scan copies)- done lately ? I would be waiting to get above information soon. Welcome for any further query in this regard. Good Day !! Dr.Savaskar M.N. M.S.Genl-CVTS XXXXXXX Surgical Specialist