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What Causes Pulsating Feeling Below Left Rib During Pregnancy?
Question: Hi there,
I am 7 weeks post partum. 33 yo female. I had Cholestasis of Liver during pregnancy supposedly this resolves after pregnancy. I also had a couple gallbladder attacks (never had before pregnancy) at the end of gestation and had ultrasound and diagnosed with gallstones, to have consult with general surgeon soon with respect to gallbladder.
I am presently having a fluttering pulsating feeling below my left rib. No trouble breathing and no pain. I have recently been having a pain in my mid back spine area with a numb feeling in the area that I have chopped up to carrying around baby all the time.
Please let me know what you think this could be?
I am 7 weeks post partum. 33 yo female. I had Cholestasis of Liver during pregnancy supposedly this resolves after pregnancy. I also had a couple gallbladder attacks (never had before pregnancy) at the end of gestation and had ultrasound and diagnosed with gallstones, to have consult with general surgeon soon with respect to gallbladder.
I am presently having a fluttering pulsating feeling below my left rib. No trouble breathing and no pain. I have recently been having a pain in my mid back spine area with a numb feeling in the area that I have chopped up to carrying around baby all the time.
Please let me know what you think this could be?
Brief Answer:
Do an ECG
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this query.
I am so sorry to hear about this cholestasis that you had during pregnancy. This is caused by high progesterone levels during pregnancy that slow down smooth muscle activities resulting in stagnation of free flowing fluids. In the liver, this causes cholestasis and increases the chances of developing gallstones. It is thus not surprising that you came down with these. Luckily enough, most of these would resolve or improve significantly after pregnancy as the levels of this hormone drops. It is absolutely right to follow up with your surgeon as already proposed on this.
The fluttering feeling could originate from the heart or somewhere else. What is of utmost importance is to rule out any heart involvement in this by doing an EKG. This will for sure tell us whether there is any reason to be worried about the heart. The truth is that most of these fluttering sensation never really have a cause and tend to resolve all by themselves without any need for treatment. If there are any other symptoms beside this one, please let me know and put them together for a better interpretation and advice.
The pain and numbness you have reported are related to how you carry your baby. You would need to change how often you carry the baby in this position as well as try alternate positions so as not to overwork a specific part of the body. When you do this the pain would lessen without any further intervention. But should it be very severe, some pain medications like Ibuprofen/Tylenol would be able to help provide some significant relief while these measures help prevent any further aggravation.
In all, do an EKG just to make sure the heart is okay though there is really nothing that puts the heart at risk here. Modify how your position the baby to carry to relief yourself of the pain and numbness. Pain medications may help for now should you be in severe pains.
I hope this addresses your query fully. I wish you well and thank you so much for using our services. Feel free to ask for more information and clarifications should need arise.
Do an ECG
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this query.
I am so sorry to hear about this cholestasis that you had during pregnancy. This is caused by high progesterone levels during pregnancy that slow down smooth muscle activities resulting in stagnation of free flowing fluids. In the liver, this causes cholestasis and increases the chances of developing gallstones. It is thus not surprising that you came down with these. Luckily enough, most of these would resolve or improve significantly after pregnancy as the levels of this hormone drops. It is absolutely right to follow up with your surgeon as already proposed on this.
The fluttering feeling could originate from the heart or somewhere else. What is of utmost importance is to rule out any heart involvement in this by doing an EKG. This will for sure tell us whether there is any reason to be worried about the heart. The truth is that most of these fluttering sensation never really have a cause and tend to resolve all by themselves without any need for treatment. If there are any other symptoms beside this one, please let me know and put them together for a better interpretation and advice.
The pain and numbness you have reported are related to how you carry your baby. You would need to change how often you carry the baby in this position as well as try alternate positions so as not to overwork a specific part of the body. When you do this the pain would lessen without any further intervention. But should it be very severe, some pain medications like Ibuprofen/Tylenol would be able to help provide some significant relief while these measures help prevent any further aggravation.
In all, do an EKG just to make sure the heart is okay though there is really nothing that puts the heart at risk here. Modify how your position the baby to carry to relief yourself of the pain and numbness. Pain medications may help for now should you be in severe pains.
I hope this addresses your query fully. I wish you well and thank you so much for using our services. Feel free to ask for more information and clarifications should need arise.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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