Question: Hi,
Iv got a slight aching kind of pain in my side and its been there for about two weeks now.
Its located at the very tip of the bottom of my left side rib cage, not front, but side. The rib cage itself does not hurt but if I push my fingers in, following the bottom rib, there is actual pain there.
I wonder if its muscle or spleen thats giving me grief. Is there any way to know without having to go a dr's surgery? Im very busy with caring for my father who has dementia.
I often 'bring all the shopping in at once', I tend to drink too much and although im cutting down even further, i have smoked about half a pack of lights for about 10 years. I do not smoke every day.
Im 33 years old, pretty fit. I eat a balanced diet, probably too much, but I go to the gym regularly too. I am 6'2, 115KG's .. im not weedy!
I wonder if it could be an intestinal issue, blockage. I will get off the coke and drink more water!
Any info you could give would be really helpful .. although I think id better make some time to see a Dr in person.
Thank you very much :-) And keep up the good work.
Ged

ok got to the submit screen and.. iv had a little more feeling around and it hurts slightly more to the ... its like this, very left side under ribs (not under but further down) left side, come towards the front an inch from my furthest left side and there it is.. pain!! feels like tissue has been torn away from the ribs. can that happen? without me knowing it? I dont remember any trauma! anyway. Maybe you could ask me a few q's and I will respond as best I can :-)

Again, thank you for taking your time :-) I was just thinking even if I did want to go to the drs now I would have to drag my father along with me ... not fun!! im sure you know all about alzheimers patients. WOW I love him so much hahaha .. you could never be paid enough to do some of the things we carers have to :P I give up my flying to stay at home and see him through the same way he would me. sorry, im blabbing on! I have an engineering degree from UWS, you would think that I am illiterate by what I have written. Thanks for being patient.

Hey Doc,

Thank you for the really quick reply. I honestly thought it might take a few days.

Ok .. to answer your questions:
1. History of cough or cold? I havnt had a cold/flu in two years. A little sniffle every now and then but nothing serious. As for coughing I am told that at night (it gets quite cold and damp here - Blue Mountains, west of sydney) at night time and as its the start of winter I have apparently been coughing in my sleep and I seem to have a slight nasal blockage/little pain around the top of my nose and cheekbones are very tender. I can feel pressure and its a strange sensation to push on the lower tear ducts .. kind of nice actually haha. I was thinking about taking an antihistamine for that. But I do not have a big history of antibiotics for anything - maybe 4, 5 times in my life it was necessary.
It might be important to note that when I do get sick .. im usually bed-bound 'sick and dieing' (joking!) for a few days so when I get a little 'bug' I dont worry about it and my body usually takes care of it.

2. No pain on deep breathing. I have taken several long and short heavy breaths, no pain at all. Possibly a little noisy, phlegmy. But not too bad at all. I actually had a little cough while doing this and brought up some white colored spit.

3. no burning sensation with urination .. but ..

4. no fever

5. .. (but continued..) I have had some burning and loose and sticky stools lately. But then I will be ok for a few days, normal strong man like pooh (lol .. embarrassing) but then get a deep cramping, only slight and not prolonged, manageable but memorable cramps. never followed by a 'rush' to the toilet but I have certainly 'had to get there'. I guess I put it down to maybe having one or two too many wines or other drinks. Except I havnt been overdoing it lately and it has continued. Definately burning my butt.

I wouldnt be surprised if just carrying the shopping, no warm up, all at once has caused it. Plus I havnt really allowed myself to heal before continuing the same kinds of things. And since this started, pain in the side, I havnt done any weights at the gym and kept off of the rowing machine. I have just stuck to bike and skipping.

Muscle relaxants .. I have Rafen, I will take two. (ibuprofen).

Oh, I get gout. But never when I drink. I thought that might be something. And just then I had a little cough, dry throat, muscles hurt when I cough and kind of feels itchy under the skin too. I know it sounds ambiguous but I have never felt anything like it. Im probably being silly.

The medical centre, 30 mins drive from here has an ultrasound specialist. I will look into that next week. Where do I send you the result if you are interested to see? I will send them, thank you for setting my mind at ease. I dont think im about to 'kark it' YET! hahaha but we all worry about our health, especially when others rely on us so.

Thank you Dr Rish,

Gerard