1. Community
  2. Gut, bowel and stomach
  3. Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Tender feeling on left side under ribs

Posted , 9 users are following.

Hepzee39
Hepzee39

Hi - has anyone ever experienced a tender feeling under left side of body under ribs mine can feel tender and sore to touch and can be from front round to back - not a pain but a discomfort feeling and fel it more when sitting or lying down. Past 4 months it has been feeling like this - have been under a lot of stress with one thing and another lately but my IBS seems to be the worst it has ever been lately. Acid reflux, gurgling stomach going from diarrhea to constipation, trapped wind. cramp like feelings sometimes. 3 doctors I have seen who wont send me for tests just say it is IBS but I keep thinking are they sure?my diet has been all over the place lately and know most of my trigger foods but feel all over the place - i did go on holiday the other week anddid notice that symptoms were a lot better then so it could be stress but its this discomfort feeling which is always there at the moment that is freaking me out. - I am dropping to bits sad

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • viv15674
    viv15674 Hepzee39

    Posted

    That's exactly the type of pain I've been dealing with as well.  Left side, just below the ribs, and radiating around to my back.  Sometimes it hurts on its own, but it's also tender to touch.  Sometimes it feels like it's radiating down into the lower left part of my abdomen as well.  I've had several doctors also write it off as being part of IBS and/or gastritis due to the fact that I've been having other symptoms, like bloating, overall abdominal pain/discomfort, gas, and constipation.  The other day it was so bad that I considered going to the ER, but called the doctor and was told that it was probably flaring up because I had been drinking the night before and alcohol is a trigger.  I had also eaten some foods that I would normally try to avoid.  

    I agree that stress must be a major component, because when I was on vacation a couple of months ago I ate whatever I wanted, drank every night, and felt fine the whole time.  This flare up started about 2 months ago when I was feeling particularly stressed out and hasn't settled down yet.  

     

  • pippa58442
    pippa58442 Hepzee39

    Posted

    Your symptoms are an IBS flare up.  The stress you are under will be causing your symptoms to be worse.  When your symptoms got better while on holiday, this is because you were more relaxed.  My IBS is always better on holiday. What you are experiencing with IBS is very normal.  Try distraction techniques to help with your stress levels and twke your mind off your stomach.  The gut and the brain sre very strongly linked.

    Three doctors have told you have IBS; trust your doctors and accept your diagnosis.  Doubting your diagnosis is very common with IBS. You don't always need tests to identify IBS.  A diagnosis of IBS can be made based on your symptoms alone. Doctors only do tests when they can't identify your problem.  Your problem has been identified. The more you worry, the more prolonged your flare up will be.

    When I was diagnosed with IBS, my health anxiety vanished and my symptoms got better. I was given tests but only because most doctors couldn't work out what was wrong.

    Try an anti spasmodic like Buscopan and nurofen.  This works well for me.

    • margaret22116
      margaret22116 pippa58442

      Posted

      hi Pippa, I have suffered the same symptoms off and on for years and mine are not caused by ibs. I have auto immune disease and I also had hpylori infection. IBS should not be diagnosed without investigation. Things which look like IBS are often something else and need specialist investigation to diagnose. Costochondritis is normally caused by connective tissue disorders rather than stress. I have suffered from that too. Currently without symptoms as my disease is well managed. 
    • pippa58442
      pippa58442 margaret22116

      Posted

      I was told my costochondritis and IBS was stress related.  This turned out to be the case.  My costochondritis went away in the timescale my doctor predicted and my IBS has got a lot bstter and only flares up with stress. Both of thes conditions struck after a prolonged bout of gruelling stress in my life. My brother had IBS and was diagnosed without investigations.  Eventually, his IBS went away.  His was food and stress related.

      I have read that IBS can be identified either by tests to exclude other causes or can be diagnosed based on your symtoms.  It depends very much on your doctor. 

      Everyone is very different; this is the problem we all have.  I aporeciate that since your were initially diagnosed incorrectly, this has made you more cautious with doctors which is understandable.   The doctor who diagnosed me is very good and I could tell immediately that he knew what he was doing.  This was not the case with the other doctors I saw.

  • pippa58442
    pippa58442 Hepzee39

    Posted

    I forgot to add that you may also have costochondritis which is stress related. The pain wraps all round your breast tissue, down your ribxage and round your back. 
    • margaret22116
      margaret22116 pippa58442

      Posted

      Pippa I don't suffer from stress or ibs. I have a connective tissue disorder which is diagnosed and treated by experts in the field. Hence I have no current issues with either gut or costochondritis.

    • pippa58442
      pippa58442 margaret22116

      Posted

      That is good that you don't have these conditions on top of your connective tissue disorder.

       

  • leeniepie
    leeniepie Hepzee39

    Posted

    Stress does make IBS much worse. The area you described- left hand side just under ribs- is where the splendid flexure of your colon is. It is quite common for stool or gas to get stuck here and cause pain. I find gentle massage and buscopan helps
Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.