1. Community
  2. Gut, bowel and stomach
  3. Bowel Disorders

Uncomfortable feeling Under Left Lower Ribs and varying bowel movements

Posted , 173 users are following.

someboy
someboy

To try cut a long story as short as I can I have basically had an uncomfortable feeling under my lower left ribs and some irregular bowel movements for the last 3 months that don't seem to show any signs of disappearing. Just wondered if anyone has experienced anything similar?

With regards to the feeling in the ribs at no point has it been massively painful to the point where I have needed to take any pain killers or anything like that. It just feels more uncomfortable than anything else rather than painful as if there is something under my ribs that should be there. The lower left ribs feel bruised to touch but again not that painful.

I play football and go to the gym and have been able to continue both without any trouble or issues.

With regards to my bowels they have just been a bit all over the place since it started really. At first I kind of felt constipated and was having bowel movements but size and quantity wise there wasn't as much coming out as normal or as expected and had a feeling of not fully emptying.

In the last month that has changed slightly in that I have had a couple of what I would call regular sized and quantity movements but they seem to happen every 3 or 4 days and in between the movements are the fairly small quantities mentioned and usually very irregular shapes and sizes although the feeling of not emptying seems to have gone or reduced.

I have been to see my GP 3 or four times since this started. First couple of times they had a feel around and couldn't feel anything untoward and suggested it was just a bit of constipation so suggest some over the counter laxitives and then when that didnt work prescribed some Laxido sachets which again didnt do anything really.

I have now had a blood test and an chest xray that I am awaiting the results of and have an ultrasound booked in but that isn't for another 3 weeks.

In the meantime I just really suffering a bit mentally not knowing what this is and obviously worrying this could be something serious. Just keep searching and searching online and must have diagnosed myself with about 25 different things which I know is silly but can't help it. I am someone that never usually gets ill so this is very out of the ordinary for me.

I am only 32 and lead a pretty active lifestyle, eat well, don't smoke and don't drink too much, weight and BMI is all in the decent range - all things which my GP keeps telling me means that it being something serious is unlikely but at the same time it doesn't show any sign of easing up.

Not had any diarrhea at all in the 3 months although stools have been pretty soft the whole time even when not much is coming out. Not had any blood in my stools that I have been able to notice.

Its just so frustrating as for 3 months whilst I have been able to go to work etc I just feel like I am constantly at about 70%. I feel ok physically but not great and mentally I just feel shot to pieces.

Obviously I need to wait for my results and take from there but just seems such a drawn out affair to try and convince GP that something just doesn't feel right and just wondered if anyone had suffered anything similar to this?

8 likes, 434 replies

434 Replies

Prev Next
  • donna93025
    donna93025 someboy

    Posted

    Hi everyone, I have been reading all the post here, I have been going thru the same problems. Left side under rib pressure, pain. Feels like there is a football under my left rib. Have been going round and round with docs, have fibroids, gyno says pain is not from fibroids. Gastro doc says yes it is. Have had 3 ultra sounds, a cat scan, endoscopy. All that shows up are fibroids. Now they want to give me a hysterectomy, but not certain it will help. Blood test all came back normal. I still have to have a colonoscopy. If anyone has any ideas for me please feel free to respond. 
    • lisa18749
      lisa18749 donna93025

      Posted

      Hi donna,

      Where are the fibroids and how did you suggest testing for them?  I have exact same thing for 6 months, more noticeable when i am sitting, no correlation to food.  I have had endoscopy and ultrasound as well as chest xray and blood test for enzymes. Im worried that it has something to do with the Pancreas, but i dont seem to have most of the symptoms for pancreatitis as the pain isnt excruciating , its just there,like something sticking in under my rib under my left breast....is that what you are experiencing, maybe i should check for fibroids? I am currently going through menopause.

      Any help this way would be appreciated too. x

    • donna93025
      donna93025 lisa18749

      Posted

      Hi Lisa I have a big fibroid on my left side. I had many ultra sounds and a cat scan done, blood work, xrays..... all showed nothing. I too was scared as my gastro first suspected maybe pancreas. But after catscan I was relieved that it showed everything was good except they saw I had one big fibroid and a few smaller ones. I have had fibroids for a long time. I had a fibroid embolisation about 7 yrs ago but they came back. Some days it doesnt seem to bother me as much but other days it hurts mostly when sitting or bending over, like tying my shoes. Feels like I have anfootball under my ribs. I have to go for a colonoscopy in Sept. hoping its nothing to do with colon. Gastro is almost certain it is fibroid pushing everything up, gyno doesnt agree. They say they can do hysterectomy and it may help but they arent certain. I dont want to have manor surgery if they arent certain!  So here I sit still not knowing. I am also going thru menopause. Just saw another comment below, going to look up what she said, as I havent heard of this. Hope this gives you comfort as far as the pancreas goes. 
    • sherry904
      sherry904 donna93025

      Posted

      I had a complete hysterectomy 25 yrs ago. This is caused from that.
  • sherry904
    sherry904 someboy

    Posted

    What did you ever find out?
    • sherry904
      sherry904

      Posted

      My doctor has the same thing and she is a gastro specialist. She said it is called Splendic Flexure Syndrome.

      I haven’t looked it up yet but she said it’s caused by constipation or bowel irregularities.

      She just told me this on a Tuesday.

    • sherry904
      sherry904

      Posted

      What I meant to say is I had a complete hysterectomy and I still have this pain so it isn’t caused from fibroids. There are men on here that have the same thing.
    • roy3400
      roy3400 sherry904

      Posted

      Yup im a guy and im experiencing it now for about a year actually. From time to time i still felt it this uncomfortable feeling beneath my left rib cage. Though not that strong compared a year ago and i really still need to find a way to get rid of this.. 
    • roy3400
      roy3400

      Posted

      I googled Splenic Flexure Syndrome and i think this is what im experiencing for about a year now. I have been experiencing also excessive gas and bowel irregularities.. but ive read that there is no specific treatment for this condition.. we just have to change our lifestyle and proper diet which exclude foods that trigger gas and bloating. 
    • siobhan_44308
      siobhan_44308 roy3400

      Posted

      It’s a tricky one to pin down I’ll check out the splenic flexure syndrome although I dread googling things as they throw up such terrifying scenarios! On a lighter note it’s a great name 
  • sherry904
    sherry904 someboy

    Posted

    I just had my appointment with my gastroenterologist and she has the same thing. I have had in for a couple of years and finally told her about it.

    IT IS CALLED SPLENDIC FLEXURE SYNDROME.

  • valarie
    valarie someboy

    Posted

    I commented a few months ago. In short im on my 3rd 4th year of left flank pain, right rib pain, bloating ect.... tons of tests.

    So they finally found a nodular in my gallbladder. Not anything to do with my left side. It was 1.2cm so protical is for removal of gallbladder. It has been almost 3weeks sense my surgery and im happy to report that my left flank pain and rib pain along with most of the bloating has gone away.

    This may not be your issue but I believe it may have possibly been mine.

    I was miss diagnosed several times before they found this.

    I have been diagnosed but do not have Lupas, RA, Crohn's disease, IBS & IBD.

    Although it could just be a fluke Im trying not to get my hopes up.

    • valarie
      valarie lisalou36

      Posted

      I had occasional reflux.

      Be careful with the diagnosis of acid reflux.The same symptoms go for low acid as high acid.

      Doctors treat acid reflux and don't check to see if its low acid.

    • valarie
      valarie gareth47391

      Posted

      My bowel habits have been all over the board. Thats why they thought I had IBS, IBD
    • lisalou36
      lisalou36 valarie

      Posted

      Yes valerie I agree! Also, I havebad stomach issues also
    • gareth47391
      gareth47391 valarie

      Posted

      And it appears to be the gallbladder that’s caused it all 
    • valarie
      valarie gareth47391

      Posted

      Yes it seems to be what has caused many of my problems. I have not slept on my left side in 3years because of the pain and sometimes indigestion. I could not even lean on my left side with out pain.

      Sense my surgery I have been able to sleep on my left side and the pain in my rib cage is gone.

      Im still bloating a little but nothing near what I was. The inflammation in my body has gone down. I was scared that maybe this was just a fluke but I am feeling better.

    • lisalou36
      lisalou36 valarie

      Posted

      I haven't been able to sleep on my left side for years earlier! What the heck!

Back to top
Prev Next

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.