Pain below ribs (centre and right), upper and lower back

[Unregistered]

I've been having the above symptoms which have increased quite a lot over the past 2 weeks.I had my gallbladder out a year ago.I thought my symptoms (what I thought was acid reflux, particularly after eating fatty foods) were down to this. I know of other people who've had the gallbladder removed who've continued to have problems with digestion/pain etc.But the back pain + pain below my ribs is now becoming fairly constant.Embarassingly, my faeces has also become a lot smellier over the past 2 weeks.Ive gone to my doctor, who has ordered blood and urine tests (liver, kidney function etc).Anyone have the same symtoms or any ideas?

[CJ~]

I had my gallbladder out 7 years ago and still have occasional pain in the right area below my ribs. The pain sometimes gets worse when I eat fattier foods. I just contribute the pain to the foods and acid reflux. This may be just what happens to some of us.

I am glad to hear you are checking with a doctor since you are having constant rib and back pain. The fecal smell may be attributed to the gallbladder being gone but is definately something that should be checked, especially if it has changed that dramatically.

Sorry I can't give you much advice. Just letting you know that I, too, suffer from pain since my gallbladder removal.

Praying you find out what is going on soon and start feeling better.
God Bless.

[Unregistered]

Thank you very much for your reply which was very helpful.A family member also had their gall bladder removed and experiences pain and indigestion etc.I'm having the blood and urine samples taken tomorrow and have been prescribed something to deal with the acid symptoms.I am concerned because the pain has got fairly constant over previous weeks, whereas it only occurred infrequently before.Would appreciate hearing from others who may have had the same/similar experiences?Thaks.

[Unregistered]

I've had the results of the blood tests back - kidney, liver function fine, B12 and other levels normal.The only slightly strange thing was a raised folate levels (normal range 2.4 - 6, mine 8)???So what is this pain???It has eased since I first went but I'm still having the same troubling symptoms.Looked up raised folate levels and all I could find was stuff about vegetarians may have raised levels (I'm not one), something about blind loop syndrome (where part of the small bowel may be obstructed, causing bacterial overgrowth), and several other things that didn't seem to add up.Dr reckons I may have lactose intolerance which may provide a simple explanation, as I tend to react violently to certain foods, such as powdered gravy (contains dried milk and egg).

[kiwi88]

Hi there,

I have had a similar experience to you. At first, I was having mainly pain in the lower right part of my abdomen (what I think is the appendix area) for a couple of years - a few times it was pretty severe pain, vomiting, etc and I felt too sick to go to the doctors!!! (probably should have!). But, just recently, (the past year) I started to have pain, or more like a knawing and uncomfortable feeling with a bit of pain/aching (it changes) under my ribs on the right. I dont know if it is related to the lower pain, but I had an endoscopy (and a colonoscopy, to check out the lower pain) and it didnt show much. It did, however show that I have "mild erosive duodenitis", which I think is sort of like small ulcers in the duodenum - first part of the small intestine. I thought maybe this was causing the pain there, but they put me on medication called "Pariet" (which is to calm the acid production for heart burn, etc.) for 4 weeks, and the whole 4 weeks I was having exactly the same pain, maybe even more frequently... HOWEVER...I stopped taking it after the 4 weeks, like the doctor said to, cos it wasnt doing anything anyway - and I told my doctor - but NOW it has stopped!!! (pretty much within a week of stoping the medication!) My point is, I have no idea why I was still having the pain while I was on the medication, and it finally stopped afterwards...after like a year of having the pain. But maybe, you could ask about duodenitis...i dont even really know what it is - had to look on the net to find out! (I literally just got told "you have something called duodenitis, so we'll put you on this medication for 4 weeks and see how you go"!!!)

Good luck, let me know how you go...(and so I know in case this pain returns!!!) I was also wondering about gall bladder problems for me, but now the pain has gone Im not going to worry!

Kiwi88

[Unregistered]

I had my gallbladder removed in July 01.....I continue to have UR Quadrant pain after eating, and my ribs and upper back kill me after eating. I have had a colonoscopy/endoscopy and capsule endoscopy. The latter showed edema on one spot on my small intestine. I have had 2 positive 24 hr urines for Carcinoid syndrome, but the scans are negative. I flush, sweat and wheezing after eating. I feel like I can not breath after I eat. Very Frustrating.

[purplefrogger]

I have been having stomach problems and more. I have done gallbladder tests,cat scan, HIDA scan and everyone comes back normal. I did a H. pylori test today and it was positive so if you haven't had that test try it. It has alot of the same symptoms of Gall bladder problems.

[Unregistered]

I have pretty constant pain just under my ribs, to the right of my sternum. The pain radiates to the right and through to my back where I get a a stabbing pain. I aslo get a twinge in my right shoulder, and regularly feel I'm getting facial flushing.

I burp a lot, but don't get any foul taste in my mouth. I sometimes get the feeling of a lump when I swallow, or that there's something stuck in my oesophagus, although I accept that this could be nerves due to my worrying. I surf the net looking to match my symptoms (as I'm sure we all do) and you name a disease - I've got the symptoms.

I'm obviously worried and concerned that this might be something serious and would ask if anyone else has similar problems.

[Unregistered]

Sounds like your gall bladder to me.

[MichaelM]

Thanks for the reply. I don't think it's gall bladder - I tried a "Tagamet" I got from a friend (I know you're not supposed to do that) and it seemed to subside a bit.