What Causes Pain Under Ribcage When Suffering From IBS?

Posted on Tue, 23 Dec 2014

Question: I had an upper GI done recently because of IBS like symptoms. It came out fine except for some gastritis. When I told the doctor that I had pains up under my ribcage, though he suggested it coule be gallbladder. So I had ultrasound done and everything came up as "normal" So I will be going in for a Hida Scan next week to see if the gallbladder is functioning properly. I'm puzzled about all of this and rather tired of the symptoms which still seem to point to the gallbladder. Any ideas?

Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (25 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Please give detailed history.

Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query.
Read about the reports of ultrasonography, stool and Upper GI Endoscopy- only positive finding is gastritis.

I would like to know your other symptoms as you have mentioned about only a few : pains up under ribcage
: IBS like symptoms
Please give the details such as any other symptoms, duration of symptoms , any relation to food, stress, anxiety; any medical disease like diabetes and so on.
:Any medicines you have taken ?
Your details may help me to assist you more.

In ultrasonography the Radiologist looks for liver, gall bladder, genitourinary system, lymph nodes, pancreas, spleen and any other mass, inflammatory disease like appendicitis and so on. If it is normal there may not be much to worry about.

HIDA scan will certainly help.
Consider this as IBS if all the reports are normal.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. T Chandrakant (1 hour later)

Thank you for the reassuring reply regarding what the ultrasound looked for! That is very reassuring. In answer to your question about other symptoms, etc.:

I don't have any medical diseases that I know of. I have had bouts of intestinal yeast many years ago due to overuse of doctor prescribed antibiotics, although I don't believe I have that now. Still, I know that stress can trigger that so can't completely rule it out. In that regard, I have had emotional turmoil for the last year and a half, with the passing of several very dear relatives: a 93 year old favorite aunt, my 92 year old Dad who died of Alzheimers on Easter 2013 in an assisted living facility, and my dear mother who died of Alzheimers on Oct 9, 2014. My mother's passing is especially painful for me because she and I were more like best friends than mother and daughter. It was very hard for me to visit her the last couple of times because while she seemed to know who I was, she could not get past the first two words of a sentence. Thanks again for your help.

Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (32 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Request your Doctor to add specific medicines as explained.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Very sorry to know about your irreparable losses.
I can understand your plight of going through all these heartbreaking yet unavoidable incidences. One has to live with.
These can cause abdominal symptoms.
Intestinal yeast is not common and you already think you may have it now.
Always take probiotic with antibiotic to avoid disturbance of normal gastro-intestinal bacterial flora.
Multivitamins certainly help and the combination of the medicines of antispasmodic and anxiolytic effects can sooth you and the intestines, please discuss about these with your Family Physician and / or Gastroenterologist.

I hope this answer helps you and please feel free to write back if you have further queries and / clarifications / correct a gap of communication.

Wishing you an early and complete recovery.

Note: Revert back with your health reports to get further guidance on your gastric problems. Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T