timaca
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6911
posted
Hi all~ A couple of times now I've had a VERY SORE upper abdomen...just under my sternum. Very bloated feeling...hurts to push on it, and I can't eat. I feel stuffed.
I did have C. diff for 11 months, and I do likely have post-infectious IBS (constipation)...but this is a new and troubling symptom.
Anyone else have this? I'm trying to figure out if this is lyme related or post C. diff related.
Anyone have a link to the article Bell's Palsy of the Gut?? I remember reading it once, but can't find my hard copy...
Thanks...Timaca
Posts: 2872 | From above 7,000 ft in a pine forest | Registered: Feb 2005
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ArtistDi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 2297
posted
I am not a doctor, but my doctors have said that symptoms of ulcers can be right under the sternum, with pain.
Posts: 1567 | From Hatfield, MA, USA | Registered: Mar 2002
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
Dear Timaca,
I have this also, but it actually feels like my diaphragm hurts.
Not sure about this as this is a relatively new symptom for me.
My lower abdomen is really bloated too.
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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I had that kind of pain with my gallbladder. That was the first place for the pain to show up.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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WildCondor
Unregistered
posted
Thanks for the article! It could be reflux, i get that sorenes under my sternum, and esophageal spasm too. The post infectious IBS is such a miserable diagnosis, I am wondering if it is true myself! So frustrating! Are you on the probiotics?
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timaca
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6911
posted
Hi Wildcondor~ Yes, I take some probiotics...not much though, as they tend to constipate me, and the C. diff left me with constipation! Geesh! One extreme to the other!
So, I take one probiotic daily, eat one yogurt daily and take one Florastor daily....
Timaca
Posts: 2872 | From above 7,000 ft in a pine forest | Registered: Feb 2005
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timaca
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6911
posted
Lymetoo~ Thanks for the article!
Timaca
Posts: 2872 | From above 7,000 ft in a pine forest | Registered: Feb 2005
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posted
I'll add that I have had this symptom for a number of years and my PCP suggested that it was my diaphragm being sore because of difficulties
with connective tissues. This was when my primary diagnosis was fibromyalgia. Now I have different symptoms to the right of this area
although my diaphragm is still very sore. I have the distended stomach (I look the same coming or going....lol) and a distinct hard and sore area
to the left of the diaphragm which I am being told is my liver. I see a gastro doc next week for that. I think that Lyme wreaks havoc on our
entire digestive tracts and the symptoms come and go in these areas a LOT. Hope you find the answers you are looking for!
All my best, Janet
-------------------- DISCLAIMER: No information presented above should be considered medical advice or take the place of advice given by a medical professional. Links to other sites are provided merely for ease of research. Posts: 287 | From Tennessee | Registered: Sep 2006
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
ever been checked for a HIATAL HERNIA in that area? i have one and get the feelings you described!
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timaca
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6911
posted
This are all interesting suggestions. I talk with my LLMD and see my PCP next week, so I'll bring up my occasional weird abdominal issue.
Timaca
Posts: 2872 | From above 7,000 ft in a pine forest | Registered: Feb 2005
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lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
i first had this symptom 20 or so years ag when they first put me on ibuprofen for "rheumaoid arthritis" ( a yr later my dx was changed to fibro and 10 yrs after that to lyme)
i got the pain as soon as i switched to the long acting ibu-i immediately stopped it and have only used regular ibu since-always with food---always trying to cut back...but it seems w/o some ibu i really can't walk
anyway-i also have hist of ibs. last may-when i started a long summer of travel-i started to get bloating, pain, pretty much all over my abdomen-except the worst was always just below my sternum a little to the left. i have a nodule there-many docs say it is just a fatty tumor-but it gets worse with eating-they say-probably when gut is full it puts pressure on it.
soooo...i am responding because after my summer of travel things calmed sown a little-and i thought it was cuz i was off my schedule-not always eating right or getting suppps etc---but in janualy the symptoms-bloating. pain all over abd-came back and i got serious about figuring it out.
i still don't have an answer-but this is what happened.
set up gyn and gi appts-did (inside) ultrasound of gyn stuff-they screwed up and no results-i have to do it over-what was significant is i have had that done before and never had pain-this time i had pain and it was like my ibs. soo..gyn exam and endometrial bio were neg and i am rexheduled for ultrasound
gi doc says not ulcer...probably milk or gluten allergy-so i am experimenting with diet---also endo and colonoscopy scheduled
llmd is testing adrenals, cd57, took regular blood work, me off thyroid med for a month wants to test me off of it(i'ven been on 6-7 yrs)-he's also ordered electro-dermal screening(and i am looking for info on this) and he's talking about low iodine...
AND THEN....tues feb 6 i had emerg appendectomy
the bloating and pain could have been coming from that...the severe pain is gone(two weeks later) but i do still have a residual uncomfortableness-so i don't think i am out of the woods-abscess can be a problem. but we are also looking for food allergies and / or a gyn type cancer...
i have had reflux 6 yrs-controlled with prevacid(i hate taking it but all my docs insist i will die if i don't)
i do have a hiatal hernia
colon cancer in family (and breast)
i am very interested in this post cuz you are describing a symptom i have had for over 20 yrs that is becoming acute again...so if anyone has anything to add to help me figure this out-please let me know.
i just want to give my bod a few more weeks beore i do those 3 invasive tests.
sorry-about the ramble...hope someone understands what i am saying. lp
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
I experience the same symptoms from bloating, constipation, shooting pain around ribs and lower into pelvic pain and worse after eating.
I attribute it all to lyme, I had all of the expensive, useless testing prior to my lyme, erlichiosis and babs dx.
I take probiotics, and for the constipation, psyillum, senna, ready fiber. I'm hoping it will get better with treatment.
I'm not sure what is causing the gi distress, is it the lyme or one of the coinfections. Hopefully it goes away soon!
Posts: 188 | From ID | Registered: Jan 2007
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
quoting kayak...
gi doc says not ulcer...probably milk or gluten allergy-so i am experimenting with diet---also endo and colonoscopy scheduled .... **********************
i had food allergy testing done by MERIDIAN VALLEY who tested 95 foods, and found i'm allergic to:
i had 2 endos with them finding nothing! "an unknown mass" so i had to repeat. when they did colon polyp and appendix surgery, i had them check that area. OUTCOME: PIECE OF FAT!! he never checked for LYME in that area. i didn't know i had it until 2.5 yrs. ago; 34 yrs. too late!
colonoscopy; good thing to have them put you out completely. i was aware of things 1st time. had anesthetiologist, sp, put me out 2nd time. didn't know a thing had taken place that time!
bpeck
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3235
posted
That's the normal location of your gall bladder.
And bloated (or feeling uncomfortable after eating) are also gall bladder symptoms of malfunction.. Biliary sludge will also make it feel very hard.. and if bad enough, your feces will be sort of colorless - or sandy color.
Your Doctor should be able to help you understand if it's your gall bladder or not.
bejoy
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11129
posted
A little FYI - liver and gallbladder to the right under the ribs, and spleen to the left.
Hiatal hernia can be treated without meds, for some people, if you choose, by a good cranial sacral therapist or chiropractor. If you're sure that's the problem, you'd have to ask the praactitioners first if they know how to do it.
Sometimes GI distress can come from a food intollerance. We tend to get new ones after a long bout with candida and leaky gut syndrome.
Pain on both sides under ribs, along with upper back pain can be adrenal stress.
bejoy
-------------------- bejoy!
"Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." -Ralph Waldo Emerson Posts: 1918 | From Alive and Well! | Registered: Feb 2007
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
I guess I should have mentioned that I have a positive history for pancreatitis.
My first bout was when I was 36 weeks pregnant with my son. Difficult to ascertain if my abdomen was bloated as I was so pregnant.
I kept telling my OB, that I felt like I was having gall bladder attacks....but my gall bladder had already been removed.
I had significant indigestion, reflux, and tasted bile in my mouth.
The day I was hospitalized, I had very sharp pains right under/below my sternum.
Hurt to take in a good breath. Liver enzymes were way out of wack.
They wanted to scope me, but couldn't as I was pregnant.
I was NPO (without food/drinks orally) for four days! Only an IV. I would have attacked someone for some food.
A residual of this attack was severe diarrhea which lasted for about 5 days.
I don't mean to be gross, but it looked like and felt like bile coming out of my body.
When I first became very ill, I thought great, I am having a pancreatic attack.
Abdominal ultrasound was completely normal as were liver enzymes.
The GI doctor surmised that when my gall bladder was removed for stones, they had left a stone behind.
It travels sometimes between the common bile duct and the pancreas.
I have had only one attack since then. It was exactly one year to the date of the first one.
It went away in 4-5 days with a very light and bland diet (like baby food).
This pain I have is different.
Of course I still would recommend it being checked out by a doctor.
Hope your feeling better soon.
I am going to be looking at my liver enzymes very carefully when I see my LLMD next (March 7), just to be sure!
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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