Pain in left side getting worse
on 12/6/14 2:22 am, edited 12/6/14 2:42 am - Toronto, Canada
Ive had a pain in my left side below my ribcage since yesterday evening. It feels almost like a pulled muscle, and the pain is in the front, and reaches towards the center of my back. Its uncomfortable to get up, and walk or just move my midsection in general...I also can't lay on the side when sleeping.
I wouldn't say I'm in severe pain, just an uncomfortable tight pulled muscle feeling. It's constant, not sharp shooting pains, just a constant pulling feeling...it seems to be getting worse. Any ideas? Could this be gas? I seem to be tooting like a regular person. And well anyway, I'm worried. With all the posts on here referencing left side discomfort, your mind can get into that 'think the worst' mode.
I am due for my period in a few days, but I've never felt anything like this before, so thought I'd ask... Should I contact my centre?
I would call if you are concerned about it, better safe than sorry. I had a pulled muscle below the rib cage pre-op and it sucks. It is not screaming pain but just an constant annoying pressure pulling pain. My doctor told me the only treatment is to use the pulled area as little as possible. It took months to heal and I still sort of feel it is not the same sometimes now even 8 months later. I hope it is just a mild pull and will resolve itself soon. One thing I found helpful was to balance out the feeling of pressure on my ribs. What helped was I would place one had on the pulled area and the other one on the opposite rib that had no pain. Sounds weird but it helped both sides feel pressure, which made me feel more comfortable, especially when trying to fall asleep. I am a side sleeper too so I hear you about not being able to side sleep, it sucks. You could also try some Tylenol. If your centre is not open you could go to a walk-in clinic if there is one near where you live. Let us know what happens and I hope it goes away soon.
on 12/6/14 5:40 am - Bumfuknowhere, Canada
I posted earlier but OH ate my reply. Left side pain is common after lap surgery as they do most of the work from the left side. I have had quite a few lap surgeries and the left side often gets painful just before the inside stitch lets go. It's usually near the incision on the left side.
Hey Jennifer ,
Sorry to hear you are feeling not the best ! I just wanted to ask you if you've ever had gall bladder issues ? I have and it sounds familiar . I had my first ever attack when I was 16 weeks pregnant in 2007 . It started as a dull ache like you described ,starting in my abdomen area and reaching round to my back . However , that one came on and swiftly progressed to a full blown attack in about an hour , came to peak when I vomited violently ( during this my hubby was on the phone to my midwife and we were gonna go to hospital ) but after I vomited it began to subside . Then it went leaving me weak and exhausted . I have had a few more since ,nothing after 2010 ?? weird ....but a couple of them were like ' warnings' .... and didnt progress to where the first one did . others were worse .
It could be something like that as I understand it's common after WLS . I am quite concerned I may go through this as my specialist told me I may need my gall bladder out . But then I've never had another attack for years . So we left it .
I hope it's not , and it may well be just a pulled muscle . But like the others have said , best to have it checked , don't leave it too long . I know youre a sensible girly though ; ) And you'll do what you need to do . But us women have an awful tendency to put things off thinking we are ok and we can deal with it .
Keep us posted on how you are doll , and I hope you feel better .
p.s Have you tried anything for the pain to see if it subsides ?
Jax xx
Constant pain? Comes and goes? Call your centre regardless, but it could be the start of gallstones. Could be from the surgery (not sure though, because you're about six weeks out and this is new pain yes? My pain in that area was earlier out). Could also be gas, as you said. I can have gas pain and toot like crazy but still have pain for awhile.
Could be so many things, or nothing. Call your centre if it worsens.
Surgery March 23/2011. Completed three full marathons and two half marathons, two half Ironman distances. Completed my first Full Ironman distance (4 km swim, 180 km bike, 42.2 km (full marathon) run) in Muskoka August 30/2015. Next Ironman Lake Placid July 23/2017!
on 12/7/14 9:52 am - Toronto, Canada
Thanks all, I am going to contact TWH tomorrow, and just inform them to see what they recommend. My sister had RNY, and had some issues, one of them being gallbladder attacks requiring removal. I watched how much pain she was in, and also watched her having to wait a month for surgery because they deemed it not emergency. She also had pancreatitis... She's had a few other complications, but anyhow, I went to see her today, and explained the symptoms, and she said to just pay close attention to it, and if it gets worse, go to the hospital. Right now, it has gotten better.
Tracy, your reply made sense to me, I am leaning towards thinking you're right. Hopefully!
Thank you all, OH and the server on this site has been RIDICULOUSLY SLOW!! The last few days it keeps timing out, and I haven't been able to get on. Just got lucky and it finally loaded the page! Anyone else having issues? Ugh, bothering me. This is my fifth time trying to post a reply!!
Thanks again all, and hope weekend is going well!