Pain under left rib cage?? What could it be??

I had surgery three weeks ago this past Thursday.  The first 2 weeks I felt wonderful considering I had just had major surgery.  Energy levels were great and no problems other than trying to get all my fluids in.

Week 3 has kicked my butt.  I have felt lousy with no energy and being really tired.  Yesterday I started noticing a sharp pain under my left shoulder blade.  Got up this morning and now it seems to be under my left ribcage.  The pain yesterday felt like the gas pains from the anesthia after surgery.  Today the pain seems to worsen with deep breathing!  Could this be built up gas??  It is driving me crazy!!  I want to feel good.   Has anyone else had these kind of pains??

No idea but I hope you're talking to your surgeon's office or going to the ER for it. So soon after major operation any change in your health must be followed up with a doctor.

As my grandfather used to say: "don't be silly, be sure."

Keep us informed and hope you get well soon.



Andrew T.

I've had discomfort under my left rib cage since about 2 months out.  I'm 10 months out now.  It gets worse and better, is always there - except when I first wake up.  Just as soon as I eat or drink anything, the feeling comes.  If I am tired, it is worse.  But it is not painful.  If I massage the area, I burp a lot.  So I've come to the conclusion that it is a gas bubble of some sort.  When I described it at my 6 month visit, the surgeon gave me prevacid and advised to call if it continues.  Well, prevacid did nothing - but I didn't call.  Silly girl that I am, I keep thinking it will go away.  The surgeon will want to do a scope.  He said it is an unusual symptom.  I've asked your same question on this list before - and people think from ulcers to a "stitch" issue (from laparoscopy ), but no one exactly nails it.  I massage myself all the time because that brings comfort.  My 1 year is in November - getting ready to call the surgeon to schedule a scope.  Good luck - not sure if what you describe is the same thing. Mine has never been painful - just tender, asking for massage!

Hello. This was written years ago, but was wondering if you found any answers as I am experiencing the same symptoms you have described.

 I was having little aches on my lower left side for months but it just felt more like a kidney infection type feeling and it didn't HURT, and it would just come and go randomly for a second or two each time.
I also started having a 'lump in the throat' feeling that kept getting worse, even though I could still breathe and swallow fine, it just always felt like I had a golf ball in there that I needed to swallow to clear my throat.
I finally went to my surgeon and they did a CAT scan and he figured I had an internal hernia so we scheduled outpatient surgery to take care of it.
I ended up spending 4 days in the hospital because it turned out that I had scar tissue AGAIN on the exit hole of my stomach, AND my small intestine below my stomach exit was swollen to the size of an apple, blocked with food!
So they had to take care of both of those issues at once.
Now I'm having the same symptoms 2 weeks later and I think it's doing it again!
I'm constipated (going on 5-6 days now), smelly gas, the small aches in my stomach pouch area are back again (lower left side), and the lump in my throat feeling is back.
I do NOT want to have surgery AGAIN, but I'm guessing I probably will.

My advice is to see your surgeon ASAP and insist on at least a CAT scan or ultrasound and they can do 'exploratory' surgery like my surgeon did (and look what he found!).  Because there is SOMETHING wrong and they need to look in there and fix it before it's too late!

I have the same problem and was told it was probably a gas bubble.

It kind of feels like that but not sure since I have taken gas meds all day and had some 'gassy" moments today and seem to feel about the same.  Wonder how long this could last.  It is very uncomfortable??

I have it under both sides right now and had surgery Monday. I can't even breathe in all the way without sharp pain.  It feels like chest wall pain, which makes me believe its pleurisy. I go to the Dr. the 20th for my first post-op and I'm definatly going to mention it because thats what it sounds like to me (on my side). Nothing some steriods possible antibotic won't fix. I have had it before.

I am four weeks post-op. I had to go to the ER today for pain under my left rib cage. They couldn't find anything except constipation. Now granted, this was our local hospital and not the one I had the surgery done at. They made me an appointment with my surgeon for tomorrow. I am hoping that constipation is the culprit and it's nothing serious. I don't want to go through another surgery. I've done pretty good with my recovery up to this point. I don't know what in the world is going on.

Thanks.  I will contact the doctor on Monday if no improvement.  Hey happened to notice that you are from Dawson...I live in Hopkinsville.  Who did your surgery??