I wanted to update since I posted yesterday in the General Health forum about these upper stomach and under-rib pains I was having..I went to the doctor today and she thinks I have IBS. I had the 'diaharrea' form of IBS when I was younger and basically got rid of it with diet changes. I haven't had symptoms for almost 10 years now.

From reading online it seems like I might now have a more 'pain' version which is where my abdominal muscles are spasming and I have a lot of extra gas. I don't have changed bowel movements really, but the pain is under my ribs on left side and sometimes moves to right but mostly left. I gave blood to have her also run tests to rule out other things but she really thinks it's IBS.

My biggest problem is that it's painful for me to be active, aka work out or go for long walks or even dance. It could just be a flare but how to get it to go away? She wasn't super helpful with that part of the equation, but I did find some information online regarding peppermint oils and fennel teas helping with the spasms and gas and pain. So I am going to try those as well as Gas X (her suggestion) and see if there is any improvement.

Apparently stress, diet and lack of activity could make it worse. I originally strained my abdominal muscles and she thought that somehow might have been a stress that triggered the IBS...but I don't know how much I really buy her entire diagnosis. But if 'other' things are ruled out by these blood tests then I will at least try a few remedies for IBS and see if it helps. Problem is that I already eat a REALLY healthy diet, I worked out all the time...and I already eat a ton of fiber, drink lots of water, don't eat lots of fats. So it's a bit limited on what else I can try to control.

Anyhow...I saw some posts with 'is this really IBS' or people with 'partial' symptoms so I can totally relate and thought I would post my potential 'diagnois' along with my story since it seems like I also have kind of partial symptoms. I will report back if the peppermint and fennel or anything else really helps me. My main thing is getting back to my regular activities and seeing how I can control this flare or get rid of it entirely. Any other suggestions are most appreciated.

I agree with the lack of activity part. If I just sit on the couch after I eat dinner, I am much more likely to have a flare-up than if I do some chores like the laundry, tidying up, etc. I can't wait until the warmer weather and extra daylight gets here so I can go for a walk around the neighbourhood after dinner. I think that will help me a lot. Right now, if my stomach acts up, I just walk briskly around the house, which used to get me weird looks from my husband! But now he's just used to me doing what I have to do to deal with the symptoms.

I also know of someone who abruptly stopped daily jogging after an injury about a year ago, and for the last 6 months she has come down with stomach problems similar to IBS. So I'm sure exercise has some sort of connection.

hi

i too have been having the pains under the ribs, mine varies from middle to side to side, lots of wind, and very painful at times, unable to do normal day day things, i have had ibs for a number of years but very mild, that was until 10 months ago, when pain was really bad more in the lowers abdomen, and across the middle stomach, went to the doctors has usuall medication was not helping, tried different medication with no luck, doctor sent me for stomach scan plus bowel investigation and a test on my ovaries, and blood tests all came back OK, i have seen the hospital doctor 3 times in the past 6 months, and he said it will get better, well it did for about 6 weeks and now this new pain has reared its ugly head, my local doctor thought it might have been ulcers, more blood tests and a stool test, both came back OK, now he has decided it is connected with the ibs, but to make sure i go for a Barium meal x-Ray next week, plus more blood tests done for kidneys and liver, to be honest i never knew that ibs pain could be under the ribs, but he reckons it can be, and when the pain is not to bad i am still left with a dull ache all the time, i wish this was just a bad dream , has i am so fed up of been constantly in pain, so i feel for any one else going through the same, has it can make your life hell.

Kate

My pain is also under my ribs, on the right. It can be very bad. I feel for people too, but I've had so many tests and since it's probably IBS, then yes, you can have pain under your ribs. Also in your back.

I have the same form of IBS as you very very painful lots of gas and bloating. It has been controlling my life for far to long. It has gotten steadily worse the last few years (since I lost my son) I truly belive that it is related to our nervous system and how we deal and process stress, grief ,anxiety. Learning relaxation techniques like yoga and meditation do help. One thing I've learned is that you have to be a little selfish when you have IBS, you must take time out for you. Anyway I have had every test and tried every natural remedy. I am currently on the glycymic Index diet (I need to loose 10lbs) which is no refined sugar. And have just been prescribed a new drug called Buscapan. This drug actually helps our stomachs move the food through faster. Currently we are not moving the food through fast enough which is causing the gas ,pain and bloating.
I finally can say I have found something that is working. I am on week 3 of this med, and am hoping that it continues to help me get through life a little easier.

Hey, I also have been having pain under my ribs, everyday now for over a year!

Where about under your ribs do you all get the pain, mine is near gallbladder, but I also get pain the same place but on the left side, I do get it more on my right!!

I have inflammation of the duodenum I am on Losec 20mg a day for.

Do any of you have to take tablets for your stomach?

tried buscapan does not work for me, was on Colfax which used to work when my IBS symptoms were not has bad as they are now, presently on spasmanol, they did work for a few weeks then it came back again, i also am taking phylisum husks, peppermint tea, you name it i have tried it, wish some one would come back with a remedy for this, as doctors do not seem to take it seriously, don't think they realise just how horrid and distressing this pain is, no wonder most people with it are depressed, and i know i get ratty some times being in constant pain.

well i went for the barium meal x ray today, i had the gullet, stomach and higher bowel looked at, will now have to wait for results, if this comes back clear, i do not know if there is another test they can do, i must have had all of them done already, you name it i have had it done, scans, tubes, blood and stools tests, like many on here i was convinced, there were some thing more serious wrong, i thought no one could go through so much pain and misery with IBS, if this test comes back OK, which i pray to god that it does, how wrong i have been. at least i will know it is not life threatening, even though i can get so low at times i want to scream at the world, and get so depressed, i suppose i will just have to live with it, and its many symptoms.

Kas , where abouts is your RIB pain mine is near where your gallbladder would be, but like you I also get it under my left rib.

Do you feel ill with it, I do I feel like crap this has been going on for over a year... have you had a scan on your gallbladder??

Yes my pain is were you would get gall bladder pain, but mine was removed about 8 yrs ago, so i know it is not that, it feels like there is a big ball of gas there and the pain is terrible, even when the pain is not so severe i still have a dull ache there and is really sore, i have had bowel test done via the tube, plus stool test, ovary scan, just had a barium meal x ray, plus gas in my stomach so they could see better, looking at the gut, stomach and upper intestines, should get the results back this week, had more blood tests just over a week ago, for liver and kidneys, came back showed high sugar, so now i have to go back for more blood tests, went with one problem and found another, had these terrible pains now for about 9 months, but before they were lower in the stomach and across the belly button, now it is how i describe, with sometimes lower pain as well, i think the doctor thinks it maybe ulcer, and that is what the last tests are for, but i am not convinced, the stool test, came back OK which he tested for bacteria which would have shown bacteria if an ulcer was present, hopefully i will get to know this week what the last results are, but i do know by reading on here that others have upper pain with IBS, just trying out some thing new at the minuet, with info i found on this board, and i have to say that since i started taking these supplement's a week ago things have improved pretty good these last couple of days, so i am keeping my fingers crossed, if it stays like i am now i can live with it, don't want to say to much though in case it does not last, and i would hate for people to run out and purchase them if it is not going to work long time. forgot to mention, i too felt crap, and so depressed and tired of it all.