Lung/Rib Cage Pain, can it be an obstruction?

[Ckoenig]

I am very uncomfortable So I had about 6 good days and was thrilled feeling like hopefully the entocort was working. I have been on it a month now.
Day before yesterday I started having sharp pains underneath my rib cage and in the middle right in my sternum. If I move the wrong way it feels like if I breathe out too far I get pain or breath in very deep. The odd thing is it comes and goes. I can feel good for a few hours but then it comes back. It is literally the most uncomfortable thing. Yesterday and last night I felt like it must be gas and some was being released so I figured still doing ok. But if I would lay on my back it would feel like an elephant was on my chest and I had to sit straight up. In bed last night I couldn't lay down in any position for a long time, but sitting up I felt ok.
So this morning I was really hoping it would be gone. I walked a ways to get to my son's soccer game and I was so uncomfortable the entire time, so much pressure behind my chest, my lungs hurt. I feel like something must be wrong with them. But I don't have any kind of cold or congestion in my chest.
My body is SORE too. My neck, my back, my joints.

I mean is this all part of it? Has anyone else had anything like this? I haven't had a bm since yesterday morning. Yesterday at work I would have the pain, go a little, and then have relief for a bit and repeated that for about 6 trips. Today it is just pain

I don't know whether to eat or not or what to do?
I've sought medical help so many times for chest pains and they never find anything. This is just interrupting my life a lot. My fiance's family is here and we are going to try on dresses at David's bridal at 2. And I feel completely out of it and worried this is going to get worse.

Does anyone have Crohn's present as GAS mainly without even eating a trigger food. My biggest problem seems to be constant air and bloating nomatter what I eat.

Any advice would be great!

p.s. it is lunch time and I am HUNGRY, but I'm afraid to eat any more until I poop. I don't know what to do!!!

 

[hawkeye]

Might not be a full blown obstruction, could be a stricture / narrowing causing this to back up. I get pains under either side of my ribs due to a stricture further down in the large intestine

 

[LylahJean]

I would also suggest a stricture. I have about 4 inches of stricture in my large bowel and it causes me severe gas and also I get pains in my rib cage. It's mostly on the left side right at the very bottom of my ribs, I assume it's from the stricture because that's about the area that the stricture is. As far as eating something to prevent the gut renching gas and bloating, I try to eat little bits of whatever throughout the day instead of having meals. I probably eat one meal a day, and the rest of the time it's just little things here and there.

 

[Ckoenig]

Thanks guys ... I have a narrowing in 6 cm of my terminal ileum,
This is what I was originally dx'd with about a month
Ago. I started taking entocort about a month ago as well.
So the narrowing they saw is a stricture and it just is always there and won't fix or is that narrowing different?
When people talk about strictures it always sounds like something that they get resolved w meds etc...

 

[LylahJean]

Strictures are pretty much never resolved with meds, meds can only slow down the process of a stricture. www.crohnsforum.com/wiki/Stricture

 

[leilanigal]

"ALOHA,"! I read about your lung/rib cage pain....! I've been dealing with my diagnosis "inflamed ileum" since May 19, 2013. I usually get the cramping & twinges of pain under each side of my ribs & it goes around the back where my lungs are! I feel much better when I haven't eaten any meals....my Family members worry if I do not eat & have to explain the problem. Usually, as soon as I eat anything, I have to use the bathroom & it is difficult always. The Specialist Dr. said that I probably caught a really terrible "virus" from something I ate or maybe drank, or maybe the person didn't wash their hands....it caused the distal end of my small intestine to narrow, the opening....! I asked if it would get better & she quoted eventually "in time"! I had a CT scan w/ contrast & a colonoscopy was done in June. Results: no polyps, no Chrohn' s, no diverticulitis, but she saw the inflamed ileum! This has affected my life because I have other chronic medical issues! I try to keep my lifestyle as active as possible! Left for the Big Island of Hawaii on Aug. 3rd, our 90 year old Mom was not feeling well twice & she did recover. She unexpectedly became ill the week before & went to be w/ our Lord in Heaven on August 21, 2013 @ 12:08A.M.. We had 1st Memorial Service on Aug. 26th, on Big Island; 2nd Memorial Service was just on Sept. 10th, on Oahu, in Honululu, HI! She lived a very fulfilling & happy life! So sorry, I rambled on & got off track. Hope U get to feeling much better too in time....I know what it feels like to try & go to the B.R. & U are uncomfortable cause U can't go or feel like U aren't done! "Thanks,"Leilanigal!

 

[Ckoenig]

I would also suggest a stricture. I have about 4 inches of stricture in my large bowel and it causes me severe gas and also I get pains in my rib cage. It's mostly on the left side right at the very bottom of my ribs, I assume it's from the stricture because that's about the area that the stricture is. As far as eating something to prevent the gut renching gas and bloating, I try to eat little bits of whatever throughout the day instead of having meals. I probably eat one meal a day, and the rest of the time it's just little things here and there.

Hi there. Thank you! I was born and raised in Oregon Medford. So cool you are from there. I miss the geography immensely. Had a terrible childhood there though so regarding that as far away as possible is good.

I guess I do have a stricture because the whole reason I was dx'd is bec I have a 6cm portion of the terminal ileum that is inflamed.

I hope the entocort works this is really screwing up my life. Eating is now like a battleground. This has really destroyed my social life in a way. I can't drink at ALL it causes me to feel terrible, and eating is not fun at all anymore.

I totally agree with what you said about tiny meals that does seem to be the best. The thing that sucks about that is that I do have a hearty appetite, however each time I feel like death. I realize I need to be way more careful.

Thanks for the support !

 

[Ckoenig]

Might not be a full blown obstruction, could be a stricture / narrowing causing this to back up. I get pains under either side of my ribs due to a stricture further down in the large intestine

My stricture is in my terminal ileum, being in the small bowel do you think it would still cause that much pressure and pain up so high? Mine is right underneath my breasts on either side and sharp and hard in my sternum. Feels so awful And really hard to lead a normal life while this is happening. You can't think of anything else besides the fact if you move wrong you will be in pain .
Thanks for the reply!!

 

[Ckoenig]

"ALOHA,"! I read about your lung/rib cage pain....! I've been dealing with my diagnosis "inflamed ileum" since May 19, 2013. I usually get the cramping & twinges of pain under each side of my ribs & it goes around the back where my lungs are! I feel much better when I haven't eaten any meals....my Family members worry if I do not eat & have to explain the problem. Usually, as soon as I eat anything, I have to use the bathroom & it is difficult always. The Specialist Dr. said that I probably caught a really terrible "virus" from something I ate or maybe drank, or maybe the person didn't wash their hands....it caused the distal end of my small intestine to narrow, the opening....! I asked if it would get better & she quoted eventually "in time"! I had a CT scan w/ contrast & a colonoscopy was done in June. Results: no polyps, no Chrohn' s, no diverticulitis, but she saw the inflamed ileum! This has affected my life because I have other chronic medical issues! I try to keep my lifestyle as active as possible! Left for the Big Island of Hawaii on Aug. 3rd, our 90 year old Mom was not feeling well twice & she did recover. She unexpectedly became ill the week before & went to be w/ our Lord in Heaven on August 21, 2013 @ 12:08A.M.. We had 1st Memorial Service on Aug. 26th, on Big Island; 2nd Memorial Service was just on Sept. 10th, on Oahu, in Honululu, HI! She lived a very fulfilling & happy life! So sorry, I rambled on & got off track. Hope U get to feeling much better too in time....I know what it feels like to try & go to the B.R. & U are uncomfortable cause U can't go or feel like U aren't done! "Thanks,"Leilanigal!

OMG this sounds JUST like me. I also have terrible back pain too. When it is happening I can't think of anything else. I feel like I can't enjoy my kids I am googling symptoms and in my head worried etc. I can't get my school work done this semester. I am a straight A student but this semester I am way off track.

How did they determine you didn't have crohn's? Because your biopsy came back acute and not chronic?

My Dr. said mine is really weird/rare because it came back acute not chronic, however because of my history and the fact my mom has Crohn's very bad, AND the fact I've had stomach issues off and on (granted not like this at all), she also said how it presented looked to have been inflamed a really long time, but I don't have lesions or a lot of other things you would see in Crohn's and my blood tests don't show it. Also my calprotectin level is 193.7 a normal one is around 50 apparently. She dx'd me with Crohn's, but I am still not completely convinced, this is probably wishful thinking, buuuuut.... I am still waiting on the infectious bacteria cultures, and I got VERY sick in Spain summer before last, like deathly ill from their food. Now this could be bec I have Crohn's and the diet there was atrocious, but it could also be because I picked something up.

What treatment are you on to get the inflammation down ? I am on entocort 9mg daily for a month now.

Thanks so much for replying.

BTW I am so sorry about your mother. May she rest in peace.

Christina

 

[Ihurt]

Do you feel the pain always after you eat, or is it when you havn't eaten for while? I mean is there a pattern with it? What you are describing could be any number of things. It could be gallbladder, it also could be gastritis too. It sounds pretty high up in the gut. I guess I would watch to see if there is a pattern. Like does it occur right after you eat, or half hour later? Or does it happen even when you have not eaten in awhile... gastric and duodenal Ulcers can cause that kind of pressure and discomfort as well, but many things can. I hope it calms down soon.

 

[Ckoenig]

Do you feel the pain always after you eat, or is it when you havn't eaten for while? I mean is there a pattern with it? What you are describing could be any number of things. It could be gallbladder, it also could be gastritis too. It sounds pretty high up in the gut. I guess I would watch to see if there is a pattern. Like does it occur right after you eat, or half hour later? Or does it happen even when you have not eaten in awhile... gastric and duodenal Ulcers can cause that kind of pressure and discomfort as well, but many things can. I hope it calms down soon.

I can feel it either way. There isn't a huge pattern to it. I would say that often when it happens I need to go to the bathroom and pass smaller ish amts of stool and then feel better. But yesterday I had it so I was afraid to eat like it would make it worse so didn't more than a bite or two during the day and felt awful a terrible stinging as well behind my sternum. as soon as I ate I felt great for awhile, but still as soon as I would lie down would get horrible chest discomfort. Today so far knock on wood haven't had any yet and had a good bm this am. Whew. And thank you for hte reply and kind words

 

[Ihurt]

Your welcome! Hmmm, it sounds like you feel worse when you lay down. I know with duodenal ulcers, a person will feel good right after they eat, and then gets worse as the stomach empties. I am not sure though. I am glad you are ok so far today, that is good. I guess just keep an eye on it. It is good you went to the bathroom today and everything was ok, that is good. Maybe if you ever get that episode again where you feel like that pressure when you lie down, I wonder if you took an antacid if it would let up? I mean like a zantac or something? It is just a thought. Lets hope you do not get anymore episodes though!! Glad you are feeling better...

I can feel it either way. There isn't a huge pattern to it. I would say that often when it happens I need to go to the bathroom and pass smaller ish amts of stool and then feel better. But yesterday I had it so I was afraid to eat like it would make it worse so didn't more than a bite or two during the day and felt awful a terrible stinging as well behind my sternum. as soon as I ate I felt great for awhile, but still as soon as I would lie down would get horrible chest discomfort. Today so far knock on wood haven't had any yet and had a good bm this am. Whew. And thank you for hte reply and kind words

 

[Jison0612]

I have a duodenal ulcer right now And I experience these same symptoms to a tee!!' My breathing isn't right, my upper and mid back have weird burning pains, my ribs are sore, I have the pain in the chest area, and it gets worse on a empty stomach!!!!! Ask ur dr about stomach ulcers u may have one lying around somewhere in there

 

[tsm1110]

My stricture is in my terminal ileum, being in the small bowel do you think it would still cause that much pressure and pain up so high? Mine is right underneath my breasts on either side and sharp and hard in my sternum. Feels so awful And really hard to lead a normal life while this is happening. You can't think of anything else besides the fact if you move wrong you will be in pain .
Thanks for the reply!!

I also had a partial obstruction in my terminal ileum until i had a resection this last april at hartford hospital.i was having this pain every 2 months or so.this went on for almost 2 years.it was managable at the time so i just dealt with it as it happened.my stomach was very bloated and the pain was almost unbearable.These episodes started getting closer and closer to every 4wks.the pain would also radiate high in my chest.i know the pain you feel and its terrible.you cant sleep or eat.it was like a contraction that would come and go every so many minutes.the only thing that helped me was keeping a liquid diet during this and a pain med.

 

[Jison0612]

Stomach ulcers check into that I believe ur on to something there cause I have a duodenal ulcer and go through these same symptoms daily!!!

 

[Axelfl3333]

I think you should go to the doctors or hospital for a check up,it,ll stop you worrying and keep you safe.good luck

 

[plantluvr]

it sounds like what i went through with my gull bladder. i had alot of pain near my sternum and could never lay down at night then after a month started vomiting everyday. ive also had pancreatitis 6 times which hurts where the sternum is and straight through to the back. i also had trouble breathing. i hope you find out soon what it is. and congrats on getting married! keep us posted.

 

[Jison0612]

I had and have a lot of this symptoms with a lot of indigestion my dr prescribed me prilosec 40mg a day and it almost elimated all my symptoms breathing, back pain, sternum pain, etc is also have a duodenal ulcer that's trying to heal and my dr just recently switched me to daxilant and told me to quit prilosec which sent me wayyyyy backwards but I seem to be leveling out now

 

[fozheart]

I have a pattern that is similar to yours. I get terrible pain and trapped gas underneath my left rib and a little further down, where I have scar tissue from 5 surgeries in the same area. When I eat a real meal, the pain and pressure is worse, until I have a bowel movement. I also get the breathing problems and feel like I need to use my inhaler. However, if I have a burp, my airway improves! (until the gas gets trapped again.) I am so tired of this, that I mostly stick to drinking Ensures. The less food in me, the better I feel.

 

[Jison0612]

I thank anxiety has made a lot of my symptoms worse cause if I don't think about them they don't hurt and my shortness of breath isn't a problem.

 

[aschei]

I'm having these exact same pains over the last couple weeks. I just started Lialda (mesalamine/5-ASA) and I'm tapering off prednisone. It'll start out after having lunch, and if I'm sitting or laying down, having the worst gas pain up under my left lung. Then 1-2 hours later it would come back lower in the intestine and I'd have diarrhea. I'm getting a feeling now I should do what my mom is telling me and get scoped. Thank you for posting!