Pain in/behind ribs

[Mrs Eleflump]

Anyone else having this?

For the last 3 days I've had such a bad pain in my right ribs, at the side, under my boob. It's gone from an achy niggle to so bad I can't breathe deeply enough and whenever I take a deeper breath to keep my oxygen up, it really hurts.

The only thing I can liken it to is pleurisy, but with that it was so much worse - I literally could barely breathe at all and moving was agony, the only thing that helped that was lying on the sore side, which isn't helping this at all.

I asked the midwife about it yesterday and she said to keep an eye on it as it might just be ligament pain or irritation from my ribcage expanding, but if it continues or gets worse, they will take some blood for liver function tests.

So with that in mind if it hasn't started to settle in the next couple of days I will try to get in to see the midwife or GP again, but if anyone has had this themselves, what was it and how do you make it go away?!

 

[Gnomer]

Is the pain below the ribs on the side or directly under the boob? I get incredibly bad heartburn and indigestion, and that often just effects one side. It makes breathing difficult too. At one point I was convinced I was having a heart attack. Gaviscon, lots of water and eating small amounts frequently tend to ease it for me.

I get recurrent kidney infections too, the pains usually between my rib age and hip, sometimes lower sometimes higher depending on my position. Also travels and radiates around my lower rib age area. Kidney infection means GP visit for antibiotics, but paracetamol helps to keep a fever at bay. Other than getting rid of it though, there's no other pain relief.

If you're in constant pain for more than a few days I'd definitely just go to my GP anyway. It's hard enough without niggles!

 

[dairymomma]

With my current pg, I've had right side rib cage pain and it's been due to my liver and/or gallbladder being inflamed. Are you having indigestion or stomach issues (loose stools, heartburn, etc.)? If so, it's likely your gallbladder is either inflamed or you may have a gall stone. Both are quite common during pregnancy and eating fatty foods can make it worse. Try eating an apple or drinking apple juice if it's really bothering you. There's something in apples that can help calm the gallbladder (if that's what's causing the pain).

 

[Mrs Eleflump]

Hey,

I'm not having any particular digestive issues, a little heartburn but that's not really bad at all.

I barely slept last night because of the pain, and went into work this morning, but was promptly sent home. I went to the GP and she found I had a bit of a fever but nothing pointing to any particular infection. She did a pretty thorough examination, and baby seems fine. The pain's not obviously coming from any of my internal organs, so she thinks it may just be muscular, but she's sent a pee sample to microbiology in case of kidney infection, and I need to get blood taken tomorrow to check inflammation and liver function.

I was so embarrassed, she asked me to lie down on the couch and I almost couldn't, the pain was so bad I was in tears. I don't think she quite knew what to do with me. I got there in the end but omg, so painful.

So anyway, I'm now back at home and going to spend the rest of the day chilling, in the hopes that I'm well enough to resume normal life tomorrow.

 

[Gnomer]

Rest! If it doesn't improve, go to A&E. With my kidney infection with my son, I had the kidney pain, but it wasn't localised. I couldn't pinpoint it to the kidney area, just severe pain in my abdomen. This was a rare complication though, and by the time I was hospitalised I had septic shock.

My point is, get it seen to. Can you monitor your own fever? If it gets as high as 39c, go to A&E. If the pain gets worse, go there. Sometimes GPs can brush you off (as mine did that time). They have no choice but to give you a thorough check, and crying in pain is not normal or something that should be ignored.

 

[messica]

Google "costachondritis."

Not at all dangerous, but it can definitely bring you to your knees.

I had that with both my pregnancies and am waiting for it to hit this time around too. Gentle yoga streches, anti-inflammitories and rest are the only things that helped. After being put on a weight lifting restriction of no more than 5lbs that helped over time as well.

 

[lala222]

How has your bp been? Pain right under the ribs is a symptom of pre-eclampsia (not to scare you) but just so you can ask your doctor about it and maybe check to rule it out. Hope its nothing!

 

[Mrs Eleflump]

hi again all

My temperature has come down a bit today and I can breathe deeper before the pain hits. I sat up to sleep last night, which wasn't very comfy (I had to get up at 4.30 because my bum had gone numb!). Had my blood taken this morning, and will probably get results when I see the consultant next Thursday.

My bp is actually really good - 100/60 at last check, and no protein in my urine.

I reckon the GP was right and it's probably muscular. I've been forbidden anti-inflammatories though. I'd usually take naproxen, but have been told not to take it while pregnant under any circumstances. Same for ibuprofen. I was taking the co-codamol the obstetrician gave me for my migraines, but it wasn't really helping the rib pain so I have stopped it and am just using heat and gentle stretching, as per GP's advice.

Hopefully it will continue to improve over the next few days and my blood and urine tests will come back normal