Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Other Health Discussion => Topic started by: Urbanchick on October 25, 2016, 09:44:48 AM
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I have had a weird feeling under my bottom left ribs for a couple of days. Assumed trapped wind and tried wind relief stuff. It came and went but last night, after, admittedly, a slightly spicy noodle meal, I was awake most of the night with gurgling painful tummy and my anxiety kicked in. By this morning I had imagined at least three types of cancer and a couple of heart attacks. Now am back to left rib discomfort - like a bubble or pressure feeling. Can trapped wind last this long?? Until the last two years I could eat/drink anything (and did), now I have no caffeine, very limited alcohol, hardly any sugar and loads of oats, fruit and veg. Any ideas?
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It sounds like ibs. The spicy noodles will have exacerbated it. I can go days with trapped wind problems. Try not to worry it's something sinister. Eat some plain food for a few days.
Look up the list of foods that trigger ibs and you will notice the healthy foods you have been eating are the ones that trigger it!
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Thanks - yes I gather things like broccoli are an issue and I had that yesterday. Not sure why it has suddenly flared up - only really had three other episodes like this in my life and only once last year had the trapped wind feeling, but nowhere near as bad as this!
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Oats, fruit and veg irritate me but like you, it comes and goes. Sometimes I can eat that stuff no problem, other times it triggers the ibs. Stress etc can bring it on but mine has been worse during peri menopause.
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Sounds like IBS. I get exactly the symptoms you describe.. Comes and goes, and lots of strange noises and gurgling from my tummy , particularly the lower left side ......Mine is worse if I lie on my left side.
It's best to try and sleep on your right side, but I find this uncomfortable.
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Tried going for a run but it is still there! Will try distracting myself with work. It might sound funny but I have always had trouble burping - I always envied those who could burp on demand! I seem to have trouble and feel it might resolve things!
Anybody else had this for more than three or four days?
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Hi Urbanchick my daughter had to call an ambulance last year as I was in agony and had been for two days previous. They had to give me an intermuscle painkiller so that I could get downstairs and then morphine once in the ambulance! They xrayed and yep it was a back up of wind behind a slight impaction.! I was mortified but they said they have seen grown men in tears with the pain of trapped wind and my daughter was right to call an ambulance. The pain lasted another 4 days after the hospital visit. I use duflatum by rennie which is the strongest wind relief you can buy over the counter and it works great.
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Thanks for that - you poor thing, one of my worries is going to a and e with something like wind, heartburn or a panic attack! I haven't got any impaction I assume as BMs normal and regular as clockwork [the only good thing about last year's four month course of SSRI - regular bowel movements!]. Feel that mine is upper abdomen - will get some strong wind relief.
any other ideas anybody?!
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Gentle massage. From the shoulder blade downwards. Himself often needs to rub my back until the wind begins to move.
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Tried that - tried windeze tablets - tried rocking from side to side on back - tried yoga - tried running - tried peppermint tea!
Guess I will just have to 'ride it out'!
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Have you sat on the edge of the bed and tried the swimming action i.e. breast stroke with exaggerated movements? Then do a 'windmill' type movement above the head and as far behind the back as is comfy.?
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Did all that type of thing last night at yoga - and more besides. It got a bit better but then I had a spicy noodle dish with broccoli for tea, and ate it in front of TV off a tray [something I never normally do]. Half an hour later my stomach kicked off and kept me awake all night. So today am back to square one!
Thanks for all suggestions!
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"Rennies" ? works for me but I often need to chew 3/4 ::)
Also, a deep bubble bath in hot water helps.
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Going to get some Deflatine. Am quite proud that, other than in the wee small hours of the morning, I have stopped catastrophizing this. Usually I would still be deep into health anxiety mode after a bad night, but have managed to rationalise and kept it at bay.
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That takes effort! Now get that wind passed!!!
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I suffer with this for time to time. Spotted this. Anything is worth a try ;D
wtofstress.com/relieve-trapped-wind/ww.ou
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I haven't read the other replies but I've had this, more often than not, under left ribs. That area makes some right strange noises too, from grumbling to high pitch squeaks lol
Dr said it's common place for wind and food to trap, she said and the tightest bend (not sure if she was having me on) windeze does help but so does eating little and often
X
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That's where the stomach is situated.
The trick is to take the Colpermin within the hour B4 eating your main meal.
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Thank you so much for all the advice. So far tonight I'm ok - no major stomach ache so hopefully it will start to ease tomorrow.
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Glad you are feeling better but, at the risk of sending you into anxiety-mode, I feel you should get this checked out if it returns. The pancreas is situated under the left rib and can become inflamed leading to pancreatitis if not caught early. A friend had this some years ago and her doc was upset that she hadn't mentioned the intermittent left pain to her some months before it then flared up.
Taz xx
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I don't need much to send me into anxiety mode! The strange feeling has come back today and is now more at side/back - feels like a cross between nerves/stitch and something tickly stuck. Not pain, just a feeling. As it doesn't hurt as such, I am hoping it isn't serious.
It's funny - but I am working from home at the moment and haven't been out and about working since Friday - I'm always worse when house-bound as anxiety feeds without distractions. Plus, I had the dentist a week ago, which makes me anxious these days, so may have unconsciously got into habit of swallowing repeatedly [am doing it now!] so probably trapped wind is the result.
I have, in the wee small hours, managed to persuade myself that as I have had this once before a year ago, and two bouts of upset tummy in the last 18 months I am obviously dying of something dreadful. Isn't the mind amazing at keeping the health anxiety going?
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I quite often wind pain in my shoulder blade, especially if I eat a bit too much. I sympathise with anyone who gets wind pain anywhere, it HURTS!.
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Yep. We are all dying from the day we are born - health anxiety compounds the feelings of doom :sigh:
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As always, thanks for your support. This must be a common problem as Boots and my local pharmacy had sold out of Deflatine! A very windy area! I got wonder instead and have taken 2 today.
Stomach has churned through the loveliness of Bake off and I have diagnosed myself with at least three terminal illnesses. Health anxiety is, again , my real ailment. Doctors tomorrow to get more HRT, so will mention it. Think tablets have made things worse, all I can feel is gurgling...
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Yes Urbanchick, I am another who can relate to your left sided trapped wind dilemma. It also builds up in my lower/upper abdomen, under my sternum & once in my upper back. I've had it reduce me to tears, it can cause such pain. I went to my gp the first time it afflicted me & was told it was all the mucus I was swallowing from bronchitis. I was half doubled over in pain, thinking I was dying until it started releasing itself.
I find laying on my tummy helps, also walking. I can also relate to the extreme HA it can cause. Seemingly relentless worry. It's amazing the places your mind can go. Please know you are not alone in suffering from this.
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I get mine on the right side.
Perhaps I'm just weird :-\.
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Thanks to all of you. Have had a fairly sleepless night - stomach churning since 4am! Have been for a run and now whole lower back hurts! Sparkle - 'wonder' should have been windeze - was on my phone with auto correct! I've never taken it before and it is way stronger than the boots own label stuff. I think it didn't agree with me as I was gurgly all night after taking it. My breakfast and lunch don't cause any issues [the weird feeling in side just stays the same!], but if I take a wind relief tablet after dinner then I gurgle all night! Off to GPs in 10 minutes... hopeful.
Bloody health anxiety is probably the real culprit - I start this weird swallowing when anxious and I think then it becomes a vicious circle. It was the same when I had bladder issues - the GP annoyed me by saying it was anxiety, but it went away...
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Hopefully the Dr will put your mind at ease. The gurgling is a symptom of ibs and i get it a lot. It's quite embarrassing at work as it makes such loud noises!
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Well - back from GP. She is lovely and very caring. She felt my tummy and there was no tenderness. Strangely enough, it has now moved round to my back aswell - but that could be a muscle thing after strenuous yoga on Monday as haven't done yoga for 8 months. My back aches when I walk! She said to take lansoprazole for a month every day, 15mg. She also suggested a urine test just to rule out kidney infection, so I'll do that tomorrow [although as it takes a week to get result, if it is infection it will hurt like hell by then!].I'll see if that helps and try [very hard] not to panic and over-think it. My OH always says that if something comes on suddenly it is unlikely to be the big C, and he also points out I haven't had any of the other life-threatening diseases I've worried myself sick about over the last two years!
Onwards and upwards...
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I shall take one tablet later [had to wait for prescription to be ready] and it will then be at least an hour before my dinner. I will then take your advice and go for first thing.
Here's hoping! Actually, I'm really hoping I can just keep the HA in check...
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You have a supportive GP who would have referred you appropriately should it be necessary. So maybe stop worrying about this wind which can be caused by stress ;) ………
Gentle exercise swinging arms and maybe eat little and often to stop build up of wind pockets.
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Thanks - wise words as usual.
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Put similar on your fridge door - "This Too Will Pass" ?
I lived with a phobia for years++ (from age 3) which over-took my Life 24/7 :'( so although written down I may appear dismissive of HA, in reality been there, done that ……..
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Was really confident and anxiety free last night, 'these things will pass' I remembered. But woke at 6 with stomach gurgling and after an hour of that I now have my persistent weird feeling back under left rib. Can' decide if it is anxiety related as am aware that Ian doing my swallowing thing so might be trapping air. Bugger - now desperately trying to damp down health anxiety.... Surely trapped wind can't last this long!
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Thanks Sparkle. I've never had anything like this before - always had an amazingly strong stomach, never got bugs or food poisoning. That's why I worry. But as anxiety has already upset my bladder and made me convinced for weeks that I had ovarian or bladder cancer... only for it to go - I must assume this is also anxiety driven. Although I wasn't massively anxious when it started. But am now aware of a lot of saliva and swallowing...
Listen to me... I am obsessed! I must get distracted and stop taking it so seriously. THIS TOO WILL PASS!
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Thanks Sparkle. Am really trying to distract myself - unfortunately it involves online shopping!
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………. ;D 4 clothes ?!?
When I get reflux or heartburn my mind immediately has it as a heart attack ::) even though it's a repeat of the last time's symptoms, the time's B4, etc. etc. etc..
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Good idea ……….. in bright pink with purple lettering?
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Have already found a fridge magnet! :D
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Thanks Sparkle. I've never had anything like this before - always had an amazingly strong stomach, never got bugs or food poisoning. That's why I worry. But as anxiety has already upset my bladder and made me convinced for weeks that I had ovarian or bladder cancer... only for it to go - I must assume this is also anxiety driven. Although I wasn't massively anxious when it started. But am now aware of a lot of saliva and swallowing...
Listen to me... I am obsessed! I must get distracted and stop taking it so seriously. THIS TOO WILL PASS!
I also used to have an amazingly strong stomach and never got bugs or food poisoning. I didn't realise a few years ago that I was probably in peri menopause but that's when my stomach problems first started. I thought I had a bout of food poisoning (without the sickness) and my stomach was bad for ages with trapped wind, diarroeah, bloating, gurling noises. I also lost a bit of weight but I think that was due to me having to eat really plain food as anything else seemed to set my stomach off again. This problem has come and gone a lot over the last few years and so now I put it down to peri as it is one of the symptoms.
http://www.34-menopause-symptoms.com/digestive-problems.htm
Remember, your GP didn't seem overly concerned, so try not to worry.
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How has today been?
A fridge magnet …….. 8)
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Started badly but back to a background feeling - more like hunger at times. But have spent a lovely hour cooking tea with my lovely son and watching uplifting stories on The One Show. This too will pass. I know it will.
As always, thanks everybody. Am hoping not to have another sleepless night as am running in the morning!
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Is that running for a bus ? ;) ? ………. exercise can get rid of wind ;-).
Oh the 1 Show was so uplifting - I couldn't quite get my head round who had whose heart ;D
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Does lansoprazole cause nausea and generally yukky feeling? Am going off my food and feeling a bit feverish. I don't think it is a kidney infection as all pain other than weird feeling under ribs has gone! Have had several nights of awful hot flushes and adrenalin rushes aswell. Bugger... Am going back to full 1mg tablet of oestrogen after cutting them in half for six weeks! :-\
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It can cause various symptoms …….. I'll see if I can find my link [which are both for the other heartburn remedy, Dr James Le Fanu's comments are interesting]
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IBS causes nausea. I'm going through a stage of it at the moment although peri also causes nausea. I think I've come out in sympathy with you as the last few days have had bloating, trapped wind, pain at top of stomach!
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I don't think I'm going to take it anymore. I have felt lousy all weekend and that has increased my anxiety. I still have exactly the same weird feeling anyway, but now have nausea, upset tummy and headache...
I think I'm going to assume it is anxiety related and hope it goes when I am busy out and about next week. Everything gets worse when I spend long periods working from home, as I fixate.
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Exercise! Drink plenty of fluids! Eat little and often ……… and cut out 'gassy' foods!
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I don't think I'm going to take it anymore. I have felt lousy all weekend and that has increased my anxiety. I still have exactly the same weird feeling anyway, but now have nausea, upset tummy and headache...
I think I'm going to assume it is anxiety related and hope it goes when I am busy out and about next week. Everything gets worse when I spend long periods working from home, as I fixate.
I'd go back to your GP and explain Urbanchick. You need to find out what is causing this pain. Sorry but so often we get fobbed off with indigestion remedies when a proper examination may be needed. Not wanting to freak you out but you know your body and something obviously isn't right.
Taz x :bighug:
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I was expecting a lot of wind last night as we had broccoli as part of our evening meal, stalks and everything ::). Luckily, no effect :-\
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Just a quick update - I took Lansoprazole for four days but stopped as I got really bad cramping and bloating and a headache. I haven't taken one since Sunday but now, about 30/40 minutes after eating I am getting really and lower abdominal cramp - like something rock like is being squeezed through my system! Could this be the side effects of Lansoprazole? I understand it kills the stomach acid so makes food harder/slower to digest.
Am obviously now really stressed/anxious, which is exacerbating the whole thing, I know. Had a chat to a hypnotherapy lady yesterday who specialises in the menopause. Expensive, but worth a try!
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Hi Urbanchick
You kindly replied to my alternative therapy thread. I think we must be twins, though I'm 'countrychick' as I live in the middle of nowhere. I can so relate to your symptoms.
Since the 'dhal incident' on Monday I've had various pains and winds moving around from left to right and front to back. I've also got a lot of gurgling. Like you I am struggling to keep a grip on reality and avoid a health anxiety meltdown. I've had about three months of relative normality and almost symptom free so I suppose I thought I was 'out of woods' but very recently with the sweats and flushes starting up again I realise that it was just a blip. Today I woke with adrenaline surges... what next?
I really do sympathise. I can't really suggest anything that you aren't doing already. Have you ever read the Gut Book by Guilia Enders? It gave me a lot of insight into show the digestive system works and did allay some fears. On the hypnotherapy front I tried a 30 minute free sleep session on YouTube last night, went straight to sleep and slept until 4 which is unusual for me.
Good luck, hope you feel better soon
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Oh, another thing I was going to mention - I take a daily probiotic tablet (at night) from Healthspan. This has made a definite difference, until the dhal messed up my guts!
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Thanks for that 'countrychick'. Cramps are wearing off and am just left with trapped wind under rib and anxiety feeling in guts. Feel I am going round the bend! Any chance you could pm with details of your probiotic and the hypno link so I can give them a go?
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Wind makes me feel really ill :-\ - 4 years Himself would rub my belly gently to move it downwards, that however was a grumbling appendix ::). Once I had been diagnosed with IBS later I took Colpermin and Motillium within an hour of eating my main meals - the idea being that the former shifts upper gut wind and the latter moves food through the system quicker. I have slow transit occasionally so add Actimel 2-3 times a day, swallowing the last one as I go to bed. That eases my bowel so that I feel comfy again.
If the wind persists then I feel queasy :-\ so have to keep it under control. Do have a look at Dr James Le Fanu's comments about Lansoprazole etc. …….. (use the search button).
Let us know how you get on!
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Hi Urbanchick
Info sent in pm
BB :)