These sharp pains. HELP!
#46163 - 02/23/04 08:35 AM
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Jerryn
Reged: 02/22/04
Posts: 42
Loc: New Brunswick, Canada
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sorry to sound so desperate but these sharp pains in my sides high on my chest are hard to bare. I use microwaved magic bags that help calm them down. Been to ER and doctor about same pains, had bloodwork and several EKG's, heart is fine. Chest Xrays show nothing. They make me feel like it is all in my head. I have also tried several anti depresssants and the side effects are unbearable. VERY depressed over all this pain. Currently on Ativan .5 mg twice a day and Dicetel for IBS.
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Have you tried Peppermint Tea, or even peppermint caps/altoids (strong mints you can get at a drug store)? Also, fennel tee (you can buy the seeds and brew them in hot water...though I am not fussy on fennel). I find peppermint great for reducing gas! It gives me heartburn, but since you had the operation, you should be fine with that. There are also certain yoga poses you can do that are great at helping eliminate gas, just do a search through the Yoga board...
Hope this helps!
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Thanks again but the peppermint tea is a no no for me. I had the operation but there are still a lot of foods etc. that stir up the old stomach acids. I'm headed for the yoga section now. Thanks again. I am willing to try anything at this point
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Sorry 
Than, perhaps you should try the fennel! You can get past the taste, it really does help. I have heard (but haven't tried it) that the fennel tea Heather sells on this website is much better and you can order it. If not, you can simply buy fennel seeds at the store (I found mine in Indian/ethnic section) and brew them in a tea ball...they have a slight black licorice taste to them, and don't believe they cause heartburn.
Also, can/do you take beano? This is supposed to help when taken with meals...just try a "gas" search on this board, there are many talks on this subject.
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Hi there and sorry that you are feeling so miserable. I am sure it's IBS related, but are you sure that it is not muscular? I had a back injury due to a car accident and sometimes my muscle over my rib burns really bad and it burns into my breastbone. It honestly feels the same as when I get heartburn and gas. THe only thing that helps this is heat packs and seeing the chiropractor. You should check with one to make sure nothing is off or pulled. Also, have you tried Protonix as is works well for heartburn and chest pain due to acid and gas? Hope ya get to feeling better soon.
Leah
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Quote:
I am sure it's IBS related, but are you sure that it is not muscular? I had a back injury due to a car accident and sometimes my muscle over my rib burns really bad and it burns into my breastbone. It honestly feels the same as when I get heartburn and gas. THe only thing that helps this is heat packs and seeing the chiropractor. You should check with one to make sure nothing is off or pulled. Also, have you tried Protonix as is works well for heartburn and chest pain due to acid and gas? Hope ya get to feeling better soon.
Leah
Hi Leah. Thanks for the info. I too had a car accident but it was in July/99. You've got a good point about the rib type injury. I'll check it out further. Heat pads do help alleviate the pain quite a bit, but when I put the heat pads to my chest/rib cage area, I also feel a lot of gas move around.  sorry for gruesome details. And as far as Protonix goes, I've tried them all. Really gone the whole route as far as acid reflux meds goes including 2 surgeries. 
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Yes, I'd check into the rib injury issue. Have you figured out if there are any foods that make the gas pains worse?
Leah
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I know exactly what you are talking about...When my attacks are at their worst I get those same pains...it even hurt to bend over. (which with toddlers I am ALWAYS doing) It is almost like pressure from within. Keep in mind your lower intestine snakes up right under your rib cage...at least I remember that from pictures I have seen. I am going to look into coated peppermint supplements. They have a coating....like some aspirins and other meds that allow it to go through your stomach with out causing the burn. I read about them in a pharmacy q&A in our local paper. They said you can find them at healthfood stores. Check with your doc though. I don't like flavored teas so I would rather go that route. I have also been on Zelnorm for about 6 wks now and I have not had one of my bad attacks since. I am still gassy but the pains are gone so far. I am more "regular" also. Good luck. I know it is miserable.
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Quote:
Yes, I'd check into the rib injury issue. Have you figured out if there are any foods that make the gas pains worse?
Leah
We checked the rib injury aspect and we are quite content it is not that. My doc strongly feels the pain I am feeling is from my small intestine. The pain I feel feels like my intestines are collapsing. Do you know what I mean? It is a sharp, burning tingly type pain and is really intense up under the rib cage.
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thanks for replying. The pains are intense in that area where the intestines are. feel like they are collapsing sometimes. Is that part of a spasm? Also, I can't take anything pepermint as I have GERD (acid reflux). Bummer Are you aware if men ever get prescribed Zelnorm? The ads seemed to be geared for women. I take Dicetel, 300 mgs/day and it doesn't seem to be helping to much.
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Sorry! It descriminates! It is only indicated for women but that is probably because they only included women in the clinical trials. (Our fda is very picky about that...)That is my guess... I would not be surprised if your doc gives it to you though. I would guess it would be perfectly fine for men. It supposedly works on seretonin receptors inthe lower GI.and some. Certainly we would be the same with that. The peppermint supplements I read about would actually pass through the stomach and probably upper GI intact....no pepp. would be released. So it would likely not effect your GERD (my dad has that...he even tilts his bed up) I am not into tea tastes...I have had peppermint tea and I didn't care for it. Ask your doc about Gas X too...although I have found it takes a while to work (sometimes I think the pains can be severe gas) Hang in there...
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there's full info here Zelnorm
And do consider peppermint oil capsules if you can't drink peppermint tea. They're a terrific anti-spasmodic and pain killer - check info here Peppermint Caps
- Heather
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Heather is the Administrator of the IBS Message Boards. She is the author of Eating for IBS and The First Year: IBS, and the CEO of Heather's Tummy Care. Join her IBS Newsletter. Meet Heather on Facebook!
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Thanks Heather. I really think I'll try those peppermint capsules. I am soooo tired of taking prescription drugs. The Dicetel does not seem to be working like it should.
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Quote:
The peppermint supplements I read about would actually pass through the stomach and probably upper GI intact....no pepp. would be released. So it would likely not effect your GERD (my dad has that...he even tilts his bed up) Ask your doc about Gas X too...(sometimes I think the pains can be severe gas) Hang in there...
Thanks for the info. I am looking into the peppermint capsules. About the Gerd, been there with the tilted bed, all the PPI meds, endoscopes, sleeping in my laziboy, heated magic bags to the chest, and the nissen wrap surgery for GERD. Lived on the Gas X for a few weeks too. Just need to get this IBS under control. I love this board!! Very helpful and quick responses. Thanks!! 
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