Can all my symptoms be related?

[labelle0828]

I have had pain in my lower right ribs for about a year now. It led to my gallbladder removal in Aug 08, but the pain has not stopped. It is sometimes a sharp stabbing pain, other times dull & achy. Sometimes so bad any pressure hurts, even hugs from my kids. I have had a chest xray, ultrasound, CT of abdomen & pelvis (showed very small ovarian cyst), and just last week an MRCP. All tests and bloodwork have come back normal. The pain is the same pain as described by people with gallbladder problems, but I do not have one any longer. The pain sometimes wraps around to my middle back and my rt. shoulder blade area. It is very bothersome. Feels like I have a "stitch" in my side from exercise or something. Also I have many symptoms of IBS and FIBROMYALGIA; joint and muscle pain (at times), gas & bloating, chronic dry eyes, dry mouth, sometimes feels like I have a lump in my throat and I cannot swallow enough. I have seen so many chat forums of people with the same problem, it just seems like a cause could be found for my symptoms. Any advice you could give me would be greatly appreciated.

[labelle0828]

Thank you so much for the advice. I have decided to schedule an appt. w/ my fp to discuss the tests that have been done, the procedures, the current pain, and where to go from here.
I always told my doctors that the pain felt more superficial, like surface pain. I have had all these tests and nothing has shown up, it has been very disappointing. The first time I noticed the pain was one night after putting my daughter in her crib to sleep. I am short and my ribs press on the top rail as I try to lower her to the bottom. I told my doctor that I thought I hurt it doing that and he said no way. Now you are telling me about intercostal blocks and I am remembering this instant and wondering could it have been this all along? I will definitely talk to my doctor about this.
And I decided a couple of months ago that I was going to get in better shape, joined the YMCA, I go 4 times a week. I am not overweight, but I most definitely need some conditioning. I do not see my weight being the issue. I am 5'3" 135 lbs. my ribcage measurement where I feel the pain is 32". I am taking Chantix now. So, I am on my way to being healthier.
Thanks again

[J T Junig, MD PhD]

I would approach this situation first with attempts to determine whether the pain is 'visderal'-- from organs or organ systems-- or is rather coming from the abdominal wall.  I would do intercostal blocks from about T-5 to T-10 if possible, and see if your pain is still present.If you had good blocks and the pain persisted, that would suggest that the pain is  not coming from muscle or fascia in the abdominal wall.  If the intercostal blocks eliminated the pain, then we would have a pretty good hunch that we are dealing with something in the body wall-- which would allow you to give up on all the GI procedures. If on the other hand the pain persisted after the blocks, you would need to go back to the GI doc or surgeon and consider whether something needs to be done-- adhesions that are 'pulling' inside, a duodenal ulcer, or a subdiaphragmatic abscess, for example.

I am betting on the abdominal wall-- which would mean weight loss, conditioning, excercise, no smoking, stretching exercises...  The same things are critical components to recovery from Fibro as well.