breaking in interesting ways

[lotsofplants]

I really wish I knew what my body was doing, sometimes.

This morning, I got one of those nasty hurts-under-ribs-can't-breathe things again. Haven't gotten one that bad since the first time, back in 97 or 98 (I forget which at the moment). Made some interesting observations about this one; I donno if it is the same or different from the last time, because last time I didn't have the opportunity or awareness to monitor the beginning so closely.

I'd gotten up briefly, woken by my roommate's alarm, then went back to my warm comfy bed to think for a while before getting up. Shortly after lying down again, started to feel sharp pains on the front left side of my chest, below my breast and roughly the same level as the bottom of my sternum. Oddly, also heard some gurgling noises, similar to what an empty stomach might make, but apparently located in and just lower than the pain. Somewhat disturbing, really. Pain increased, reaching the point which always reminds me of what being stabbed between the ribs must feel like; development of a definite sensation of pressure interior to ribs. Mental image of an air bubble formed within the lung lining (don't ask me where the air was supposed to come from, that was just the mental image I developed). Still haven't determined a good way of reducing pain--direct pressure does not seem to work, deeply inhaling makes it worse, struggling not to breath has its own problems. Sat up, listening to the radio, after ~15 minutes no longer noticed pain or pressure. Lay down again, experimentally, experienced small twinges while lying on either side or on back. Got up and got going, have been aware of periodic ((approx every 20 minutes or so) minor twinges, but nothing particularly noteworthy, mostly background pain level.

Last time it didn't drop off so quickly down to background pain levels, either. I wish I knew what it was, though. I've had people suggest pleurisy, and the medical person I went to the first time seemed to be completely flummoxed (but that was Hall Health, and I doubt they're capable of identifying much that the average student can't), but there doesn't seem to be much to do for it. If it happens again once I have real health insurance, I may try to get it identified. Maybe by then there will be something they can do for it, too. :)

Comments

[lyonesse.livejournal.com]

it sounds like a cramp in your diaphragm.

[plantae.livejournal.com]

That seems odd--the pain is very strongly localized to *just* interrior to the ribs. It seems like the diaphram would cramp along the full muscle, like a leg cramp.

[randomdreams.livejournal.com]

I could believe that.

It could also be peristalsis of gas in your intestine, since you mention gurgling noises. That can be *excruciatingly* painful but is fairly rare for most people; people who have some weird lower intestinal disorders have it happen pretty often.

[plantae.livejournal.com]

If it was gas, wouldn't it be down lower where my intestines are? This is up high in my chest.

[mittelbar.livejournal.com]

Maybe it's your intestines moving around when they think you're asleep!

[plantae.livejournal.com]

Great. Just what I wanted: migratory internal organs! :)

[mittelbar.livejournal.com]

Be grateful for what you have, I guess.

[vixyish.livejournal.com]

I've gotten those for years. The time I asked a doctor about them, he suggested some minor condition people can get involving the cartilage under the ribs. (I forget the name of it.) I posted about it a while back.

He basically said stretch regularly, especially before exercise, and take ibuprofen for the pain. They still happen, and I've been thinking about going to my new doctor with it.

[adularia.livejournal.com]

I'd love to know what it is. I get the exact same thing, once or twice a year.

[urox.livejournal.com]

I used to get it as well.. I was also diagnosed with hyperthyroidism... and when I went on the anti thyroid drugs, the pain attacks stopped happening.

I've had a look at pleurisy as well...