Is this a symptom of MC?

joanisna4 · Post by **joanisna4** » Sat Mar 28, 2015 8:33 am

So last night I was so sick I almost had my daughter take me up to the ER. I've experienced this pain before. It happens a lot with a flare. I have pain right in the middle of my sternum and it radiates straight through to my back. I could barely move it hurt so bad. There was so much pressure that it felt like something was trying to push out of me. I was sweating and had chills. Hot and cold at the same time. Dizzy when Id move. I have this pain often. I feel it to some degree everyday, Especially when I'm flairing or have eaten something I'm sensitive to. This is the third time I've been THIS bad. But it didn't come with D. No bowel issues at all last night except some slight cramping. The only two things I could think of that caused it is either coconut macaroons or this chocolate pudding. Both gluten and soy free. I thought theyd be safe. But my question is, is this a flair? Can you flair with NO bowel issues? Thinking back, when I've been this bad before, there weren't any bowel issues directly with it either. Ive seen my Dr about it and over and over he says that it's just the colitis. I'm beginning not to buy that anymore. It doesn't feel connected to the MC other than food might be the trigger. I know what a flair feels like. I'm in the bathroom non-stop. I feel sick to my stomach, my body feels so tired that it's a struggle just to lift my head up, and yes, this same sternum pain.
I can't get anyone to just listen to me. The pain just gets blamed on the MC.
I don't know, maybe it is. It just doesn't feel like it to me. I'm just confused and frustrated.

One step forward and two back I guess.

jessica329 · Post by **jessica329** » Sat Mar 28, 2015 9:08 am

I get bad pain, cramping and burning in my stomach during flares but not like you have described. Your symptoms match what my in-law experiences. They told her that it's an abdominal migraine. One food that sets off abdominal migraines is chocolate.

Post by **tex** » Sat Mar 28, 2015 10:07 am

Hi Mandy,

2 possibilities come to mind: 1. chondritis, specifically costochondritis 2. gallbladder disease

Costochondritis is an inflammation of the cartilage that joins the ribs to the sternum. You probably already know about gallbladder disease. If your gallbladder is causing the pain, it should begin a few hours after eating a meal that contains some fat, and last for maybe 6 to 8 hours or so and then slowly fade away. It's possible for gallbladder pain to be chronic though, in severe cases. Usually symptoms other than pain will be present, such as nausea/vomiting. If the pain is constant, without nausea, that points the finger of suspicion at costochondritis.

Both of these might be associated with MC (because they involve inflammation and they are somewhat common among the members here), but they are probably usually unrelated to MC. Maybe your doctor has already ruled these out. If not, she/he should check them out.

And of course, as Jessica pointed out, quite a few of us cannot tolerate chocolate.

We get some interesting responses from some doctors, regarding MC. Traditionally, since pain was not part of the original medical description of MC (CC was first described in the mid 1970s, and LC was described roughly 5 years later), for decades most doctors insisted that pain symptoms had nothing to do with MC. So it's strangely refreshing to hear of a doctor who blames all pain on MC. If only they could strike a happy medium.

Tex

joanisna4 · Post by **joanisna4** » Sat Mar 28, 2015 3:32 pm

It's def not my gallbladder, I had that taken out years ago with it only working at 13%. But the pain is in the exact same place as when I was having problems with my gallbladder.
I'll look into the things that you guys mentioned.
I'm extremely frustrated because I know this isn't a flair. I just wish I could get a Dr to listen to me.

Mandy

Sheila · Post by **Sheila** » Sat Mar 28, 2015 6:06 pm

At night I'm sometimes awakened by a feeling of pressure in the middle of my chest that gradually intensifies to severe pain, hot and cold sweats. It feels almost like a gallbladder attack. I have also had my gallbladder removed but the pain is similar. During one attack I grabbed some Tums and gradually got relief as well as some huge burps. This only happens during the night while I'm in bed. Now, when I feel that pressure starting to build, I jump out of bed and chew at least 2 Tums, and pace. I try to belch/ burp and that does help. If I get the Tums down really fast and can burp several times, the pain will subside pretty quickly.

I spoke to my GI about it and he thought it was gastritis. At the time of the first attacks I was taking Celebrex. I had to stop all anti-inflammatories and took the test for ulcer. No ulcer. These horribly painful attacks have subsided and I've learned to force belchs/burps when I feel pressure building.

Hope this helps.

Sheila W

Lilja · Post by **Lilja** » Sun Mar 29, 2015 3:31 am

joanisna4 wrote:So last night I was so sick I almost had my daughter take me up to the ER. I've experienced this pain before. It happens a lot with a flare. I have pain right in the middle of my sternum and it radiates straight through to my back. I could barely move it hurt so bad. There was so much pressure that it felt like something was trying to push out of me. I was sweating and had chills. Hot and cold at the same time. Dizzy when Id move. I have this pain often. I feel it to some degree everyday, Especially when I'm flairing or have eaten something I'm sensitive to. This is the third time I've been THIS bad. But it didn't come with D. No bowel issues at all last night except some slight cramping. The only two things I could think of that caused it is either coconut macaroons or this chocolate pudding. Both gluten and soy free. I thought theyd be safe. But my question is, is this a flair? Can you flair with NO bowel issues? Thinking back, when I've been this bad before, there weren't any bowel issues directly with it either. Ive seen my Dr about it and over and over he says that it's just the colitis. I'm beginning not to buy that anymore. It doesn't feel connected to the MC other than food might be the trigger. I know what a flair feels like. I'm in the bathroom non-stop. I feel sick to my stomach, my body feels so tired that it's a struggle just to lift my head up, and yes, this same sternum pain.
I can't get anyone to just listen to me. The pain just gets blamed on the MC.
I don't know, maybe it is. It just doesn't feel like it to me. I'm just confused and frustrated.

One step forward and two back I guess.

Joanisna4,

The pain you describe is quite similar to the pain my friend has from time to time, and she suffers from an inflammation in her esophagus. She describes the pain as feeling she is having a heart attack, but apparently it is spasms in the esophagus.

Lilia

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Sun Mar 29, 2015 2:51 pm

I have had these pains, for a fair part of my pre 'MC dx life'. in my case it was due to bowel adhesions and chronic inflammation.
My bowel has been adhered to my left ovary since 1997.

Once I got the right MC management plan in place, they have barely happened since.
Another motivator to stay on the bland strict eating plan...

hope you are feeling better now.

MICROSCOPIC COLITIS SUPPORT

Is this a symptom of MC?

Is this a symptom of MC?

Re: Is this a symptom of MC?