[User123]

Short random pain below rib cage (have MGUS)

by User123 on Tue Aug 18, 2015 4:44 pm

Good afternoon

I was diagnosed with MGUS almost 2 years ago. The protein level was very small and the myeloma specialist we saw was not concerned after a 3 months follow-up test, as neither the pro­tein nor the free light chain (FLC) ratio changed in that time. No CRAB symptoms, but a slightly abnormal FLC ratio (around 4).

About 7 weeks ago, I started having short pain (does not last more than 3 seconds) below my left rib cage. It is hard to explain how it feels, but it is not very painful and seems to radiate from my side to the front below the rib cage. It is not the rib cage itself, and does not hurt anywhere if I press or look for the specific spot. However, this pain comes back once or twice a day, ran­dom­ly, and never lasts more than 2 seconds. There are days without it (did not feel it over the last 48 hours, but did just now, again for 2 seconds). It is not getting worse in 7 weeks, and there are no other symptoms (no nausea, stools ok, urine ok, ...).

Could this be related to my MGUS? Could it mean my disease is progressing?

I have another follow up later this year with my myeloma specialist.

[beatricenordberg]

Re: Short random pain below rib cage (have MGUS)

by beatricenordberg on Wed Aug 19, 2015 9:08 am

I have had MGUS for 6 years, pretty stable, slight increase, within normal 1.5% each year, so I do not worry. Your symptoms at least I cannot relate to – do not assume they are MGUS related, sounds more like a gastro, intestinal problem, possible gas pain?

I am a great believer in curcumin, give it credit for remaining relatively stable. For the last year I also have gone gluten free, which is no problem for me.

Hope this is reassuring?

[Little Monkey]

Re: Short random pain below rib cage (have MGUS)

by Little Monkey on Thu Aug 20, 2015 5:22 pm

User123, go see your doctor within the next two weeks. You will need to have some tests done on your ribs (x-ray etc.) just to rule out any lytic lesions on your ribcage; do not wait too long (more than a month).

[jsccod]

Re: Short random pain below rib cage (have MGUS)

by jsccod on Thu Dec 14, 2017 9:22 pm

I have the exact same thing happening, right now! I have smoldering myeloma. You described it perfectly! and it is not gastric (too superficial in body, not that "deep"). Was under my lowest left rib yesterday and now its on my left side of rib cage. I have had the same feeling behind an ear, randomly, as well.

[donaldneill]

Re: Short random pain below rib cage (have MGUS)

by donaldneill on Tue Jan 02, 2018 4:13 pm

I was diagnosed seven years ago with MGUS. Several years ago I too started having severe pain below left rib cage. The pain was persistent for approximately 6 months, then slowly subsided. Now it is occasional, but very significant, for several seconds to several minutes. Had a battery of tests but revealed nothing; just learned to live with it.

[ricejon]

Re: Short random pain below rib cage (have MGUS)

by ricejon on Wed Jan 03, 2018 8:20 am

Hello user123,

I can relate to your concern. I don't really describe mine as a pain. It's more like a very brief, spor­adic ache that is difficult to pin point. I'm in a similar boat as you. I explained this to my special­ist and he wasn't too concerned. I am most likely getting a bone marrow biopsy in the near future. This was recommended to me – not necessarily because of the mild rib ache, however.

[Freya1310]

Re: Short random pain below rib cage (have MGUS)

by Freya1310 on Sat May 26, 2018 3:08 am

Hi,

I have been having pain under my lower right rib cage for about a year and a half to 2 years now. I had my gallbladder out a few weeks ago after having 4 severe gallstone attacks in 3 weeks. I thought that might alleviate the rib pain, but it has started again.

I mentioned this pain to the haematologist when first diagnosed, and she dismissed it, saying she didn’t know what it is. It becomes very uncomfortable at times.

It’s very strange that there are several of us who have the same issue!

[Multibilly]

Re: Short random pain below rib cage (have MGUS)

by Multibilly on Sat May 26, 2018 8:54 am

I can't imagine either my GP or my hematologist not agreeing to order a simple xray of the area if I were experiencing this sort of issue.

[albertlannon]

Re: Short random pain below rib cage (have MGUS)

by albertlannon on Tue May 29, 2018 12:46 pm

I've had the same "short random pain," more of an annoyance, since I started treatment a year ago. From what I've read, zoledronic acid (Zometa) has a side effect of enlarging the spleen, which is located just below the left rib cage. I told my doctor and he has me now going to a quarterly rather than monthly Zometa infusion. It's been almost two months since my last infusion and I notice a big difference. I'll be interested to see what happens after my July infusion.