What is this stomach (and back) pain? Could diet help?

Posted by msantos327 @msantos327, May 15 4:37pm

Hi,
I’m 25 Female with ongoing stomach and back pain.
The pain is reoccurring. I feel like right below my breast bone in my upper abdomen center. Sometimes it radiates down to the center of my abdomen and I almost always have middle back pain with it. Eating doesn’t particularly make it worse but once in a while I feel it after I eat and it doesn’t matter what I am eating. I’ve tried to cut meat or dairy for a little bit but still had the pain. I go on walks around the neighborhood for exercise about 5-6 days a week and I’ve noticed the pain starts around the time I start walking. Massaging and pressing down under my breast bone on my stomach helps with the pain. And I have no accompanying diarrhea or constipation. I do like to snack occasionally but I try to eat 1 full meal a day and I’ve been portioning my food and following my calorie intake. I do eat spicy food and sugar but I’ve been cutting it out and the pain still occurs.

It’s been difficult to make an appointment as I work 2 jobs and there aren’t many appointments available soon enough, what could this potentially be and should I try any lifestyle or diet changes?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

Janell, Volunteer Mentor | @jlharsh | May 15 7:40pm

Hi @msantos327, and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! Your thoughtful description of what you are dealing with is great, and helpful for others to know how to comment. You have found a good place to share and encourage as you navigate figure out what is going on.

Abdominal massage has helped me quite a bit and I am glad it is helping you. Keep it up! You mention your upper abdominal pain begins when you start walking. I am wondering if movement helps you. After meal walking may be uncomfortable but may also help your system process. It takes me about 25 minutes on an elliptical to begin feeling it doing anything for my intestines. I guess I tell you these things to encourage you that the things you are doing are helpful and to keep doing them.

As you wait for others to comment and continue troubleshooting, you may want to go ahead and make an appointment with your doctor. This way you can get in as soon as possible then cancel as it gets closer if you do not need it.

Can you think of anything that has changed, maybe prompting your symptoms? Do you take any medications?

msantos327 | @msantos327 | May 16 6:53am

In reply to @jlharsh "Hi @msantos327, and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! Your thoughtful description of what you are dealing..." + (show)

@jlharsh
Hi,
Thank you so much for responding!
I can’t particularly pinpoint what is causing it. I eat dairy, meat, eggs, sugar and the sorts and can go some days with no problem. While other days the pain starts back up. On the other hand, I can cut those things out of my diet but still experience the pain. And I don’t take any medications.
It’s a very confusing, and a little frustrating, situation. The pain starts in my upper abdomen right under my breasts and radiates to my back. Massaging the area and curling up into a fetal position kinda helps haha.

nycmusic | @nycmusic | May 16 8:18am

Sorry for your suffering…could your problem be a hernia ? A tight diaphragm can cause a variety of problems, and sometimes a hiatal hernia is a cause…hope you get relief sooner than later to avoid difficult complications.

anthonyjp | @anthonyjp | May 16 9:43am

Hello, I’m sorry to hear that you’re experiencing issues with your abdominal area.
Have you looked into having a colonoscopy?
I would have that checked.
Good luck

suetex | @suetex | May 16 10:53am

I'll add my two cents, as the symptoms are similar. I turned out to have a thorasic ruptured disc that came and went. No big surprise as I have had active life with horses and I am almost 80. It took an CT and an ER visit to unravel the pain. You may have to go in and find out what's going on.

dcdonly45 | @dcdonly45 | May 16 10:37pm

Hello, Im not a doctor, I am an 80 yr old female with Barrett’s Esophagus for the past 9 yrs. I also within the past yr had pain under my left breast bone For 5 mos.. my doctor scheduled a mammogram to rule out any breast issue. I scheduled an additional endoscopy which now shows considerable INFLAMMATION in my upper GI along with ulcers, due to a year of stress and bad food choices!
Until you can get an endoscopy, please try an alkaline diet, ( filtered water, or green tea, avoid caffeine, avoid soda pop! Avoid SUGAR!!! Avoid baked goods and candy! Avoid spicy foods and red meat! Online and YouTube have several good alkaline suggestions for diets… eat berries, and greens , avoid rough foods, .. eat softer foods, take small steps each day to improve your diet! Make it your no.1 priority!
yes mine was very painful last year,
But after a clean mammogram, and my endoscopy , the alkaline diet
Is helping. I return for another endoscopy in 2 mos. If you let this go too long, or continue your current food choices, it will turn into Barrett’s Esophagus and potentially Cancer!
Wishing you a speedy healing, Diane

gphetteplace | @gphetteplace | May 17 3:57am

Have they done a CT to rule out an abdominal aortic aneurysm? It can cause pain radiating from front to back, but it’s fairly easy to rule out.

cardigan | @cardigan | May 17 2:59pm

In reply to @msantos327 "@jlharsh Hi, Thank you so much for responding! I can’t particularly pinpoint what is causing it...." + (show)

@msantos327 It could be your gall bladder as I had mine removed approx.20years ago.My symptoms were pain in the upper abdomen which probably went to the back as I remember getting ease by lying on the floor.

mariegrace | @mariegrace | May 19 5:19am

In reply to @msantos327 "@jlharsh Hi, Thank you so much for responding! I can’t particularly pinpoint what is causing it...." + (show)

@msantos327
Hi
Have you had an endoscopy?? It sounds like gastritis which is what I have and experience the same symptoms.
I take pepcid, tums and gasx. It depends on what I eat.
Good luck......feel better
M

connilou | @connilou | May 19 7:57am

Pain in the area below the breasts and middle of the back. I felt like I had a tight band around this area. Then the terrible burning and pain started. I asked my doctor for some Carafate. I then saw a gastroenterologist for an EGD and was told I have a hiatal hernia. The burning and pain got better, gradually, so I am 100 %sure there was an ulcer somewhere in my stomach. I also had chest pain and shortness of breath. After many, many cardiac tests, I pretty much had to figure it out for myself. I wasn't given any instructions or follow up after the diagnosis of hiatal hernia causing me to be anti-medical personal. No help, except for the test revealing the problem and a CT scan that I practically had to beg for showing a nodule in the upper right lung (for which I am still waiting for a call from the referral. Just adds to my disdain for medical people right now.)
Don't let it go. I am 69 years old, but you are young. Push for answers! Prayers for you.

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