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Splenic flexure syndrome *OR* maybe this other GI problem??
If any of you has been correctly diagnosed with splenic flexure syndrome and had proper treatment for it, kindly tell me and others here. This is a **very** physically painful problem in upper LEFT ab just slightly below the lowest LEFT SIDE rib. I suffer this evil, horrendous physical pain now and then though I'm awaiting proper diagnosis. In this medical problem, trapped gas builds up in the splenic flexure which is only a location, the area where the transverse colon (which more or less runs "horizontally" in the upper ab from right side of body to left side running below the lowest bilateral rib and the diaphragm) joins the descending colon which is on the left side of the body. You can see the arrangement here: https://bit.ly/3MrZaro
Just before my former MD retired, all he told me to do about this is "chew up more simethicone tablets". He never told me what I suffer from physically.
I'd read that splenic flexure syndrome can be the result of ab surgery which I had 8 yrs ago. [It was done apparently unsupervised by a brand new, novice, 30 year old MD I never met. He overinflated me via a tube stuck into my belly button where he didn't know I'd been brutally stabbed -- in my belly button -- in a planned, premeditated crime against me. The bad outcome of the apparent overinflation (done for bilateral groin hernia repairs with the repairs done laparoscopically) was ugly, permanent diastasis recti which is impossible to fix.
The other possibility for my just-below-lowest-LEFT-SIDE-rib is an explanation found in a short YouTube video by DC Eric Berg who says that eating too many carbs, too much nut butter, too many nuts, too many grains lead to a depleted gall bladder (i. e. little or no stored bile) which then causes physical pain in the pancreas. I do eat all those foods (excluding alcohol which I don't consume) that Berg mentions in his almost 6 minutes long video found here: https://youtu.be/AK5qHLpq408 Berg says to buy purified bile salts to help end this pancreas problem but I've not done that (yet).
My painful 'under-that-LEFT-rib' medical problem comes and goes. It can be absent for 3 or 4 days and then returns for some reason. I don't know if my brand-new-surgeon-screwed up intestines is causing gas to be trapped, to slowly build up 'til the splenic flexure area is highly tender to touch and painfully inflated with gas. I wonder if the answer might just be drinking more water and buying some fiber product. I've greatly cut back on eating oatmeal (the main grain I devour) and stopped eating almond butter and too many nuts.
Any of you know about splenic flexure syndrome? Have you had this painful medical problem end in your life?
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Hello @summerlisa and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I see that a couple of weeks ago you were going to have a CT scan. I hope that scan gave your doctors information that was helpful.
As you are comfortable sharing, I'm wondering how are you feeling. Did the scan change your diagnosis?
Hello, yes, the scan showed Gaseous and inflammation. They mentioned pior diverticulitis. I asked for a antibiotics since after the Air releases from my Colin it keeps recurring. I have all the symptoms of SIBO and or, Splenic Flexure. At first the doctor said it won't help, yet, I am feeling so much better and eating, even though I still have some air pockets in and out. I am also meeting with a Nutritionist this Wednesday. The antibiotics is XIFAXAN. It's helping me so much!!! This been going on since February. I am also going to ask to be tested for SIBO and, or, SPLENIC FIXTURE. Blessed day and Thank you!
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2 ReactionsSo glad to hear that you are making some progress with your digestive issues, @summerlisa! When you say you are meeting with a "Nutritionist," are you referring to a registered dietician at a hospital or a doctor's office?
I look forward to hearing how that appointment goes.
Will you post updates?
I've been there! F-ing spleenic flexure syndrome. There used to be a medicine called Ilopam/Choline that was the only drug ever prescribed to treat Spleenic Flexure syndrome. Why it was taken off the market only God knows. Todays Dr.s are too stupid to address something so simple. I had dozens of tests, just to make the Docs rich. I have CIC or IBS-C, either way... I was on the 290 mcgs of Linzess and was doing O.K., but about 6 months ago it stopped working. Now I'm on Motegrity, prucalipride. It stimulates peristalsis. I'm not sure how it effects the spleenic flexure, but it makes you go, good. I wish you the best. C.
be careful with "drinking more water" and "fiber" aka metamucil...start with eating less foods that cause gas, fodmaps, I also cut out garlic, onion, at first red meat, etc. add vitamin D3 and B vitamins and electrolytes. One of the best things that I did, was find a source for freeze-dried breast milk, four hundred probiotics, etc. breath work, stretching, yoga, cobra pose, walking walking walking, water aerobics, etc. and good luck!
I've also had difficulty getting help with this issue and have spent over two decades looking for it. I've had just about every test known to man including exploratory laparoscopy through the abdominal wall. This was about 17 years ago and it was at the time suspected that I may had ruptured my diaphragm 5 years prior during a traumatic accident and perhaps this was the cause of my recurring, incessant upper left GI pain and noises. At the time nothing was done and I suffered for the next decade or so avoiding Dr's because I was fed up and disgusted with them blowing me off, accusing me of drug or attention seeking behavior, and simply telling me I had IBS.
Most recently (within the past year) my condition has worsened. Now, like before, it often occurs upon deeper diaphragm breathing and has gone from being a constant nuisance and disruption but bearable pain to intermittent full on "attacks" as I call it where the noises continue and the pain increasese until the noise stops abruptly and I have trouble breathing, swallowing, seeing, become disoriented, start to panic, and feel stabbing tearing pains in that area and around it. I've had upper ED, colonoscopy, MR Enterography, CT, and fecal panels. This has led to new findings of high calprotectin levels but ruled out Crohns and UC on colonoscopy. I did come back positive for Lymphocytic Colitis and Ileitus on biopsy. No signs of high splenic flexure angles were seen but I was told I have a VERY redundant colon. This makes sense as I am sometimes able to resolve the noises by passing gas through inversions, yoga, sublingual levsin, abdominal massage. Perhaps the redundant colon is causing the issue only when feces and gases are trapped and weighing it down. I believe the scar tissue and adhesions from my accident may contribute in some way to the colon being out of place but again, nothing seen or done on the laparascopic surgery. I have started a FB group for people in our situation a few months ago, and it is steadily growing. I cannot believe the amount of people suffering from SFS that are in similar situations: with no real diagnosis or hope for a cure or even a suitable relief plan. Feel free to join us for commiseration. I can't post a link as I'm new here but feel free to search FB groups for "Splenic Flexure Syndrome/ Mystery Upper Left Quadrant GI Pain and Noises".
You are not alone.
I would welcome any Dr's who happen to read this thread to join the group as well. There is not enough attention given to this for the amount of suffering it causes.