Pregnant with Upper Back and Abdominal painA

Sounds like gallbladder to me which cam be more irritated when preggo. The only way (I think) they will know is with an ultrasound. I would contact your dr. tomorrow and insist they check it out because if it is gall bladder it will only get worse as you get further along. good luck.

I ended up with gallbladder issues while I was pregnant with one of my 4..... got to the point I couldn't even eat a bowl of cereal without ending up curled up from the pain.

Fortunately, it was pretty close to delivery.... and the issue never did come back. I guess things were a bit cramped up in there, and maybe put a kink in the bile duct?

Talk to your OB.... that is who you need to go see.....

Your symptoms are seen in gallbladder issues and the pain can vary with different people. The gallbladder typically is on the underside of liver right under the ribcage on the right side. Often it is accompanied by lot's of indigestion, burping, feeling of pressure, like there isn't enough room in your stomach. Sometimes the pain will radiate into the shoulder and shoulder blade area. Not uncommon to raise it's ugly head during pregnancy. It can come and go and may or may not relate to exactly what you eat. Some triggers for some people are fatty greasy foods. Carbonated beverages were terrible for me, I could eat chicken soup, vegetables and have problems, then on the other hand, I could eat chili, spicy foods, pizza and have no problems.

My experience with gallbladder pain was similar to what you are feeling, then several changes occurred and it would be different at different times, but for two years, I kept going to the Dr. with BACK pain. I could take my right hand and place my fingers toward middle of my back and thumb on right side and tell the Dr., "my back hurts right here". TWO years of misery, sometimes I would get sick, nausea, vomiting, indigestion, pressure, etc. I would get shots for the pain, it would go away for weeks and months, then back again.

Finally, a different Dr. (I saw several over the years because I worked with them in the hospital, described my symptoms), told me he thought it was my gallbladder, however, all the tests were normal. This was before ultrasound and CT scans, we had old fashioned, "gallbladder vizualization a GBViz".

I went to a surgeon, had the gallbladder removed and it was bad. I had a "torsion, which the duct was twisted" and it was full of sludge, like syrup with fine sand". I had the open abdominal surgery, appendix also removed and was back to work in 30 days. All that pain and indigestion and pressure was gone!!.
I did end up with IBS and diarrhea for many years, which is common after GB surgery, but easily correctible with the proper balanced nutition and fiber. Of course it took many years to find that amazing fix.

Best wishes, but don't be surprised if the GB is your problem.

If the ER wasn't worried, then I wouldn't be too much. It sounds like maybe the baby is pushing on your ribs and its referring around the back. I would of course check with the OB. but I would also see a chiropractor who specializes in Pregnant women. My guess is that your ribs are out and so when you eat it presses on them. But, like Wild Woman said, we are not our doctor, so you need to go there first.

Definitely sounds like your gallbladder. I had the same symptoms but to the point of vomiting and fever. Mine was chock full of stones and almost ready to burst. It was 8 weeks after I delivered. But my PCP and surgeon told me it's very common for women to get this right after pregnancy, but also can occur during pregnancy. I'd go to a different ER and make sure they check it.

**ETA** - I went to the ER and they sent me home with an inflamed stomach diagnosis. They wouldn't even bother looking at my gallbladder. That's why I say go somewhere else. If you can get into your doc tomorrow, even better.

I had pain like that while pregnant, so bad I nearly passed out - it was constipation ...

My daughter is pregnant and has described a similar pain. This is her third pregnancy and she says it's worse with this one but believes it to be digestive related in combination with the pregnancy pushing her organs around. He midwife says it's normal.

I suggest that you make an appointment with your ob/gyn for an exam. If he thinks its related to a different issue, such as gall bladder, he'll order tests.

BTW my daughter has had her gall bladder out and doesn't compare this pain to the gall bladder pain. It's different.

There is no need to go to the ER again. This is not an emergency situation. Make an appointment with your regular doctor.

After your SWH: Gallstones are not an emergency. The ER doctor checked you out the first time for an emergency situation. Found none and I'm sure suggested you make an appointment with your doctor if you had further problems.

And yes, I'd also say that it was anxiety that sent you to the hospital a second time. Otherwise you'd have made an appointment and seen your doctor. There is nothing wrong with being anxious. Nothing wrong with going to the ER a second time, tho it was an unnecessary use of expensive resources. I suggest that they were trying to educate you on how to use emergency services.

Why are you defensive about being told you are anxious? It is normal for you to be anxious. I suggest that when we're anxious we don't pick up on statements that would've told you to see your doctor. When we're anxious we need people to spend more time with us not only allaying our fears but also explaining what we need to do if this continues. So, you can look at the midwife's comment as an effort to make you feel better about what was probably seen by the ER department as an unnecessary visit. And, know that they do not have the time to spend with you explaining things in the ER. They are there to administer life saving services.

I had that pain with both pregnancies and never figured out what it was. Right under my left rib, felt very bad. My doc kind of dismissed it. I figured it was either a sore rib from baby's position or gas trapped in the transverse colon. Both times it disappeared as soon as I gave birth. It was bad enough to wake me up at night. If the hospital found nothing, I wouldn't worry about it. But it's painful, I understand!

Updated

I had that pain with both pregnancies and never figured out what it was. Right under my left rib, felt very bad. My doc kind of dismissed it. I figured it was either a sore rib from baby's position or gas trapped in the transverse colon. Both times it disappeared as soon as I gave birth. It was bad enough to wake me up at night. If the hospital found nothing, I wouldn't worry about it. But it's painful, I understand!

A.:

What did the ER say? Did they tell you to contact your OB/GYN or did they tell you contact an internist? I am surprised that the hospital did nothing for you yesterday. Did they contact your OB for you?

Burping and pain can be gall bladder issues. I'm not your doctor. I have not examined you. Please call your OB/GYN and tell him/her what is going on - is the pain coming in "waves" like contractions or is it straight on pain?

Hope you figure out what's going on!!

Good luck!