Feels like there's a rubber band squeezing my rib cage...Anyone else ever have this???

I have been getting woken up lately by this feeling of a rubber band or something like a bear hug just squeezing at the bottom of my rib cage (under my boobs). It feels like it starts in my back and goes all the way around to the front, and it's hard to take a deep breath.

Once I'm up for about a half hour and take my ibuprofen and xanax, it seems to calm down, and eventually goes away. But the next morning, it's the same all over again...

I went to the chiropractor today to see if it is something out in my back, and got an adjustment, but I'm curious as to whether anyone else has had this sensation from their fibro, or if I should be more concerned about it?

I have been going through a lot lately, and have been extremely stressed, because we just found out 3 weeks ago that my dad has pancreatic cancer, and it's already spread to his liver and lungs, so it's inoperable, and he's refusing chemo and radiation because they only gave him 2-6 months. I have been watching him go downhill every single day, and this has my anxiety and panic disorder at an all time high, and it's really making my fibro flare up.

Just wondering if it's because I'm "flaring" right now, or if it could be something else entirely.

Thanks in advance for any responses.

(((Hugs))) Fox

I agree the stress could be making you flare or it could be anxiety.

I'm sorry to hear about your father. It sounds like he has accepted his fate and is just wanting to enjoy his last days with his family. Enjoy this time with him.

It could be costochondritis. I will get that so etimes and it hurts to breathe. Usually if I press on the sternum I'm tender there also. There is a link all about it in Fibro 101. Read that and see if that is what you are experiencing. My doctor just had me take ibuprofen with food for it.

Feel better!

Sherrine

Thanks everyone for all the kind words and prayers, it is much appreciated.

Couchtater, Yes, he has been surprisingly positive about the whole thing, and says that he doesn't want to be sick from radiation or chemo. He says he'd rather enjoy the last few months of his life with his family.

Luvzminis, I have not had an endoscopy, which is surprising to me, seeing as how I told the doctor months ago that I was having trouble with my stomach and she sent me to a gastro for a freaking colonoscopy! Now tell me if I'm crazy here, but I don't see WHAT looking up my rear end is going to tell you about my stomach...

I even told the gastro doc that my stomach wasn't right, and he said "well, she sent you here for a colonoscopy, so that's what we're gonna do". I'm thinking of calling a different gastro doc now, seeing as I no longer need a referral from my primary doc for a specialist. All I was told was that they found nothing on the colonoscopy, and that I just have IBS. Well.... how do they know what's wrong with my stomach if they never even checked it?! *shrugs*

Anyway back to the reason for my post.... I spoke to my dad's cousin, who is head of hospice care in our area and has been a nurse for many years, and she told me that my rib pain is probably coming from my bed. I told her I just got a new bed about a month or two ago and I got a firm mattress because that's what my chiropractor suggested. But then she asked if I'd had that problem BEFORE I got the bed, and I thought..... "No, never"..... so I guess I'll be buying a memory foam pad for the top and see how that goes.

Sorry to jump all over the place here, just a little anxious at the moment and I forget (thanks to fibro-fog) what I want to write next. Haha!

Anyway, let me stop rambling, and just say thank you all again! Hope you all have a wonderful day with no pain!

I know, I know, wishful thinking right? But a gal's gotta dream! :)

((hugs)) Fox

LOL! That makes me laugh Azgram, because for years now, I have had to wear the tank tops with the shelf bra built in. I have to wear SOMETHING because I am a bit busty (36DD), and that's the only thing I can really tolerate. Sometimes I even wear just the good old "wife beater" alone. No bras for me either!

I am actually getting that very pain right now. In the past, I have gone to the ER for it, but the only pain med that makes it go away is only available at a hospital (not morphine), so it comes back - usually later the next day). I forget the name of that med. Anyway, when I refuse to go in, like tonight, what sometimes helps, or at least calms it down, is a heating pad and/or some Alka-Seltzer (some strength with aspirin in it). Tonight, instead of the Alka-seltzer, I took some Valium (lately, my chest pains (not costochondritis pains) have been helped by that med). I hope you feel better sooner than later. :(

I'm still casting a vote for an upper endoscopy. I had mine done just after my colonoscopy (same room, back-to-back). I received a photo of the spots of gastritis that were found.

Even now, I still get flares, but they are generally reminders that I'd better be eating the right foods (low residue). Summer has been a bit tricky in that respect, as the fresh veggies are hard to pass up. I cook well whatever I can and try to remove seeds, peelings, etc.

Anyway, that's just my story. Not sure if it's anything like what you're experiencing, though it sounds similar. I'm back on farina, white toast, mashed potatoes, soft meats, etc. and it does help.

I hope you feel much better soon!

I have rib pain whenever I wear a bra or anything tight around that area. Thankfully, I don't have large breasts so can often get away without a bra.

Hi, Goldenvenusmv, and welcome! As I posted above, my doctor has me take ibuprofen with food for this feeling. I do have costochondritis so I think it would be a good idea for you to be checked out by your doctor to make sure that’s what you are dealing with.

Be sure to read Fibro 101...the first thread on the forum. There are links to good information and you can learn a lot there. There is a link all about costochondritis in Fibro 101 also.

I’m looking forward to getting to know you better. Don’t hesitate to ask questions because we are here to help you. Hope to hear more from you soon.

Sherrine

I have similar pain in the ribs. The awesome steel band which goes from the back to the rib cage in front...fibro.
Then the wonderful deeper pain associated with arthritis in the chest. Mix that with the real deep pain which
comes from stress on the ticker. I explained to my cardiologist on how to tell which pain is afflicted with which
condition and he was surprised I knew this. I've lived with arthritis since I was 7 but it got my chest at 30. I found
out I have situs-inversus in which the left side of my heart is reversed so it doesn't pump like a "normal" heart.
That explained the real bad deep pains. It's now 20 years later and I'm retired and still kicking butt. Slowly some days but I won't slow down until I have to.