Scared out of my mind, mass under ribs

Hello everyone, I will try to make this as brief as possible. I am 35 year old female looking for someone/someone's who are or have been where I am now.

A few weeks before Easter while in the shower I felt a lump under my ribs on the left side. I called my primary for an appt and found out my insurance assigned me to a new primary Dr. I called my new primary and was given an appt for May 1st (over a month and a half away) because I was a new patient they had nothing sooner. I called ever morning trying to get in sooner but had no luck. May 1st comes, I go to my appt, Dr says he feels something there and orders chest x ray, x ray of ribs, basic blood work and a cat scan of my abdomen without contrast. On May 9th I go for my follow up appt and am told x rays were normal, blood work was normal except high triglycerides and low good cholesterol and cat scan is normal other then a kidney stone and a small umbilical hernia. I am very confused by this because the lump can be felt when felt for and I can also feel it inside my body when it's touched. My Dr tells me he will refer me to a general surgeon and I get an appt for May 22nd.

Since I first found this thing, it has gotten bigger and for weeks now I can feel it without having to touch it. It feels very uncomfortable and awkward. I am guessing because of it's location. The lump/mass itself does not hurt when touched but for the last week and a half the area it's in is becoming somewhat painful, also on my back level with where this thing can be felt from the front has been numb going on 2 weeks and it feels like something is putting pressure on my ribs back there from the inside and the numbness is also somewhat present on my side at the same level. The numbness started off and on a little over 2 weeks ago but has been constant for the most part for almost 2 weeks now. 

When the numbness first started I went to the emergency room cause it was a weekend. I explained everything that had been going on. They did a cat scan of my chest without contrast which came back normal.

I am very afraid and this is starting to cause me great anxiety. I think its absurd the amount of time I had to wait to see a Dr and it worries me that if it's something bad it would have been better off figuring it out sooner and I don't understand why these scans are not showing anything. Perhaps it's because they were done without the use of contrast but surely the DR must have known this would be the case.. Please has anyone been through similar? I have 3 kids that need me to be well and the worry is starting to cause me depression.

  • I've got the same. It feels like a ball of fat under my skin just underneath my left boob on my rib cage. Doctor felt it and said it doesn't feel like the usual mass that they look for. I went back 2 weeks later because it causes me like a numbing pain every now and again and the second doctor felt it and said it's either a Cyst or Lipoma and because of where it is they can't take it out unless it becomes infected. I want to go again but I feel stupid and I might just take myself to a&e and wait a few hours just so I can have a scan. I've been having a few troubles with my breathing too. I'm not so worried about it anymore but I think it's getting bigger. It certainly sticks out a lot. 

  • Hi I was wondering what your outcome was? I still feel this tender lump on the or under the rib cage. 
     

    I've not had a scan and I feel like a hinderance, I really want a scan. 
     

    t

  • They assured me that I was fine but I pushed for a scan. I've got one on the 26th of this month. It hurts every now and again but to be honest it doesn't cause me any issues anymore. I'm getting it scanned to see if it's a lipoma or a cyst. If you feel you need to call the doctors seriously do it. I'm always scared to, I don't want them to think I'm constantly calling but you're better safe than sorry! If it's soft and moves when you press on it, it's 99% a lipoma. But if you're worried go to the doctors! Sorry I couldn't be more help!

  • A CAT scan would show any cancerous tissue so I would not worry too much 

  • Yes thank you, this post is really old and this is no longer a concern for me but I appreciate your response ️

  • Hi Phoenix8790

     

    I too have swelling on left over ribs which is occasionally painful. My dr said its Costochronditis. I've had it for several months. My diagnosis was physical exam, no scans or tests.

    I am still a bit worried though.

    Please let us know how you get on with your appointment on 26th and good luck with it :)

  • Hi sorry for the late reply!

     

    the doctor couldn't really see anything other than just balls of fat really. I got a text today saying it was a 'benign fatty lobules' and it's nothing to worry about. The scan didn't show any mass or anything intrusive . I think what mainly everyone on here will be suffering with is iterally  just fatty tissue or fat. But it's best you get it checked out if you're worried, better safe than sorry!

  • I have had a lump on my second bottom rib (left side) for about a year or 2, at first I was told it was a subluxated rib, then I had an X-ray and was told it looked like trapped gas, then I was told it was chostocondritis, then I had 3 ultrasounds and they didn't see anything, eventually they told me it was a hernia, the annoyance persisted after the hernia diagnosis and I was referred to a thorassic surgeon who said "it was weird" so he referred me for a CT scan which I had last Tuesday (still no results) I also have another ultrasound on it tomorrow and I'm not sure why considering I've already had a CT, mine feels almost like a bubble, occasionally causes a bit of pain and when I push on it it almost feels like it clicks back in, when I run my finger over it from right to left it feels like it moves slightly and is tender and makes me physically jump, I'm not sure what I'm dealing with here but once I find out I will report back 

  • Did you ever find out what it was? 

  • Hi strerzy,

    Have you had your results back yet I've got an ultra sound booked for this Wednesday the 4th august it's taken since January for this ultra sound come through and mine sounds exactly like what you describe like today I've had alot of fizzy pop and now it feels very swollen but then it will go down...I noticed the other week I was driving aggressively and as I turned the wheel it felt like it ballooned up....and killed me felt like I'd been stabbed but then it felt like it had a release and drained away...hope your ok just wondered what I'm dealing with.