Mild pain and itching under RIGHT rib cage—caused by GSV or back pain?

[GSVguy 13]

I'm 40, male, 6'3" tall. Had Gastric Sleeve surgery in Dec 2013, and have gone from 425 to 280.

I've been having an interesting sensation for several months now, which I think MIGHT be linked to my surgery, and/or to a recurring back problem that preceded my surgery.

Plateaued the last several months, partly due to less exercise after a flare-up of an old back injury, plus eating more "white" foods—I'm not eating past my full point (literally only 3 or 4 times since my surgery) and have not had a drop of carbonation since my surgery. Have never vomited at any point since surgery, and I very rarely belch.

Before the plateau, I began having the following symptoms:

—Very mild discomfort—something like a mild strain or slight pressure—just under and behind rib cage on my RIGHT side about 4 inches along the rib from bottom of my sternum

—Occasional "internal itching" in the same spot. This is different from the mild discomfort I just described, and I usually notice it while lying down.

—Occasionally the discomfort seems to radiate outward along the front right rib cage or even through to the corresponding spot on my right rear rib cage. These sensations are also very mild.

—At no time have either of these sensations felt anything but minor. No shooting pains, no "wow I just ate too much too quickly" pressure, nothing but very, very mild tenderness to the touch, and only if I press firmly on it.

—No other digestive issues anywhere in my body, and no other issues or injuries except for my back.

—All of this is happening on RIGHT side. Nothing at all on left side, which seemed odd to me because in these forums I see a lot of people having left-side issues.

—A back injury 17 years ago and many years of obesity in between have left me with degenerative disc disease in my lower back, specifically in the L4, L5, and S1 area. The disc between L5 and S1 is barely there.

Interesting twist—during the last couple of years BEFORE Gastric Sleeve, I had very little back pain, but after I got down from 425 to 325 or so, the pain came back in a big way. It always feels like I have a dull knife stuck in me on the RIGHT side of the L5-S1 spot, and I have frequent muscle spasms radiating up and down my right side from that spot. These spasms/soreness go up to about the rib cage on my right side, and down to the very top of the right buttock, but they DO NOT radiate down my right leg.

Any ideas?

[MIMISAN 404]

Did they remove your gall bladder during surgery or do you still have it? If you mentioned this I missed it.

Why don't you change the info under your picture, it shows you to be a female.

Edited January 13, 2016 by MIMISAN

[GSVguy 13]

My gall bladder was not removed.

[amandasue 27]

Go get Checked for an adhesion!!!