High intensity exercise and liver area pain (long)

[Eden]

I'm not necessarily wheezing or otherwise having out of control breathing when I get these - they always are triggered by hard work, but it doesn't have to be so intense to cause really raggedy breathing. I usually only get them if I've eaten too close to going out hard or haven't warmed up properly, but one race last year that it was kind of cold and rainy and had an 8 mile descent a lot of us got cramps, not on the way up, but on the way down! It's been a while since I've experienced them so I'm trying to recall exactly what it feels like .. they defintely hurt a lot, higher than menstrual cramps - close to my rib cage and all the way across, but I think a bit more intense on my right hand side - sort of like someone digging in a thumb maybe. They start out less painful and build if I don't back off my exercise intensity a bit.

[Eden]

exerpt from this article: http://www.breathing.com/articles/diaphragm-stitch.htm

stitch is a form of cramp, normally experienced in the diaphragm near the right side of the rib cage. It usually indicates that you are pushing yourself too hard.

In some cases it can happen quickly, striking without warning and causing excruciating pain. In other cases it can come on gradually, starting as a slightly uncomfortable tightness or tense feeling. Most people try to work their way through this type of discomfort taking it as a normal reaction to the exercise they are doing. But as they continue the pain increases - to the point where the cramp sets in, causing the same excruciating pain as experienced in the sudden attack.

This type of stitch is felt on the right hand side of the chest as a direct result of a cramp in the diaphragm. If you experience a cramp on the left hand side of the chest this is normally caused by eating too close to your workout period.

[mimitabby]

I think it has a lot to do with breathing, though, my Dh's prescription for combatting it is long deep breaths.