Upper right side abdominal pain.

[EYODER7]

Whenever I eat a meal that consists of a little more fat then usual I will get this upper abdominal pain about 8 hours after eating. It will last for about 4-6 hours. It hurts all the way through to the back. Last night I discovered that when I press in on my right side below my rib cage and about 1 foot from the center, it is very tender and the pain becomes much more intense and shoots across to my left side. This happens frequently at night about 2 AM. If I eat lightly at supper it does not bother me. I can also take pain pills then it goes away to where I can sleep and it usually does not return again till I decide to eat steak or pork for the evening meal. If I eat a more fatty meal for lunch the pain would start up at 8-9 PM. This has been going on for several months and it is fairly consistent, I learned to be very carefull what I eat.
Could this be Gall Bladder or Liver problems?

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Gallbladder problems - specifically gallstones - would top the list of possibilites.  Fatty meals commonly exacerbate pain when caused by the gallbladder.

I would suggest taking low-fat meals and arranging for an abdominal ultrasound as quickly as possible to evaluate for this possibility.  

You may want to discuss this option with your personal physician.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
Medical Weblog:
kevinmd_b

[surgeon]

gallbladder problems would be very high on the list. You should let your doctor know and have appropriate testing.

[NorCalBrat]

What if you no longer have your gallbladder, but continue to have epigastric pain on both sides, radiating around the rib cage and through the back?

I have a hemangioma on my liver, and my common bile duct is distended 8 mm, which I am told should be less than 3 mm. I also continue to have an elevated bilirubin, and elevated urobilinogen in the urine 2 months post Cholecystectomy.

What would you say to this scenario??

Thanks in advance!

[Graf]

Suffering from the same symptom, done the ultrasound abdomen test. No gallstones, pericholecystic fluid and hydronephrosis noted. Gallbladder wall is not thickened and common duct is not dilated (measuring about 2.2 mm.)

Liver shows diffuse increase in echogenicity consistent with fatty infiltration. Focal fatty sparing noted around the gallbladder.

What sort of treatment / further test should be done?

[den79]

I've been having a same problem. Few months ago I started to feel very tired with pain under my right rib cage, which I thought was just from either stress or some bad food. It usually came and went away.But now the pain is more persistent (lasts most of the afternoon,it's worse in the evening), now it shoots all the way around to my back,under shoulder blade.
Can this be a gallstones? Thank you.

[gjb]

For two weeks I had a constent dull ache adominal (abdominal) pain in my lower right side that radiates slightly to my back.  I'm concerned, what possibly coud it be, what types of tests could I request to have run.

thanks
gjb

[btnh42]

I have a pain on my right side and upper part of my stomach. I think it's my liver because i've had tests done on my gall bladder. What do you think??

[jrpatalano]

I get a constant dull pain on my right side, near my rib cage, feels like a stomach ache, usually lasts about 15 mins to 30 mins, then goes away like it was never there. I do not have the feeling to throw up or go to the bathroom (#2). I just go thru the pain until it goes away, it is rather uncomfortable. It usually happans about 3-4 times a month and at anytime, sometimes the pain will wake me from sleep, or I can be walking down the street. Just last week I noticed I twisted my trunk to the right side sort or bending over from a seat position then the pain started. Any thoughts?

[angel222]

i have been in pain for almost 4 yrs now upper right under rib and goes around to side to back ive had lower gi scan nothing found had  a hida scan found that gall bladder was not working at all nothing. so they took it out but i still have this pain sometimes it does dissappear but comes back with a vengance .now dr wants to go down with a scope into stomach andupper intestines. i have noticed that  this pain does come with certain such as acidy foods all citrus foods broad leaf vegtables like brocli and beans califlower lettuce...... i am 44 yrs old and getting very very tired do you have any suggestions

[anniegran]

A related discussion, left side pain under ribs was started.

[natasha1128]

A related discussion, right abdominal pain was started.

[jimbo007]

A related discussion, under.rib.cage.right.side was started.