What could be causing my pain?

[hjrc]

I have had both gallbladder and appendix removed about 20 years ago.  About six months ago I started experiencing pain in my right upper quadrant, just below the ribs.  The first time I experienced it, I was turning over in bed and something caught inside me like the muscle in my abdomen was ripping loose.  When I released the strain of turning over the pain went away.  However, I was left with this constant little pain in the area that feels like a bee stinging me sometimes and sometimes just a little ache like someone penching me inside.  I've had CT scan, MRI, endoscopy, colonoscopy, and blood work and everything is supposedly normal.  I am overweight at 5'3" and 220 lbs.  I have systemic lupus and am otherwise healthy.  I am 52 years old, do not smoke or drink at all.  I have low Vitamin D and take a D and calcium supplement.  I also have GERD and a small hiatal hernia.  I took Prevacid for about four months but have been off of it for three months now.  I recently had a bout of lime-green colored stool that lasted for 24 hours and then cleared up.  My primary doctor can find nothing wrong with me and I am still living with this little bee stinging sensation in my side.  Can anyone help?

[Banned1]

I'm so sorry you are suffering again after having gone through so much already.  I am not a doctor and know nothing about medicine but your description almost sounds like pancreatitis and/or a Sphincter of Oddi, intrahepatic or pancreatic duct problem.  These issues can sometimes happen many years after a gallbladder removal.  I will put some links at the end of this post for you to research.  Only you will recognize your some of the more obscure symptoms that accompany these issues.  I hope they help and that you feel better soon!

All the best,

Sam

First Principles of Gastroenterology – http://gastroresource.com/GITextbook/en/Default.htm [This is my favorite of all the reference materials because it is searchable]
Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of sphincter of Oddi dysfunction – http://www.uptodate.com/patients/content/topic.do?topicKey=pancdis/8160
Digestive Disease Library – Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction – http://hopkins-gi.nts.jhu.edu/pages/latin/templates/index.cfm?pg=disease1&disease=12&organ=3&lang_id=1
Diseases of the Pancreas  NIDDK – http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/AboutNIDDK/CommitteesAndWorkingGroups/NCDD/NCDDDiseasesofthePancreasNovember192007.htm
GI Consult – Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction – http://www.emedmag.com/html/pre/gic/consults/031505.asp
Evaluating Predictors & Interventions in Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction – http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00688662
Gastroenterology – http://intmed.muhealth.org/gast/patient_resource/commondisorders/sphincteroddi.html
Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction: Diagnosis and Treatment – http://www.joplink.net/prev/200111/04.html
Acute Recurrent Pancreatitis and Dysfunction of the Sphincter of Oddi: Comparison between Invasive and Non-Invasive Techniques – http://www.joplink.net/prev/200111/06.html
Idiopathic Recurrent Acute Pancreatitis – http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/487185_2
GI Consult: Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction by John Baillie, MB, ChB, FRCP – http://www.mdchoice.com/emed/main.asp?template=0&page=detail&type=3&id=1126
Clinical Manifestations and Diagnosis of Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction – http://www.uptodate.com/patients/content/abstract.do;jsessionid=7690FF8E3E31A4C664267BD8276C2B86.0503?topicKey=~Sm4Jhk.9M03Fy&refNum=30
Disorders of the Biliary Tract by Guzman [Pathology Lecture] – http://www.uic.edu/depts/mcpt/curriculum/liver51_gg_lecture.html
Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction – http://www.top5plus5.com/Sphincter%20of%20Oddi.html
International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders – http://www.iffgd.org/site/gi-disorders/other/sod
Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction  Pancreas and Biliary Tree Diseases MUSC Digestive Disease Center – http://www.ddc.musc.edu/public/problems/diseases/pancreas/sphincterOddi.cfm
Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction is Associated with Chronic Pancreatitis – http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=9219783&dopt=Abstract
Systematic Review: Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction--Non-Invasive Diagnostic Methods and Long-Term Outcome after Endoscopic Sphincterotomy – http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16842450
Treatment of Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction – http://www.uptodate.com/patients/content/topic.do?topicKey=~UrVVscJQz1HYr

[JDS2805]

I'm sorry to hear all you're going through. The tests you've had are definatly the best and most accurate ones. If I may ask, how recent were these tests? If it's been a few years, I would suggest getting retested. Any chance you could have torn an abdominal muscle? I had a friend that did and he described it as a constant bee sting. Hope you feel better soon. Keep us posted