gallstone pain?

[chevyelcam79]

Mornin all!  Had liver ultrasound yesterday. Tech said I had beautiful anatomy LOL!!!  Could see everything clearly.  Anyway, she asked if I knew I had a gallstone, answered yes.  It was detected when I had the first ultrasound 5 years ago when I first found out HCV.  

Do any of you think that any of the dull pain in side could be from the gallstone and not liver?  Possible?  I guess I am trying to be optomistic, I mean I know I have it but is it possible?

My gastro said she did not want to do bx until I first see her in December.  She wants to explain the risks of the bx.  Ok, Ok, I know the risks, Just want to know if I have further damage than from 5 years ago.  ALso, she wants to see the ultrasound results and the bloodwork results.

Any thoughts?

[amicraxy]

I noticed a pain in my right side after I was diagnosised and asked my Doctor. He said no, its not your liver. So I started to think it was psychosomatic. But as I'v gone through treatment noe for 5 months it seens only people who have been through this can really help, identify with thses strange side effects.
I have two friends who took the treatment and I have talked to them alot but this site, I guess because theres so many other people and no two go through the same, I found it wasn't just me

[antman]

it's good you are taking steps to monitor your health. gallstones are definately a cause of pain. in fact, several Dr.'s told me the liver does not cause pain at all. i had URQ pain last year and it turned out to be a hiatal hernia. i stopped drinking beer, took Nexium and it went away. as far as a biopsy goes, while there are small risks involved it is no big deal. i had 3 of them over the years. it's the best way to get an idea of liver damage.i've heard of a new non-invasive method called a Fibroscan but i think those machines are scarce. good luck.
antman

[chevyelcam79]

Thanks!  The liver does not cause pain at all?  Even when inflamed?  Ok, now I am really thinkin it is the gallstone.  They will tell me if the gallstone has gotten bigger when I get the results from the ultrasound.  I have my old one, I think.  Will have to compare.

Why doesn't the liver cause pain? or refereed pain?  I know when I had the first biopsy, I had immediate shoulder pain when they stuck my liver.  They told me that would happen.

[jacksonpotter]

I went to DR with right side pain.  Did bloodwork and ultrasound.  Discovered gallstones and HEP C.  Gall Bladder can come out. Hep C is the bummer.  Waiting for more tests.  Doc told me liver doesnt feel pain.  Pain would be from inflamation (inflammation) of the liver on other organs and/or pain cause from gallbladder.

[mycoldfeet]

I have a gall stone also, in fact I believe I read somewhere that either tx or hcv makes us more prone to having them. I agree that the liver itself feels no pain, the surrounding area may if enlargement or irritation of the liver is involved. I personally have an agreement with my gall stone if I leave it alone it'll leave me alone, so far except for a twinge now and then the truce has lasted.

[chevyelcam79]

Thanks for the comment.  Everyone says to eat greens for liver but dont greens aggravate gallstones?

[DragonSlayer45]

To try and clear a slight misconception I am seeing here. Your liver is not causing pain directly but if it is inflamed from the HCV it will cause pain/discomfort on your right side because it is packed in so tightly with all your other organs. the inflamation (inflammation) will press against everything and cause the pain. Here are a couple of excerpts from the book Choices (Caring Ambassadors website) that explains it better than I do:

"The liver is packed so tightly into the abdomen that the right kidney, parts of the large and small intestines, and the stomach actually leave impressions on its surface. Even the ribs and muscle bands of the diaphragm make indentations on the surface of the liver."

Here is one about the pain:

"You may experience episodes of abdominal pain if you have hepatitis C. Pain on the right side just below the ribs is likely to be from the liver. People usually report this pain as being short, sharp, or stabbing. More constant, cramping pain closer to the middle of chest, but under the ribs, can be due to gall bladder problems that may accompany hepatitis C. You may experience pain elsewhere in the abdomen. If you experience any new pain in the abdomen, it is important for you to tell your health care provider right away so the source of the pain can be determined."

I hope this helps clear it up a little. I would definitely recomend a biopsy to see where you are in the progression of the disease.
i had my gall bladder out years ago and the pain was intense and in the middle of my upper body. I thought I was in an episode of Aliens and it was going to burst out of me. The pain I have on my right side is a dull pain as you described in your comment above. It is due to my liver. Different location, different pain. I am not trying to bum you out, but rather help answer your question.

[GrandmaA]

Fried foods aggravate gallstones. I had very large and many gallstones. I had it removed 1 1/2 years ago. It made a huge difference. The liver makes bile so when the gallstone is out the liver eventually makes up for the bile that used to be made in the gallbladder. I could hardly sleep at night because of the gallstones. The surgeon said one was so large it was coming out of the top of the gallbladder.

[amicraxy]

I wish my Doctor said what Dragonslayer siad.  I knew I was feeling pain but I had no gallblader problems. My liver was inflamed

[antman]

ok, to be more specific: while the liver itself does not cause pain, several Dr's told me that if the liver is enlarged that the capsule surrounding it stretches and can cause pain. everytime i see my GI he has me lay down and taps on my abdomen where the liver is. i have grade 2 inflamation (inflammation) and just last week he said my liver was not enlarged. that doesn't mean not inflamed, obviously. that is the difference. hope that makes sense.