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Upper Right Abdominal Pain

For the past 2 months I have been experiencing pain UR quad ... directly under my rib cage. My GP said it sounded like classic gallbladder disease and put me on a low / no fat diet to see if the symptoms lessened. They did, but only a little. The next attack I had, they sent me to the ER. The ER Doc said the same thing my GP did and ordered an ultrasound and blood work. Results - normal. Went back to my GP, and she said she was puzzled. My labs were textbook perfect especially considering the fact that I'm overweight (219lbs at 5'3"). She told me to continue with the low/no fat diet and to add Pepcid to the mix. Next attack ... back to the ER to follow up with a CT scan and more blood work. Results - normal. Textbook perfect. Again. Stay with same diet and antacids, wait and see. Yesterday I went back to the ER because I had finally had enough of crying for 2 days straight over the pain. I can't function properly at work OR at home. The ER Doc ordered more blood work and reviewed my case. We have now added constipation and diarrhea at the same time, bloating, feeling feverish with no measurable fever, nausea and vomiting to the list of symptoms. The ER Doc said what everyone else has said so far. Sounds like classic gallbladder disease. We need more tests. So, he had me eat a high fat diet last night to prepare for this morning's HIDA Scan. I was in so much pain, I didn't sleep. During the scan, the meds hurt SO much I was crying on the table and was ready to throw up all over the tech. I'm supposed to follow up with my Dr again to get the results. If this one is negative too .. I don't know what I'm going to do! I need to understand this. Please ... help me understand?


This discussion is related to Recurrent severe abdominal pain.
4 Responses
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351246 tn?1379682132
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi
Welcome to the MedHelp forum!
It is either a gall bladder, liver or pancreatic disease or it is severe acidity with duodenal ulcer. Treatment is a combination of drugs to reduce the acid and lifestyle changes. You will need to take a combination of medications like a proton pump inhibitor such as omeprazole,  lansoprazole or pantoprazole empty stomach in the morning and an antacid gel after meals for complete relief. Possibility of H pylori infection too should be looked into and a combination antibiotic tried.
Life style changes that will help include: Avoid heavy meals and eat frequent small meals. Avoid too much of caffeine, tea, smoking, fried food and drinks both alcoholic and non alcoholic fuzzy ones. Avoid heavy exercises within 4 hours of a heavy meal. Raise the head end of the bed by pillows to 30 degrees. Go to bed at least 2 hours after food. Maybe these tips will help you.
You should consult a gastroenterologist (a specialist who looks after the diseases of our digestive system) or a physician for this if these tips reduce your symptoms.
If the HIDA results are clear, then an endoscopy should be done.
Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I know what kind of pain you are talking about as I had the same kinds of attacks for years after eating, especially when I would eat chicken.  I thought it was my gall bladder but all the ultrasounds I had never showed any stones.  Then a few years back it I was having them more often and I finally went to a surgeon who examined me and said he thought it was definitely a gall bladder problem and did the surgery. During the surgery he would that my gall bladder didn't have stones but was basically useless as it was like hard like scar tissue and was not functioning right. I felt much better after it was removed, however I had to quit eating chicken as it somehow still effected me, most likely the bile duct.
I won't go with the idea that it's in your head, right upper pain is the gallbladder area and if the pain come on after eating, it needs attention.
Helpful - 0
1336648 tn?1275778661
I used to get those all the time. it's in kind of a remission right now, but i still get a twinge now and again. next time it happens to you (which i feel so bad for you. gall bladder attack pain is said to be worse than childbirth pain), have them do an Xray...it'll be a special Xray. they might give you something high in fat (like Ensure) to see how quickly your gall bladder empties or something, i'm not clear on the details. but it's a pretty determining procedure. it didn't work for me, even though i missed a week of school because of the pain day and night.  anyway, if you can't go to the ER, take a few Ibuprofen (or whatever kind of anti-inflamatory), lay on your left side and don't move til the pain stops. also, no greasy food. If you weren't informed on what happens, here's what happens during an attack: bial builds up in the gall bladder, turning it into stones. there's a duct they must pass through to another organ. the stones get stuck in the duct, and/or scratch the lining. so it gets inflamed, and that's what causes the intense pain. the pain can go as far up as your clavicles, and as far down as your stomach, it'll also stretch to your back (just thinking about this makes me shudder :p)

also, about your second post, i understand completely (well not completely, but you know. i'm not trying to say i've walked a mile in your shoes), when i started feeling that way, i began seeing a therapist (not saying you need one, just an option)...this unearthed many problems and repressed memories n junk.  your problem could be high anxiety or depression or anything really.  i've begun getting answers to why i've felt so out of sorts, weird, distressed, and any other descriptive word you can think of :p

anyway there's my two cents :)  I hope this helped!  
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Avatar universal
Oh yeah ... I almost forgot. I can't seem to think clearly lately, and this afternoon I am lethargic and dizzy. Any typos I've missed are completely out of character for me and is more evidence to me that SOMETHING is very wrong.
Helpful - 0
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