Pain in R. upper abdomen for years and no doc can find why-help!

[browneyedgrrl76]

I have had a persistant dull aching pain in my right abdomen in the area under my ribcage for at least as long as I have been married, which is 8 years.  At first it wasn't that noticable, and only happened every once in a while. Stress seems to bring it out I have noticed as well.  In the past year I have noticed that the pain has changed from sometimes to nearly constantly, and it at times it can be a sharp intense pain instead of the usual dull/crampy ache.  The pain has also spread upwards into my ribcage and tendrils out to the edge of my body.  Sometimes it feels like the muscles between my ribs are actually hurting.

I had a colonoscopy on Monday and they found some diverticuloses, but from everything that I have read that should manifest as pain in the lower left abdomen, not upper right.  They want to do an endoscope and look at my stomach in July, but I am really panicking that I might have something more serious!  I've also had a CAT scan, which came about after a sonogram (looking for gall stones--none found) turned up a small mass on my liver.  CAT scan said it was a benign liver hemangioma.  Any ideas on what this pain could be? Other info:  I do have a lot of gas and bloating, constipation, and somewhat loose stools that range from almost black to a clay color.  My mother died of lung cancer at age 41 in 1995, and I am now 31.  Any help would be appreciated!  Thank you.  

[misha50]

Ultrasound is the gold standard for gallbladder and bile duct exam, then CT and HIDA scans, and then Endoscopy are all good as well.  Colonoscopy is good to have as well.  Have you had the HIDA scan yet, which tests gallbladder functionality?

[browneyedgrrl76]

Hi misha50-

I have had the HIDA and a CT exam, which showed no abnormalities in my gallbladder.  I had the HIDA at least 4 or 5 years ago though--should I have it again?  (And the CT was last year.)

I have been researching since yesterday, and I found something that sounds a lot like me:  Chronic Pancreatitis.  The reason I say that is because I also have a lot of pain in my chest and also underneath and around my right shoulder.  This type of pancreatitis can be present for years with "nondescript pain in the right abdomen" that can be aching, dull, sharp, or all of the above, and also the pain in the chest, back and shoulder that I just mentioned.   That all sounds very similar to what I have been going through for years!

I have my endoscopy in the 2nd week of July, but I called yesterday and asked my doctor and he said I have never been tested for any type of pancreatitis.  I am thinking that I may ask them to do the blood test to rule out this illness.  What do you think?   Thank you so much for your response!  

[browneyedgrrl76]

I saw that other people put more info about their physical stats and history  in their posts, so I didn't want to leave that out. I am 31 years old, caucasian, have never had children, and I am 163 pounds and 5 feet 6 inches tall.  I don't have any other health problems, but I have a family history of various cancers.  My mother died at age 41 from metastatic lung cancer.  Your help and input is appreciated!  

[misha50]

Get all the tests done - if I read correctly, you still need to have the upper Endo done as well as blood and stool tests.  An updated HIDA scan with CCK to test ejection fraction can only be a good thing as gallbladders can change their structural function over time.  These tests can confirm or rule out certain things, such as liver and/or pancreas issues.