Lower right quadrant discomfort

[Wayne]

I am a 55-year-old male, 5' 11" and 200 lb. Symptoms started about 5 years ago. The main symptoms are burning and a dull ache in the lower right quadrant of my abdomen. The tests done include a CT scan, upper GI, Brarium enema - all negative. Blood tests are normal. The symptoms are becoming worse and now include some nausea. Sitting and lying down increase the discomfort, while standing decreases them. Food seems to worsen the symptoms, but no particular food makes them worse than anoter. At night, lying on the left side relieves the symptoms as does massage. There is no blood in stools. What could the be? Could appendicitis cause these symptoms for such a long time? Cound it be a hernia? What about cancer?

[Ann]

You should all check out information on Costochondritis.  Tenderness under the ribs can be caused by an inflammation of the cartilege around the ribs and this discomfort can cause pain and soreness all around.  Don't be taken in by the information that tells you it usually goes away in about 6 weeks - I have been in touch with people who have had it for years, off and on.  It's not life-threatening, and I can usually deal with it by taking Advil (3-3 times a day with meals) and using an ice pack.  It's definitely affected by stress but not related in any way to food as far as I can tell.  May be caused by a virus or an injury some time ago.  Mine is worst when I sit at my computer at work and I feel like my ribs are rubbing on my waist band - had my liver etc checked out and everything is fine - it's just really sore and tender.  If you press the area near your ribs and it feels tender and sore, talk to your doctor and check out information on the web. Good luck!

[Brian on January 30, 2001]

I can appreciate all that I read. I have had ongoing problems of pain in my rt. lower quadrant accompanied by narrow of my stool. This started in Sept. 2000. I went to see a specialist and he ran the normal tests; urine, blood,plain abdominal xray, ultrasound, and ct scan. The only item they could find was the gallbladder. I had a stone of 1.25" in size. Now that I have recooped, I thought I would be cured. Now, 3 weeks later I have the same pain. I am going back to see my specialist again. I am starting to feel like many of you. I hope they can figure out what is going on this time. By the way. I had my appendix out 20 years ago, so I know that's not the problem. I will stay in touch.

[Cindy]

I feel somewhat better knowing that I am NOT alone!  I have had pain in the right side for over a year. (40 years old) I was diagnosed with mono last spring and thought my pain was due to that.  I've had severe fatigue, intermittent fevers, and just chronic pain on the right side.  I had a CT scan, upper and lower GI, and colonoscopy which all came out negative.  I'm thrilled that its not cancer or something horrible, but I am so sick of the doctors telling me there is nothing wrong!  I have pain in the right side every day! It goes from my lower ribs and it aches terribly.  I also feel a throbbing pain deep inside my right lower abdomen just below the aching rib cage. I also had abnormal urine tests with protein in the urine. The doctor said it was not a kidney inf. I had a kidney cat scan because they thought it was a kidney problem but that came out normal.I lost weight and had no energy .The kidney problem and severe fatigue and fevers finally went away after  I was prescribed LEVAQUIN. It is an amazing antibiotic.  The pain cannot be from excersizing because I had to give that up when I got so ill.  I just wonder if it is my liver.  The liver looked ok in the CT scan and the liver function test (enzymes) were ok but the bilirubin was elevated.  I wonder if it is a liver or gallblader problem.  I drink red wine with dinner but I am thin and eat mainly fruits, vegetables and whole grains! What is wrong?

[Teresa]

My 21 year old daughter just spent 4 months in a reputable teaching hospital for LRQ pain. Had 1 1/2 feet of small bowel removed because of adhesions from previous surgery. Had 1 foot removed 2 yrs ago. Has chronic pain and is not able to even tolerate eating. Has deep line catheter for IV nutrition. Docs have taken all pain meds away and have started her on Librax. Slows motility. Seems to help somewhat, has her functioning better. We have no clear answers.(no name) but, a direction! She has dealt with this pain since she is 8. They first thought Crohn's disease. Now they say no. They say it is just a dismotility disorder. She has had gallbladder and appendix removed. We are'nt concerned with answers anymore we just need the support of the medical community. They are great when she is in the hospital. But, out of site out of mind. I am grateful to have found this thread. I will check back and I will keep all of you in my thoughts and prayers. Thank you for sharing you're stories with us. It's reassuring to know their are others who have similar problems. Kristy's Mom

[joel]

Vague, periodic, "burning" pain in lower right abdomen.  Accompanied by occasional irregularity in my bowel movements, bloating, occasional fatigue, weight loss, general malaise for past few months.  Totally worried about my liver, but my PCP said blood tests, X-ray, physical exam looked good...so I am stuck in lala-land.  I evidently have Gilbert's Syndrome so it is hard to get a good liver reading.  I even told him that I thought it was my liver, but he dismissed it and said come back in 6-8 weeks if it gets worse.  We all seem to be in the same undiagnosable situation.  Good luck...let you all know if situation resolves or changes.

[florence]

Wow, I thought I was alone.Went through all the tests,all negative, and 15 doctors.Went to a naturopathic doctor who used Electro Dermal Screening or electro acupuncture machine and found I had mercury toxicity in my body.A biological dentist also using his own machine tested each tooth and many of them registered 200 plus millevolts which is way above the average.Mercury came from 8 amalgam fillings(55% mercury plus other metals like nickle),10 crowns and one root canal.Besides the pain in the LRQ region, my GI tract is stressed from the mercury,terrible constipation--small pebble like very hard,dry.I'm having the amalgam fillings removed.Next Monday I will have the root canal tooth extracted.Read Dr George Meinig,retired dentist, book ROOT CANAL COVERUP EXPOSED.There's so much bacteria emitted from the root canal flowing into the blood stream into tissues and organs.Any way I'll find out if this mercury toxicity has caused the excruciating cutting pains for 2 years.