Abdominal upper right quadrant pain, just below ribs

[Mark M.]

Hi,
I too have upper right quad pain just below my ribs. I am a male, 46yrs old 6ft and weigh 175 lbs. My pain comes and goes and has for about 6 months. It is not severe pain, but at times is more annoying than anything. It feels like there is something in there pinching me. I went to an internal med MD in July. He ran blood tests that all came back fine. He sent me to have an abdominal ultrasound which showed only "healthy" organs. No dilated bile duct, no gall stones, liver enzymes were in normal range. It is 4 months later and the pain is still happening. When I sit, or bend at the waist, I can feel the pain. It is not a deep, internal pain, but seems close to the surface, just to the right of that little cartlidge/bone that splits the rib cage...just to the right of the stomach. What the heck could it be? My MD put me on Nexium, thinking maybe it is peptic in nature, but 60 days of Nexium and still the pain persists. I am freaking out because my dad passed away this past March due to a rare appendix cancer (pseudomixoma peritonei) that several MD's could not find, nor diagnose properly once they found it, another story in itself...so you know how the paranoia sets in. I don't have a lot of faith in MD's right now. Anyone out there have any input? Can the liver be screwed up for this long and still avoid being detected? Can inflamation be detected by ultrasound? It feels like it's burning, not like heartburn, but a firey sensation...hard to describe. Someone, please help me settle my fly away brain...thanks.

[tooinqzitv]

As I read over all the comments I am astonished at how many are in the same situation.  I have always had belly issues even as a child, lactose intolerance, fiber intolerance, sugar belly (I called it) when I eat sweets; had gallbladder out 20ish years ago.  1 1/2 years ago I began having severe bloating issues w/reflux, elevated liver enzymes.  Had 3 CT Scans, MRICP, Colonoscopy, Endoscopy - diagnosed with Gastritis with no direction and/or true diagnosis. Liver enzymes returned to normal. Frustrated I stopped going to the doctors - drank lots of water and focused on work. The bloating never went away - I am 5'6" and maintained a weight between 130 and 135 for the past 15 years. Now, with constant bloated belly (18 lbs heavier); no matter whether I eat or don't eat , elevated liver enzymes again, always feel full and constantly burping I went back to the GI. Gastric emptying test was done and liver biopsy which came back as Fatty Liver.  I am not a big drinker - occasional 2 or 3 drinks on the weekend.  When I called for biopsy results I was asked by the receptionist - are you obese; no - oh then you must be a heavy drinker; no, followed by several other questions to be told I have a follow up on 11/23.  I have spent the better part of everynight over the last month stuck to my laptop researching what could have possibly created a fatty liver.  One of the reasons I initally stopped going to the GI is that thru all the above test before the liver biopsy I never had a follow up appt as the receptist told me it wasn't necessary as there was no indication of a problem. I felt like I was crazy.  With that being said, I feel such relief to know that I am not alone and it's not in my head :-(  I hope that each of you, and myself, find the cause of our stomach issues.  I have to wonder if our food products are causing these problems for so many of us?!?!  I wish each of you good health and a resolution............

[citi217]

My pain also started when I became pregnant with my second, two years ago.  Prior to that, in 2008 I had my gall bladder removed 6 weeks after my first son was born.  I have had numerous tests, and no results.  I live on pain pills, and have gained weight/feel bloated ALL the time.  I am in search of another way!

[shortysport]

I am reading this and thinking wow people like me.  I have a lot of the same issues.  I had my gallbladder out years ago for pain under my right ribcage and needless to say it didn't stop the pain.  I have been diagnosed with several things IBS, Facet syndrome and oh yeah I have PTSD from years of childhood abuse which is what my doctors seem to want to blame this on.  The stress from that.  I keep telling them its a separate issue and it's horribly painful.  I am in constant pain on my right side back and front and sometimes it feels like my ribcage is on fire and the pain gets so bad that I roll around on the bed and just moan.  I've been through every test imaginable and every surgery it is nice to hear others.  Not to know that you are suffering too but I don't feel like I am just crazy anymore this must be a real condition.

[queenz28]

If I have gallbladder polyps and did a liver flush can they get stuck in the bile duct or will it possibly flush them out. There not stones so I wouldn't think they can get stuck but who knows.

[queenz28]

27 years old and I have been suffering with pain in my right back rib area for almost 3 months. Whenever I turn to the left i feel sharp pain. And if I do any kind of physical activity it hurts even more. It seems like as the day progresses the pain hurts more. Can't tell if it's a pinch nerve, pulled muscle or gallbladder problem. However, there's no other symptoms, just that. I would hate to get my gallbladder removed that may not be the problem. I do have 2 small polyps on my gallbladder. I get them monitored every year but so far they haven't changed in size. The only way they found them was when i was pregnant. My liver enzymes were elevated for some rwheneason so they decided to do an ultrasound of my liver and found the polyps instead. I've never had any kind of gallbladder symptoms before. The ortho gave me naproxin thinking it's muscle related and it worked great for a week, had to get off it cause it was killing my stomach and gave me heart palpitations. So next I'm going to make sure he gives me MRI. So now I'm wondering if it is my gallbladder did or can the naproxin keep gallbladder pain away? I made another appointment with the gastro to see what he says. I'm sure he's going to say to remove my gallbladder, but it seems a lot of people get it removed and still have that pain. Like I said I have no stomach problems. I haven't seen my primary doctor yet, maybe next step will be that too. Any suggestions?

[shass1]

Long history short, 2008 I started with the URQ pain, I felt I was dying then, I lost 50 lbs. I was very very scared. I think i was due to the ACCUTANE drug. None Dr, kwos what happen, one recomend remove my gallblader, I did not want, then I changed my diet to vegan, it helped but stil some pain, sometimes I feel relief when I use the vibriting machines, it's funny after some hours my stool smell very very bad, but after that I'm ok. for a few months, then same thing.
I wish the best to everyone of you, blessing, I feel your pain, when all poeple including your family thing you are just looking for attention.