RUQ Abdo pain.

[lauds1001]

I have been having recurrent upper right abdominal pain radiating to my back in the shoulder blade area (right side mainly) on and off for the past almost 6years. The pain starts in the stomach moving to the back - it is gradual and increases in intensity - it now lasts at LEAST 3days at a time. The pain so severe it wakes me up in the middle of the night. the only relief is from prescribed pain killers (co-dydramol) as OTC pain meds don't work... even then the pain relief lasts onyla  few hours. I find it difficult to find a comfortable position to sit/ lie down.... when at height of pain I feel tired/ weak and lose apetite... I have had a colonoscopy about 5years ago but came back normal - since then though the pains are worse and more frequent. episodes are unpredicatble with bouts from anywhere between 6mths apart and more recently 2mths apart... any help please?

[LivingInHope]

I had an ultrasound first myself.  A HIDA scan, a surgeon told me can sometimes pick up something regarding the gallbladder that the ultrasound can miss.  I got mine with ejection fraction- somewhat sluggish action & an unrelated test showed some biliary sludge... anyway, after the HIDA scan, the radiologist recommended the MRCP, which came back normal!  I do hope you find an answer to your pain problem and a resolution to your nightmare!  Please do keep us posted!

[lauds1001]

Thanks to you both. I hope its nothing too serious - I have an ultrasound scan in a couple of weeks. Will keep you posted. It is worrying though as it seems the bouts of pain are lasting longer and have become more frequent. And now lately as well (past 2days) I have noticed I feel constantly nauseaus. Particularly in the morning as soon as I get up - I feel like I need to throw up but nothing ever happens... Anyway - hopefully will be resolved soon. Will keep you posted
Thanks again

[LivingInHope]

Well, I've been having upper right quad pain myself and I'm sorry you are going through this!   The gallbladder and liver both in the upper right quadrant and mammo's right- you should see a doctor about this.  I got those checked out myself with ultrasound, HIDA scan and MRCP (looking at bile and pancreatic ductwork for any blockage there) and they weren't the answer for me. I also had some blood cancer marker testing run (I have what turned out to be a couple of hemangiomas- not considered to be a pain source on my liver).

  I was diagnosed with costochondritis and movement can affect my pain.  But it's typically something you can pinpoint pretty well with that problem.  Also, if the upper right quadrant pain is toward your flank, you might also want to get a check of the right kidney as well- see if there's any stones and also look for any infection.  

Additionally, I recently had an abdominal x-ray that showed a pretty big gas pocket up there on the upper right- that can happen with the transverse colon & can be very painful at times.  Twice in recent months I've had a huge whomps of pain wake me out of sleep.  I have irritable bowel syndrome.  

They might want to do an occult blood stool test and if that comes back positive for hidden blood, they likely will want to do another colonoscopy, if they don't already think one's in order just from your symptoms you are describing.

[mammo]

It sounds like your gallbladder, have you had this checked?  It could also be your liver, you should see a doctor about this.