Abdominal Pain

[shutrbugsmile]

I've had a pain in my upper right abdomen right under my rib cage for about a month and nobody can tell me what's wrong.  I originally went to the ER because the pain was so intense I could hardly function.  I had a CT scan done at the ER where they determined that my appendix was enlarged but no infection was found on any blood work.  They gave me the option to stay the night to be observed or go home and come back if the pain got worse.  I went home and then saw my primary doc two days later because the pain was still there.  She told me I probably had an ovarian cyst and sent me on my way.  Three days later the pain was just as bad so I returned to her where she sent me in for an ultrasound that showed a cyst on my left side, but so small it shouldn't have been causing the pain.  She then referred me to a surgeon to perform exploratory surgery.  I found a new doc at this point because this didn't seem right to me to jump to surgery so quickly.  The new doc read the report from the hospital and told me that he thought the pain was caused from my appendix the whole time.  He sent my scan to a surgeon who agreed with him and said he would have taken my appendix out the day I was in the hospital had he been the one on call.  I scheduled the surgery and had my appendix removed.  When I woke from surgery, I was still experiencing the same pain and was told that my appendix looked fine so they no longer thought this was the problem.  Since then, the pain hasn't gotten any better and it seems to be more intense after I eat anything.  I had an ultrasound on my upper abdomen that showed nothing and then had a HIDA scan to look at my gallbladder function.  This also came back normal.  Am I missing something?  I'm beginning to second guess my decision in doctors.  They now want me to see a GI specialist.  I'm not sure how much more of this pain I can take nor do I know how many other tests I can afford.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.  

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Welcome to the MedHelp forum!
I am sorry you went through so much. Right upper abdominal pain can be due to cholecystitis (inflammation of gall bladder), stones in gall bladder, duodenal ulcer, abscess under the diaphragm, liver problems and abscess or due to duodenal ulcer. Right flank pain is generally due to kidney stones. Gall bladder problems have been ruled out in your case. Abscess should be seriously considered.
Lower right abdomen pain is commonly due to appendicitis. The pain, can at times come and go and not give the classic picture. Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis, infection in kidney, kidney stones, constipation, ovary involvement in women, ectopic pregnancy in women, mesentry (a thin tissue that carries the blood, nerves and lymphatics for the intestine) involvement, and an abscess in rectus abdominis muscle or psoas muscle can all cause lower right abdomen pain.
I would strongly recommend you to see a gastroenterologist (a specialist who looks after the diseases of our digestive system). It is difficult to comment beyond this at this stage.  Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!

[shutrbugsmile]

Are there any specific questions I should be asking when I see the gastroenterologist?  

I forgot to mention earlier that I also have hot flashes almost every time I eat.  The pain is worse after I eat and I'm not sure if the hot flashes are associated with this or not.  I've also had headaches almost daily for the last three months.  I don't know if any of this is related but I thought I'd throw it out there.  

Thanks for the help.