I joined this community about a month ago and, rather than simply reading different threads, have finally mustered the courage to post a question. Of all the threads I've read so far, there are many people who appear to have similar stories – although, I've never been able to find out how their stories end. To be clear, I'm not looking for a diagnosis but just some insight from other people's experiences – specifically, people who have the same symptoms.
My apologies in advance for the lengthy post but I want to share as much detail as possible...
Beginning with a little about me – I'm a 32 year old male, healthy weight (142 lbs. at 5' 7"), vegetarian, no recreational drug use (aside from alcohol), no long-term over the counter medication use, and no preexisting conditions. However, like some folks on this forum, I do have a history of drinking. I started drinking when I was 21 but didn't really begin abusing alcohol until my late twenties. And by abuse, I mean about 3 to 4 drinks a night for a few years and occasionally binging on the weekends. But after my daughter was born in 2017, I wanted to make a change and cut back to the recommended levels (no more than two drinks a night or 14 drinks per week). But, needless to say, there were good days and bad days.
Fast forward to late June 2019, I started experiencing some unexplained pain in my upper right quadrant – nothing major, just a dull ache. In other words, no nausea, indigestion, rashes, joint pain, itching, etc.; just a dull pain about 2" below my right rib cage and 1" to the right of my navel. Likewise, I've had tenderness in my right lateral abdominal wall (kind of where your rib cartilage ends and your rib bones begin; near your floating ribs) and occasional back pain below my right shoulder blade.
After a week, I went to my general practitioner just to get it checked out. After a brief exam, he said it was likely gastritis (it was apparently going around at the time). Nonetheless, I insisted that I get some blood work done and he obliged.
A few days later, I received my results. My liver function test and blood count were both normal. He said my cholesterol was a little low but, with regular exercise, that could be remedied. Relieved, I pretty much carried on as usual. I joined a fitness group at work where we do high-intensity training twice a week for 45 minutes. Likewise, my drinking habits remained the same. I'd usually have a beer while making dinner, a beer with dinner, and (once in a while) a beer while working on freelance projects or during a movie in the evening. And, about a week after my getting my initial test results, the pain disappeared.
But then, in early October, the pain returned and that's when I truly started to worry. I wound up doing what most people here do, I consulted Dr. Google. Eventually, I returned to my actual doctor and explained to him what I thought was going on. He was very understanding and was willing to perform a multi-planar ultrasound.
This was the second time I would receive good news. The ultrasound was “unremarkable” and he said that there's nothing to worry about – my liver, gallbladder, spleen, and pancreas were all normal as it relates to shape, size, and visibility. In fact, he believed that my discomfort might be stomach-related and prescribed an over the counter proton-pump inhibitor (Prilosec).
After two weeks on being on Prilosec, nothing improved. So, convinced that I had done unrepairable damage to my liver, I adopted – what could be considered – extreme levels of self-care. I quit drinking cold turkey, I began taking supplements (milk thistle, fiber, and turmeric), and virtually eliminated both salt and fat from my diet.
This hard right turn in diet, in conjunction with my obsessiveness and anxious mental state, ultimately lead to a moment of uncharacteristic panic and a trip to the emergency room. At the hospital, they conducted a second round of blood tests and a CT scan. A few hours later, the nurse reported that both the blood test and the CT scan were completely normal – again; my liver, gallbladder, spleen, and pancreas were all normal as it relates to shape, size, and visibility.
Following the visit to the ER, I began rationalizing all the symptoms I believed I had. For example, my “yellowish” stool was a product of turmeric supplements and sweet potatoes (which I had almost every night that week). Likewise, the weight loss was a result of the water weight I'd lost from reducing my sodium, working out, and my anxiety-induced loss of appetite. Hindsight being 20/20, I began to feel pretty foolish.
Nonetheless, per the ER nurse's direction, I followed up with my family doctor. He was jovial but clearly a little frustrated with my knee-jerk reaction. He reiterated to me that there's nothing wrong with my liver and said that, after all my normal test results, the pain is likely muscular or skeletal. Ultimately, he prescribed a weeks worth of steroids (Prednisone).
It is now nearly a month later and, while I'm still experiencing the pain (it's much milder than it used to be), I still have no definitive answer. I've kept a food log since the beginning of November and have not been able identify any triggers – not coffee, not alcohol, not fatty foods. For the record, I've only had two drinks since late October (one on my wife's birthday and another during American Thanksgiving). Nonetheless, the pain simply comes and goes as it pleases. However, I can say that it is much more noticeable while sitting in the car or during certain physical activity e.g. carrying my 2.5 year-old daughter, housework, seated meditation, etc.
Currently, I have appointments with both a gastroenterologist (to check for ulcers) and a doctor of physical medicine and rehabilitation (to investigate either costochondritis or abdominal cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome). Both appointments are scheduled this December.
At this point, you're probably saying to yourself “great story but what do you need from me?” Honestly, I'm not sure. I think, since so many people and I have had similar experiences with unexplained RUQ pain, I was hoping to get some practical insight and an answer to a specific question...
“If you've had a similar experience and knowing what you know about yourself now, do you believe that your liver is still the cause of your pain? Or were you ever officially diagnosed with something else that you found to be satisfactory?”
I've noticed that the people in this group are tremendously supportive. So, I appreciate you taking the time to hear me out and consider some of my questions.
My sincerest thanks.
“Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.” – Haruki Murakami
Husband has right, upper abdominal pain. Drinks heavily. 
Pain below right ribcage
pain upper right side
Rib, Liver Pain?
Alcohol withdrawal advice
