Pain in right side under ribs and back with normal test results?

[Connorsw95]

Hi all, I'm new here. Firstly, it's lovely to see that most people here are so supportive and friendly :).

I am a 25 year old man who has a history of heavy drinking, approx 4-5 years. I had an abdominal ultrasound around this time last year, mainly to check my kidneys as my BP was slightly raised. I asked the sonographer to have a good look at my liver as I was still drinking heavily at the time and my LFT blood tests were abnormal. She said my liver looked a little bit fatty from drinking but didn't seem too concerned. In July I made the decision to start getting healthier with my diet and exercise and by September I had packed the drink in completely. After 6 weeks or so of quitting, I noticed this aching sort of nagging pain in my right side under my ribs and all along my right side. I tried my best to ignore it thinking I'd maybe pulled a muscle as the pain was intermittent. I have continued abstaining and lost 3 stone since July. I called my GP a few weeks ago as the pain was still there and becoming more constant. He ordered a repeat of my LFT blood tests which came back completely normal, he said as I had not drank for 3 months and am so young, it's likely my liver had repaired. I suffer terribly with health anxiety and had read on the NHS website that your blood can appear normal throughout many stages of liver disease so asked if I could have an ultrasound to be sure. I had this done a couple of weeks ago and the sonographer said everything looked normal, the fat had gone from my liver and it was neatly tucked under my rib cage. She said she noticed a small polyp on my gallbladder which is being looked into by a GI consultant to see if any action is required but she said she was sure this would not be the cause of my discomfort. She also said no gallstones were there. Is it likely they could have missed cirrhosis or something in these tests? I would have thought I'd have other symptoms other than pain but I am just so worried. My anxiety is through the roof and I have been spending 3 hours a day or more researching liver disease; I have told my GP this but I think he thinks I am just imagining I am having pain due to my anxiety but it is definitely there with no noticeable pattern with food, bowel movements etc. other than being more obvious when I am lying down in bed. What would you guys suggest? Sorry this is such a long post!

Thanks

Connor

[Laura009]

Hi Connorsw. Your post is exactly the same as many others we see, all around the same age. Rest assured all you need to do to keep your liver healthy and cure your anxiety is to stay off the booze ... it is nothing more than poison afterall, eat a healthy balanced diet and get regular exercise. You will have no more fatty liver problems, any pain or discomfort you may have will subside and you will have no need to be anxious any more. Oh and stop googling every symptom .. some sites will have you believing you are about to fall off your perch!! Take care, stay safe and be happy 😀

[Connorsw95 in reply to Laura009]

Hi Laura, thanks for your quick reply. I had seen a few similar posts but noticed that most of these pain complaints were following a binge drinking session or whilst individuals were still drinking heavily; I thought it strange that I didn't have this pain when drinking but only started around 6 weeks after quitting and my liver tests have all been normal? I'm out of my mind not knowing what to think. My dad passed away 4 years ago at a young age and this led to my unhealthy coping mechanism of drinking. I don't think my diet has ever been more healthy than it is at the moment and it's just very demotivating to feel this way

[Laura009 in reply to Connorsw95]

Sorry about losing your Dad that can be hard to cope with. Honestly give it time that niggly pain will pass. But if in a month or so's time you are still concerned get it check out again. Keep your mind active with new hobbies which will help distract you from constantly focussing on it. Are you taking any pain killers such as paracetamol? Do not exceed the dose and don't take indefinately but see if that helps over the next few days.

[Connorsw95 in reply to Laura009]

Thank you again for your words. My Dad suffered terrible health throughout his life, 3 heart attacks, cancer, gallstones, kidney removal and eventually pancreatitis and multiple organ failure. My aunt died of a heart attack at 35 also which I think is a massive contributor to my anxiety as I have been surrounded by a lot of untimely death in my family.

I just am so unsure why this aching sort of pain is there. I am constantly looking for reassurance online but so seldom find it. It could be something muscular but in my head I feel like I know there's something not right inside and keep assuming it's cirrhosis although I would think I would have more clinical symptoms. The Dr isn't really suggesting what to do next in terms of the pain, just suggesting I revisit my anxiety medication that I came off in March - he did laugh when I told him I had been eating beetroot despite hating the stuff though because I'd read about the health benefits.

I have tried taking some painkillers (ibuprofen or paracetemol) but since the pain is sometimes intermittent, it's hard to tell if it's doing anything or not (if it is, the difference isn't dramatic). I have also been taking regular hot baths and trying to adjust my sleeping position in case this is causing a pulled muscle or something. It's getting to the point where I'm finding it hard to get to sleep though because the discomfort is so obvious when I am lying in bed consumed by my negative thoughts and thinking of death - I am 25 and I just want to feel full of life and not thinking this way but it's so hard when there is a physical symptom that you can't just put to the back of your mind.

Thanks again

[Laura009 in reply to Connorsw95]

Every family will have health issues of some kind and we all lose someone along the way. My Mother died from problems caused by cancer 30 years previously. My Father had leukaemia for many years, a lung cancer which spread to his brain and he died last year. But l can not and will not waste my time becoming paranoid about finding a lump in my leg or looking for signs of brain confusion and convince myself the same is going to happen to me. The important thing is to look after ourselves by eating healthily and keeping fit. Please don't , at your young age especially, worry unnecessarily about what may or may not happen to you. Take care of you body inside and out, think positively instead of negatively and make the most of every day. Maybe talking to a professional about your anxiety will help you too.

Chin up !

Best wishes Laura