Constant pain on the right side below the ribs

[Mick1414]

I have been diagnosed with Cirrhosis of the liver in 2020. I have constant pain on the right-hand side just below the ribs. I have had this checked by my GP and Liver Consultant without any results, even from a CT Scan I went for in May of this year. Phoned my Liver Consultant's secretary to ask the consultant for the results of my CT Scan. Not heard anything back.

Nothing will touch this pain, I have paracetamol and Oramorph for the pain, which it does not touch, every now and then the pain gets so severe that I do not know what to do with myself.

I would be most grateful if anyone can help or point me in the right direction.

Many thanks

Mick (141414)

[BritishLiverTrust3 Administrator British Liver Trust]

Dear Mick1414,

If you would find it useful to talk things over, our nurse-led helpline is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 3pm on 0800 652 7330 (excluding bank holidays)

Best wishes

British Liver Trust

[Dexter786]

Have you got gallstones? Sometimes gallstones can get stuck and inflame the bile duct. The pain is horrific though but can start off as a throbbing pain until it passes

[Mick1414 in reply to Dexter786]

Hi thanks for your reply, I had gall stones years ago and gall bladder removed at the same time.

[AyrshireK]

I wonder if you've been checked for Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction - In some cases when tests are normal, a condition called sphincter of Oddi dysfunction may be diagnosed. The sphincter of Oddi is a tight muscle band which controls the flow of a substance called bile which helps your digestion. It is located in one of the tubes around your liver and gallbladder.

Even after having the gallbladder removed (a cholecystectomy), some people continue to get a pain which feels much like gallstone pain. There may not be anything to find on scans, etc, and sometimes this pain is put down to sphincter of Oddi problems.

[golly123]

Hi. Are you sure it isn't your gallbladder. Gallstones possibly. You need to get this checked again. Why are they taking so long to give you your results too!! It's the middle of August now. I would chase this up. Best wishes Golly

[mozlaw in reply to golly123]

he said that he had had his gall bladder removed!!

[golly123 in reply to mozlaw]

Yes he did.

[pushthrough]

Hey Mick, I don’t have the kind of pain you do but I do have a constant pressure in that same area that’s extremely uncomfortable. I asked my doc about it and it wasn’t really addressed. However this was after the hepatologist reviewed my mri which was unchanged. I hope you can get it sorted out.

[Mick1414]

Many thanks for your reply Pushthrough, I shall phone my consultant secretary tomorrow.

[Lantana100]

we sympathise with your frustration in getting results!! My husband had his 6 monthly blood tests (including AFP) in May and his US end of June. We never get results directly - we have to go through our GP who is dependent on the hospital sending them the results. To date they have received nothing. I contacted the hospital and the secretary informed us the results would be reviewed in October!! That’s just a month before the next blood tests should take place. I have medical knowledge so can interpret the results but just can’t get hold of them so it’s very annoying that they are available but in limbo somewhere. And the hospital refuse to give them to us. I read poor Wolivere’s post yesterday regarding the death of his wife where he strongly advocated that patients “read their charts” but if you can’t get the information you just can’t!! We are very grateful for the regular follow ups we receive and luckily my husband is well but we need regular and timely interpretations too so that we can head off any issues.

[RainFull]

Have you been checked for a stone?

[Mick1414 in reply to RainFull]

Hi Rainful, thanks for you reply. The only stone I can think of is a kidney stone, but not to my knowledge.

[Ncbirdwatcher]

Did you happen to have a full abdominal opening made when you had your gallstones removed? I was scheduled for the easy through the belly button surgery, but they found my liver was hard as a rock and could not be turned. Hello cirrhosis ! I have had horrible pain as you describe, many scans and test . All the Dr say is that it is due to the cutting of my muscle. The pain is worse under the rib and wraps around to back on side. Another possibility

[Mick1414 in reply to Ncbirdwatcher]

Yes I had a full abdominal opening as this was done years ago as I have mentioned. Now a days they do this procedure by key hole surgery.

[FlippinOut]

I’m not a doctor so I’m just asking this because I too have cirrhosis. Is it possible the pain is just from the liver? I’ve heard that most people with cirrhosis have pain at some point.

[Mick1414 in reply to FlippinOut]

Hi FlippinOut, I an not sure as like you I am not medically trained.

[FlippinOut in reply to Mick1414]

I hope you get an answer to whatever it is and some relief as well. Keep us posted. I have upper abdominal pain too and I’d be very interested to hear what the pain is from.