Can anyone relate?

[Eivissa]

I have been suffering with pain under my right rib cage for years. When I was younger the pain would only last days before diassappering but as an adult I can suffer for years before it will suddenly disappear overnight. I would have long spells as a teenager before the pain came back but as an adult it's just a few months before it returns.

During periods when the pain is active there is a constant sensation of something under my right rib....like a tightness, a balloon stretching or a heavy weight. It's like a dull ache all the time but the pain intensifies on and off throughout the day, particularly after eating and when stood upright. The only way to stop the pain is to lie down. I spend the majority of my days now led on my back. When I try to walk anywhere after 5/10 mins I desperately need to pee and my pain will come on again. It is a sharp stabbing pain when it intensifies which takes my breath away.

I was referred to Gastro but all tests came back clear aside from a consistently high kidney reading.

I have tried far too many medictions to mention which have not touched the pain including antidepressant and gabopentin. Antispasmodic medications do not help either.

Can anyone please shed any light on what is happening as my Dr and so far all the specialists I have seen are stumped.

Thank you for reading and 🤞

[Ziggydoodah]

Do you have nausea and sweating? Your symptoms are different from what i had but it sounds very like a gallbladder attack??? The only thing that would benefit me, was to lie down in my back and not move. It was awful. I still shudder at the thought of an attack, 5 years after getting my gallbladder removed. I would definitely look into this. Im sure some of the "wiser" members will be along shortly Eivissa, to advise you. Wishing you all the best.

[Eivissa in reply to Ziggydoodah]

Thank you for coming back to me. Both my sister and mother have had their gallbladder removed due to painful attacks but my ultrasound came back clear on the gallbladder 🤔.

[Ziggydoodah in reply to Eivissa]

Well thats good news, you don't have gallstones. Unfortunately still a mystery regarding your symptoms. Im sure someone will be along shortly to give you some advice. I hope you get it sorted soon x

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador]

HI Eivissa,Keep searching for your answers. Don't be dissuaded by the doctors not finding something immediately. Gallstones come on fast and furious with an attack. The fact that your attacks are long lasting makes me think stones. See if you can get an ultrasound of your kidneys. I am not diagnosing, just suggesting. I had stones for years and I really only had pain when I hit the kidney, like falling on my back, or moving in a certain way....unless one was passing and then, holy moly. And the fact that you are having indication in your labs that are abnormal for kidneys makes me think this might be a good thing to look for.

[Sarah_402]

Hi Eivissa, Have you had a lot of other tests done to rule out other conditions since you have been suffering since a child?? It’s interesting you say it gets better when you lie down….do you get dizzy when you stand up or just the pain comes back??

That is a long time to suffer.

I don’t know why you have this pain. I will share with you some of my experiences, but you could very well be different. My good friend was having symptoms of right upper abdominal pain, and all test came back negative. Her gastro decided they would take out the gallbladder anyways due to pain and to see if it would help. Sometimes physicians will do this but you have to be willing to go through a surgical procedure that may or may not resolve the symptoms. I had a painful ovary, nothing seen on ultrasound, but it was removed and pain resolved. They biopsied it and nothing significant was found. In both our cases the physicians said when they removed the organ it didn’t look quite normal. I’ve also had right upper abdominal pain that turned out to be due to a rare allergic condition I have. After treatment and avoiding triggers, my pain is resolved. I also have CKD, but I only get a mild discomfort in my back.

I have another friend that gets discomfort in right upper quadrant with greasy foods/fatty foods. So she avoids those foods and then does pretty well.

I’ve learned some diagnosis’ are easy to test for and easy to get diagnosed. Some others are really hard. I hope you get relief and finally an answer.

[Eivissa in reply to Sarah_402]

Hi Sarah_402,

Thanks for your post. I've had CT scans, ultra sounds, x Ray, blood test and stool samples. Dr's diagnosed IBS but as no other issue aside from pain the Gastro specialists drew a blank. I initially thought it might be air trapped in the hepatic flexure but CT scan has come back clear. They have only been looking at gastro related issues and not really focusing on kidney or liver. ...which is weird as my bloods have consistently shown a high level of creatinine.

All food and some drinks cause me pain but also just being upright throughout the day.

It's exhausting but I know there are so many others worse off. I'm sure it is something that could be easily fixed if they could just find it!!

[Sarah_402 in reply to Eivissa]

If you have a high creatinine you need to have that evaluated. I don’t know if it’s related to your pain or not though. I wonder if it’s more of a functional problem? Did they rule out gastroparesis? I’m sorry Eivissa

[Jamok]

Hi,Have the doctors ruled out stomach migraines?

[Eivissa in reply to Jamok]

Hi Jamok, thanks for your reply. Yes, all clear on the stomach front....apparently 🤷‍♀️

[Sophiebun11]

I do have that as well. I feel like it's inside me and under my rib cage. But when I press around it is actually my lower rib on the bottom and underside of the rib bone.

My Dr. told me it's caused by sitting and putting pressure on it. If you sit a lot it hurts more.

I thought he was blowing me off, but it is a real thing. He told me it can last months on end and then vanish. That's what mine does.

I hope yours is nothing more serious. I tried to improve my posture and it helps.

Good luck.

[Eivissa in reply to Sophiebun11]

Hi Sophiebun11,

This is really interesting...does this diagnosis have a name? It feels exactly as you say but I get more pain when I'm stood up and when I eat/drink? Do you get pain whilst stood and walking, eating/ drinking etc?

[Sophiebun11 in reply to Eivissa]

Mine is strictly from pressure on the rib bone from slouching. Eating wouldn't have any effect.

I'd see a gastroenterologist for answers if its food related.

[sparkie88]

Have you seen a specialist for liver and urology. It should like kidney stones or crystals moving. But ask your Dr about it.Swelling on the right front side somewhere under the ribs may be liver issues and sometime kidney stones which will have sharp pain. Talk to your Dr and make sure everything is ok then try Physical therapy or exercise. Those meds are very harmful to kidneys and they are useless in the pain department. Instead they will damage your nerves and you will loose control of your muscles and eventually your brains.

Take care

[Eivissa in reply to sparkie88]

Hi sparkie88,

Thanks for coming back to me. Totally agree about the meds. Stopped taking all of them after short trials with no affect. Was referred to pain management but have pushed for further investigations. I'm waiting on an appointment with urology but it's taking some time. Hopefully they will also check liver but I suspect if urology gives the all clear on kidneys I'll need to be referred to a liver specialist 🤦‍♀️. It just goes on.....

Ps..I push through exercise every morning which does help mentally but does not reduce my pain...very frustrating.

[TaffyTwoshoes27]

Maybe a Liver doctor - Hematologist-- could do some diagnostic tests?