Upper Right Quadrant Pain

This sounds like the episodes my nephew would have. Eventually, they figured it out. He did have high levels of something. I can’t recall….he had to wait for it to come down for surgery. It was a success. No pain since.

I agree with keeping a food diary and see if there is a correlation. My question would be does it occur after fatty meals.
My experience is that I had sludge in my gallbladder so it was removed. I did fine for approximately 5years but then had terrible bouts of diarrhea and had unintended weight loss. Was told the liver was likely sending out bile at unnecessary times so put on a med for that. But I too have that upper right quadrant pain almost consistently. It definitely increase when I eat higher fat content items. I also get nauseous.
Hoping you can get some answers to minimize your pain.

Hi all! I hope this message finds you in good health and the holidays are treating you well!

I wanted to provide an update. So I haven’t found an answer. I had a hepatic function test recently during an episode and it came back normal. I was in the ER today because the pain was bad since last Wednesday. I was beginning to think it wasn’t my stomach and was something like slipping rib syndrome. My reason was that I was drinking peppermint tea, trying the ibgard with no real relief. It felt like cyclical pain as usual. Got another ultrasound done. The lady who did it really took her time and was going over the spots I was having the pain in while telling her, which felt like someone was really listening to me. They didn’t find anything.

Labs came back normal as well. The most interesting thing is that they gave me a GI cocktail and I felt fine after.

My GI doctor told me today that with consideration of my blood work from the hepatic function test and the other tests that an MRCP or ERCP is not warranted and most likely not SOD. I am going to most likely see a different GI doctor at the UofM who said I could possibly have Functional GI/Dyspepsia issue. All I want at this point is the pain to go away. I can barely do my job even wfh when I have the flare ups. Thank goodness for intermittent FMLA because the last thing I want to do is be in pain and try to help someone else when I feel like I can’t help myself .

Hello. I had the same issue starting 7/2023. Went from chiropractor thinking slipped rib, ruled out, PT for pulled intercostal, no help. Went to PCP, and she sent me to Gastro for possible Gall Bladder. Gastro said no GB issue, but said I had an ulcer from 6 yrs prior. Upper GI confirmed ulcer, (not bleeding, and in healing process). Negative for H Pylori.
When I asked the Gastro that performed the upper GI, if the prescribed omeprozale would take care of that pain and he said”not in that area, that isn’t ulcer pain”
At this point I decided to switch providers. In the meantime, I had another pain episode and went to the ER at a county facility, they did an echo and MRI and diagnosed me with diastolic dysfunction and referred me to “The best cardiology program in the state”. Again, these folks said I had a pericardial effusion and focused on that. Not once addressing the Diastolic dysfunction. After four months of repeated tests, scans they suspected amyloidosis. I met with the top heart failure specialist and her words were “You are negative for amyloidosis, and you are idiopathic. Whatever you have if anything, we will never know”
I asked about the debilitating pain in my upper right quadrant at Thoracic area. And mentioned how it felt like the inside of my rib cage was wrapped In a corset and felt like it had so much tension. She shrugged her shoulders, gave me a script for Jardiance and sent me in my way.
10 months later, I was finally given an appointment at Mayo. My Drs team was incredible, they read and discussed every diagnostic sent to them. Ordered 5 tests before my consult, and when I walked in, met the Dr and PA, I was floored. Someone who knew. Someone who listened, I received my diagnosis of PH HFpEF by the end of day. Dr had a treatment plan and we have so hope for the future.
I hope the best for you my friend, and never stop advocating for yourself.

During your episodes, was the pain constant? Or did it feel like a stabbing pain that was followed by an ache, then goes away for a couple minutes and repeats?

Do you know what tests they ran?

My pain came in waves. It wasn’t with every breath, but with every breath I was prepared for pain.
Mine was caused by heart failure, and they diagnosed the PH during a left and right cath when they checked the pressures in lungs. 🙏 they find something to open the vessels in lungs to keep pain at minimum.
Best to you in your journey.

So just an update. I got a GI cocktail prescribed to me, which didn't seem to work. Ironically, when I am given it at the ER, it does. My GI at the University of Michigan refers me to a behavioral health doctor and possibly an acupuncturist. I do feel a bit defeated as I'm skeptical of doing acupuncture, but I want to remain optimistic. I genuinely believe there is further diagnostic testing that can be done to rule out that it's not some underlying issue, but I will go through the doctor's recommendations and update this thread on changes.

He also prescribed me a trial of Hyoscyamine to see if that helps at all. Wish I could see a doctor who is willing or able to go the distance with me on more diagnostic testing, as I feel there are more that can be run. I always wonder if a GI doctor at Mayo Clinic would be the best option for me, but I don't have the means of going there at this moment.

It's very rare, but check out Chilaiditi Syndrome, where part of the colon is between the liver and diaphragm. It's Chilaiditi sign if it shows up in imaging, but Chilaiditi Syndrome if it causes pain in the upper right part of the abdomen. Sometimes radiologist don't mention it when it's seen on a scan. You may want to ask your doctor if this could've been seen on imaging, but not mentioned. Sorry for what you're dealing with and please post again with an update.