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Chronic Right-Side Abdominal/Back Gallbladder Pain
Digestive Health | Last Active: Nov 12, 2022 | Replies (54)Comment receiving replies
Hi all. Trying to find others who maybe have had a similar experience and figured out what’s wrong or how to deal. I have been have severe abdominal pain for months. A lot of the pain originates in the upper right quadrant of my stomach, right below the rib cage. I do have pain on the left upper quadrant and sometimes in the center (heart is fine). Also I have nausea with vomiting, regurgitation, heartburn throughout the stomach and cramps. My symptoms have been getting worse and worse and no diagnosis is on the horizon.
I am a 32 yr old male I had the lap band in 2007. I began to have stomach issues in 2016 and was basically in the fetal position for 3 weeks from intense stomach pain. ER and multiple drs couldn’t figure it out but the pain eventually went away and drs couldn’t figure it out and said come back if pain comes back. Few months later I began to have some discomfort and heartburn and pain. Thought it was the lap band. Had lap band removed March 2018 but nothing was wrong except the port was turned a bit. Had a harder time with recovery from band with pain in the middle of my stomach, next to one of my scars where the port used to be.
Heartburn started to affect me greatly after the band removal and started seeing GI. I was having some abdominal pain, with a lot of heartburn regardless of what I ate. Dr Put me on Carafate and omneprazol and told I have reflux. He also did a gastric emptying test which showed I have dumping syndrome.
The pain in my abdomen started growing in my upper right quadrant with sharp acute pain. Sometimes it felt like someone was twisting my insides, sometimes feels like a hot poker being stabbed into my stomach and other times like my stomach is being squeezed in a vice. I changed drs. Had an endoscopy , which showed grade B ulcers in esophagus with gastritis but no hpylori or Barrett’s. my symptoms started to get progressively worse and dr wanted to schedule capsule endoscopy but insurance wouldn’t pay until colonoscopy was performed. Had colonoscopy which was normal. As I was talking to dr after colonoscopy I was in tears to dr to schedule next test quickly because pain was becoming unbearable. I did not accept any pain medications from drs and instead use marijuana for the pain. Had a ultrasound a few months ago which showed 21cm fatty liver non alcoholic. I had a CT scan which showed prior infection damage to my small bowel. Every time I would look down or bend over I would get very nauseous with vomiting and My wife just gave birth in August so I look down a lot.
Very shortly after my colonoscopy I started to become unable to finish a meal. Food started to loose tase and eventually I stopped eating altogether. This was Around December 23. Since then I have lost 30 lbs. I am maybe able to push down 500 or so calories a day. Usually only after I smoke a lot of marijuana and even then I usually only have a few bites. I don’t feel hungry at all, even after smoking. It feels like my stomach/abdomen is always clenched and shut. If I do suddenly feel hungry if I grab something and try to eat I loose the sensation immediately and in mid chew the food tastes horrible.
My nausea and heartburn have subsided because of the no food but come back with anything I try to eat ( anything including plain rice, plain oatmeal and plain bread). But I still have regurgitation if I try to have anything or even with eating nothing. The pain is normally constant unless I smoke. I recently had a capsule endoscopy which showed gstroparesis (directly opposite the gastric emptying test) but a normal small bowel.I switched to a new dr in New York City whom is the head of the gastric dept in his hospital. He gave me peppermint pills and suggested CBD and ordered a new upper GI to see if my stomach is being pulled by anything. He took me off a lot of meds. I don’t know if the peppermint pills work but at least when I burp or regurgitate my throat tastes like peppermint.
I can’t keep living my life like this. My memory is shot to hell from the weed or the constant pain, take your choice. I own my own business and can barely function. I become unable to do anything or respond sometimes when the pain consumes all my thoughts.
From the lack of eating my energy is starting to diminish, I am getting migraines if I wait too long to eat something and I am starting to have a rash on my face. My sex drive however has increased. I have been getting lightheaded when I stand suddenly and the rest of my body is starting to ache more. I am trying to not go to the hospital. I don’t believe they will do anything aside from make sure I am stable and send me home to follow up with dr. Anyone have anything?
As a small aside- two days ago I ate a small amount and took a pull from my marijuana pen. As I stood up I let out the smoke and my vision got very clouded, my ears started ringing loudly and I began to sway. I felt like I was almost loosing consciousness. I grabbed my table and chair and held on. After 10-15 seconds my vision and hearing began to clear. This has not happened since and scared me deeply.
Any input welcome. Thank you!
Replies to "Hi all. Trying to find others who maybe have had a similar experience and figured out..."
I have gastroperisis did u ever have a gastric emptying test to see if u have this I had some of u r same symptoms but not as bad. Ask u r GI doc about this.
Do you happen to know if you have any form of autonomic dysfunction? It is entirely possible that nerves in the area of your initial surgery were were slightly damaged or an infection could have compounded the problem.
Alternatively, have you heard of MALS? Has anyone mentioned your median acruciate ligament?
Both very random but it sounds like people have looked at the routine causes so I’m reaching a bit outside the box...
Hi @joshk,
I'm tagging a few members who may have some experiences to share on lap band surgery, including @edmeek1 @josephine18 @kdawn32 @grandmar and @opie12. Here's some additional information you might find helpful:
– Video Q&A about Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG): What it is and What it does https://connect.mayoclinic.org/webinar/video-qa-about-endoscopic-sleeve-gastroplasty-esg-what-it-is-and-what-it-does/
– Expert Answers from Mayo Clinic: “Gastric Banding” Not a Stand-alone Weight Loss Solution https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/gastric-banding-not-a-stand-alone-weight-loss-solution/
With regard to the abdominal pain, I’d also encourage you to view these discussions on Connect:
– ongoing abdominal pain, chest pain and back pain https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/ongoing-abdominal-pain-chest-pain-and-back-pain/
– Chronic Abdominal and Back Pain https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/chronic-abdominal-and-back-pain/
– Relentless bile reflux / pain https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/relentless-bile-reflux-pain/
I agree with @johnbishop’s suggestion about making an appointment at Mayo Clinic if you are able to – with one of the largest group of digestive disease specialists in the world, Mayo Clinic has been consistently recognized as the nation's best Gastroenterology & GI Surgery hospital by U.S. News & World Report.
Hello Joshk, i 'am new here, i just registered myself, i had h-pylori and now peptic ulcer, i have taken for 14 days 14 antibiotics a day and the next 14 days 2 a day, after i had finish the antibiotics i went for an endoscopy, and i was told i have peptic ulcer, i am still waiting for the biopsy result, now for one month i am taking twice a day losec 20mg, i am having same problem as you, pain, heartburn, nausea, not wanting to eat i have lost 15 pounds most likely even more some days i don't have any strength, like this morning, force yourself to eat, i also went to buy probiotic i take 3 times a day, digest enzymes, 3 times a day, and peppermint gel, and i am also taking multivitamins, vitamin d3, and vitamin c very important, and since you have lost all that weight i would ask the doctor if he can test you for B12 that's what i am going to do too, i hope that you feel better, force yourself to eat...take care
I am hoping to find some help. For years now I have had flare ups (for lack of better terms) that begin with spontaneous vomiting. I can be fine then will have to throw up. Soon after I have pain in my left side just under my rib cage. Spent a week in the hospital a year ago and left with no diagnosis. Comes and goes. No specific food seems to cause it.
I have a history of diverticulitis and years ago was diagnosed with Crones but that diagnosis was incorrect. Had to go to the ER twice in 2 days with nausea and severe cramping. The pain now has started to spread to my rib cage.
I have no insurance and CT scans and blood work show nothing other than a slightly high white count.
Last year they found a touch of gastritis.
I do have an a uerysm on my celiac artery but know my symptoms are unrelated.
I can’t afford a colonoscopy with no insurance and currently am unemployed but cannot get any type of assistance. I am a 60 year old female.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
There is no common occurrence. It just happens. The most recent has been more painful.
I’m taking Zofran and Bentyl. It keeps it at bay. The pain doesn’t go away but the nausea is better. No over the counter meds make any difference. My stools are very floaty and sometimes almost white.
Hi I'm having similar frustrations...I am 28 years old female, i am hoping to maybe get some answers on here from anyone who has had similar problems. About 3 months ago I started to get weird back pain it was in the middle of my back more to my right side it would go from mild then with activity would get really tense tight pressure feeling then I would get really nauseous…thought I was maybe getting the flu went on for about 2 days like this then started a dull sharp pain right below my right rib cage and would radiate the pain to my back . only relief I would get would be laying down with a hot water bottle behind my back on my right side. In the past 3 months it goes from a week or 2 of every symptom very severe throwing up constantly sick to then being bit better for a week then flares up again feels worse…my pain tolerance is high so the constant burning stabbing feeling on my side I can handle but when the nausea sets in it's very hard to function. I have been to the doctor they have done a ct , they did an ultrasound of my kidneys, I have had a endescopy done, blood tests done etc all say normal the only thing was my blood tests showed my liver enzymes were slightly elevated but was told that was of no concern…I am someone who hates to even go to the doctor would like to just pretend that I'm fine and continue on but as much as I would like to my pain on my side stays…side note I had my gallbladder removed over a year ago …I was told by my surgeon that i should have my gi consider sphincter of oddi dysfunction? But seemed like she didnt really think it was…honestly very very tired of doctors and family thinking I'm crazy and it's just something simple like heartburn etc…if I could magically say I'm better and it was that easy would have done that long time ago.
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This was posted in 2019, I’m hoping your doing well, if you still have issues get checked again for h pylori. It can give false negatives, the breath test is the most accurate.
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Have you had your gallbladder checked? I was having similar issues anything I ate caused me extreme pain they sound that I had sludge in my gallbladder and took it out. Now inhave different pain still after I eat but more of a cramping pain now and not in the right upper quadrant. I would ask for a HIDA scan so they can check the function of your gallbladder. I am sorry you are having these issues I am as well so I understand all the pain and the feeling of hopelessness I am also having these feelings.
Does the marajana help with the pain or just relax it a little? I wish I knew what to do for the pain seeing as the doctors will not give me pain medicine