Right side pain, below rib cage!?

[GrahamSoup]

Hi everyone,

I wondered if I could run my husband's pain past you. Basically at the start of the year he had some bad sharp pain on the right side just below his rib cage. It lasted maybe 4 days and then went away. It happened again in March so this time he went to the doctors, they ran some blood tests but everything came back normal. Well today it's started up again. He also feels a bit less energetic and it's worse when he's straight (so standing!)

There are no obvious patterns to these episodes. We have a healthy diet, he drinks one or two beers on the week and doesn't spoke. He exercises a lot (usually running).

Obviously the first port of call will be trying to get in touch with the doctors in the morning but I thought I'd ask for opinions in the meantime. I myself have IBS so am pretty experienced in gastro pain, but this isn't like anything I've had personally. I really don't like seeing him in pain! He's taken my usual stomach remedies but that doesn't seem to have done much. He's generally ok, but obviously it's concerning that this seems to be happening every two months or so 😓

Pain in that area is most likely to be gall bladder or liver. Or less likely referred pain from bowel obstruction, but gall bladder/liver are more likely culprits.

I doubt anything you take for IBS is going to help. Make sure he gets in to the doctor's.

Thanks for replying.

The doctor mentioned gall bladder before (I had assumed the blood tests were to do with this). Is there anything we should specifically ask for as it's difficult not to get fobbed off (and he's already had all these blood tests).

Was he examined? It can be tricky if by the time he is seen the attack has passed, but if it's happening repeatedly the he may need an ultrasound to rule it in or out.

There is info here about the tests for gallstones, that's probably the most common explanation to rule out first (but I am not a doctor):

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gallstones/diagnosis/

Keeping a symptom and food diary is also a good idea. Sometimes that can reveal patterns you hadn't noticed, but also it will help doctor to investigate and for your husband to show this is a longstanding recurrent problem if he needs to push for investigation.

Blood tests wouldn't show up gallstones only a scan would.

Thank you both. I didn't realise that, I honestly assumed that if they thought it could be gallstones, that's what the tests were for! Yes he was examined. Foodwise he always eats the same breakfast and lunch and dinner was nothing unusual any of the times. Hopefully we can get an ultra sound!

I'm having bloating (not pain) in the same area and just about to try fodmap because of there being a sharp corner there in the large intestine.

I think you're probably more informed on this re IBS than me though.

Sorry to hear you're having bloating. I have done fodmap too and it helped me a lot so I hope it does for you too.

I have had pain like this in the past. Had an ultrasound to check for gallstones. No gallstones but it did show I had a fatty liver. I think the liver doesn't have pain receptors but there is something called the ?Glisson's capsule which is the connective tissue surrounding the liver and if the liver is inflamed then it presses on this and causes intermittent pain. I have lost a bit of weight and stopped all alcohol and have not had the pain for a while. Just had repeat ultrasound today so keeping fingers crossed my liver is less fatty. Could be this?

Gallstones wouldn’t usually last for 4 days straight though I don’t think? and when it’s bad it usually radiates round to the back and often shoulder too. Mine typically lasts 4-8 hours each time.

The blood tests are to check for liver function usually, or other issues with gallbladder. Gallstones are picked up via ultrasound.

I've suffered from this and taking a regular antacid helped.

That's interesting, I hope your new ultrasound is better! This does make sense but he doesn't really eat much in the way of fatty food and doesn't drink much either. His BMI is in the middle of the healthy range so all the things it says on the NHS site to do to relieve symptoms he already does.

Well that was my thinking too. His mum had gallstones and it was much more of an attack, his generally gets worse and lasts several days so it's not exactly an attack as such.