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Constant pain under right ribs

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Thumper:
Morning all.

For well over a year now my gastrointestinal system is ruined. Started with acid reflux, then the never ending constipation. I have had a battery of tests, FIT test, gastroscopy, bloods, abdominal CT. Everything comes back as normal except a cyst on my liver (wasn't concerning) and a small kidney stone in my right kidney, so nothing further is done.

3 weeks ago I started to get the familiar bottom right rib pain I usually get when I'm backed up but it was a bit weird as I had been going twice a day and felt my bowels were actually ok except for bloating that had me looking pregnant. So I started the Lactulose. However it's done nothing except give me terrible wind.

Saw my GP who said the pain is where the gallbladder is but as I had a clear CT (Sept last year) then it's unlikely to be gallbladder issues, kidney stone would be sharp pain and move and to take paracetamol as it's probably costochondritis. Even cocodamol won't touch this gnawing pain.

I did my own experiment and last night and had a meal high in saturated fat (McDonalds), a milkshake, cheesecake and a glass of wine. The pain didn't get worse which I believe it would do if it was gallbladder.

The pain is under the lower right rib, wraps into the back, the rib is tender to touch all the way around particularly 1 bit in the back. I do have pain in my right flank around the hepatic flexure area but the pain has also now spread to my right hip and down the front of my right thigh.

I've had a nosey on here for gallbladder issues but it doesn't seem to fit as the pain is constant, not in waves and doesn't get worse after eating or drinking.

Any thoughts you lovely lot as it's really getting quite unbearable day in, day out x

MrsMitch:
Hello Thumper, when my husband had gallstones pain we found out quite a few things about what could cause the pain. The GP mentioned that pancreas pain is the same & doesn't come in waves, so pancreatitis was mentioned. He did mention that doesn't always flare up after certain foods & the pain is obviously in the same area. He also said certain scans don't always show up the problem - but you may have had a blood test that covered that.
Diclofenic (I think that's how you spell it) suppositories apparently are about the best to ease the pain. Prior to diagnosis my husband was given these on A&E visits when he was in agony but no one knew what was causing it. Once gallstones were diagnosed as the cause he had those regularly until surgery.
His dad had pancreas issues & his pain was identical but again didn't come in waves but was constant.
Don't know if that will help because you may have already had that checked as a matter of course.

jaypo:
Have you had a colonoscopy?

Thumper:
Thank you for the replies both. Things took a dramatic turn Saturday morning. I went to the loo in the morning and I had the most crippling pain in my mid back and ribs (right side), I'm really embarrassed to say I screamed the house down, threw up then blacked out. OH took me straight to A&E where I was still crying and shouting in pain, it was the most unbearable pain ever. Before I even had the Oramorph it started to ease off. It's back to the constant dull ache now. 

Blood tests were normal so they sent me home with Diclofenac Suppositories. They couldn't offer me any potential cause except ask me if I had visited A&E for opioids before (my anger couldn't take that). I tried to push for an answer but they stated as I had a recent scan they wouldn't risk the radiation. The scan was May (abdominal) and showed a small 2mm kidney stone (on the right). I'm assuming if that huge wave of pain was the kidney stone then it would be gone now and not back to the constant deep pain.

My father passed away young from pancreatic cancer which was misdiagnosed as angina, so the above post has me a little concerned.

I had a colonoscopy back in 2020 (pre-pandemic) which showed mild diverticulitis.

I'm going to pay to see an Osteopath this coming Thursday because at least I could potentially rule out any bone, ligament or muscle issues.

Next doctor appointment isn't until 19th September so it's a long old wait of no idea but suffering.

MrsMitch:
I'm sorry to hear how things went for you. My hubby had similar a few years back - post gall bladder removal. I ended up calling an ambulance (back when they came out) & as the paramedic was walking in the house, he heard my husband yelling in pain & said 'kidney stones'. His pain had also been on the same side as when he had gall stones & had grumbled for about a week beforehand.
After getting various pain meds in A&E it began to calm down & we were sent home with no diagnosis with him off his face on a cocktail of drugs.
We saw the GP a day or so later as the pain was still grumbling. GP thought possibly muscle pain but still no diagnosis & things gradually returned to normal. In the end no idea what it was & no problems since. It does sound very much like your experience but unfortunately we never knew what it was.
I hope you can get to the bottom of it & before too long, too. It's a dreadful state to be in. Wishing you all the best, let us know how you get on at the osteopath.

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