upper right abdominal pain

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-06-2007
upper right abdominal pain
2
Wed, 06-06-2007 - 7:22pm

Hi, I am new here and am having a problem. I have been experiencing upper right abdominal pain that radiates from my abdomen to my right shoulder blade and sporadic chest pain, for about 2 weeks. The pain gets worse when I eat, so I pretty much don't. I have lost 8 pounds in 1 week. I am also nauseous ALL of the time and have even thrown up a couple of times. I have also had a low grade fever off and on for the two weeks.

I have been to my primary doc, a GI doc and the ER with no results. My primary doc did blood work (that came back normal with the expectation of my white count being slightly elevated) and told me to go the GI doc. The GI doc listened to my lungs and said “you have IBS” and prescribed Bentyl and told me to take a fiber supplement. I have been taking both with no results! A couple of days after the GI appointment the pain got so bad I went to the ER (on memorial day), they did some blood tests gave me pain meds that did NOTHING and sent me home. I went back to my primary yesterday; he said it sounds like gallbladder disease and he did more blood work (fine except for the still elevated white count) and sent me for an ultrasound. The ultrasound was EXTREMELY painful and showed nothing. My primary called today with the results and informed me that I should see the GI again!

I am so sick of feeling sick, where do I go from here???

ANY HELP IS GREATLY APPRECIATED!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-04-2005
Thu, 06-07-2007 - 8:49am

Welcome, glad you found us!


Trying to get a diagnosis can be frustrating, but it does sound like your doctors have been trying to find the cause of your pain. Some issues aren't 'black and white' and obvious as to their cause, but it can feel like you are being shuffled back and forth!


Here is some information about abdominal pain. As you'll see, there can be many causes and it can take a while to determine the cause of your particular problem.


http://digestive.health.ivillage.com/digestivesignssymptoms/abdominalpain.cfm


Definitely return to see the GI doctor and be sure to bring any report that was generated when you went to the ER. You might have IBS, but obviously there is something else going on too. If this doctor doesn't seem to be following through, seek another opinion. Be sure to let him/her know that what was Rx'd hasn't helped and may have even contributed to the added pain that sent you to the ER.


It is possible that you are having Gallbladder issues; here is some information that might help you to see if the symptoms are related....


http://digestive.health.ivillage.com/liverpancreasbiliary/cholecystitis.cfm


Please feel free to visit often, let us know how you are doing and ask any questions that you might still have.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-31-2005
Mon, 06-11-2007 - 10:14am

The other post has good information. It is good they are working on your problem. I myself just went through very similar pain as you are experiencing. When I eat, right side, through right shoulder, chest pains, etc. Had a low grade fever, and some nausea. Extreme pain, would last for hours and hours at a time. It turned out to be my gallbladder which I had removed 2 wks ago.

They diagnosed me quickly with dr visit, to ultrasound, to specialist all in one week, then surgery. From start to finish it was a one month span.

But they told me that nausea, fever, etc would indicate there could be a blockage or a pancreas issue due to the gallbaldder problem. I am surprised the hospital didn't do a detailed ultrasound to see if there is a blockage. It is more involved than the regular ultrasound. I also can't believe they didn't find it to be the gallbladder yet, you have all the "textbook" symptoms, as my dr told me. Be persistent, they will find it.

I hope you get a clear diagnosis soon, I know all too well what it is like to live with this pain and being unable to eat. 2 wks may be short for some, but when you are suffering, it is an eternity. Good luck to you and keep us posted.