ARFCOM DOCS: What is causing my mysterious pain?

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - ARFCOM DOCS: What is causing my mysterious pain? (Page 1 of 2)

Posted: 11/18/2008 10:32:34 AM EDT

Pain is intermittent and is located near the bottom right side of my ribcage. Pain is located at about 2:00 and is about 6-8 inches above my navel. Feels similar to someone pushing the base of a hammer handle into me for about 15 seconds and makes it take a minute or so to catch my breath.

Posted: 11/18/2008 10:35:48 AM EDT

[#1]

By 2 o'clock do you mean upper right quadrant?

Posted: 11/18/2008 10:37:50 AM EDT

[#2]

Dibs on all

Posted: 11/18/2008 10:38:23 AM EDT

[#3]

Liver is in the upper right quadrant

Posted: 11/18/2008 10:38:36 AM EDT

[#4]

Could be appendix, go to the doc.

Does it hurt when you push in on it? How about when it rebounds?

Posted: 11/18/2008 10:39:17 AM EDT

[#5]

It's a good thing you came here first, you might have died.

Posted: 11/18/2008 10:39:23 AM EDT

[#6]

Shortness of breath?

Pain in chest?

Go to emergency room now.

Posted: 11/18/2008 10:39:35 AM EDT

[#7]

Upper right quadrant is usually gall bladder

Posted: 11/18/2008 10:39:40 AM EDT

[#8]

Gonoria or Syphilis.

Posted: 11/18/2008 10:40:11 AM EDT

[#9]

Do you have rebound pain? In other words, when you press on it, it doesn't hurt that bad but when you stop pushing it's really tender.

Appendix.

Posted: 11/18/2008 10:42:13 AM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:
Upper right quadrant is usually gall bladder

I was going to say gall bladder, or gas.

Ever get tested for Hep? Drink lots of alcohol?

Posted: 11/18/2008 10:43:31 AM EDT

[#11]

No. Sorry should have been more clear. Looking straight ahead is 12:00, right arm at 3:00.

Pain appears to be here:

Posted: 11/18/2008 10:44:36 AM EDT

[#12]

Sounds like it could be reffered pain from your liver or gallbladder.

Posted: 11/18/2008 10:44:45 AM EDT

[#13]

Gall bladder?

Or is that on the left side (stomach)?

Posted: 11/18/2008 10:45:11 AM EDT

[#14]

Quoted:
Do you have rebound pain? In other words, when you press on it, it doesn't hurt that bad but when you stop pushing it's really tender.

Appendix.

No, no rebound pain. Just feels like pressure more than anything. Usually feel it right when I sit down or when I stand up quickly.

Posted: 11/18/2008 10:45:53 AM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Upper right quadrant is usually gall bladder

I was going to say gall bladder, or gas.

Ever get tested for Hep? Drink lots of alcohol?

Gall bladder problems usually have radiating pain to the right shoulder. It could be anything. Go see a doc.

Posted: 11/18/2008 10:46:14 AM EDT

[#16]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Upper right quadrant is usually gall bladder

I was going to say gall bladder, or gas.

Ever get tested for Hep? Drink lots of alcohol?

Been tested for Hep, negative for all types. No alcohol of any kind. Pain has lasted for almost a week and a half so I don't think it's gas.

Posted: 11/18/2008 10:46:45 AM EDT

[#17]

change holsters to a SOB style. your gun butt is rubbing too much..

Posted: 11/18/2008 10:48:47 AM EDT

[#18]

It could also be Costochondritis but you should go see your physician if pain does not let up.

Posted: 11/18/2008 10:49:08 AM EDT

[#19]

Quoted:
change holsters to a SOB style. your gun butt is rubbing too much..

Holster is Versa Max II riding just behind right hip.

Posted: 11/18/2008 10:51:13 AM EDT

[#20]

Must be "teh gheyness"

Posted: 11/18/2008 10:53:35 AM EDT

[#21]

Is it caused by Fapping?

j/k

Man I have no idea.

BigDozer66

Posted: 11/18/2008 10:57:08 AM EDT

[#22]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Do you have rebound pain? In other words, when you press on it, it doesn't hurt that bad but when you stop pushing it's really tender.

Appendix.

No, no rebound pain. Just feels like pressure more than anything. Usually feel it right when I sit down or when I stand up quickly.

Eat a really fatty meal like pizza and see if it hurts.

Prolly gallbladder.

Disclaimer: It could always be the ticker. Chest pain is not always classic. You could die. Always wear a seatbelt.

Posted: 11/18/2008 11:02:13 AM EDT

[#23]

Could be just a gas bubble or whatever. I had pain in my ribcage too where I would get sharp pains occasionally for like 4 days, but it went away.

Posted: 11/18/2008 11:05:31 AM EDT

[#24]

Quoted:
Pain is intermittent and is located near the bottom right side of my ribcage. Pain is located at about 2:00 and is about 6-8 inches above my navel. Feels similar to someone pushing the base of a hammer handle into me for about 15 seconds and makes it take a minute or so to catch my breath.

Best answer...something is NOT RIGHT. Why don't you go to your Doctor and tell us what he says instead of waiting on here. Last thing you want to do is be lying on the floor in pain trying to call someone to help (my Brother's final gall stone attack before he had it removed).

AFARR

Posted: 11/18/2008 11:07:10 AM EDT

[#25]

Maybe a pulled or strained a muscle in the area?

How old are you? As time has gone by, I can't tell you how many weird pains come out of nowhere and go away later without doing a thing.

Posted: 11/18/2008 11:11:24 AM EDT

[#26]

Quoted:
Dibs on all

you can have his laundry detergent I'm calling dibs on ammo.

Posted: 11/18/2008 11:11:44 AM EDT

[#27]

Dunno.

What does your doctor think?

Posted: 11/18/2008 11:13:20 AM EDT

[#28]

I had similar pain 2 weeks ago. Felt it was in the upper right quadrant of my abdomen, underneath my ribcage. Had nausea and vomiting. Got bad enough during election night I had to go to the ER.

Had an ultrasound done, HIDA scan, and an abdominal CT. CT and ultrasound were negative for gall and kidney stones, CT also showed my stomach, liver, pancreas, spleen, and kidneys are normal. HIDA scan is specifically designed to find problems with the gall bladder and it showed my gall bladder was not functioning properly.

I have a surgical consult in less than a week and eventually they'll cut my gall bladder out.

Posted: 11/18/2008 11:16:12 AM EDT

[#29]

Acute cholecystitis.

Get a nuclear medicine HIDA scan with ejection fraction to determine function and patency of your biliary system. An ultrasound only detects stones, dilatation of the common bile duct or thickening of the gallbladder walls (which may be indicative of gallbladder disease) and shows absolutely nothing about the function of your gallbladder.

ETA: This is uxb, not kitties. I'm on her laptop and it automatically logged me in.

Posted: 11/18/2008 11:19:27 AM EDT

[#30]

go to the doctor now!
I had the same pains at first they thought it was my gall bladder, it was in fact my appendicts...had to be removed...swollen and perforated...it never really hurt where they say it should with appendicitis...it made taking a deep breath painful...yet when you pressed down on where the appendicts is, it did not really hurt that bad... the pain was actually mobile for a while, it hurt in the center of my abdomen for a few days, then felt like is was moving through my intenstianl tract... vomiting the day before...but the CT scan said otherwise, when I finally went to the doctor.... but shit dont wait!

Posted: 11/18/2008 11:19:50 AM EDT

[#31]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Pain is intermittent and is located near the bottom right side of my ribcage. Pain is located at about 2:00 and is about 6-8 inches above my navel. Feels similar to someone pushing the base of a hammer handle into me for about 15 seconds and makes it take a minute or so to catch my breath.

Best answer...something is NOT RIGHT. Why don't you go to your Doctor and tell us what he says instead of waiting on here. Last thing you want to do is be lying on the floor in pain trying to call someone to help (my Brother's final gall stone attack before he had it removed).

AFARR

I haven't had a family doctor in almost 2 years and I'm trying to find one today. No luck so far.

Posted: 11/18/2008 11:23:02 AM EDT

[#32]

gall bladder

Posted: 11/18/2008 11:26:15 AM EDT

[#33]

Quoted:
I haven't had a family doctor in almost 2 years and I'm trying to find one today. No luck so far.

The likely sources of your pain could be potentially serious conditions with many complications, so I think an ER visit is justified here. They will definitely check for gall stones, kidney stones, gall sludge, and appendicitis. They'll run some blood tests, do an ultrasound and maybe even an abdominal CT. The doctors there can refer you to a family practice doc for follow ups too.

Posted: 11/18/2008 11:29:52 AM EDT

[#34]

NO doctor here, but the CT scan will tell them exactly whats going on...the worse thing you could do is see a family doctor, and him suspect gall stones and send you home with painkillers while you make an appointment with a specialist...like the man said...go to the emergency room

Posted: 11/18/2008 11:33:27 AM EDT

[#35]

Classic gall bladder.

If you can find the family doc and ask for the HIDA with ejection fraction, it will cut down on the number of studies you have to have. HE can likely rule out the appendix and it'll be cheaper in the long run. The ER will put you through every one it can to milk you for dollars for the hospital. Some will be justified and some won't.

Right below the bottom rib at 2 o'clock is precise gall bladder location. Even without your diagram I knew that's where the doc pokes me and says "you ever have any pain right here?" (since I turned 40 he's been doing that....)

ETA:
Posted by History Grad student:

but the CT scan will tell them exactly whats going on

THIS is absolutely NOT true. CT scans are for certain things. Other scans are for other things. Each type of technology is designed for and useful for certain particular types of tissue or situation. CT is not some miracle god-like omnipotent genie voodoo crystal ball that can see anything. A regular CT scan cannot see the FUNCTION of the gall bladder.

BTW: If the pain is any lower or you have any inkling it's your appendix, do not pass go, do not collect $200. Go to the ER.

Kitties

Posted: 11/18/2008 11:39:29 AM EDT

[#36]

i'm an EMT and i use my x-ray vision ALL the time....lemme guess.....

Posted: 11/18/2008 11:43:14 AM EDT

[#37]

A CT is an anatomic study as far as gallbladder goes. You can have a "diseased" or impaired function of the gallbladder and it cannot be identified by anatomic studies like CT and Ultrasound.

All Nuclear Medicine studies are physiologic-based and a HIDA scan will accurately determine whether the gallbladder is or is not the origin of your symptoms.

Posted: 11/18/2008 11:43:42 AM EDT

[#38]

With much LESS radiation exposure to the patient than a CT.

Posted: 11/18/2008 11:44:25 AM EDT

[#39]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I finally found a doctor that can get me in today at 3:15 pm.

Posted: 11/18/2008 11:44:53 AM EDT

[#40]

Implanted alien getting ready to hatch.

Posted: 11/18/2008 11:45:42 AM EDT

[#41]

When I went to the ER, the only tests they ran were blood tests and an ultrasound. The doctor probed my abdomen and didn't think a CT was justified. He diagnosed me with biliary colitis, told me to stop eating greasy food, offered me painkillers (I declined) and then kicked me to the curb so they could free up the bed.

I was referred to a family practice doctor as a follow up. He ordered the HIDA and CT. HIDA showed the source of my problem, CT was to make sure nothing else was wrong.

Posted: 11/18/2008 11:53:22 AM EDT

[#42]

Listen to UXB. Don't ignore, if it's been going on for a week and a half, something's not right.

Whether it's your GB or your appendix, both can rupture, and can kill you.

Posted: 11/18/2008 12:38:23 PM EDT

[#43]

Gall Bladder, go see your doc.

Posted: 11/18/2008 1:00:50 PM EDT

[#44]

Quoted:
Thanks for the advice everyone. I finally found a doctor that can get me in today at 3:15 pm.

Good deal. I hope he's a good doc, you like him and it works out okay.

Let us know if you're okay.

Kitties

Posted: 11/18/2008 1:03:49 PM EDT

[#45]

It's clear a sandwich should help.................

Dr. Propguy

Posted: 11/18/2008 1:17:35 PM EDT

[#46]

Sounds a lot like what my Sgt had a few weeks ago. Turned out to be his gall bladder and he had it out. Back to normal for the most part but still healing.

Posted: 11/18/2008 1:32:01 PM EDT

[#47]

Now that you have a DR lined up I can guess.
With me (and similar pain) about $3 or $4 thousand worth of tests (mostly by insurance but because it was on New years eve and new years day I got wacked twice for co pays!) It ended up being a partially colasped lung that took care of itself over the period of a week or so