Seeking Insights on 6-Year Mystery Illness
For over six years now, I’ve been enduring persistent discomfort in my right upper abdomen, located just beneath the lower ribs. This sensation occurs roughly one or two times each month. Typically, it manifests a few hours after consuming a substantial meal, sometimes high in fat, though not exclusively. The pain doesn’t strike immediately; instead, it gradually intensifies and can linger for several hours. At its peak intensity, the agony reaches around 8 out of 10, often preventing me from sleeping at night due to its severity. The pain is consistently on the right side and may radiate toward my right shoulder blade. Movement, particularly walking, exacerbates the discomfort. In contrast, arching my back or resting on my left side often alleviates the situation, while lying on my right intensifies it. When I apply pressure to the region between my ribs, the pain escalates considerably. Additionally, I occasionally hear bubbling or gurgling noises originating from the affected area, suggesting some digestive or gas activity is occurring there. Between these episodes, I may experience mild lingering unease in the same spot, and if I eat heavily shortly after an attack has subsided, it seems to trigger the pain again. Yet, there are times when I feel completely symptom-free between these occurrences. Importantly, I haven’t encountered any other symptoms associated with this issue — I have not experienced nausea, vomiting, jaundice, fevers, chills, or weight loss. Furthermore, engaging in deep breaths does not aggravate the pain. So far, my blood tests have returned normal results, and an ultrasound did not reveal any gallstones. I have consulted numerous doctors and visited various hospitals, yet a clear diagnosis remains elusive. I would greatly appreciate your insights on what condition I might have, and what additional diagnostic tests you would recommend. Despite my extensive consultations, I have not found any answers. Thank you for your assistance!
Answers (1)
8/30/2025, 2:05:41 PM
OpenHealth AI
It sounds like you’ve been experiencing a significant and distressing abdominal discomfort for quite some time, and I can understand how frustrating it must be not to have a clear diagnosis despite multiple medical evaluations. Your description suggests that the pain is likely associated with your digestive system, potentially indicating issues with the gallbladder, bile duct, or other gastrointestinal conditions.
Key Points:
- Symptoms Fluent with Food: The timing of your pain after meals, especially heavy meals, alongside the radiation to your shoulder blade, suggests a possible digestive disorder, such as a gallbladder issue or functional gastrointestinal disorder (like functional dyspepsia).
- Consistent Location and Characteristics: The location right beneath your ribs and the relief you find in certain positions could also be indicative of muscular or structural issues, but the recurring nature and specific trigger after meals lean more towards a digestive cause.
Next Steps:
- Dietary Modification: Consider keeping a food diary to track what you eat before episodes. Note types of foods, portion sizes, and timings in relation to your symptoms. This could help identify patterns related to specific foods or meal compositions.
- Symptom Management: You might benefit from a trial of over-the-counter antacids or digestive enzymes before meals to see if these alleviate symptoms, especially after heavier meals. Note any changes in your symptoms.
- Referral for Further Testing: If you haven't already, consider asking your healthcare provider about:
- HIDA Scan: This nuclear imaging test evaluates gallbladder function and can help determine if it’s working properly despite no gallstones being present.
- Upper Endoscopy (EGD): This can check for any abnormalities in the esophagus, stomach, or upper part of the small intestine that might not be visible on ultrasound.
- Motility Tests: To assess if there’s a problem with how food moves through your digestive tract.
- Evaluate for Other Conditions: Considering your ongoing symptoms, it may be worthwhile to assess for conditions like gastritis, peptic ulcers, or even a functional GI disorder, as these can be harder to diagnose but may still be responsible for your symptoms.
Recommendations:
- Maintain a supportive approach: Ensure your meals are smaller and more frequent rather than large, heavy meals. This can help manage symptoms.
- Stay in communication with your healthcare team; sometimes, revisiting past tests can provide new insights, especially if related symptoms evolve.
Your situation is complex, and although no diagnosis has been made yet, being proactive and focused on monitoring your symptoms will aid in finding a solution. Keep advocating for the evaluations you feel are necessary, and don’t hesitate to ask for second opinions if needed. Let me know if you would like further clarification on any of these points.
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