Question:
pain under right rib

There were recently several posts regarding abdominal pain under the right rib. I have experienced the same problem and like the other posts my PCP thought it was gall bladder. I have had e-rays, full abdominal ultrasound and full abdominal cat scan. The doctor can not find anything wrong at all. I was wondering if it could be a problem with the unused portion of stomach (proximal RNY) such as an ulcer there. Has anyone asked their surgeon about that possibility? Any other suggestions also would be appreciated.    — Lois S. (posted on March 3, 2003)

March 3, 2003
Have you had a hidascan? I had pain under the right rib for years. It felt like a baby's foot was pressing there...as time went on it got more and more uncomfortable. I had the ultrasound....nothing...I had a ct scan....kidney problems showed up, but no gall bladder problems. I had the hida scan and lo and behold I had an ejection fraction peak of 5 percent. Ejection fraction peak has something to do with how fast/ how much the gall bladder secrets. For some unknown reason, some people's gall bladders fill with bile, and keep filling and keep filling, thus causing pain. Anything under 30 is a cause for surgery. Gall bladders can rupture, it is not something to blow off (which obviously you aren't). I had mine removed when I had WLS....the foot (the pain) is gone. I had no stones and no "sludge"....hidascans pick up sludge"...just a broken gall bladder....Good luck to you!
   — j S.

March 3, 2003
I experienced pain under my right rib now for about 8 weeks. I was off work completely for 5 weeks and went back to half days for the past 2 weeks. I was diagnosed with a pulled muscle and now after lots of rest and inactivity, it is much much better. I also was on muscle relaxers that helped alot. I hope to go back to work next week full time and I hope to never experience this again. The pain was just awful in the beginning. I also had 2 CT scans and an upper GI but nothing showed anywhere. I don't have a gallbladder so that was out. All I can figure is it really was a pulled muscle. It's frustrating though when the tests come back negative. Good luck to you....
   — Kay S.

July 18, 2003
I had the same pain. The nurse told me they have had people with no gall bladder have gall stones in the duct that is left behind attached to the liver ! They can develop after surgery. It doesn't seem sensible but she swears it. My pain is what we think is an ulcer. Waiting on results.
   — robin T.