Hi - looking for any advice I can get...

For the past few months, on and off, I get mild abdominal pain in my right side, right under the ribcage. It is not debilitating or anything, but the fact that it comes back is a concern. It will usually stick around for a few days, then I won't feel it again for several weeks. On top of this, I have frequent changes in stool consistency, ranging from the normal-looking well formed and brown, to light tan stool with more urgency (although not watery). During one of these changes a couple months back, the stool was brownish-green for almost a week and smelled pretty bad.

Back in December I had a colonoscopy for related issues (bleeding from rectum; colonoscopy came back fine with just a couple small polyps, which were removed) and anything colon-related was ruled out (i.e., cancer, Crohn's, etc.) They later determined the bleeding was from internal hemorrhoids, which come and go, although no bleeding for several months.

My question: could this be mild gallstone or bile duct problems? I have heard these things run in families, and my sister had to have her gall bladder out a few years back due to severe attacks. I am a 30 year old male, exercise regularly and am not overweight.

Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks!

I'm not sure what it is, but I would definately go get it checked out. Seems like your gastro doc. would be your best bet.

Your pain if it is below the ribs sorta in the middle sounds like gallbladder problems?? I think GB problems run in families because they eat very similar -- not because it is genetic.

I have also had a type pain but it is lower down between ribs and hip bone on the side ---since 1997 --- had my gallbladder out even though the test showed it was working OK. Have had 2 1/2 feet of left side colon surgically removed because of diverticular bleeding and I still have this right sided pain.

Sometimes it gets infected and I have to take an antibiotic like Cipro for 7 days or so and other times it sort of comes and goes. I have had every test that can be done on the intestines, stomach, kidneys with nothing showing up.

One Doctor told me that sometime a problem is just never Identified???

The other day It really hurt while I was working in the yard and I took my evening dose of Metamucil (Equate from Wal Mart) and within a 30 minutes the pain just stopped -- not to return for 4 days so I have really been baffled by this-- it could be spasms, cramping or trapped gas but has certainly not been diagnosed by 6 Gastro doctors, a Urologist, 4 Internist, an Endocrinologist, 2 kidney Doctors or the several surgeons that have operated on me.

I have tried rotation diets,tried to ID a trigger food, homeopathic remedies have helped sometimes but never lasts more than 5 months or so but it still continues but last year it only happened twice and both times it was relieved by antibiotics.

I certainly pray that you can find your problem!!

Harry

Sounds very suspicious for gall bladder to me. My problems started out vague and inconsistent too, and then worsened and intensifed to daily attacks of stabbing pain, nausea, diarrhea. You could have ultrasound and hida scan of the GB done, but don't be surprised if nothing shows up. I had these tests twice over the course of several months and everything was reported as "normal." I was really sick and in pain by the time my GB was removed and it turns out it was severely inflamed and covered in scar tissue even with "normal" test results! You might want to review the Digestive Disorders site for further gall bladder stories, too.

Katie G