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What Causes Persistent Pain In Upper Right Abdomen With The History Of Diverticulitis?
Question: I am a 70 year old female in good health but for about 2 months have had dull ache in upper right side. I have a history of diverticulitis. No fever involved, but pain is constant. Culture done by me local doctor showed no UTI infection.
Brief Answer:
Gallstones can be the reason.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
Upper right abdominal pain can be caused by gallstones, kidney infection/stones or large intestine issue.
Gallstones usually give pain which appears after a meal (especially fatty). The pain tends to radiate to the back. Nausea, lack of appetite can appear as well.
Kidney infection is ruled out. But stones are still possible. Especially if the pain radiates down to the leg.
Large intestine issues are more possible at your age. However it is possible only if you have not had colonoscopy in last few years. Otherwise its rather not it. Diverticles are most common in sigmoid colon. That is why the pain appears in the lower left abdomen.
I suggest you to start with abdominal ultrasound. This should rule the gallstones and kidney stones out.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Gallstones can be the reason.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
Upper right abdominal pain can be caused by gallstones, kidney infection/stones or large intestine issue.
Gallstones usually give pain which appears after a meal (especially fatty). The pain tends to radiate to the back. Nausea, lack of appetite can appear as well.
Kidney infection is ruled out. But stones are still possible. Especially if the pain radiates down to the leg.
Large intestine issues are more possible at your age. However it is possible only if you have not had colonoscopy in last few years. Otherwise its rather not it. Diverticles are most common in sigmoid colon. That is why the pain appears in the lower left abdomen.
I suggest you to start with abdominal ultrasound. This should rule the gallstones and kidney stones out.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
My gallbladder was removed in 2004. I have had an ultrasound (nothing showed up). I had a colonoscopy March 2015. I do not have nausea and the pain does not radiate down leg. My pain in in the RIGHT upper side not the left and it radiates to the right side back. I've had cultural for UTI and Kidney infection both were negative.
Brief Answer:
Kidney stone is possible.
Detailed Answer:
Yes, I do know its upper right not left. That is why, its not from diverticles.
Have you had urine analysis (not the culture)? And if so, were there any red blood cells present?
As the pain radiates to the right side back, kidney stone is the most probable reason. The stone can be invisible in the ultrasound.
Kidney stone is possible.
Detailed Answer:
Yes, I do know its upper right not left. That is why, its not from diverticles.
Have you had urine analysis (not the culture)? And if so, were there any red blood cells present?
As the pain radiates to the right side back, kidney stone is the most probable reason. The stone can be invisible in the ultrasound.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Yes blood work done and all was normal.
Brief Answer:
RBC in urine indicate a stone.
Detailed Answer:
I have asked about red blood cells in the urine, not in blood.
RBC in urine indicate a stone.
Detailed Answer:
I have asked about red blood cells in the urine, not in blood.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
No RBC found in urine. Negative
Brief Answer:
Abdominal CT is the next step.
Detailed Answer:
Do we have kidney issues less probable. However sometimes pain can be the only symptom.
As the pain radiates to the back and increases after a meal, gastrointestinal issue is also still possible. And I am pretty sure the pain is not from diverticles.
The next step in your diagnostic is abdominal CT to rule out pancreas issues.
Abdominal CT is the next step.
Detailed Answer:
Do we have kidney issues less probable. However sometimes pain can be the only symptom.
As the pain radiates to the back and increases after a meal, gastrointestinal issue is also still possible. And I am pretty sure the pain is not from diverticles.
The next step in your diagnostic is abdominal CT to rule out pancreas issues.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Ok thank you.
Brief Answer:
You are welcome.
Detailed Answer:
You are welcome.
You are welcome.
Detailed Answer:
You are welcome.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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