Pressure in right side of abdomen

Hello all,i have pretty much the same problem as described by everyone.i`m pretty bad as far as visiting doctors but i have to get serious now.i have the pressure near sternum and lower rightside ribs.i can`t be confortable in any position and pretty much feel terrible all day every day.best i can describe is it feels like something large taking up space and shoving everything else out of the way.not sure if it is the same or a different thing but i also get a stinging like feeling from there on occasion.sad to say but it makes me feel slightly better knowing i`m not the only guy this is happening to..my mood seems to be taking a real turn for the worse also but that my be just from being in constant disscomfort/pain.i have no patience anymore for anything it seems .no need to respond to this post ,i know it is old.just pretty much putting my thoughts out there with you guys.hope we all start to make a turn for the better soon ,take care all.

I have had the same exact problem. I self diagnosed myself with liver cancer and cut out alcohol, fried foods etc... (total Hypochondriac) then I had my blood work done along with a CT scan and an ultra sound. Everything was clear and liver function was normal. My doctor said it is either my posture since I sit at a computer all day or Acid Reflux. 

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I have been having similar symptoms and came to this board to get an idea of what to expect before visiting my doctor. I have to say reading a post that says " I self diagnosed myself with liver cancer" without seeing a doctor and going through the proper tests to confirm is ridiculous. It's amazing what some people will do for attention.

Hi there, i am 31 and suffer from the same discomfort on my right side under the rib cage but only when sitting for more than 20 mins., i sit on my caboose all day at work so it is a major problem for me. Anyone have any ideas what it can be? Im thinking gallstones?? Please help!

I think the writer was being sarcastic and employing self-mockery.

The feeling of pressure that everyone is describing is characteristic of acid reflux associated with poor eating habits, stress and anxiety. Lots of spicy food and fatty foods can often be the problem. I've had it myself, and know many others who have had it. Most of the time it will resolve itself but don't be alarmed if it hangs around for up to a month or even more. When assessing the risk of the pressure being something else more sinister you should consider your age, diet and lifestyle. For example if you are >40 years of age, drink large amounts of alcohol, eat unhealthy and your symptoms persist for several weeks than I would suggest visiting a doctor. However, if you are healthy, young (ish) and don't drink excessively it is most likely not serious. If the pressure is worrying you I would also suggest visiting a doctor to put your mind at rest, as anxiety and stress from worrying can actually help to prolong or cause the symptoms you are experiencing. Please don't think that doctors will snigger or be annoyed for 'waisting their time' most of the time this is not how the feel anyway, but also if it means peace of mind and getting the right diagnosis who cares? Personally for treatment I would advise omeprazole. This drug blocks the production of stomach acid and thus almost immediately removes pain. The pressure you are feeling will subsequently be reduced over the course of taking the tablets. Finish the packet even if your symptoms disappear straight away. Omeprazole can be bought over the counter without prescription but is fairly expensive. I hope this helps and please don't be worrying. 

I don't think people are concerned about doctors "sniggering" at them - they just don't want to waste their own money and time to go to a doctor who basically just says "Well that's weird" and doesn't help them.  

I have spent over $3000 over the past several years for doctors and an ER visit for abdominal pain and digestive disorders that no doctors can figure out.  I would love to have been able to save that money and I feel that most regular doctors don't think outside of the box when it comes to symptoms they can't diagnose.  The attitude is:  Well that doesn't show up on my chart of common health problems so you must be fine.  That will be $400.

At the moment I am having the same pressure under my rib cage, around the gall bladder area and it is incredibly life disrupting.  It does indeed feel as though my gall bladder is 3 sizes too big or that stuff in that area is being pushed out of the way.  Not terribly painful but not normal either. 

I am 31, female, active, I do not drink alcohol and haven't for several years, I drink lots of water, am 3 weeks gluten, dairy, soy free and don't eat lots of meat.  I would not consider myself in a high risk group.   

And for the other females out there:  my good friend, also 31, had to have her gallbladder removed after a very painful attack caused by her birth control.  She suggested asking to have a sonogram done (although it sounds like many of you have had that with no resolution).  Don't assume that because you are young, eat well, and active that your body can't have trouble processing certain foods or medications.  We are each one of us unique beings.

Currently I am seeing a naturopath who is also an MD who does think outside the box and I am looking forward to her feedback on my current problem.  If I learn anything I will share.

Most importantly, try to think positive and do your best not to focus on the discomfort.   The more attention and energy you focus on the area the more you will notice it and can actually cause more stress which will only double the problem.  Try deep breathing, taking a quick walk and other things to distract your mind and remove focus from the problem while you wait to find out what it is.  

Good health and best of luck to you all!

Bobby! I agree with you that changing your diet helps. I have had the same pain/discomfort in my right rib cage on and off for a year now. I've noticed that when I eat fatty food, it really bothers me more at night. I have always been a size 6-8 so I really don't need to lose weight, but it seems that I have to be good with my diet in order to feel good. I am glad to hear your comment about the fatty liver so I am going to start eating less carb and see how I feel.

It's the liver y'all!! Stop taking any medicine, alcohol, smoking etc etc I was in hospital twice for exact same thing till I quit drinking. It flares up again if I don't take care of myself. Tylenol is the worst for inflamed liver

I am having the same weird sorta numb sensation under my right ribs. I do not drink and never have. I do not eat greasy food and am a strict vegetarian. It never feels painful or burning. Do you also think it is Gallbladder?

Hi guys,

I'm a 28 year old female and have been having this on and off for the last 4 years or so. It usually goes away within a couple of weeks, but unfortunately now I'm having an episode that lasts for more then 2 months.

I've had CT scans, no gallbladder stones, no kidney stones, no liver problems. My symptoms are, like you describe: an annoying pressure in the right side, right under my rib cage, a feeling that something is inflamed in there, sometimes pain, sometimes a little bit of nausea.

Three separate doctors diagnosed me with Biliary Dyskinesia. After reading extensively about it, I decided they are right.

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There seem to be some triggers for this, so check it our below to see if you recognize yourself in it:

- drink fizzy drinks

- drink coffee

- eat fatty, fried and/or spicy food

- sit on a chair 8 hours a day or more

Today this sensation was especially bad for me, so I will do what I haven't managed to do for the last 2 months in order to get better: I will stop drinking coffee. :(

I'll let you know if it goes away.

Hello, checking in here to see how my symptoms compare. Started 6 days ago, a dull feeling of pressure in my liver, Gallbladder area. Been drinking water and eating better since the day it started. No relief. Had the same symptoms 5 years ago and had all the tests ran but all was normal. Confused 6'1" Male 180 pounds.

SO glad to find others with this problem!  Discomfort loves company, you know  ;)

Although we all have the symptom of pressure in the liver/gallbladder area - as one poster said, like a baby's foot pushing out - I am not seeing other common aspects to our situation.  Some of us are young, some are older (like me), some are thin, some are overweight, some are low-carb, some are low-fat.  sigh.

I went low-carb (Gary Taubes' style) for six months, and during that time of high-fat diet, the pressure was worse.  I stuck with it, though, because another discussion board for people with gallbladder problems had many members recommending fat consumption.  Their contention, and in some cases, their RESULTS, was that the fat forced the gallbladder to process more, and to get 'cleaned out' by that intensive gallbladder activity.

I am now eating more carbs, and not seeing any less pressure.  If the consumption of more fat will actually get the kinks worked out of my gallbladder, I'm willing to go with it.  But, given I've had pressure over the last year on both a low-fat and low-carb diet, and since folks on this board are on both types of diets, I'm not sure any one diet is demonstrating consistent results.

Ready for the pressure to go away!

Hello all!

Same here.

Some background:

1. Started a week ago

2. Not painful, but the "baby's foot" description is very good. It feels like I have a half-inflated balloon stuck under my right-side ribcage (this I think is something that should be noted, since gallbladder pain can apparently be excruciating).

3. Not made worse by exercise (I have begun walking a few km a day in an effort to lose weight).

4. I have no symptoms such as blood in stools or urine, nor any real pain to speak of. I can press all I like on my abdomen/rib cage and it does not make it worse. I feel tired but am working hard and also walking every day. It's nothing like crushing fatigue or anything. 

About me:

1. Early 40s, fairly fit but I spent the winter doing much less exercise than normal, eating fairly unheathily and certainly drinking regularly (i.e. glass of wine every other day). Ten years ago I did run a marathon ... but I am now 71 kg and body fat is 19%. Not great, but not exactly Chris Christie, either.

2. I eat fish and vegetables, no meat. This doesn't mean I am a total food fanatic and actually I do eat a ton of carbs normally, mostly bread. It's good quality/organic bread but still, I do have that and other carb stuff.

3. I have had the occasional flare-up of intestinal discomfort (I was struck down for a week with a poorly liver in Central Asia once, due to the ton of fat in the food there) but it has never lasted more than a week or so. Perhaps 2-3 times in the last 5 years, so it's pretty unusual.

I went to the doc and blood work should be back on Friday. I am also scheduled for an ultrasound next week, since this is the best way of finding intestinal troubles (gallstones by their nature do not show up on other scans).

I will certainly keep you guys informed. For now, I will try to reduce carbs and cut out coffee (something I find extremely hard to do) and switch to black tea. I have cut out alcohol and candy, although this has had no real effect.

I am also taking a few "can't hurt" dietary supplements, including artichoke and milk thistle. You never know.

Stay healthy guys and see you soon!

I am having the same problem. I am on day 4 now. It feels like the "baby foot" under the right rib cage but am also having bad bloating and gas issues. Gas X has not helped however. It's really bothering me. My stomach also feels heavy like when I was pregnant (I'm not pregnant now). I visited my doctor this morning who assures me it's gallbladder problems. They say that unless you are having significant pain you shouldn't have it removed but to work on your diet and see if it helps. Didn't want to do a scan or anything and that concerns me b/c I want to know what it is. What if it isn't the gallbladder? It does feel like I did abs yesterday, but that could be becasue I pushed on my stomach all day yesterday trying to see if I cuold feel something.

I'm a new mom and this worries me. I don't want something to happen to me because I have to be here for my daughter. If anyone has any insight on what this could be or treatment that has worked or if it is the gallbladder please let me know!