I am 30, male. Is my RUQ discomfort linked to GERD?

Question

Hello doctor,

I have been suffering from NAFLD (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease) for the last six months. Now, I have had RUQ (right upper quadrant) heaviness, back pain, and flatulence for the last three months. I had several tests, and I have given the details below with the findings. USG of whole abdomen - hepatomegaly with fatty liver, fibroscan - 3.2 kPa median value, upper GI endoscopy - GERD grade A and small hiatus hernia, hepatitis B non-reactive, hepatitis C non-reactive, FBS - 94 mg per 100 mL, lipid profile completely normal, liver function test - indirect bilirubin elevated 1.3 mg per 100 mL and others are normal.

My doctor advised me to avoid oily and spicy food. Also, prescribed two medicines named Sompraz D 40 and Liv 52 DS. I have lost 19 pounds in the last four months. Now, my weight is 165.34 lbs and my height is 5.74 feet. My age is 30 years. I have had a constant RUQ discomfort and right-sided back pain for the last four weeks. I had the same fine before some time, and it recurred again. Also, sometimes I felt tired and dizzy. All the reports that I had shared are the recent ones that were taken before seven days. How to recover faster from this situation? Is it dangerous? Also, please let me know about a perfect diet for me to recover faster.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Thank you for providing a detailed history. Based on your symptoms, it is likely that your abdominal pain is originating from either your stomach (gastritis and esophagitis), hiatus hernia, gall bladder stones, or gall bladder dysfunction. It would be helpful to know if your symptoms are related to certain foods, such as fatty or greasy foods, as they can exacerbate right upper abdominal pain. Regarding the ultrasound of your abdomen, please let me know when it was conducted. If it was done within the last seven days, I would like to know the findings related to your gall bladder, specifically if there are any stones present. If possible, kindly upload the ultrasound results. The gas and bloating you are experiencing could also be attributed to gastritis or the medications Esomeprazole and Domperidone.

I hope this helps you.

Thank you.

Answer 2

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

For the RUQ (right upper quadrant) pain, it is recommended to undergo a HIDA scan (hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid scan) to evaluate gallbladder dysfunction and potentially identify calculus cholecystitis. Moving on to the stomach, if you have a small hiatal hernia, it usually doesn't require surgical correction. Instead, you can discontinue the use of Esomeprazole and Domperidone and switch to taking only Esomeprazole 40 mg daily, preferably 30 minutes before any meal. It's important to consult your doctor, have a discussion, and obtain their consent before making any changes to your medication regimen. In relation to NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease), studies have shown that weight loss can significantly reduce the risk of progressing to cirrhosis. Lastly, you mentioned that your cholesterol panel is normal, but it would be helpful to know the specific values for LDL and HDL in order to provide more accurate information.

I hope this helps you.

Thank you.