liver right side or left side - #14353
I am really confused about something and just need some clarity. For the past few weeks, I've been having this dull ache on my side, like in the area where your liver is supposedly located. I thought it was just something like gas or maybe I pulled a muscle, but the pain keeps lingering. I’ve done some reading and it seems there's always talks about the liver right side or left side. Most of the stuff I read says the liver is on the right side, but I also heard that something about gallbladder issues could cause pain on the left side too? Isn’t that weird? I’m not exactly sure. The pain seems to be more pronounced when I eat fatty foods or drink alcohol, which makes me worry about my liver health. I went to the doctor but they just did a blood test and told me everything’s normal... but I seriously doubt that if there’s pain. Should the liver right side or left side be the only area I’m worried about? Or am I possibly overlooking something? I keep thinking maybe I need to look more into my diet or something, but can your liver get messed up and only show mild symptoms? It's all just kinda overwhelming. Any insights would be helpful!
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Doctors’ responses
The liver is primarily located on the right side of your abdomen, just under your diaphragm. It’s quite common for people to associate right-sided abdominal pain with liver issues, given its location. Pain in the liver area can be dull or throbbing and might be related to various conditions ranging from hepatitis to liver cysts, or even fatty liver disease. Your mention that the pain worsen when you eat fatty foods or drink alcohol raises some eyebrows regarding liver stress or gallbladder involvement too. The gallbladder, which sits under the liver, might actually cause pain that’s felt on the right side, often referred to as the right upper quadrant, particularly after consuming fatty meals (a classic case with gallstones or cholecystitis) which can sometimes radiate to the back or right shoulder blade. The reference to left-sided pain though can stem from something else like issues with the pancreas, or indeed referred pain patterns, but classically not from the liver.
You’ve already taken a sensible step by seeing your doctor and getting a blood test; normal results there suggest that liver enzyme levels and other basic markers of liver function didn’t show significant irregularities. However, labs might not always tell the full story if symptoms persist. If the discomfort continues or worsens, it might be helpful to get imaging studies like an ultrasound or a CT scan. This can help visualize the liver, gallbladder, and nearby areas more clearly to identify any anatomical issues that might not show up in blood work. As for diet, reducing alcohol intake and fatty foods is wise both for liver health and overall well-being. Managing your diet may help alleviate symptoms if this pain is somehow connected to gallbladder function, which commonly reacts negatively to high-fat diets. You’re not necessarily overlooking something, but given the persisting nature of your discomfort, it’s reasonable to seek further evaluation. Consider discussing with your doctor the possibility of a more specialized assessment if symptoms persist despite normal blood tests.
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