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Published on: 4/7/2025

What Should I Do If I Experience Upper Right Abdominal Pain?

Tomas Diaz

Emergency Medicine, Holy Name Medical Center

Supervised by Tomas Diaz, MD

If you experience upper right abdominal pain, monitor your symptoms carefully and seek medical attention—especially if the pain is severe, persistent, or accompanied by other concerning symptoms.

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Explanation

If you experience pain in the upper right part of your abdomen, first monitor your symptoms carefully. Pay attention to pain triggers and watch for additional symptoms like fever, nausea, vomiting, or changes in stool or urine appearance. These accompanying symptoms may indicate a more serious condition, such as a gallbladder or liver problem. Contact a healthcare provider if your pain is constant, worsening, or interfering with daily activities. Your doctor will likely review your medical history, perform an examination, and may order tests such as an ultrasound—a safe imaging method to examine your gallbladder and surrounding organs.

(References)

  • Rathgaber S, Rex DK. Right upper quadrant abdominal pain. Postgrad Med. 1993 Aug;94(2):153-161. doi: 10.1080/00325481.1993.11945700. PMID: 29206611.

  • Johnson CD. ABC of the upper gastrointestinal tract. Upper abdominal pain: Gall bladder. BMJ. 2001 Nov 17;323(7322):1170-3. doi: 10.1136/bmj.323.7322.1170. PMID: 11711412; PMCID: PMC1121646.

  • Revzin MV, Scoutt LM, Garner JG, Moore CL. Right Upper Quadrant Pain: Ultrasound First! J Ultrasound Med. 2017 Oct;36(10):1975-1985. doi: 10.1002/jum.14274. Epub 2017 Jun 6. PMID: 28586152.

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