How can gallbladder sludge cause persistent upper right abdominal pain?

[PenelopeA]

I’ve been dealing with this constant, dull ache in my upper right abdomen for about three months now. My doctor mentioned the possibility of a biliary issue and ordered an ultrasound, but the results only showed some gallbladder sludge without stones. I’m just wondering if sludge alone can cause this kind of persistent discomfort and pressure, or if I should be pushing for more tests.

[Ryan.D]

That sounds exhausting. I had a similar thing a while back—an upper right dull ache with an ultrasound that showed sludge and no stones. The pain didn’t fit a neat pattern and it lingered for months. I felt uncertain because nothing concrete showed up on imaging, and I started wondering if the sludge was really to blame or if something else was going on. In my case the symptoms would flare after meals sometimes, but not always, and I never got a clear verdict.

[Chloe_G]

From my perspective, a second opinion helped. If the issue is still nagging after three months, I would consider asking about other tests or referrals, like a hepatobiliary MRI or a functional test. I’m not a doctor, but I’ve learned that imaging can miss functional issues, and symptoms can be stubborn even when scans look normal.

[Ryan.M]

Sometimes I wonder if the issue is something else entirely—gas, stomach acid, or even muscle strain around the rib cage. It’s frustrating when you want a clear culprit and don’t get one.

[PenelopeWL]

Have you tried keeping a simple diary of meals and pain to look for patterns?