Upper right quadrant pain

[carmel]

I have had pain in my upper right quadrant for years.  Doctors ran CT's, blood work and ultrasounds and finally concluded I had a non-functioning gall bladder which they removed in April of 2000.  The problem is that the pain has only increased.  The surgeon told me it is just phantom pain and my internist has concluded it is IBS.  I truly do not believe this as it is not a cramping pain and food does not affect it.  I have also noticed that since my gall bladder was removed, my stool has become very yellow.  My MD has given me Bentyl and Levbid with no alleviation of pain.  She swore the Bentyl would take care of it and even knock me out.  In the past three months I have had another ultrasound and a CT scan with nothing showing.  My husband had his gall bladder out this year and his surgeon said it really sounds like a blocked stone which may not show up in the tests.  I am desperate as the pain is only getting more severe each week.  I thought that I should probably contact a gastroenterologist myself for another opinion.  Does anyone have any ideas?  Denise

[TazLady]

Hi,
PLEASE go see a GI and tell him what you have said here.  You sound like me and I have finally been diagnosed with Chronic Pancreatitis.  It took SOOOO long to diagnose me because I do not drink, do not have a gallbladder anymore and have not lost a significant amount of weight recently.  3 symtoms to pancreatitis.  I have never been the same since they removed my gallbladder.  The pains have steadily increased.  I am having surgery in 2 weeks to look for blocked bile ducts from stray gallbladder stones. They are also checking to confirm I have  spincter of oddi dysfunction.  Please make the appointment with a GI to make sure your well and that this isn't what you have.  
Good luck to you.  
Sandy

[Dani]

Hi Gabi. I posted to you up a bit. I'll tell you that I ended up in the ER 3 days after I had my gallbladder out because of severe pain. When I followed up with my surgeon the next week we briefly talked about SOD and she pretty much dismissed me too. It took me years to finally get the proper diagnosis. There is no other way to diagnosis SOD then with ERCP, and that is not always 100% accurate. Let me know if you want more info. Good LUck

[GABI]

INTERESTED IN WHAT YOU SAID. I HAD MY GALLBLADDER OUT 4 WEEKS AGO AND THE ATTACKS ARE JUST AS BAD IF NOT WORSE. HAD ANOTHER GASTROSCOPY AND A BARIUM MEAL BUT NOTHING FOUND. I ASKED THE SPECIALIST ABOUT THE SPHINCTER OF ODDI AND HE MORE OR LESS DISMISSED IT. HES THE TOP SURGEON IN HIS FIELD! DO YOU THINK IT COULD STILL E THAT AND ARE THERE OTHER WAYS OTHER THAN AN ERCP TO DETECT IT.
THANKS GABI

[Dani]

Hi everyone,
Just a word of advice from someone who has been through all that you are going through....
ERCPs are risky procedures...but the answers you can get from it are worth it, especially if there is chronic pain without diagnosis. Just make sure that the GI doc you see specializes in "biliary tract disease" or endoscopy. In my experience, I have found that docs who do not specialize in this have a much harder time diagnosing sphincter of oddi disorder, or related problems. These disorders are relativly new ideas and some docs don't "believe" that it causes this much pain. They are more likely to jump to the conclusion that it is IBS. THe docs who specialize in this area are usually actively researching it and understand that it is new and that the symptoms/signs are not always obvious.
Good Luck to you all.

[alvarez]

Same problems here,  let me know if you guys figure it out,  I had gall bladder out, with no sucess.  I am still having urq pain and back pain,  I am miserable.   they want to do an ecrp next but I am tired of the tests.  

Just sign me ready to give up.

[GABI]

This sounds familiar. I had my gallbladder removed only three weeks ago and have had nothing but problems since. At first the pains were not too acute but eventually I went back for a scan to check for gall stones that had been left behind. They couldn't find anything. Yesterday I had the worst attack ever and am going back into hospital for further tests tomorrow. Makes you wonder if it was all worth it. Let me know if they find anything.
Gabi

[carmel]

Thanks for the push.  I called my primary and insisted she give me a referral to a GI.  My appointment is in 2 weeks and will let you know what he says.  Good luck with your surgery.  Let me know how everything comes out.   Carmel