Gallstones

[Patsy100]

For 4 months I have experienced upper GI problems. It started with discomfort in the top of my stomach, pain behind the sternum, and directly oppsing area in my back, copious belching and phlegm in my throat and discomfort at odd times in various areas around my upper abdomen. Within a couple of days I also had a burning mouth (particularly my tongue where cracks or patches appear red initially but calm very quickly) and my upper GI tract is very senstive to dust, hot and very cold food etc. My bowel movementsd go from fairly solid to quite loose soft and aerated with and turning a greenish/brown colour. I have had ultrasound of my abdomen which revealed gallstones but it was comented that my gallbladder did not look inflamed, an endoscopy from which the Dr referred me for CT of the Thorax and abdomen after commenting that the lining of my gut looked normal except for some extraluminal depression in my stomach and to some extent my oesophagus. The CT scan was completely normal exccept for a small 5mm patch in my lung which he doesn't think is anything nut will be referred to respiratory people to examine. The consultant wants to take out my gall bladder because of the stones and some very moderate discomfort I have under the RHS of my ribs. I have lost nearly a stone in a few weeks, my appetite is great, I have no nausea or acid/bitter reflux. The symtoms are much better when I lie down at night (no belching or pain) but start up again the next day (nearly everyday), the pain getting worse in my back until I lie down again. Does this sound like a gall bladder problem?

[dogbiteray]

I have very similar symptoms. I have question whether it's the gallstones causing my discomfort. Doctors found stones, but so far I never had an attack. Doesn't matter what I ate. Feel the same. No inflammation. Same bowel movement you describe fairly solid to loose. Feel good when I lie down at night and comes back after waking up.
I want to see if you decided to remove your gallbladder and if that helped with your pain. All the doctors are pointing to the gallbladder, but I don't want to remove it if that's not the cause of the pain.
Thanks for sharing your story. Good to know someone also have this similar pain.

[ChitChatNine]

Please keep us posted and Happy Holidays!

[Patsy100]

Thanks for your comments. It seems that although they may not be causing my current symptoms, that removal is the most prudent first line of action.

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

Gall bladder stones can cause fatty food intolerance and abdominal bloating. The stones are unlikely to resolve on their own and hence will need surgical therapy. The stones may cause gall bladder inflammation and pain. Besides long term irritation by gall stones can also predispose to infections and gall bladder cancer formation.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.