Gall Stones?

  My problems started about 7 years ago - I thought I was allergic to shrimp at first, but later after two children, I started having severe abdominal attacks after almost every meal I ate that had anything extremely fatty in the ingredients.  The pain starts in my lower abdomen and radiates around to the right side, then around to my back and gradually radiates up underneath my ribs.  I begin to feel faint and break out into sweats.  The pain usually lasts between 30-45 minutes and after about 1 hour, I have an extremely painful onset of a series of abdominal spasms which almost take my breath away, and then an onset of diarrhea.  After that, it's all over.  I went to a Gastroenterologist, who performed a colonoscopy, diagnosed me with an ulcer and put me on Prilosec, which sometimes prevents the attacks.  I went to the ER about 2 months ago and some cholesterol crystals were noted after an ultrasound of the right upper quadrant, and bile spilled into my urine.  Any ideas if I should seek further medical help?  I feel as though I cannot be diagnosed.  Also, approximately 1 month ago, I started putting on weight, a total of 10 pounds in one month.  My eating habits hve not changed - I usually do slimfast for breakfast and lunch, and I am not pregnant.  Any ideas???????
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Dear Autumn Jolly,
The symptoms that you describe are very suggestive of gall bladder disease.  I assume that the ultrasound visualized sludge in the gall bladder which could cause the pain that you describe.  I suggest that you arrange for evaluation by a surgeon to determine if surgery is needed.
This information is presented for educational purposes.  Always ask specific questions to your personal physician.
HFHSM.D.-rf
*keywords: biliary colic, gall bladder surgery
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