Re: Bile Duct stones OR Gastric ulcer?

Posted By Debbie. on June 06, 1998 at 14:47:27:

In Reply to: Bile Duct stones OR Gastric ulcer? posted by Markey on June 06, 1998 at 14:04:26:







Hello.  My name is Debbie.  I am f/28/5'8"/130 lbs.  I am suffering from almost daily acute abdominal attacks as well!  Although I have not had one for 2 weeks now!
It all started in August 1997, I was washing the dishes one day and felt a sudden intense hunger type of pain below my breastbone (where it is soft).  I went to my doctor the next day and she ordered an upper GI series (barium) and the blood test that checks for ulcers. Both were negative!  The pain continued through the fall...with many weeks between attacks...or sometimes just days or hours.  I went for an ultrasound in October and found that I had multiple stones and sludge in my gallbladder.  I quickly learned through the internet (not by my doctor) that fatty foods can cause an attack.  I revamped my diet so that I only ate foods containing no more than 6 grams of fat per meal!  This worked...because I had no attacks for 3 months!  But..I did lose 15 lbs.
February 1998, I had my gallbladder removed laparoscopically.  After the 3-4 weeks of incisional healing and pain and discomfort that went along with it....I began having the same attacks again!  I went back to the surgeon and he ordered an ultrasound...it was negative.  He said I was fine.  
I have had 16 attacks since the surgery.  I had 6 this past week.  The pain starts out (always) in the center, below my breastbone it grows in intensity to a very severe intense (no highs or lows) pain.  Then it moves to my back, between my shoulder blades...but down a bit.  I do not have a fever...but I do experience chills and sometimes sweating.  The pain usually lasts 3-4 hours.

I have noticed....a change in the pattern of the pain.  It always starts out in the middle then goes to my back.  But..I also now have at the same time a sharp intense pain on my left side under my ribs.  And sometimes a sharp crampy pain on my right side under my ribs.  What does this mean?  The local ER at the hospital said if I develop a fever and the pain lasts for more than 3 hours then I should come in....otherwise just wait it out!
I had an appointment on May 27th for an ERCP.  The gastroenterologist said that he thought it is a stone in the bile duct.
The ERCP was negative and he said the pain was from "sludge"....although I don't understand how sludge could hurt so much!
Now I am having some internal bleeding problem.....and need to go back and see him next week for another scope of sorts.
My e-mail address is: sock.***@****
Debbie.



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