Sludge in Bile Duct

Posted By Debbie on May 29, 1998 at 18:23:24:







Hello.  I am the person who posted the "I'm having an ERCP ....and I'm scared".  
I had the ERCP performed May 27, 1998, and the results were normal.  
I am f/28/5'8"/130 lbs.  I am suffering from almost daily acute abdominal attacks.  
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 now lasts 3-4 hours.
As well, I have very little of an appetite and get full very quickly.  After eating such small amounts.  I notice the pain to come on 2-3 hours after eating anything now.
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 am not taking any medication for anything and have no other illnesses.  I have noticed blood in my stools on 3 continuous occaisions.  The blood id dark in clour...not black but not bright red...and is part of the stool.
The Gastroenterologist said the pain might have been from sludge in the bile duct....can sludge cause such wicked pain?  And could this re-occur?
Thank you
Debbie.