At Witts end

[glanz]

I have had my gallblader taken out over a year ago and I am still having the same syptoms (symptoms) when I had my gallblader. I have seen many doctors and had many tests which have found a Hyatal hernia, about 9 hemangionomas on my liver and some cysts on my kidney. All the doctors have no clue of what is causing the pains. The pains are in my RUQ and just now have started to radiate to my back. All the doctors tell me to go to pain management. Pain management just hides the pain for a week or so then comes back. So I am open to any suggestions from anyone here. If you had the same thing and are in Ohio please tell me where you went to have this problem taking care of. Thanks again.

[Lor]

I suffered with sphincter of oddi dysfunction after my gallbladder was removed. The pain is very similar to the gallbladder pain. Mine became much more severe right after surgery. Sphincter of oddi dysfunction is when the bile duct sphincter doesn't open enough to let the bile out causing a build up of pressure in the bile duct. It can be very severe. The only test to find out if you have it is an ERCP with menometry very few Drs will preform this test. I would suggest you look up SOD and see if you fit the symptoms. You can go to google.com and type in Sphincter of oddi dysfunction or go to borland-groover.com and search their web site for information. Good luck

[Beaker]

Hello from the Greater Cincinnati Ohio Area.  Doctor Stephen Martin at the University Hospital is who is taking care of me for Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction.  His speciality is the biliary system.  Sod is very difficult to diagnosis.  It was 8 years of visiting doctors who just blew me off.  They gave me the 3F treatment. Female, Fat, Fourty/Fifty.  Instead of admitting they were clueless.  Now Dr. Martin has done an ERCP with Manometry/Sphincterotomy, that is when I diagnosed with SOD. Like it or not this disease will take a major life change or you will continue getting sick.  I had mine done December 12th and I did not cut out enough fats in my diet and this coming Wednesday I will have the procedure done again.  Being over weight does not help.  I had my gall bladder removed in 1994 and had been in pain ever since.  To see if it is possibly SOD, avoid red meat, highly fatty foods.  Also, stress doesn't help this disease.  If this helps to calm down those ducts that are going into spasm, at least you know what to look forward to.  Let us know how you are doing.  Good Luck!

[glanz]

What is involved in this procedure? Is it a surgery? I go see a Gastro on Monday.

[roxnsox]

I have heard so many people say they have had their gall bladder out and it did not help.  I had pain in the right rib area for 20 years and just learned to ignore it after a while.  I had my gall bladder checked by ultrasound at least three times in that time period.  It was always clear--no gallstones.  Finally with weight gain my liver enzymes and cholesterol were too high.  A new doctor checked the liver with ultrasound and said it was fatty liver.  The only treatment for fatty liver is to lose weight.  He told me I was obese and that scared me.  I only weighed 218 pounds.  He told me to read the Book, Eat, Drink and Be Healthy by Walter Willett.  After reading the book I stopped eating all hydrogenated oils and fats.  I lost 25 pounds very easily and now I feel so much better.  My pain in my side is gone.  Read package food labels and avoid this hydrogenated oil or Partially hydrogenated oil.  It is bad for you.  The FDA is working on making it part of the Nutrition labeling of food.  It might take another year before that happens.

[Lor]

An ERCP with menometry is just like going in for an endoscope. Except they go further down to the bile duct. The precedure involves putting a canula into the sphincter at the top of the duct and slowly pushing water or saline into the duct. They measure the pressure with the water. If the pressure is high they cut the sphincter to allow more bile to flow through. It is a risky precedure because it carries a high risk for pancreatitis. I can tell you I had this done and it took my pain away instantly. I did get pancreatitis which is very painful but was caught and treated early. Your Dr I'm guessing because I've been through this with several Drs will tell you that isn't your problem. Drs don't like to diagnose SOD because of the risk involved. If you feel your symptoms fit this look for a biliary specialist. This should only be done by someone who knows what they are doing and has done it many many times.

[Beaker]

The procedure is like a GED were the doctor places a scope down your throat to see what is going on inside of the stomach. This procedured will be performed at the hospital in the X-ray department.  The tool the doctor uses is different than the one use for a GED.  If the ducts are blocked or the pressure is too high then the gastroenterologist will put an incision into the duct that is not functioning correctly. This is called a Sphincterotomy.  The doctor may place a stent in the duct to keep it open.
If this is your first visit to the GI, then give every detail you can possibily think of, even if it is embarrassing.  Answer carefully the doctor's questions because it may make a difference as to how you are diagnosed.  Be honest with the doctor, as well as, yourself about what you are eating. Let us know how everything goes on Monday.  Good Luck!