Dang It, Should I Be Really Worried About Gallbladder?

I swear I have the worst luck.  I only had to make it till Oct without a major health insurance, and now I am possibly facing a big one.

For a week now, I've had severe gas. I literally spend all day releasing gas, and I get pains all in my back, flank and stomach.  The pain is constantly moving around and changing, and usually hits worst when I get up from my chair.  

The pains left me on Saturday and I felt complete relief.  I went shopping and noticed something hard. WHen I touched my right side a bit below my breast, I felt mild pain.  I noticed it again today, and immediately the thought of gallbladder came to my mind.  

I told myself not to do it, but I looked it up and sure enough, the gallbladder is on the right side.  I can't tell if my pain is in the true gallbladder area.  It is about a half inch below my breast still on the rib cage area.  Is the gallbladder behind the ribs?

The gallbladder could explain why my body is producing massive amounts of gas.  Also, a recent blood test showed that I have high bilirubin.  I'm not nauseated and I don't feel pain when I breathe in deep.  I have been working out so maybe I pulled a muscle and I'm freaking out here.

Bad thing is I can't get health insurance so I can't run to the doc to ease my mind.

[Starbuck82]

Yes, the gallbladder is behind the ribs and the liver. It is possible that your gallbladder is involved, from the sound of it. I have had severe pains in the same area you are describing and STILL, all of my gallbladder tests are normal. If the pain is moving around a lot, I would consider IBS...Irritable Bowel Syndrome. It can often times be the culprit. So can certain food allergies. How bad is the pain? Gallbladder pain is usually VERY bad, so I wouldn't freak out too much. If it gets increasingly worse, then that's the time to worry.

Hope this helps!

~Starbuck82

[CalGal]

You may want to stick to a low fat GERD diet to see if it's of help. It might get you through the next few months.

[Matthew007]

yeah I agree with CalGal, super low fat diet...try and let your gallbladder catch up, hopefully there isn't a stone, i've heard remedies online with drinking apple juice to googling that "liver gallstone cleanse", you can google that (I think it's vinegar or lemon juice or some kind of mix..) I never did it (scared me..) but yeah sounds like you might be passing a stone.  Take it super easy on oils/fatty foods and some light exercise and plenty of water.   If it gets worse sadly I would get in to a doctor and bite the bills.  You don't want to get chronically screwed like most of us.

[txdave35]

Thanks guys.

I have suffered with IBS for years, and I've had the back related gas pains before.  I am a bit less worried tonight.  The pain is still there, but I noticed that it is not a deep pain.  It is right on the surface like someone pinching me hard.  I think I would be having deeper pain in that area if it was gallbladder.

[Matthew007]

yeah i've heard from tech's to doctors that gallbladder pain is rarely the same..it's different for lots of people..some have zero pain some have major pain.  Either way hopefully it's not a major problem for you.  Just take it super easy on the fatty oily foods for a while.  If it is gallbladder stones and there really is a problem it'll probably get worse and then you'll know :) good luck