Gall Bladder Problems

[tom]

A few weeks ago I had lost 10 pounds within 2 weeks for what I thought was due to stress.  I also began getting thirsty and urinating often. In addition I had lost sensitivity in my fingers and toes.  My skin became exceedingly dry and perspiration all but stopped (except under extreme activity but even then not on the hands). Extremities are always cold.  

My stool has turned light in color (closer to tan when it was usually dark).  I am almost always constipated (more like grease) with sporadic diarrhea.  There is a sometimes a dull pain in the upper left (my left) part of the abdomen.  The pain is not debilitating.  Sometimes it gets worse after eating. I am hungry but get full quickly.  Often after eating I burp/belch.

My Dr. verified that I was not hyperglycemic (my blood sugar was in the high 80 - 90's sampled 4 times in one day). He ordered the following tests.
CBC, CMP, ESR, TSH, T4, HGAIC, B12 olate, Fasting Cholesterol.
They came back normal except the Cholesterol was high  (240).  Bilirubin was 1.8. He ordered an ultrasound of the gall bladder.
I've modified my diet which contains no refined sugars and caffeine. It has improved my overall wellness but the symptoms have not improved. Yesterday I slipped a little on my diet (had a piece of cake) and the dry skin and general malaise feeling returned with a vengeance.  Can gall bladder cause this?

[HFHSm.D.-Gastro-rf]

Dear Tom,
Gallstones would NOT be the cause of the many symptoms that you describe.  Although many complaints have been attributed to problems with the gall bladder, the most common presentation of gall bladder problems is pain under the right ribs associated with eating.  The pain increases in a step-wise fashion over 45-60 min and then gradually subsides.  Some people wikk have severe pain associated with jaundice and fever, an indication of common bile duct stones.  Finally, there is a subset of individuals who will present with pancreatitis.

[Joseph Bothe]

My pain is on the right side, and gets worse when moving side to side.  Am fine for one or two days, then pain hits suddenly on right side.  This pain affects bowels causing diarrhea or constipation.Have been diagnosed with gall stones.  Can this be causing the problem or should I be Looking elsewhere?  Have had colonoscopy,ultrasound,x-rays,stomach probe,biopsies of intestines and stomach.  Can this also cause headaches?

[GEORGIE]

I also have pain, my pain is in the URQ, right under ribs(right-
side also). Joseph is your pain upper or lower? I have also went for many tests, still need more, they found gallstones but my
pain is not severe which I think is classic for stones. I have
more of a dull-ache, also like you I think movement aggravates
it,however having a bowel movement doesn't make it better. What does the doc say about your gallstones?

[Linda]

Mostly when your gall bladder is bad it would be more the fatty foods that would be villianous not the sugar I have been suffering from what is said to be classic symptoms of gall bladder, I can not eat anything with more than a 10% fat content...was there fat it that sugar snack? other wise if not I would say it is more on the lines of GERD or diabetese. I have severe buring pain on my right lower rib cage which has become a mass on the lower right rib cage.. the pain radiates into my right side neck and shoulder blade. I have been on a severely low fat diet for the past 4-5 weeks and my stools are somewhat normal consistancy but still the very palor color. my Bp is high and I've had a fever of between 99.6-100.6 for the past 5-6 weeks I hope this has been helpful... you can write me at ***@****
Linda

[wendell]

If anyone wishes to e-mail me, I can offer some herbal recommendations which may help. I also have some excellent condensed booklets I can send out which contain a wealth of information. You can e-mail me at -> ***@**** Let me know if I can help!

Best wishes,

Wendell

[Linda]

Wendell sent me a happy virus, people beware!

[debbie]

I am 29 years old and 140 lbs/5'8" tall, I had my gallbladder removed February 98 in London, Ontario (where I lived).

I first noticed pain one day in August/97, it came on so fast I fell to the floor...it felt like very bad hunger...just below my breast bone...this continued for about a half hour and then I got another one.  The next day I went to the Doctor and she said it was an ulcer...without doing a blood test first!  She wanted to start me on medication...but I wanted to wait for the test.  It came back negative.  

In September/97 I had another 5 attacks, I went back to the Doctor and she said it was stress....hmmm, I thought...ok...it could be.  So I took anti-stress seminars...didn't help!  Then the attacks started to last several hours at a time.  They were very intense, no highs or lows, and it was difficult to breathe, walking made it worse, so I sat at the kitchen table for hours, praying for it to go away. Stress???

So I went back to the Doctor again in October...she said it was stomache acid!  ok...I thought.  I avoided chocolate, alcohol, tomatoes, citrus etc. still it didn't help.  She finally sent me for an ultrasound in November/97.  It came back positive for multiple gallstones.  She said it's minor surgey and not to worry about it!

So when I went to see the Surgeon in December/97 he asked me how many attacks I have had so far...I said 19 (I didn't think anything of it)  he was astonded and ordered surgery asap!  That didn't take place until Feb/98!

I did learn finally at the time of seeing the surgeon, that fat causes the pain....I lost 22 lbs before the surgery.  I was terrified of eating anything, as everything gave me pain.  I was scared to go out anywhere for having the pain in public.

After the surgery, when I was at home...I must say that the incisions (4) were REALLY sore!  It took me 2-3 months to be able to sleep slightly comfortable.  It was very sore to walk, laugh, reach up, down, turn door knobs, sit on the couch...getting up from the bed or couch was a real chore!

That was nothing, until one day in March when I had my first post-surgery gallbladder attack!  Yes it can happen afterwards!  The surgeon didn't believe me...come back when you have had 5 attacks....!!!  5 came and went...he did nothing...  I was really mad at this point...I'm not waiting months again for someone to do something....

I ended up visiting the ER MANY times throughout the next 2 months.  I had another 16 attacks....these all lasted 4-5 hours each!  They finally refered me to a Gastroenterologist, he did an ERCP after many weeks of waiting on the list on May 27/98.  It came back negative!  

Since then it has taken a long time (Aug.99) to be able to eat anything I want to.  I have no pain, no attacks, no cramps, and no diarrea (diarrhea).  I had several months of heartburn and reflux...but everything seems to be fine now!

Hmmmm.....how delectible brownies are again!!!!

***@****

[karen mccarthy]

ive been diagnosed with gall stones following an ultrasound. also the gall bladder wall is very inflammed, so my doctor thinks i should have the gall bladder removed. unfortunatly, due to previous surgery a year ago, for part removal of my blocked bowel, he says i am probably not suitable for keyhole surgery and may have to have open surgery.
i have had crohns disease for 10 years also.
for the last 4 months have been experiencing severe pain in between the breastbone which they thought was an ulcer. also feel sick a lot. each spasm lasts at least 45 minutes. unbearable pain.
has anyone had open surgery? is it really bad?
i am waiting to see the surgeon to get his opinion. i dont fancy another 6 weeks of healing like my last major op!
help

[Anne]

Hi < sigh > I to have had much pain under my right rib cage, have had terrible pain at times, belching,strange stools,
nasuea,bloating, swelling in my diaphram..sleepless nights, and
several days in bed sometimes as long as 4 days, weak from the
pain for days...I've had it!!!!!
Have been to 2 doctors..going on my third now...first one just took blood tests
and all came back fine...pain is still there, has been for the
past 2 years, went to another docotor,said I should see a 'physc'
all in my head...but I demanded a sonogram,went 3-1-00 for sonogram they found something that did not look right, they didn't think it was gall stones,they was some thickening
in the gall bladder open they thought, they said definetly
something wrong...have to now make anothe appt. to see yet
another doctor,after the results of sonogram are read.
Has anyone else had symptoms like mine..please if you have
would you let me know if they found out what the problem was..
I'm getting desperate, not getting help and also so tired
of the pain, and lack of energey. ' Oh where are all the good doctors gone' Mine retired, had for 15 years..:(
Thanks for your help. Desperate...Anne.

[Jess222]

              I have been experiencing some pain in my stomach under my breast and in between them that run down to my belly button. I have also experienced sickness like I was going to get sick. I have bad cramps and have light soft poop. All these things hurt real bad if i eat to much or after i eat. Does anyone know what this could be.

[Jess222]

I also belch alot and sometime they smell real bad.

[amari]

I AM 8 MONTHS PREGNANT AND I HAVE HAD TON OF ATTACKS AND COME TO FIND OUT THEY SAY THAT I HAVE GALLSTONES....IVE KNOW FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS NOW BUT MY SURGEON SAID THAT I HAVE TO WAIT TILL AFTER I HAVE THE BABY....I WAS WONDERING IS THERE ANYWAY THAT I CAN GET INDUCED EARLY? THE PAIN UNDER MY RIBS KILLS ME AND MY LOWER BACK ON THE RIGHT SIDE HURTS SO BAD....THEY HAVE ME ON A PAIN PILL CALLED DARVACET BUT ....I DONT KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER I CAN TAKE THE PAIN...YOU THINK THEY WOULD TAKE THE BABY NEXT MONTH AT 36 WEEKS INSTEAD OF MAKING ME WAIT 40 WEEKS?

[SDUT]

About a month ago I had pain in my upper back (around the shoulder blade on my left side).  I thought I had hurt the muscle while working out.  The pain keeps coming back and now it hurts sometimes in my rib cage under my left breast.  I get a little shortness of breathe but I'm still able to jog.  It especially hurts when I try to golf.  It starts to go away and then comes back.  Someone I know said it might be my gall badder.  Any ideas?

[mrs Peke]

You hurt on the left side?  That would not be gall bladder.

[Kidneystone]

Male, 36 typically very healthy except Kidney Stones:

I have been having (week to 10 days) mild to severe abdominal pains, nausea, etc. so I went in and they took blood and urine- My doc. found out my AST level was 55 so he ordered the ultrasound- it was on Tues. and I cannot get ahold of anybody but I still feel lousy.  I get dizzy, have no appetite and when I do eat I am immediately feeling full.  I still get these sharp lower ab pains that last from 5-30 seconds throughout the day--

Thoughts?

[Beckster222]

A related discussion, Pain on right side was started.

[JR81]

A related discussion, Stomach Problems was started.