Help!

[Teresa88]

I'm absolutely terrified!  Had my gall bladder out two and a half years ago.  I've had pain there ever since.  I always thought it was just phantom gall bladder pain.  I've also lived with irregular heartbeat, numbness in hands, pounding heart when I exert myself_ I'm overweight.  Never thought much of this since I have a family history of it. I sometimes have trouble catching my breath also.  Never sought medical help for it.  I'm also a former smoker, and had one duodenal ulcer which antibiotics took care of.  Two weeks ago something happened in my abdomen, lots of pain and blood.  I have had a couple of black tarry stools that smell almost chemical.  I know this bleeding is probably from my stomach.  Also, I think I have colon problems, bowel obstruction and narrowing of stool, red blood in the toilet.  Not much pain anywhere just fullness and burning from neck to waist.  Now, I'm reading about pernicious anemia.  I have almost all of those symptoms.  My question is, with pernicious anemia does this always mean stomach cancer?  Do the two always go hand in hand?  I've made an appointment with a gasterinterologist, but he can't see me for 16 days.  Should I wait that long?  I'm desperate, please give me some reassurance.  Thank you.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

With evidence of bleeding in the toilet, I would suggest seeing a physician right away.  Any amount of black tarry stools as well as bright red blood is never normal.  

Causes of upper GI bleeding can be from an ulcer or inflammation of the stomach and small intestine.  An upper endoscopy would be recommended to evaluate the stomach and small intestine, while a colonoscopy can be done to evaluate any source of lower GI bleeding.  The colonoscopy can also evaluate for any causes that can narrow the stool.  

Regarding the gallbladder pain, there are some instances of Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction that can cause gallbladder pain in those after removal.  An ERCP with manometry would be the test to evaluate for this possibility.

You may want to discuss these options with your personal physician.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
Medical Weblog:
kevinmd_b