RUQ abdominal pain after gallbladder removal

[kswak]

I had my gallbladder removed in May 2009 after HIDA scan proved only 3% function.  Since then I have had severe diarrhea (now controlled with Questran); and RUQ abdominal pain radiating to back (slightly improved with Benty), and stomach distention.

I have had a CT scan, which was normal and a colonoscopy, which was also normal since the surgery.  In May, while in the hospital, I had an abdominal x-ray, ultrasound, and an Upper GI; all normal as well.

What other conditions should I be looking for?  What questions should I present to my physician?  Did the CT scan r/o SOD?  

[Twinstacey]

Wow! Your symtoms are almost exactly like mine.  I have had alot of test also (EDG, Colonoscopy, Ultrasound, bloodwork, Hida scan (which showed only 2% function; so they removed my Gallbladder Aug 3rd); then I was still having the pain in URQ also radiating to back so the doctor did a CT scan with contrast and MRI of back to rule out that there was nothing from my spine that could cause the pain. All test keep coming back normal which is really frustrating because I am still having the pain.  Doctor now is just calling it Irritable Bowel (I guess because I have Diarrhea) but I know what Irritable bowel is and This pain is not from irritable. My Doctor said that they call it IBS when everything else has been ruled out.  But I am so frustrated because this pain is caused by something and they are expecting to do nothing and live with this pain everday. If you get any good advise about what to do next please send me a quick note and I will do the same for you.  I have another GI specialist appt Sept 30th and I will keep you posted on what happens.

[Walking_eagle]

Have them test a stool sample to see if you are digesting fat. They should do a qualitative and quantitative stool study.  Undigested fat causes diarrhea. If that comes back with a high number (I was told 7 but am not real familiar with the scale.) then have them check for sphincter of oddi dysfunction. That test should be done at a university hospital by an ERCP team. I only know this because I have been dealing with it since my gall bladder surgery 3 years ago.