gallstones and tenderness...

Is it normal to feel some tenderness in your back after having a gallstone attack that landed me in the ER, a couple days later.  Just feels sort of sore, in the lower back not on my right side.  Or is this something else?

[Banned1]

Hi there:

I'm so sorry to hear about your gallstone attack.  I am not a doctor and know nothing about this stuff beyond what I've read and learned from my own situation.  I had (and still have) lower, middle-right and shoulderblade-area pain with gallstone attacks and I still do.  I think it's a pretty common symptom.

I had my gallbladder removed in May but still have pain in the upper right quadrant of my abdomen and back.  There are so many things that can cause symptoms like yours including gallbladder, sphincter of oddi dysfunction, pancreatitis, etc.  

Doing your own research can only help.  Check out the "First Principles of Gastroenterology", http://gastroresource.com/GITextbook/en/Default.htm.  I would take special note of the biliary system, Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction and pancreatitis.

Here are some links for you:
http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec10/ch140/ch140b.html
http://www.romecriteria.org/pdfs/p1498FuncGallbladderandSOD.pdf
http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/gallstones/index.htm
http://www.csmc.edu/5344.html
http://www.rxmed.com/b.main/b1.illness/b1.1.illnesses/GALLSTONES%20(CHOLELITHIASIS).htm
http://adam.about.com/reports/Gallstones-and-gallbladder-disease.htm

It helps to keep a journal or a blog and your welcome to read mine if you want but I write a lot (can you tell).  :)  It's a great way to review your situation objectively and identify patterns in your foods, symptoms, medications and pain level.  Hindsight is 20/20 and keeping a log might help you look at things more objectively over the longer term.  Also, when you do go into Emergency, you can say, this has been the pattern...

You are not alone!  Try to stay positive and reach out for support when you need it.  Talk to your Doctor, family, friends, co-workers, church or social service volunteers or anyone you feel safe with.  

Search the web for Yahoo! groups.  Once you have the page where you can search the Yahoo! groups, search or "sphincter".  There are about five of them.  Only two of them are really worth joining.  Michele's is by far the best as she is a registered nurse and an uncommonly kind, empathetic and supportive woman.  Maddi's group is wonderful, too.  Just put in a request to join and within a day or two, they'll let you know that you've been accepted.  Hopefully, if you join, you'll say "Hi" to me there?

When you do find answers, it would be wonderful if you could let us know the root cause(s) and how you got rid of your pain.  It gives people on this site hope to hear success stories.

Take care of yourself.  Good luck and Godspeed.  All the best,

Sam

[Ariom63]

Yes it is normal...lololol..answering myself.  Talked to my doctor.

[Ariom63]

I cannot thank you enough for taking the time to answer me and give me such wonderful information.  I am sticking to my diet and it is okay.  he sent me home with no medication, but I am sure I will be okay.

See...that is one of my biggest concerns.  Everywhere I read...I notice that more people who have had there gallbladder/gallstones removed still have problems.  I do not know if I want to go through that.  I know I will have to one day....but this is scary.  Okay if they are taking out the gallbladder then the pain should stop.  but the Er doctor already told me it just isn't that simple.  I am going to hold on as long as I can.  I have my appt with doctor and will go from there.  My grandmother always told me that the less surgeries you have the better...she lived to be 99 and my grandfather lived to 101.....

Thanks again for everything, I do truly appreciate your input and kindness.

[Banned1]

Bear in mind that I'm not a doctor and only know what I've read or been told so take it all with a grain of salt.  The only real reason that I know of to have your gallbladder removed is if it is diseased.  When people have symptoms like pain, nausea and diarrhea, it only makes sense to have the less-invasive tests done FIRST and then think about surgery as a last resort.  After all, would your Grandmother stear you wrong?  The endoscopic ultrasound and MRCP-S (secretin) are really great at providing diagnoses.  Also, the HIDA should let you know if your gallbladder is functioning well (anything above 35% is considered to be functioning well).

I had my gallbladder removed in spite of an 81% ejection fraction rate.  There was no point but I didn't know about the endoscopic ultrasound at that time.  

Anyway, I hope you're okay and if you join, please say hi to me when you get there?

All the best,

Sam