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surgery / chronic acalculus gallbladder disease
For almost four years I have had RUQ pain from front to back. It started as a really intense soreness where I could not even roll over in bed without pain. Originally I thought it was a result of overexercising (I did feel pain right after a serious workout), but things never improved. I went round and round with doctors, with the consensus saying it was muscular, and I even went for PT for the quadratus laborum. All tests were normal, including HIDA, although I did have some sludge. But the consensus remained the same. They told me all was normal, including the sludge.
Fast forward 3.5 years. I am dealing with it almost daily with occasional bouts of what I thought were "lactose intolerance episodes." I reach out to a new GI doctor, and we do tests again. This time my HIDA is 4%, I have an esophageal ulcer, gastritis and a bout of diverticulitis all within 2 months. The HIDA scan reproduces what I thought were "lactose intolerance episodes" with the spasms reproducing the sore chronic pain, which feels like a burn blister - tender and sensitive to pressure and movement. It sometimes feels like a pulling, pinching and/or burning. On my best days, it's just a pulling. I get bloated, resulting in huge pressure which makes it uncomfortable to breathe, especially when my progesterone levels increase near my period. I always feel like there is a foreign object in the area on a daily basis.
Would surgery be in my best interest? I don't really even mind the "episodes" because they are only about four times a year, it's the nagging soreness around the area which basically drains all my energy. I never feel comfortable and am in pain almost every day,and although it's does not make me immobile, it changes the quality of my life. Does an ejection fraction that low always indicate a necsessity to remove gallbladder? Can it reverse? Since it is not working, how will removing it make it feel better? Could the soreness be from scar tissue or some other pathology?
I really don't want surgery, but feel forced into this. I would feel better if I knew it was the right choice.
Fast forward 3.5 years. I am dealing with it almost daily with occasional bouts of what I thought were "lactose intolerance episodes." I reach out to a new GI doctor, and we do tests again. This time my HIDA is 4%, I have an esophageal ulcer, gastritis and a bout of diverticulitis all within 2 months. The HIDA scan reproduces what I thought were "lactose intolerance episodes" with the spasms reproducing the sore chronic pain, which feels like a burn blister - tender and sensitive to pressure and movement. It sometimes feels like a pulling, pinching and/or burning. On my best days, it's just a pulling. I get bloated, resulting in huge pressure which makes it uncomfortable to breathe, especially when my progesterone levels increase near my period. I always feel like there is a foreign object in the area on a daily basis.
Would surgery be in my best interest? I don't really even mind the "episodes" because they are only about four times a year, it's the nagging soreness around the area which basically drains all my energy. I never feel comfortable and am in pain almost every day,and although it's does not make me immobile, it changes the quality of my life. Does an ejection fraction that low always indicate a necsessity to remove gallbladder? Can it reverse? Since it is not working, how will removing it make it feel better? Could the soreness be from scar tissue or some other pathology?
I really don't want surgery, but feel forced into this. I would feel better if I knew it was the right choice.
How did you make out? My mystery is solved... I had adhesions from my liver to my omentum, that fatty layer over the abdomen. She took my gallbladder out anyhow, but I truly believe the adhesions caused most of my pain and possibly prevented my gallbladder from working properly. She took photos of the scar tissue and I could relate to the sensations I was getting.
It took me a long time to feel decent and I still have pain. Unbelievably, some people bounce back within a few weeks, but unfortunately that was not the case for me.
It took me a long time to feel decent and I still have pain. Unbelievably, some people bounce back within a few weeks, but unfortunately that was not the case for me.
Good luck with your surgery, keep me posted how goes, as I go in Jan and would love to get some feedback either way on how you are feeling... all the best.
I am scheduled next week... wish I could have gotten a little more feedback on my post! But my primary also agrees that I should have this out, he mentioned that sometimes the bile causes problems in the stomach.
Yes i agree... but then again if people were doing well they probably would be on here looking for answers... no surgery is 100% but then again nothing in life is... I am extremely nervous for my surgery...but if its going to make me feel better I am also happy about that... kinda have mixed feelings, I know i have a great surgeon.. so guess time will tell. Keep us posted how your appt goes.
I am even more "forced" as my benefits reset in January and having the surgery next year would cost me thousands vs 0.
I understand about the transition. Where most people get GI upset after removal, since the EF is so low, we've already adjusted! I have been eating less and almost completely eliminated wheat to see if I have other things going on. I feel better, but the sensation of "rawness" is still there, although more manageable.
Yes, the chronic discomfort makes me cranky and bitter. Imagining a life with less pain seems really helpful, though I am scared also. I wish others would post about their positive outcomes, since you only see the complaints from unsatisfied patients on here.
Maybe the surgeons would post their experiences with satisfied patients who are in the same situation as us!
I understand about the transition. Where most people get GI upset after removal, since the EF is so low, we've already adjusted! I have been eating less and almost completely eliminated wheat to see if I have other things going on. I feel better, but the sensation of "rawness" is still there, although more manageable.
Yes, the chronic discomfort makes me cranky and bitter. Imagining a life with less pain seems really helpful, though I am scared also. I wish others would post about their positive outcomes, since you only see the complaints from unsatisfied patients on here.
Maybe the surgeons would post their experiences with satisfied patients who are in the same situation as us!
From what I have read the EF can not be reversed. I have same symptoms as you... there are times when I want to remove it myself! After months of back and forth and decision making I am getting mine removed in Jan... I just hope to God it all goes well. My GI doctor says mine isnt functioning properly and the transition should be easy, hope she is right. When do you see the doctor for a decision? Its tough I know, but on the other hand the chronic discomfort and episodes which always come at the most inconvenient times are no way to live either. Talk to the doctor and get all your options and weigh the positive and negative.
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