Dyskenisia/ Shingles

[chem49]

I have been diagnosed with gall bladder dysfunction.(non functioning)  Dyskenisia.  I have had increasing pain for 5 days which became constant for the last two.  I was on tylenol 4 but couldn't continue to function with that so my doctor prescribed ibuprofen 600 mg every 6 hours which helped.  In the meantime i had a ct scan to rule out pancreatitis, which it did. I was informed I will most likely have to have my gall bladder out.   Now I have developed lesions around my torso on the right quadrant wrapping around to my back that are red and raised and I feel like needle pricks off and on. I fear it's shingles and can the two be related at all or is the shingles a result of the constant stress and pain I have been in for 6 days?   I am scheduled to see a surgeon in 4 days.  I don't want to let this go until then if it is shingles.

[chem49]

Wow, well I had an ultrasound, first then HIDA with injection, also had a CT scan with contrast and nothing showed up anywhere in all organs were normal with respect to the dyskensia.  My pain has subsided in that respect or has diminished some, but the shingles may be masking some of the pain.  Can't really discern where pain is orignating from now.  I have an appt. with a surgeon on Tues. but awaiting a call from my GP to see if its is really necessary at this point.  Of course I won't do surgery either way until I am cleared and have weighed my options here.  What I don't know is the % of function my gall bladder  is working at if at all.  I read there is risk involved if you have a non functioning gall bladder and it is left untreated.  Increased Bile build up leading to future problems, ?  cancer?
Thanks for your opinion.  I am definitely not going to be so hasty and let one doctor decide .  I have two recommendations on referrals.
thanks so much again

[Christopher R Watters, MD]

It is dangerous to put too much weight on the HIDA w/ CCK results. These have to be taken in the context of the patient's problem.  I operate on many folks with biliary dyskinesia but would be very hesitant if the symptoms were less than a week in duration.  You did not mention any symptoms that were gastrointestinal related.  Shingles can easily explain the RUQ pain in which case you have evidence of a suboptimal GB function without true symptoms.  Depending on how the HIDA was performed there can be as high as a 30% false positive rate.

[chem49]

Thanks for your comment.  I did get a shingles diagnosis and was informed that this could have been source of pain.  Depends on how bad the function of my gall bladder is.  The HIDA scan showed dyskenisia, which means the gall bladder isn't functioning and in spasms and I am not sure what the % of functionality is left.  I need to review my HIDA scan first.  I am in no way doing any surgery now until this is resolved and if I never get the pain again,perhaps is was a misdiagnosis as far as source of pain.  I was told that there was a situation similar to mine, but the pt. had a cracked disc in spine that showed up and was due to have surgery to eleviate the pain, and prior to taking into surgery, pt. was diagnosed with shingles, which was the source of pain.  How ironic.  anyway thanks again,

[Ricobord]

Don't let them take your gallbladder out just because they THINK it is causing the pain.  I have read way too many stories of people who really miss having their gallbladder and wish they had tried other methods first.  It is not as expendable as many doctors make it sound.

What kind of testing have you had?  Did they find stones?  Did you have a HIDA scan?  

Your rash does sound like shingles, so you'll want to make sure that isn't the source of your pain before you have surgery.  Talk to your doctor about theshingles first.  I doubt a surgeon will want to operate if you have an unidentified radh right in the surgery location.