heartburn and gall bladder related?

[derks]

I have been diagonsed with espohagitis. I have had upper right quadrent pain for 1 year now. taking omperazole 20mg 4x a day and amitriplyine 2x. I am sick of taking 6 pills a day. had a hida scan and gall bladder is at 35% was told will not remove until it reaches 15%. i just went threw a ph test and motlity test. have been waiting for results. i am told that the gall bladder and heartburn are not related. Both symptoms started last year at the same time and have been suffering with stomach pain, nausea so bad i got dehydrated because i could not eat, i feel weak and tired all the time, loose stools that look yellowish in color, and still having heartburn despite the 4 times a day i take omperzole. I have tried changing my diet. I get heartburn sometimes from drinking water. i have had just about every test imagineable. There is a history of espohagitis in my family along with colitis. not sure if its my gall bladder causing this or family history. After the ph test i have been coughing up a lot of plhem and have had coughing fits that feel like i am choking this happends randomly..wishing it would be over i am so sick of not feeling good and no answers!

[lifebeginsnow]

I have had pains under my ribs on the right side for 4 years now.  I have not been able to do sit ups. If I attempt it something pops out of place and I am literally paralyzed in pain and cannot breathe.  In the last 6 months I have been unable to do lower ab exercises too.  For no reason at all the right side of my abdomen feels full even if I have not eaten.  I feel spasms at odd times.  The pain (constant but usually dull) permeates the entire right side of my admomen, from under the breast to right above the hip bone.  I don't know if it is related but I am tired and hungry all the time.  I have had x-rays, endoscopy and ultrasounds done.  Nothing.  Iron levels are great and I should mention that I still have my gall bladder.  I don't know have bowel problems or any type of indigestion. What else could it be.  The pain is now ruining my quality of life.  

[Elliot R Goodman, MD]

GERD and gallstone symptoms are often v similar
An ultrasound of the gallbladder is generally a useful test to look for gallstones
pH testing and manometry will be sufficient to exclude GERD/acid reflux
If you have GERD and medications, diet changes and head of bed elevation are not controlling your symptoms, then you may have to consider more invasive treatments such as surgery
There is now an incision free anti-reflux procedure call TIF/esophyx you may wish to consider which offers the benefits of fundoplication surgery without many of the risks
Gallstones would require surgery too if eliminating fat from your  diet is not helping