Hep B, gall bladder etc?

[Dimidine]

Hello all,
I have really learnt a lot from this site since I was diagnosed of Hep B virus in October last year.

I have had Liver Function tests about three times since I tested positive to Hep B, the lastest being last week.
Various clinics, different doctors, all results show normal liver functioning, including the LFT I did last week and the scan I did this morning

Meanwhile, I have been having pains in various parts of my abdomen and chest (like under right ribs,sometimes left ribs, back, sometime shoulders)  since November. I also have been having headache and get weak after little mental or physical stress or did not sleep well. All these things come and go. Sometimes, after taking enough rest and sleep, it goes, but comes back later. I have been living with this since November last year.

All my complaints about these body pains have not been taken seriously by doctors, especially when my Liver Function tests keep showing normal. But I'm worried, I'm thinking something is wrong, but these doctors keep saying these things have nothing to do with Hepatitis. They keep saying it's because I'm too fearful since I discovered I'm Hep B positive. I was even referred to a Neurologist to calm me down, and that one told me that the pains are anxiety symptoms.

I honestly doubt the pains are anxiety syptoms because I've not been that anxious and fearful, especially with all those good news I read here, with people that say they've been living with it for 20-30 years with no major problem. I sleep very well except when work stress make me sleep late and wake up early at times. I don't think. So I doubt it's because of anxiety.

Not convinced, I spoke with my main doctor last week. We did LFT again and it was normal and we further did upper abdominal scan at a reputable radilogical centre and here is the report of the consultant radiologist that did the scan for me:

LIVER:
-The liver is not enlarged, measuring 13.8cm in its A.P diameter. It shows a normal uniform architecture. No definite intrahepatic mass lesion is seen.
-The gall bladder appears contracted and thick-walled but no definite mass lesion is seen.
-The intrahepatic ducts are not dilated
-The pancreas appears normal

SPLEEN
-Normal splenic size and architecture
-No intrasplenic mass lesion is seen


KIDNEYS
-The kidfneys are normal in size and position
-Both show good corticomedullary differentiation


He said I'm okay, altogether. But curious to know teh implication of 'gall bladder appears contracted and thick-walled', I spoke with him further and he said it was beacuse I ate shortly before I did the scan.

But coming here to read about about gall bladder, I read that it could have something to do with Hep B.
I'm a little confused. Could the 'contraction and thick-wallness' of gall bladder be due to the teh fact that I just finished eating as the Dr said or has anything to do with Hep B?

Also, from what I have read here about people saying they have/had gall bladder problem, I'm also having pains in my lower ribs region. I also have headache almost on daily basis, though it goes after resting very well, but comes again later. It's been on and off.

I need serious advice here please.

[twinboys1girl4me]

If you are worried about your gallbladder causing abdominal issues you can ask your doctor for a HIDA scan.  This test will tell the function and health of your gallbladder.

As for your other symptoms, it may or may not be anxiety.  Anxiety and stress manifests in various ways, that you may not even be aware of.  Please continue to work with your doctors and if they stop wanting to help find others.  

[Aileen5577]

Oh yeah and my hep b levels is in the 29000s its to far gone that the meds he has to fight with my insurance company for months to get ghe name brand the right one for me then after i take it might not drop my levels or start killing it out for a year or two and he said i would probably die before it starts working cuz the levels r climbing fast where its to far gone

[Aileen5577]

I have trouble sleeping to but most of the time thats what im doing is sleeping cuz im tired all the time and have no energy i get wore easily to

[Aileen5577]

Hi i was diagnosed w hep b and c in 2011 went to a liver specialist two months after he told me i didnt have hep c but hep b i did never went back again figured my body would clear and kill hep b ever since then i stayed tired all the time no energy headaches pain on my right side of my stomach went to the doctor for my depression she seen where i had a test done she retested me again at my surprise and hers to i jad hep b and hep c was reactived so she did the test again and again hep b hepc reactivated so i ended up at a g.i doctor ultrasound of gallbladder liver blood work i have hep b had it for years my body never killed but my hep c dont have my body killed it out me and the doctor dont understand y but it did but hep b i have my doctor ask me if i was tired all time i said yes he asked if i had pain right i said yes he asked me bout my appetite i said most of the time i dont have one he said thats cause of hep b and it will get worse i told its been like that for years he said cause i have had it for years im in the last stage kf hep b and half way thru if theres only three stages to it my ultrasound on my liver and gallbladder my liver is badly scared and my gallbladder has a big black mass inside of it he does not want to take out my gallbladder cuz hep b will go straight for my liver the black mass in my gallbladder is hep b so its whats saving my liver right now my gallbladder half of it is black mass the doctor gives me a year so yes it does attack gallbladders it eats at everything inside u do have pain all the tim on ur right side i do most of my pain is sever pain tiredness all the time headaches almost everyday so dont let them tell u its not hep b cause it is hep b

[bowser86]

i am alwys stress and very sinsitive. i easily get mad for small things. i do not want to be like this. HBV *****! did you start treatment now or not. i don't have treatment yet.

[Dimidine]

@cajim,
Thanks very much. Your comments have always been very useful. Good to know gall bladder has nothing to do with Hep B. But I read many people with Hep B here talk about pain relating to gall bladder?

@bower86
I feel exactly the same. After relaxing and sleeping, the pains go or reduce, but come back later.
I also think it's because of HBV, but Docs keep saying it's not. Could it be a coincidence then than the pains started shortly after testing positive to Hep B? That's my worry. And how will the pains go permanently, because it's affecting my productivity in office as I easily get tired and stressed?

[bowser86]

I didn't drink any pain reliever. I just sit and relax and it will go away soetimes maybe because i am woried too much, ithink too much about HBV or any pain i felt i always think it is because of HBV. I had headache too for no reason sometimes it feel like empty head, sometimes it feels like my head is really heavy and empty mind no good reasoning and worse is being forgetfullness. Even rightnow i still have a backpain and i still keep moving, working around the house.

[cajim]

my abdomen and chest (like under right ribs,sometimes left ribs, back, sometime shoulders)

--If the pain goes everythere, it is mostly not related to HBV.

"I honestly doubt the pains are anxiety syptoms "

--I seriously.

Gall bladder has anything to do with Hep B?

--No.

"I need serious advice here please. "

--From your doctor.

[Dimidine]

So how have you been coping with the pain? When did it start? Do you have headache too?

[bowser86]

All the pains you mentioned is exactly i am exeperiencing right now. I have been diagnosed in 2005 during my pregnancy until now i am still normal. I did ultrasound, Ct scan this year as well as MRI 2 weeks ago and it appears everything were normal. The doctor told me about the pain could be something else but i do not trust him i do not know why. He always told me that i should have no symptoms.

About the gall bladder problem i really don't know what it is. But try to ask your doctor and have a second opinion bcuz it could be something else. Have a nice day.