Gall Bladder Symptoms???

[SlugGB]

Has anyone that has had gallbladder problems experienced anything similiar to what I am going thru? (or does this problem sound like something else?)

For the past 2 yrs I have had pain in the upper rt abd area that has varied from severe to mild.  When the pain is severe I would definately describe it as "an attack".  When the pain is bad I sometimes get pain under the right shoulder blade also and have a general feeling of not being well.  

Two key things I would like to have answered are (in relation to it being a gallbladder problem):
  1.  Whenever I am in the sitting position the pain causes the most discomfort.  Anyone else experience this?
  2.  Any use of alcohol causes the greatest attack.  Has anyone ever had a gallbladder attack due to the use of alcohol?

Other things that cause problems are fatty/fried foods and recently, the use of Vicodin for the pain makes it worse.

I have had 4 ultrasounds, 3 CT scans, HIDA scan, Barium enema, x-rays, endoscopy, numerous blood tests, Barium swallow, and stool analysis.  All have been normal with the exception of the first ultrasound that was done in Oct 2000 - it showed "mild gallbladder wall thickening could represent mild acalculus cholecystitis - correlate with symptoms".  The doctor did not think it was a gallbladder problem and the 3 ultrasounds I have had since have not showed anything abnormal (no stones, no wall thickening).  Any ideas?  Thanks for taking the time to answer.

[SlugGB]

Hello Anne,
Hope the recovery is still progressing in the right direction!  I agree my symptoms seem to match classic gallbladder symptoms.  Especially after talking w/ you - my symptoms seem to mirror yours.  I have seen 3 different GI specialists - this last one was the only one who seemed to seriously think it was the gallbladder and she has ordered another HIDA scan near the end of January (another ultrasound might be a thing to do also).  I live in Michigan and am familiar w/ the Cleveland Clinic (impressive facility).  If I don't have any luck up here I would be interested in driving down and talking w/ the gatroenterologist that stated your symptoms sounded like "classic GB".  If you are ok with doing that leave his/her initials on a post and I will call down there and see about an appt.  Thanks again for the info and continued wishes for a positive recovery.

[Tasha31]

went to see my Dr. Today, had the results of the colonoscopy, polyp was negative thank god!  I had a really good week this week with very little symptoms, but that is how my pain is, really bad for a few months than subsides.  i talked to him about the 2nd hida scan with the cck, and he didnt feel it was necessary at this time, since i had a good week.  He said to call him when the pain came back.  He also is sending me to a Surgeon who does the gastric bypass.  I feel like i have been shrugged off.  Could not find the problem, send her somewhere else.  The last thing i want is that severe pain that sends you to the hospital.  It is so scarey, and hurts so bad.
I will be seeing my pcp in a few weeks, see what he thinks and what i should do now.  Good Luck to all of you.  Happy New Year!
Tasha

[AnneB7800]

Hi again!
Your symptoms really do sound like your gallbladder.  Believe it or not, I was misdiagnosed at first.  I went to my regular doctor.  I go to a team of docs here at the Cleveland Clinic, so which ever one is available will see me.  It figures that I had to see a brand new young doctor.  Even though my symptoms were classic GB, he told me I had gastritis, and it can last for a few weeks.  He did order an ultrasound, though.  A younger technician did it, and she said "everything looks good" (even though she is not permitted by law to diagnose). A week later I got a note saying no stones.  I was a bit confused...went to as gastroenterologist.  He said my symptoms are classic GB.  I told him I have had an ultrasound that saw nothing.  He said that is pretty common...many of his GB patients have had an u/s and stones were missed.  So I had one with the doctor and his tech.  Right away he saw the stones...was even able to measure them.  I do not think there were any in my ducts.  Have you been to a gastro.?  It is worth looking into, because you sure have all the GB symptoms.
Anne

[SlugGB]

Hi Anne,

Wow!  I thought I was reading a list of my symptoms!  Along with the alcohol, any amount of rich/fatty/fried foods, chocolate, and garlic give me problems also.  Onions as well.  I also seem to belch non-stop after meals- the larger the meal the more belching it seems.  I have constant, varied intensity pain on rt upper abd (during one of the ultrasounds I had the technician put the wand directly over the most painful area - it was the gallbladder!), pain under rt shoulder blade at times, indigestion, nausea (have not vomited yet, but close at times) and some bloating at times in the past (especially if I eat problamatic foods which I do not do anymore).  The one food that I handle the best is oatmeal.

I also am not overweight and have had extremely good health until this began 2 yrs ago.  Everything seems to point to the gallbladder area.  Possibly one of three things in the g/b area:  a malfunctioning g/b, bile duct problem, or a Sphincter of Oddi problem (the muscle opening that controls the flow of bile and pancreatic enzymes into the small intestine).  I wish there were stones as it would make the diagnosis a little more easier.  I am going for a second HIDA scan at the end of January.  The first was done in Oct 2000 and showed no problems w/ an ejection fraction of 68% which I am told is normal (I was also not in any pain when this first HIDA scan was done - I am in pain now so hopefully it will show something!)

I cannot thank you enough for responding!!  The info you and others have provided is so helpful!  Glad to hear the surgery has helped - wish you well during your recovery.

[SlugGB]

Thanks for responding!  

When they did your ultrasound did it show the large stone that was impacted in the duct or did it just show the stones in the gall bladder? (in other words, did they only discover the stone in your duct while doing surgery?)  I have read that ultrasound can sometimes miss stones in the duct.  This could be very useful info.  

I also don't handle dairy very well - as well as, alcohol, fatty/fried food, garlic, and chocolate.  Along with the rt sided pain, I have pain under rt shoulder blade at times, nausea, excessive belching at times, some bloating.  

Things seem to point to the gallbladder area.  From what I have read there are 3 areas that could possibly be causing the problem.  The gallbladder, the common bile duct, and the Sphincter of Oddi (the muscle opening that controls the flow of bile and pancreatic enzymes into the small intestine).  I am hoping for the gallbladder as the other two can be more troublesome to treat.  I do not have stones so the decision to remove the gallbladder is not quite an easy one yet.  I am having a second HIDA scan done at the end of January and am hoping it shows a problem with the gallbladder.

Thanks again so much for taking the time to respond.  The information I have been getting from everyone has been outstanding!!

[AnneB7800]

I have only had my gallbladder out 4 days so far and I have seen a big difference.  Lately I was pretty miserable, so anything was an improvement.  I used to belch non-stop after every meal.  Now I hardly ever.  My constant shoulder pain...I am still feeling the effects the surgical pain so that will be a few more days until that is gone.  I can already tell a difference that it is gone.  I had indigestion all the time...dry heaves, gaging, vomiting.  Rich foods, fatty foods, garlic, and chocolate did it for me.  I have to be on a low fat diet for about 6 weeks while my system adjusts.  I can't wait to eat my favorite foods again!   Be persistant with the doctors that you want an answer.  I am a 25 year old that is pretty healty otherwise...not overweight.  I would have never suspected gallbladder disease.  There is no need to suffer.  If it is your GB, than more things other than alcohol would bother it.  Does food?
Anne