Gallbladder Questions

[bswarts]

I am a 34 year old male.  I have been having sporadic abdominal spasms for 4.5 months (with or without food).  To date I have had the following tests:  normal liver panel, negative for all types of hepatitis, ultrasound with no stones visible, endoscopy with normal results biopsy normal with no H. Pylori, Hida Scan (Ejection Fraction 11%).  I am scheduled to see a surgeon in a week to discuss gallblader removal.  My questions are the following:

1) Are there any life threatening symptoms I should be aware of prior to my surgery date that I should seek immediate medical attention (i.e. jaundice)?  I am extremely concern about inflammation and or rupture due to the amount of time that has lapsed.

2)What kind of diet should I restrict myself to in order not to tax my gallbladder?

3)Is it common to experience fatigue as a result of a dysfunctional gallbladder?

4)Given the above information results how quickly should I have my gallbladder removed?

Thank you for your time.

[matterofmine]

It's your food!!! I changed my son's diet after I was told he needed to have his gall bladder removed by Dr. Brown at Children Hospital (they remove 4 to 5 a wk) I asked repeatedly if his diet had anything to do with the problem...I was told NO! I ignored those doctors and did a little research. No diary, No sugar, whole grains and some simple cleansing (Olive oil) Stay away from McDonald's or any fast food and don't drink citrus flavored beverages with brominated vegetable oil. My son didn't have the surgery. He now eats like a normal teenager( occassional fast food) And I wish I had posted this info sooner!

[angel75]

ok, i like most in this thread have had all the tests done on my gall bladder and they say its working at 64%, im in huge amounts of pain everyday and it lasts most of the day...for 3 months ive stayed in pain and no one will remove my gall bladder, the only test i tested postive or badly for was hpylori and my dr said i had the highest levels possible but have been on meds to get rid of it and still no one seems to care that i cry daily cause of pain...what should i do next? they now want to test me for worms, i feel like a test rat or something and even asked my dr if i needed a distemper shot like a dog too...she did not find my humor funny at all, but i dont find them making my life hell fun either...what shall i do next? any ideas?

[marys966]

Looking for info.  Have been living with gallbladder symptoms for over 10 years.  Finally had a doctor that listened.  Other doctors said it was one thing or another.  Been through every test (blood work up, hidascan, ultrasound, endoscopy and mri) All tests were normal.  I still live with symptoms.  Is is possible that when you have an attack, it flushes your system out until it builds up again.  I had the tests done within a month of having my last "attack".  Don't really know what to do now.  Two gastro doctor's believe that it is my gallbladder, but don't have the tests to back it up.  Any ideas from anyone.

[marys966]

Looking for info.  Have been living with gallbladder symptoms for over 10 years.  Finally had a doctor that listened.  Other doctors said it was one thing or another.  Been through every test (blood work up, hidascan, ultrasound, endoscopy and mri) All tests were normal.  I still live with symptoms.  Is is possible that when you have an attack, it flushes your system out until it builds up again.  I had the tests done within a month of having my last "attack".  Don't really know what to do now.  Two gastro doctor's believe that it is my gallbladder, but don't have the tests to back it up.  Any ideas from anyone.

[peanutpower]

Good evening. I am almost 42 years old and in need of some help! I came across this site and I am hoping that I can get some information.  Okay...For quite a few years I have been having GB attacks. I had a hida scan in July and they told me that it does not empty properly.  The surgeon say that I fall into the 20% of people with poorly functioning GB and does not feel that it needs to be taken out? Confused here..Over the past couple of weeks the pain is constant, to touch where the GB lies feels like a bruise and I have been loosing weight b.c I have noooo appetite!!  I am constantly nauseated, totally fatigued with headaches and lightheadedness!  Please ..if anyone can suggest something, I'd appreciate sooo much!!!
Thankyou

[Martha50]

hi here I am back . I am learning to live with the diarrhea and nausea. I don't eat much unless I am at home. I can never tell when bathroom time will hit me. I went on a job down on the MS. coast this past week. I barely ate. I drank water(bottled) and grapefruit juice and a little cola just to have liquid in me. whe we did eat out I started feeling like i was going to get sick so i stopped eating. it is going on almost two months and I am not right yet. no one tells you,especially the doctors, about this trouble. I am takeing Zantac every night and tums on top of that. I do have acid reflux also. but I am not going to restrict my life from all the foods. I can stand to lose a little weight. LOL. good luck to everyone.

[steph34]

I have read alot of everyones comments. I am scheduled to have my gallbladder removed the 28th. I have been having alot of pain to the point where I couldn't stand it and they did all kinds of tests. When I ended up in the ER the Dr. said it could be all in my head! He ordered a HIDA scan which the results showed that my gallbladder is dysfunctional. I already have irregular bowels throughout the day and alot of nausea. I hope I don't have to continue with some of these symptoms that I am reading that some of you are having after the removal. I guess all I can do is let you know how mine goes and pray all goes well. All I want too is the pain to go away.

[andy13]

i was told the same thing, that it will just take time for my body to adjust. my surgeon wasn't very helpful. my primary doc said it could take a few months to a few yrs. but that 90% of people do adjust. if I could just get rid of the nausea i would be much happier.

[andy13]

Had my gallbladder out 4 weeks ago. Felt o.k. until after week 2 when i suddenly got very nauseated (still am) and diarrhea and reflux. I had reflux before, it's worse now. Doc gave me questran for diahrrea which worked, nexium and carafate for the acid, and phenergan for nausea which makes me sleepy. I can deal with the diarrhea but the nuasea is difficult to deal with. Anyone else have a problem with nausea? I wish the doctors would gove more info on the after effects of this surgery. I was told all would be well, no diet restrictions, yeah right.

[Martha50]

I have just had gallbladder surgery about 5 weeks ago. I am haveing trouble with my bowels still. everytime i eat it goes straight through me. Which makes it difficult to eat out with friends. I have always got to know where the restrooms are at. So I don't eat breakfast since i work at peoples houses, and sometimes the bathrooms are out of order. I am drinking water most of the time. I use to drink a lot of colas and tea , but they don't have any taste now. i lose weight since i don't eat much. i get naususa some of the time. is there anything i can take to keep food in me and my innmune system in tack. the doctor said my body will adjust but it hasn't so far. everyone i have talked to says different things. is this all normal?
thanks
Martha50

[Nikki44]

Hi there...I am sorry to hear you are having problems....I know how you feel though, I have been dealing with the same thing for 5 years now. At first I just took a lot of immodium.....i knew i needed to go back and see the doc when i was taking up to 36 immodium in a day. I have been on different things and nothing seems to work. I am trying a new medicine called cholestyramine that i just got today. We'll see how good this works. I feel bad for you because i know what its like not to be able to go anywhere. I am 21 and wish I had a normal life like everyone else my age, instead of hiding in my house all the time next to the bathroom. I dont know how bad you have it, but i know when mine first started i couldnt eat any red meat or anything greasy.....that has changed though and now no matter what i put in my body it goes right through me....oh yeah another food that does it is salad (ice burg lettuce) I can eat romaine and other types of lettuce but just not ice burg because it is full of water. I know two other people that have the same problem, my mom included....i hope any of this information helps you...if you have any questions you can e-mail me @ ***@****

[pharma2006]

For the lady who had the twins- from the research I have done- it definitely sounds like your gall bladder.  
I have been going through this myself.  It started in March.
I have let it go on so long.  I work in the medical community so I communicate with physicians daily.
I would like to say that Kevin, MD seems like a phenominal person. I have read his feedback to the people posting and he always seems right on.  This all just my opinion- but he seems agressive, realizing that Hidda scans can come back normal even if it is your gall bladder.  
I finally visited a surgeon even though the EGD came back normal, the CT, and the ultra sound showed nothing, I told him something had to be done.  So, I am having the gall bladder surgery tomorrow.  It is constant pain in that area now- it doesn't go away and I can feel it jumping (I guess spasming is a better term).  But I think you may feel a lot better if you can get some relief.  This has been an ongoing nightmare for me.

[Nikki44]

I am a 21 yr old female and I had my gall bladder removed when I was 15. I had a gall stone. Although I wish I could say everything is fine now, its not. I have a lot of problems. The gall bladder helps break foods down and controls the bile. Since mine is gone, i have a lot of problems eating. I cant eat red meat of any kind and nothing greasy. I have also gotten to the point lately where anything I eat makes me run straight to the bathroom. Since having my gall bladder taken out i have been diagnosed with IBS (Irratable Bowel Syndrome). Some people have this with constipation but mine is diarreah. Maybe youll have a different outcome. I hope so because this is ruining my life. Hope I didnt scare you but i wish someone had warned me.

[orphananne]

hello, I would like to no if i need to have my gall bladder out or they can just take you the polyp they found a polyp when they did the ultrasound and ian have a lot of gas and pain and all my blood work can out ok and the cat scan of the abd-neg so i go see my doctor on wednesday so i would like to no about this before i go to saee him.ok thank you .

[orphananne]

hello, I would like to no if i need to have my gall bladder out or they can just take you the polyp they found a polyp when they did the ultrasound and ian have a lot of gas and pain and all my blood work can out ok and the cat scan of the abd-neg so i go see my doctor on wednesday so i would like to no about this before i go to saee him.ok thank you .

[orphananne]

hello, I would like to no if i need to have my gall bladder out or they can just take you the polyp they found a polyp when they did the ultrasound and ian have a lot of gas and pain and all my blood work can out ok and the cat scan of the abd-neg so i go see my doctor on wednesday so i would like to no about this before i go to saee him.ok thank you .

[orphananne]

hello, I would like to no if i need to have my gall bladder out or they can just take you the polyp they found a polyp when they did the ultrasound and ian have a lot of gas and pain and all my blood work can out ok and the cat scan of the abd-neg so i go see my doctor on wednesday so i would like to no about this before i go to saee him.ok thank you .

[trishavo6]

Hello I am having ruq pain.  I have had it for about 6 years.  It has recently gotten worde since I had my twins.  I have had an ultrasound, hida scan, endoscopy, colonoscopy all came back normal.  Except that it hurt severly when they injected the cck during the hida scan.  The pain was the exact pain I HAVE ABOUT AN HOUR after I eat.  No one will take out my GB, but I am tired of hurting.  I am at my wits end.  Does anyone know what I can do or say to get them to either take it out or make the pain stop?  I would love to hear any advice.
Thanks

[Kevin Pho, MD]

To answer your questions:
1) Jaundice is unlikely with a normal liver panel (including bilirubin).  It would seem that the reasonable initial workup has been performed.

2) A low-fat diet may help with gallbladder symptoms.

3) It is possible for a dysfunctional gallbladder to lead to fatigue.

4) A low gallbaldder ejection fraction may lead to abdominal discomfort and pain.  Small studies have shown that removing the gallbladder can help with the symptoms.  However, excluding other causes of the spasms needs to be done before pursuing this route.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_