Gallbladder pains but tests are normal

[iveyy]

I've been having really bad pains in my right side for the last 2 and a half months now.
There are times when it's been unbearable and nearly passed out. I've spent days sicking up what feels like battery acid along with normal things.
When I'm not ring sick I feel it an when the pains not really really bad there's a constant ache with occasional painfull stabbing sensations.

I've had an ultrasound but it only showed a 2mm stone which te dr said wouldbt cause the pain.
They have ran 3 lots of blood tests and all came back normal. No infection or anything wrong with my liver or pancreas.

I've seen 4 different drs and when they poke me around they all say it seems to be my gallbladder. Apparently I flinch in all the right places and feel the pain in the exact place when they touch my gallbladder. But nothing's showing up

Could it still ve something wrong with my gallbladder even if the bloods are normal? Or If anyone has any other thought On what it could be id be really greatfull. I just want the pain to stop and the drs not to give up on looking.  

[jwa81]

I know that this is an old post, but this is EXACTLY what happened (and is currently happening) to my husband.  Way back in 2006, he ended up in the ER with severe abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.  Amylase and lipase were elevated and ultrasound showed many gallstones, yet no one ever removed his gallbladder.  Two years ago, he had stones blocking his common bile duct and became VERY ill, even had to be transferred to a hospital 2 hours away because his bile duct was so swollen that our local hospital couldn't do the ERCP.  He ended up having several ERCPs with stenting and many OLD stones were removed (they were totally discolored as they were so old).  His gastroenterologist at that hospital sent a note to his PCP saying that his gallbladder needed to be removed as soon as he was recovered from this.  Nothing was ever done or even mentioned and his PCP blew him off whenever he mentioned it.  He is now in the hospital with textbook gallbladder symptoms.  It looks like he might FINALLY get that cholecystectomy.  Ten years of this nonsense.  It could have all been avoided had his gallbladder been removed 9 years ago when this all first started.

[NicoleChris889]

What would you recommend for me? I have been suffering with pain under my right rib cage or three weeks, along with nausea and vomiting, I have lost 7 pounds in the three weeks and I am already small to begin with. I could have bet money it was my gallbladder, both ultrasound and hida scan were normal. I go for a endoscopy on dec 8 to check for ulcers, but if that comes back normal where do i go from there. My doctor said she is probably going to write it off as IBD if all test come back normal, my blood tests have come back normal as well?

[Nushki]

I am having extremely bad pains where my gall bladder and travels to my flank and have groin pains on my right side, I went to A&E and had a CT scan and came back normal, I am still in pain as anything I eat mg stomach feels like exploding

[Regena]

I know how you feel. They usually won't do anything unless it is infected. I was in so much pain last night I went to er and they really did nothing for me. They took blood and did a chest xray. That's it not even fluids. I had called my doctor earlier in the day he told me to take mylanta. I told him it wasnt gas. While I was in the er I told them to call a general surgeon. Good thing is I have an appointment this coming Tuesday bad thing no surgery for 2-4 weeks. I haven't eaten in 2 weeks before the 2 weeks I was in the hospital and got to eat 2 days because they gave me nausea medicine in my iv  but at home even that makes me sick   all I can suggest to you is fast before your hida scan once that is done ask your PCP for a refferal to a general surgeon. For me Tuesday can't come soon enough. I wish you luck I know how you feel.  

[Kiddo_22]

I have had my gallbladder issue for 2 years and have had no doctor care or insurance! Over the past 2 weeks i have had bad right side pain, lower back pain and pain between shoulder blades! I cant drink water it immediately hurts I cant eat same problem! The ER's around here dont care just put fluids in me and send me home making me feel like " I was stupid for even going to try to get help" At this point I have lost 20 pounds in the last month and on Monday I have a HIDA Scan which i hate when i had it done a year ago it was at 75% now they are trying it again and a year ago the stuff they injected in the Scan was very painful but they said its normal! My husband and My relationship has been tested because since i am in so much pain I dont think about how my attitude affects him! We are willing to travel PLEASE I just want someone to listen! I just need a Doctor to listen without Assuming! Thank YOU

[Regena]

I have been having GB problems since March of this year. It started out after I had a greasy sausage hotdog. So I decided to take all greasy foods from my diet. Well by the end of March I started having nausea and vomiting. Every time I ate something it would come back up.
In April I went to the er and they told me nothing was wron . So I decided to go to a doctor. He ordered blood tests and everything was normal. He ordered an ultrasound everything was normal. As more time went by the nausea and vomiting had gotten to the point I couldn't keep anything down then started having bad diarrhea. I kept going to my doctor but he kept sending me for all these tests that I feel were not needed. Ct with contrast, MRI with contrast, everything. And all those showed was fatty liver left lobe and cysts which weren't there a month prior on the ct scan I had. So I called my doctor told him I didn't feel good and it had been over 4 weeks and haven't been able to keep anything down and had lost a lot of weight. (Had a lot of er visits also one 3 days before office visit they told me I had gallstones) when I went to see my doctor I had gone from 202 pounds to 137 pounds in under 3 months. He finally admitted me to the hospital andbi had a ton of test. I knew it was my GB but he was thinking cancer I had a us,ct,MRI,hida scan and an endoscopy. The hida scan came back as my ejection fraction of 4%. The surgeon wanted to take the GB out and my doctor said no. I was in the hospital for a week and they couldn't remove it. I'm still having the GB problems more severe now and it seems no one will help. I'm still nausea and vomiting. I went to see my doctor again and he told me this was all in my head. I'm a little worried because I'm starting to have liver disease symptoms and my last liapse was really high and the other test that indicate liver disease. No emergency room will help either. I'm lost. How bad with this get if my ejection fraction is only at 4%?

[Deblyn22]

I am trying to find answers also ..I have a 20 year old daughter who has been rushed to the ER 2 times in a week with severe abdominal pain upper right side under ribs . had blood work , xrays , ultra sound , endoscopy ,and CTscan , she is now being told to do the HIDA scan .Everything is normal . Gallbladder issues run in my side of the family . Mother had stones and hers removed at 19 . grandma had no stones but inflammation issues as did her mother and both had them removed . My daughter does suffer from anxiety and mood disorders and PTSD . she is under a shrinks care and on medication . But this pain is getting worse by the day . They gave her tramadol and bentyl for spasms . nothing is helping her pain I cant keep rushing her to ER just to get stronger pain meds . GI doctor wont give her any narcotics because he is unsure of her issues . I am at the point where if there is nothing on the hida scan I am going to insist they monitor her over night . She can not work . barley eats , she does drink . but always nauseous takes zolfran for that . omprenzol and zantac doesnt really help . We are at our wits end . We just want answers , I am looking on every site this is the first time I am seeing all these people with the same issues  .. So I can show her it isnt in her head , it is real . her CT scan did show a lot of constipation but since the scan 4 days ago she has been going twice a day . but that would not be causing the pain to be where it is . I just want answers good or bad . Wishing all some answers  

[pkp828]

Why do people get on here, post problems and pose questions, but then never come back to follow up??? Frustrating to those of us trying to learn.

[RunnerGirl65]

I just came across your post from thee years ago!  I could not believe what I was reading.  It's like you wrote my own story.  You described all the symptoms I have experienced too a tee for the past ten years.  All my tests and scans came back normal yet I am pretty sure I have an issue with my gallbladder.  I was basically told it was all in my head so the only option was for me to go on antidepressants which I refused to do.  So I have suffered in silence all this time but for the last two months I have been worse than ever.  I went back to a (new) dr and my liver enzymes were slightly elevated and I am now trying to go through the process again of having my gallbladder checked out.  I was just wondering if your case was ever resolved?  I would be interested to know.

[fisum9]

I did gallbladder aspiration  before 1 month and there is nothing problem on it  except my gallbladder is  thick.  I didn't have pain in my gallbladder . But   I want to know if there is any long term risk  caused by the  biopsy , like  sepsis or  cancer ?

[Mibae]

I have been having severe stomach pains for 10days. It's aroundr my belly button, my lower right side, and spreads to my low back.  I haven't been able to get up and enjoy the holidays....I just lay in bed and writhe in pain.  Cannot sleep at all. I'm a 45year old female.  I've had kidney stones before but this feels different.  I had a ct scan that came back normal.....just constipated..I've been taking Prevacid regulary becausei take a lot of pain MEDS for degerative disc disease.  Constipation is just a way of life and this pain feels NOTHING like that!  I actually had a bm and still don't feel any relief.  I feel like my primary care doctor doesn't believe me so not sure what to do next.  I want to get some sleep!  No clue how to get rid of this ain!

[sullenmoon81]

Gallbladder pain typically doesn't start in the bellybutton area, but appendicitis does.

[jniederkorn]

I don't know how this works but I have been having the same issues for months now and all my test have come back normal.

I am still in great pain but the doctors can't help they just tell me to watch my diet.  I feel like I am going crazy I am in pain and there is no proof to explain why this is happening to me.

I am to the point of depression.  I know the pain is real but all I am told is there is nothing wrong with me.

Please help

***@****

[DonnaRN]

Dr. Walters, If a HIDA Scan shows a normal size Gallbladder, but the EF is only 9%, and the patient experiences intermittent nausea and intermittent "pin prick' pains, would you pursue Cholecystectomy?
Thank You

[babydoll74]

Hi, did you ever find out what was going on? Is it your gallbladder? I have the same exact symptoms as you do except I have actually vomited one time during the day while riding in the car after consuming a Mchicken sandwich and having a couple sips of a strawberry shake that my husband had and he didn't get sick. I had a HIDA scan and it came back 75% and said that 35% or above was normal. I feel nausea all of the time and dizziness off and on is also a symptom of mine. Did you end up seeing a specialist? I have no idea how my HIDA test came back normal with always having this pain under my right rib cage. It just doesn't make sense. What could it be?

[Smbgmit]

My pain started about 4 weeks ago. It started as a come and go pain but since has turned to a constant dull ache under my right rib cage and radiates to my back. I don't feel like eating and feel full after 4-5 bites of food. I have had an Ultrasound, MRI and a hida scan all of which came back normal. The contrast they used during the MRI made me very nauseated and I threw up. The cck during the hida scan was very painful about 15-20 min into the scan. I saw a GI specialist today and her advise was to put me on Pervicid for a month and have me come back. I am beyond frustrated. I have had heartburn and acid reflex while pregnant and it was nothing like what I am expericiang now.  I don't know what to do next!

[freefox17]

Hi I am having all the gallbladder symtoms the sweats palpitations, pain in stomach. Ultrasound showed everything as normal. This has being going on for months I am fed up of feeling unwell. freefox17

[cdryba]

Thank you for this.  No one has believed me when I stated I had pain during an ultra sound on my abdomen.  It hurt so bad when she was pressing and now it has hurt ever since.

[Ketm]

Folks, I too am suffering from gallbladder issues and I have had all types of testing with no results.  I believe in trying to treat with natural remedies that are safe to use before using prescription drugs or surgery. You have to make some life style changes to manage your illness, so eating right, eliminating trigger foods, exercise and natural supplements have helped me immensely.  I stay away from fried foods and anything fatty, which throws your gallbladder in a tizzy!  My diet consists mainly of veggies and seafood and plenty of water and green tea!  I include sliced ginger in my salads and my dressing is only olive oil, rice vinegar.  Ginger is great for digestion. Some chicken and rarely beef or pork.  I try to eat organic meats, and only buy them when they're on sale at my local Earth Fare.

I have learned to control the discomfort by taking some natural herbs to improve my gallbladder, liver and kidneys.  There's a product call Stone Free by Planetary that's great for supporting your gallbladder.  It contains dandelion root, marshmallow, turmeric, and other herbs that are great for those organs and I have found they help!!!  The dosage is 5 pills between meals, but I only use 3 a day and it works. Sometimes when I have a flare up (because I wasn't eating right!), I take turmeric which helps with inflammation and pain.  I also try to lay on my right side at night which gets your bile flowing and if I have pain I put a heating pad on the area or massage the area and that works too!  Everything I've read so far about having your gallbladder removed isn't positive.  People still have issues afterwards, so I'm going to do all I can to strengthen my digestive organs!  Good luck to all and do your research!!  The internet has all kinds of info. for natural remedies and I'd try those first.  If you're on other meds., you need to check to make sure their's no interactions and it's ok to take.  Most are safe to use with meds.  Best of Health

[Jonsey777]

Thanks great advice.

[meaghan_goose]

I've been having the same problem, too.  For about 5 years now, I've been having pain under my right rib cage, that radiates around to my back. I've had numerous attacks, that are extremely painful. I've had one attack that has caused me to vomit, and many others that have left me in pain for up to 4 hours. On Sunday, I had such a bad attack that I couldn't breathe or walk, it was the most excruciating pain I have ever had in my life.

The hospital ordered a HIDA test, which came back normal. I have also been for an ultra sound and an x ray, which both also came back normal. I constantly feel pain in my right upper abdomen, under my rib cage, the attacks are always at night time, and have an unusual amount of gas and always have undertones of nausea.

I am beyond frustrated and don't know where to go from here. I know my body, and I know that something is wrong, otherwise I would not be having this kind of pain. I'm going to talk to my family doctor about it tomorrow to try and get some more answers, but I feel for everyone how frustrating it is when doctors simply don't believe you and feel like you're at a loss of what to do next

[bananamonkeytoast]

Hello. I just came across this forum today because I am beyond tired of going to the doctors and telling them whats going on, only to be looked at like im making it up or its all in my head.

About 2 years ago I was diagnosed with IBS. Ive had every test imaginable: blood tests, stool samples (numerous stool samples), a HIDA/CCK scan, endoscopy, colonoscopy, tested for Celiac disease...you name it, ive had it. IM ONLY 25! with every scan came back normal results. In the end, all I walked away with was the diagnosis of IBS with constant diarrhea.

Now, the problem I am having is that after every test to rule out anything but IBS, is when I started having pain in the upper right quadrant of my abdomen, just underneath the rib cage. This is around the time that I was given an ultrasound, (with normal results) and then the HIDA scan/CCK (also with normal results).

Im still having the pain one year later. its not constant, but its enough that im worried about it, and quite frankly getting tired of it. Any ideas what could be the problem? or what I could suggest or bring up to my doctor? I am seeing a GI specialist soon and maybe ill have some ideas before I go and meet with her.

[ldsmith777]

I realize I am responding to your comments a year later but I am researching my symptoms as I have been having severe abdominal pain similar to gallbladder problems and I am concerned.  My ultrasound did come back normal and we did a HIDA w/cck scan which also came back normal. Directly after the HIDA scan, I felt better for a period of several hours, as if it was a form of treatment but the pain is starting to return but more so in my back.  Should I be concerned, is there other test that will tell me what is wrong with me, I have never experienced pain like this before and I don't want it to go untreated or treated as if its just acid reflux which I have never had.

[Melburns]

I have had extremely bad pain on my right side for months now. It is right under my rib cage and also goes thru to my back. I feel nauseous and have little appetite but no real throwing up. The pain is so bad, some days I am not able to go to work and when I do it is usually only for a half day.
I went to the ER room in April/2013..they thought heart attack..not that, I went home in pain. Several doctor visits between April and August...tested kidneys..nothing. Gave pain meds in which I very rarely take. Sept. 3, I was in so much pain I was telling my husband I thought I was dying. Went to the ER...they ruled out kidneys, took blood (was normal), did a CT scan and said everything looked good. they did find a mass that was rectum related and I later followed up on that and after a pelvic/rectum MRI I was told it was a "benign pocked of fluid that has walled itself off and needs no further follow up) I do not really know what that means, but thinking it is ok.
I was told maybe it is back/muscle issues...I did have two MRI's of the back, T and L and I do have 3 herniated Thoracic disc and 2 lumber, but have been told that would not cause the pain I am having on the right side.  
I have been to a chiropractor, pain management doctor for injections, and PT and nothing helps. If you push on my right side abdomen, under the rib cage I will jump off the table it hurts so bad. It hurts pretty much 24/7 with waves of much worse pain that literally makes me feel like I'm going to throw up it is SO bad. Sitting up is worse than laying down, but both are painful. It wakes me up out of a dead sleep....with pain meds and I lay in bed and cry for hours on end. I do ice packs for slight relieve.
I feel like everyone...the doctors are all done w/me, they don't know what to do so they are done. It's like they don't believe me or something. I gain nothing to make this up, at this point it is slowly taking my life away. Going to the mall with my 9 year old is literally torture.
Also, about a month ago, I was at work and felt very ill and had rectal pressure, like I had to go for a BM but knew it would be painful and constipated (which is normal for me, extreme constipation) I waited until everyone left and used the bathroom. It was so painful I really thought I was going to pass out, I have had 4 kids...it was comparable to pushing them out! I looked at the end result in the toilet and there were two LARGE white hard rock...mass...stone looking things protruding from my stool. and when I say big, I mean big! WAY to big to have passed and I couldn't believe what I was looking at....have no idea to this day. Gallstone? Sorry...gross and embarrassing but to this day I wonder if that was something related to all this.

But...here I am many months later and in the same amount and some days worse pain than I was in April. I am at a loss for what to do? Could it still be gallbladder if the CT scan back in Sept. was normal? can they miss something on a CT? I am 43 years old and not obese, but probably about 20-25 pounds overweight.
Can anyone help? Sorry this was so long, I hope someone had the patience to read it all. I am so desperate and at the end of my rope with this.

[Vent4jesus]

I also think I have a gallbladder problem even though all tests are fine. I live in Springfield, La. and am currently looking for a doctor at OLOL who will remove my gallbladder even though tests were fine. If you know someone I would love to have their name. Thanks Barbara

[boatnerc]

you are a good surgeon evidently who really cares for people reguardless of money!  People like you are few and far between.