Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
484897 tn?1210309174

Daily nausea and stomach ache + high bilirubin

For the past 3 1/2 weeks I have been waking up every morning very nauseated.  I have to lay or sit for a few hours, and drink some 7up and/or baking soda water so I burp until my stomach isn't so queasy that I can walk around.  Even when the nausea seems to go away, I have a constant stomach ache, feeling very full and bloated.  I first got sick the evening of 3/27, and the first week was the worst, went to see a doctor at the urgent care on 4/2, my bilirubin was at 7.3, though the hepatitis test came back as non reactive (negative).  on 4/4 I went back because I felt so horrible, my bilirubin was at 4.8, and they gave me 0.5mg Lorazepam (Ativan) for anxiety, which I take usually one a day, sometimes two, even though I could take up to 6 a day.  The doctor I saw on the first visit set me up with an abdominal ultrasound on 4/10 to look for gallstones, which they didn't seem to see any.  I had another blood test, but never heard back from the dr after telling me the ultrasound looked normal, just his secretary who mailed me my lab results saying my bilirubin was 1.7.  I've since gotten a second hepatitis A/B test, and will get the results on Monday or Tuesday.  I have an appointment with a (hopefully) new primary care doctor on Wednesday.  

I would be so happy if by some miracle it turned out to be Hepatitis A, at least I'd know what it was, and that it would be over at some point.  

Does anyone know what this might be?  Had something like this?  Any suggestions on what to do next?  I'm really lost here and need some help!

9 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
You can have a diseased gallbladder and not have stones....you need a hydascan....it determine how your gallbladder empties....it should empty at 50%....a diseased gallbladder will empty under the 50%... so the lower the number the more diseased the ball bladder is....good luck hope this helps
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Can you tell me what your results were? I been having the same symptoms. I have bad stomach pains, yellowish diarrhea, nausea after i eat anything, and my bilirubin level came back at 8.1.
All of my CT scans and ultrasounds are coming back "normal". I am so frustrated.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm having the same as you. What happened to you in the end? I'm at the hospital at the moment and docs can't seem to find what I have. Help.
Silvia
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I had jaundice 4yrs before and then recovered after 2 weeks. Then after 6 months I had severe pain in abdomen and doctor diagnosed it as "pancreatitis". After resting for 9 days in hospital I regained. Then after 7 months when I went to check my pancreas I found there is gall stones in GB.Then I got my GB removed and had a normal length for 1 and half yrs. But now I had my bilirubin level 2.0. What might be the cause? plz help
Helpful - 0
484897 tn?1210309174
No, no change in stool color.  They made it seem like that since they didn't see any gallstones on the ultrasound, that there weren't any.  I don't know why doctors will run a test, and not let me know at least what they think should be done next based on the results.  Hopefully this new doc will help figure things out.    
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm right there with sciencelady111. Can you tell more? I have the same symptoms she (sciencelady111) describes, and my EF was 19%. Of course, doc says "yank the gallbladder." After an upper endoscopy I was also told that GERD was present. I've been on PPI's since February (although this started November -- took me that long to listen to my wife and go see a doc). Indigestion's there, but mostly reflux, bloating, and gas. (And of course the problem with PPI's is that they play havoc with your digestion, so food feels like it hangs around longer than it should because there's little acid there.) By the way, I'm on Lansoprazole (generic Prevacid), 30mg at 2x/day.

Thinking about getting the gallbladder taken out, but doc suggested that weight loss MAY help (I'm currently at 250 and he wants to see me at 200), as might acupuncture. Wants to see me in 4 months to see how everything's going.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Sounds like you had success with having your gall bladder removed?  Would you mind sharing your story?  I'm going through the same thing and have an appt. with a surgeon in a couple of weeks.  I started with constant nausea last summer.  I've been through lots of tests. To make a long story short, at first they said that I had GERD.  I think that I may have some reflux.  However, I've been on PPI's since Christmas and I still have the nausea, indigestion, burping, no appetite.  So, now they think it may be my gall bladder after all.  Ultrasound showed no stones, only 2 polyps.  I had a HIDA scan  in Oct. which showed 32% ejection fraction.  At that time, they thought that that wasn't low enough to cause my problems.  After more negative tests and lots of medicine,  they are back to my gall bladder.  I had a 2nd HIDA scan 3 weeks ago which showed 50% EF, but they messed up the test when giving it to me.    (About 5 min. after the 2nd injection,  I got burning and pressure in my URQ, and then the IV came unplugged and the stuff to contract my gall bladder ran all over my arm.  Then, after 15 more minutes, they gave me another 2nd dose.  I think that the results could quite possible be wrong.)   Since about Jan., I have also developed discomfort ( varies between nothing, pressure under rt. ribs like a golf ball, pressure across bra line in middle and right side of chest, burning in upper chest and rt. side, sharp stabbing pains that come and go quickly, and occasional burning/pain under rt. arm and in upper rt. back - no "rolling around on the floor pain for hours, though. My Dr. said that she still suspects my gall bladder.  She told me about another patient who just had my symptoms, EF from HIDA scan= 50%.  She had her gall bladder removed and feels 100% better - can't believe she waited so long.
Helpful - 0
479957 tn?1270411105
Don't let the tests rule all your decisions.  Gallstones, often, don't show up on scans and ultrasounds. If the nausea continues, see a surgeon.  It worked for me.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Well, you'll see on Monday if there is hepatitis or not.

Second possibility for having high bilirubin, nausea and stomach pain would be gallstones. They may be so small that they are not seen on gb ultrasoundthey may be in the bile ducts.

So, if it won't be hepatitis, there are other liver diseases (fatty liver, cirrhosis...) and gallbladder7bile ducts disease. For bile ducts, "HIDA scan" would be needed, or "ERCP".

Did you have yellow diarrhea/pale stool recently? This happens when bile is not excreted into the intestine and into the stool, but it enters the blood and from there into the skin (what would cause jaundice or itching).

I don't know, you can still ask the doctor to explain your results. He probably examined you and he has the complete picture.
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Gastroenterology Community

Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Learn which OTC medications can help relieve your digestive troubles.
Is a gluten-free diet right for you?
Discover common causes of and remedies for heartburn.
This common yet mysterious bowel condition plagues millions of Americans
Don't get burned again. Banish nighttime heartburn with these quick tips
Get answers to your top questions about this pervasive digestive problem