Does this sound like possible gallbladder issues?

[LAwoman75]

I'm 32 years old, mother of 2, 160 lbs., 5'6". As of 2.5 weeks ago, I began having some slight discomfort in my upper right side, near the mid to lower rib cage area that often radiates around toward my back as well. I kind of ignored it at first but after a week, I realized it wasn't going away. It became more and more promenant but never severe. I would describe it as like someone is gripping my side or squeezing feeling, like it gets tight feeling on the right side. I visited my general doctor last Wednesday and they sent me for a g/b ultrasound which said no abnormalities were found. I've decided not to return to my general doctor and go to a GI doctor which I have an appointment for this Wednesday. I did that at the advice of my brother who is a doctor (internal med) who said the films from the u/s need to be looked at rather than that report. I've had just very slight nausea at times and when I eat meals (smaller sized meals), I feel like I've eaten Thanksgiving dinner and I feel extremely full for hours afterwards. This weekend, the pain had become worse than what I had felt so far, at one point, I was ready to go to the ER if it didn't ease up, but thank goodness it finally did. I also think it feels worse at night and when I first wake up.

I have not felt any pain near my shoulder blades and I haven't had any vomiting which I have read are common symptoms of gallbladder problems. With that being said, does my symptoms sound like it could be gallbladder problems? I have no health problems and have never had surgery, I rarely even get sick.

[LAwoman75]

Is it normal for the results from a hida to take 2 weeks? The nurse told me to schedule my follow up 2 weeks after the hida is done to go over the results with the doctor?? That's odd because the dr. told me he wanted to expedite the tests, which I assumed mean move quickly?

[Bad_Luck_Gut]

The scope down the throat isn't really bothersome at all.  I had my gallblader out, and recently a friend of mine went through it.  We joked a lot since she had been avoiding fatty foods and was symptom free, but wanted the procedure done ASAP because she was nervous and she wanted to eat at McDonalds again.  The solution.....she triggered a major attack by eating a couple of grilled cheese sandwiches late at night, ended up in the ER and had surgery the next day... She no longer has any problems and is back to eating at McDonalds on a regular basis.  I don't recommend triggering an attack, because from my experience it was like having a baby...but much more painful....(when I ended up in the ER at 4:00am I requested an epideral...confused the heck out of the ER nurse...LOL)...but if you do eat a grilled cheese sandwich....you'll be able to confirm your diagnosis.  Good luck....  also...gallbladder problems are very common after kids.  My 2nd was 6 months old when I had mine out, my sister had her's out when her 2nd was only 4 weeks old...   in our family the pattern seems to be that  #2 takes out the gallbladder.    One other thing..... for me.... it was day surgery....laproscopic and I was back to work in 7 days....  Take care..and good luck.....

[LAwoman75]

I saw the GI doctor today. He definitely thinks this is my GB and thinks I will end up having it removed. He ordered a hida scan for Monday and some bloodwork. He then mentioned the upper GI in which I to rule out and ulcer. I asked if we could wait and see what the hida showed before we schedule that. The scope down my throat really scares me and I'd like to avoid it if at all possible.

[tetleytea]

Your symptoms kind of remind me of myself, except mine are even more strange.   One thing about the liver/gall bladder, though, is that it doesn't really kick in to action until about 1 1/2 to 2 hours after eating.  So that could explain why you weren't sure about the correlation.   It sure is a bummer that they make you fast before the ultrasound.  I have exactly that same problem:  the symptoms let up because I did not eat.   Well, guess what:  maybe that's precisely why they don't find the problem!   We need medical researchers to look into that.

[LAwoman75]

Thanks so much for your reply.

One thing I'd like to mention also, is that I'm not so sure there is a correlation between eating and the side pain. The only thing I can note is that when I had to fast for my ultrasound, I had no feeling of discomfort or pain in my side at all but it did slightly start up again after eating. I don't eat very fatty meals though, and I don't eat any sugar or starches. I mostly eat lean protein and vegetables, so maybe that's why I haven't noticed the pain peak after eating? I do however, burp all day long, no matter what i've eaten or drank, I burp constantly and it's just over the past couple of days that I've noticed my meals feel like they're just sitting in my stomach and not going anywhere like it's just not digesting.

[Jaybay]

Yes!  The ultrasound is great for ruling out the presence of gallstones, but that's about all.  You need a nuclear medicine test called a HIDA scan to evaluate how well (or not) your gallbladder is functioning.    Do a google search on "acalcuous cholecystitis" for more information on gallbladder issues where stones are not present.  

In the meantime, you might feel a bit better by avoiding fatty meals.  When you eat fats, the gallbladder contracts to release its supply of stored bile that digests the fats.  If you have stones blocking the bile duct, or the gallbladder simply can contract properly, it results in the symptoms you describe.  Not every patient reaches the point of vomiting from gallbladder issues, but the right upper quadrant pain and feeling of being overly full are two big indicators.

Another possibility is Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction.  This is a tiny group of muscles in the bile duct that control the flow of bile to the small intestine.  Some people (like me!) need to have those muscles cut away to allow the bile to flow properly.  Speak with your gastro doc when you see him about this possibility.  Good luck!