gallbladder attacks without a gallbladder

[lorigood]

I had my gallbladder removed over 10 yrs ago and have had no problems with pain since (until recently) I am having such severe pain between my shoulder blades and chest that I cant even move when this is happening, then I pass gas, bloating and pain in upper right side.  Then it will go away after a few hours.  This has happened 4 times in the past week and a half. This feels just like my gallbladder attacks I had many years ago. My gallbladder was only functoning at 3% at the time it was removed. what should I do?  Is this serious?  I am currently having other medical issues (female) and feel like I'm falling apart.
Thank you
LG

[lorigood]

plans changed, I guess I am not going to michigan...bummed.  can't see my grandkids after all.  so, I figured why spend all that money to go when I can only see them for 1 day.  decided to make it another weekend  :)  But thanks anyway.

As far as my med issues...I hope we will find someting out when they go in and removed the endometriosis.  He knows about the upper back pain and said when he was in there he would look at everything including liver and pancrease.  So, I hope he figures it out.
I'll let you know when my surgery is scheduled.  They said they would call me today with a date.

Take care

[ohiogirl]

Good luck in MI!  
If its any consolation, when exploring my body to figure out SOD, they found a dermoid tumor on one of my ovaries.  At first I didn't feel it, but it starting rupturing and it was so painful like labor or the most intense debilating cramps you can imagine.  It was no where near my SOD pain, but it also was not attached to my digestive system anywhere as yours is.

I ended up having to have a c-section type of surgery to have my ovary removed (it was a large hard mass.)

I hope you don't have a bad attack in MI - good luck!

[lorigood]

I called my gastro doc and asked him about it and to test me....he said he did not think this was my prob and not to worry....I think he was confusing it with the ovary pain, I think I know that the pain in my lower ab would not be from my pancreas or liver..I'm not that stupid.  but any way, i guess the next attack I have I should head to the hospital where they can check it out for me....That won't be a long wait either, It averages every 2-3 days I will have one.  I will keep you posted.  Thanks for your help.
I'm heading to michigan tomorrow nd with my luck I will have an attack there....

talk to ya soon

[ohiogirl]

I just turned 34, so I am also already turning old!  :o)

I hope that your symptoms are not SOD.  It's not a fun road, it's a rare condition and many people and docs don't know much about it.  I get a lot of comments like, "surely in this day and age..." and "they probably have the wrong diagnosis - it's probably IBS."  

Anyway...they can not detect SOD by CT.  The closest thing they can do diagnostically is an MRCP which is like an MRI and that can sometimes tell if the ducts are closed or contracted or an EUS which is an Endoscopic Ultrasound which does more for the pancreas than the SO I think.

I'm one of the lucky ones so far - I thank God daily for the response I've had to meds but not many are able to respond long term to the meds, so...so far, so good for me.

I'm glad it seems to be pointing to other things!  I wish you luck.

[lorigood]

I had a catscan done last week and they said everything looked fine except I had to very prominent cyst.  Pancrease, liver spleen all looked good.  Oh ya, they said I have -I cant remember what they called it, but it meant I have two spleens...He said about 10% of population has this (whatever its called) it's like a small slit off of the spleen and he said it doesnt mean anything.
Can they see anythings wrong by catscan for SOD, that would send them in that direction with a catscan?  
I have been reading some of the comments here and also have some other symptoms that I never even realted to this.  Some times I have diarrhea right after I eat, sometimes it looks like straight bile, then other times I am contipated (strange huh).  I really just figured I had ISB (which they told me along time ago (no testing).
I just figured I was going crazy, I mean how can you have so many problems just occur after 40 yrs.  Is this called getting old  lol

[ohiogirl]

Hey Lorigood,
I have SOD (Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction), and the pain sounds exactly like what you are experiencing. Before you undergo surgery to have all of your female organs removed, maybe your doc can run a simple blood test to look at your pancreatic enzyme levels, and your liver functionality.  These do not guarantee showing SOD, but there are two types of SOD that can be indicated by checking these levels.  The only true way to DX SOD is via ERCP with manometry which should only be done by top experts in the country.

I agree with CalGal....SOD can be the beginning of a long road pain, although some have luck with medical treatment (meds) and surgery.  It's risky though - one thing I cannot express to you enough however, if you decide to check out SOD, you really have to find a doc who knows what they are talking about.

Some top centers in the country are Johns Hopkins, Indiana University Hospital, University of Minnesota, the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston - there are a few more, but my point is just that some GI's don't know anything about SOD and many times patients suffer for a long time just trying to get someone to figure out what is going on.  I know of so many people who are treated with other methods before discovering what the problem really is.

Sorry this is ending up so long and maybe a little scary.  I hope you do not end up with SOD.  If you like, I'm an owner of a support group on line for SOD, Pancreatitis and other digestive disorder sufferers.  If you ever feel like you are at the point you want someone to chat with who has been through it, please feel free to let me know.

I hope it's only the ovarian cyst that is causing the problem!  Have they done an ultrasound or other image test to look more clearly at that?

Good luck!  Please keep us posted.

[lorigood]

went to the doctor today and he said he thinks this is all related to my endometriosis.  They want to do a lap and remove scare tissue and possibly my overies because I have a large cyst on both overies and one is attached to the bowl causing the problems I am having.  Does this sound right?  

[CalGal]

To my knowledge, no. The BMP blood test comprises a set of tests that throw investigate the functioning of a person's kidneys, blood sugar, calcium, electrolyte and acid/base levels.

[lorigood]

I had a bmp blood test last week, would that have shown what you are talking about?

[CalGal]

I'd suggest you look into the possibility of sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD). The John Hopkins Digestive Disease online library has a good overview of the condition.

The next time you get an attack, ask your doc to perform a liver and pancreatic enzyme level blood test within 24 hours of the attack. You want to see if the levels are elevated.

If it is SOD it can be problematic in the long run. If the sphincter or the common bile duct spasms, it can retard the flow of bile. It can also result in a backup of pancreatic fluid which could cause inflammation of the pancreas.

Call your doc and followup on the problem. If you're having other problems and if you're taking meds or hormones, make sure that the meds are not effecting your biliary system.