upper right quadrant pain, what can i do next

[mishmash321]

hello, can anyone advise me please,  Im at my lowest point at the moment, so finding this forum is fantastic. I have had the most awful pain just under my right ribcage for about 6 month, I have lost 3 stones in weight, dropped 3 dress sizes, im like a skeleton now. I have had every test under the sun. I first had an utrasound which showed dilated bile duct and gallbladder sludge, but then all the other tests seem to show my gallbladder is normal. iv had a ct, mrcp, barium mfollow through xray, endescope. They all seem normal. I cant understand why my ultrasound showed different, its weird.Last month I was also diagnosed with pernitious anaemia (b12 defficiency and folic acid) I am so weak and get very short of breath, the pain goes right round to my right shoulder blade. Some days I couldnt even describe the pain its so bad. I saw my consultant today at the hospital and he has said he does not know what to do for me as nothing appears wrong. I thought I was going crazy till i came accross this site. IM so scared and confused about whats happening to me. I have young children and find it so hard to put smile on my face for them. I sit and cry when they are at school. Im so depressed by it all and dont know what to do. Thanks for listening

[Cdngal]

Ask for HIDA scan... it can check the function of your gallbladder... good luck... hope you start to feel better soon.

[mishmash321]

thankyou so much, you are so kind to post this for me x

[CalGal]

Read through this. It may not be what it turns out to be, but the information may be of help: http://www.hopkins-gi.org/GDL_Disease.aspx?CurrentUDV=31&GDL_Disease_ID=7AB086B0-AB01-446E-B011-2E67CAFEF96D&GDL_DC_ID=320F4EDD-0021-4952-83D7-8B0C67B47BFF

[mishmash321]

thankyou so much for your advice, I will definately mention what you have said at my next appointment. The doc told me he has drawn a blank with me, and said he has done all the tests he can for me, he made me feel like i was some kind of hypochondriac. He said he needs to discuss my problems with another gastric surgeon as he doesnt know what to do for me so now I have to wait till the new year to see anyone again. He said he is reluctant to remove my gallbladder as it looks normal now. Looks like im going to have a very painful Christmas and new year :( What you said about other tests coming back normal was really interesting. I didnt realise that i should be checked within a day or so of having severe pain. That really makes sense because some days the pain comes and goes and lasts a few minutes at a time but other days the pain is excrutiating for hours. Iv had to wait weeks inbetween tests. On the day of my ultrasound i was in so much pain which is probably why it showed the sludge and dilated duct clearly. I was confused about how all the other tests showed nothing was wrong since that scan was done. Im also unsure why I have suddenly developed this pernitious anemia b12 defficiency and folic acid defificiency. It all seems to have started at the same time. iv been put on b12 injections and folic acid tablets for it. do you think it could all be related to my gallbladder. Thanks again so much for your reply x

[CalGal]

Mishmash, if you've got a dilated bile duct and sludge, there is something wrong. It's possible the sludge could have entered the common bile duct, irritated it and caused spasms that can/will cause a backup of bile & pancreatic fluids resulting in dilation over time. Sludge can be very problematic and it should be follow up on. In addition, you need to have your pancreatic and liver enzymes checked after a very bad bout of pain - basically within about 12-24 hours. If the levels are checked at times outside of that, the levels could show normal.

There is a condition called SOD - sphincter of Oddi dysfunction - that basically is the spasming of the common bile duct or the opening of the duct into the duodenum - the sphincter. It can cause severe pain. This condition is typically found after a gallbladder is removed, but it may underlie some of the problems that are seen with gallbladder issues. You need to talk to your doc about the sludge and the possibility of spasms that could be the cause of the pain.

[mishmash321]

im also getting sharp stabbing pains accross my chest over my heart area, some nights im petrified coz it hurts so much im scared to sleep, not sure if its all related

[mishmash321]

thanks for your reply, iv had nausea and vomitting but not too frequently, iv had bouts of diorea some nights i get up about 7/8 times to rush to the toilet with diorea. the tests iv had done is ultrasound,mrcp, endoscope, ct, barium follow through xray, the ultrasound showed dilated duct and sludge but the other tests showed normal. i cant understand how the ultrasound could lie, have you heard of this happening before. my weight is rapidly going down its frightening, thanks for helping x

[patient915]

Welcome to the gastroenterology community!  Do you have any nausea or vomiting?  Have you had any change in your bowel movements?  What other tests on your gallbladder did you have?