:confused: Hi,

I think I have got a gall bladder problem even thought I had an ultra sound done and it showed no gall stones.

I get very severe pain some nights after I have had a meal The pain lasts sometimes for up to 8 hours. It starts off as a dull ache and then builds up to a very painful cramp lasting for a few seconds and then dies down to a dull ache again. This keeps happeing every few minutes and like I said lasts for hours. After the first few hours you start feeling totally drained and have no energy left at all. There seems to be nothing to take to stop the pain.

Does anyone out there know of anything you can take that will help with the pain that actually works. I have taken buscopan, Mylanta, Panadeine Forte but nothing seems to work.

I would love to hear from anyone who is experiencing the same pain.

I have just recently had major bowel surgery but this pain is not associated with the surgery according to the surgeon.

I have had an endoscopy, Xray and ultra sound but the doctor cannot find the cause of my pain.
He still seems to think it is my gall bladder.

Hi I have been in pain for 10 months, everyday I am in pain sometimes under my right rib sometimes under my left rib, sometimes under both.

I also get pain at the bottom right near my ovary/ appendix!!

I have the pain NOW under my right rib and bottom right, I could cry, some days I do.

I had a scan in febuary it said no gallstones, I have had a colonoscopy, Endoscopy, Ovary scan, barium enema, barium follow through, I am waiting the results of the follow through.

I think it may be gallbladder diease, where its not working right!!

I wish they could find out why I am in so much pain,

I get realy scared it make me very anxious.

how long have you been having the pain, do you get the pain anywhere else!!

take care...Mandy xxx

You should have a HIDA Scan. It will show whether the gb is functioning correctly. Previous posts from people in the UK indicate they don't do these tests regularly. You may have to argue for it or go outside your NHS.

I have a related question. I've been under severe stress for the past several months, so I'm thinking this could be stress-related but I'm not sure. Five years ago, an ultrasound of my gallbladder revealed a few small stones. At that time, my gastroenterologist advised me NOT to have it taken out as he felt my symptoms (also stress-related) were not attributable to my galllbladder. Once I got the stress under control, I had virtually no problems until now. In the past week, however, I have had 3 bouts of severe indigestion/gas in the overnight hours, lasting several hours. They either wake me in the middle of the night or prevent me from sleeping well to begin with. The best way to describe this pain is someone squeezing something tightly around my midsection. It is not heartburn as it is confined to my stomach. Taking a Tums or two seems to alleviate the pain to the point that I can at least get some sleep. By the time I get up in the morning, the gas/pain is pretty much gone. Could this be a gallbladder issue even though it's relieved by antacids, is not happening in relation to eating per se and is occuring in the midddle of my stomach as opposed to upper right quadrant? I really don't want to have surgery if I don't have to. I suppose if it continues, I'll demand a HIDA scan, which is what my gastro recommended the last time if I continued to have problems. Anxiety is a monster since it produces real symptoms that are very hard to distinguish from something genuinely wrong!

It started a month and half ago , After I ate about any where up to hour I would feel this bad pain in my right side . at first it wasnt all the time but the pain was stabbing pains and then alot of pressure under my right rib. went and seen a surgeon he said it sounded like a diease gal balbladder before I seen him my regular Doctor had me have a altr sound showed notheing but he sent me to the surgeon and he sent me for ct scan did not show any thing. then the pain started getting worse bloating to where I look like I am going to have twins know thats big, hard to breath over the corse of all the pain in my right side and under my rib and in my right shoulder blade and even under my right side chest cavity and now it is low down on my right side I had been put in the hospital 2 x had another ct scan showed a stone into my gallbladder wall and also I have had a HIDA SCAN, showed my gallbladder is slow on return. The surgeon is doing surgery 31st of this month , he is on vacation and I have had 3 different times have experence really bad pain and felt like i am go to bust, buring in the middel of my stomach and even one after several of hours hurting little off to my left side was even hurting, and that not all over all this I have chronic back pain and bulging disc and nerve damage in my legs and several pain in my hips and so this also has added to more pain . hope this helps

He is now feeling ok but a while ago, my husband had very severe stomach pain. It started one night and didn't stop for few weeks. It was a proper nightmare. His stomach was hurting so much, he couldn't walk straight. He was either rolling about on the floor clutching his stomach or when he felt slightly better, he could walk but only in a doubled over manner because standing straight would hurt his stomach like mad. Breathing in and out would cause fresh bouts of stomach pain. He couldn't eat or sleep. The pain was so bad that they gave very strong industrial strength painkillers because otherwise it was just unbearable. Basically, during that time it seemed like there was nothing that wouldn't cause his stomach to hurt. The pain was so bad, at times he felt it hurts his whole body. We went to the doctors. They did blood tests, endoscopy, ultrasounds and couldn't find anything but they did say it might have been gallbladder. No stones, thank God but they said with many patients even severe stomach pain like that doesn't mean anything serious although, of course, you need to have it checked out even if it's just to exclude underlying conditions.

It lasted few weeks. During those weeks, he couldn't eat anything but some rice boiled to porridge like state in some chicken stock. I know it doesn't sound enticing but it's the only thing I could think of that would give him some nutrition without hurting his stomach. When he felt a bit better, we gradually returned to normal food. And few weeks later, when the pain stopped, he was back at work. This never repeated itself again. Fingers crossed, this horrible pain will never come back. But we still don't know what it was! Very strange.

He is now feeling ok but a while ago, my husband had very severe stomach pain. It started one night and didn't stop for few weeks. It was a proper nightmare. His stomach was hurting so much, he couldn't walk straight. He was either rolling about on the floor clutching his stomach or when he felt slightly better, he could walk but only in a doubled over manner because standing straight would hurt his stomach like mad. Breathing in and out would cause fresh bouts of stomach pain. He couldn't eat or sleep. The pain was so bad that they gave very strong industrial strength painkillers because otherwise it was just unbearable. Basically, during that time it seemed like there was nothing that wouldn't cause his stomach to hurt. The pain was so bad, at times he felt it hurts his whole body. We went to the doctors. They did blood tests, endoscopy, ultrasounds and couldn't find anything but they did say it might have been gallbladder. No stones, thank God but they said with many patients even severe stomach pain like that doesn't mean anything serious although, of course, you need to have it checked out even if it's just to exclude underlying conditions.

It lasted few weeks. During those weeks, he couldn't eat anything but some rice boiled to porridge like state in some chicken stock. I know it doesn't sound enticing but it's the only thing I could think of that would give him some nutrition without hurting his stomach. When he felt a bit better, we gradually returned to normal food. And few weeks later, when the pain stopped, he was back at work. This never repeated itself again. Fingers crossed, this horrible pain will never come back. But we still don't know what it was! Very strange.

Thank you for sharing this with me, I am glad to hear your husband is better and he never goes thru it again , Its hard when you hurt so badly and they cant find anything or even knowing what it is. Take care

I have a related question. I've been under severe stress for the past several months, so I'm thinking this could be stress-related but I'm not sure. Five years ago, an ultrasound of my gallbladder revealed a few small stones. At that time, my gastroenterologist advised me NOT to have it taken out as he felt my symptoms (also stress-related) were not attributable to my galllbladder. Once I got the stress under control, I had virtually no problems until now. In the past week, however, I have had 3 bouts of severe indigestion/gas in the overnight hours, lasting several hours. They either wake me in the middle of the night or prevent me from sleeping well to begin with. The best way to describe this pain is someone squeezing something tightly around my midsection. It is not heartburn as it is confined to my stomach. Taking a Tums or two seems to alleviate the pain to the point that I can at least get some sleep. By the time I get up in the morning, the gas/pain is pretty much gone. Could this be a gallbladder issue even though it's relieved by antacids, is not happening in relation to eating per se and is occuring in the midddle of my stomach as opposed to upper right quadrant? I really don't want to have surgery if I don't have to. I suppose if it continues, I'll demand a HIDA scan, which is what my gastro recommended the last time if I continued to have problems. Anxiety is a monster since it produces real symptoms that are very hard to distinguish from something genuinely wrong!

I really dont know what to tell you, I have really bad axiety at times in my life and It can cause alot of problems , when I would wake up I would start getting over whelmed and felt very sick to my stomach and I even felt ill just the thought of haveing to go some where. My point is and I hope its help the pain between both gallbladder and stress are to different as far as pain. for 2 month I have been having alot of pain in my right side and alot of bloating all the time and when I am in alott of pain my stomach get so tight and also causes pain and spasm in my back and my ribs that I feel like I am going to blow up. at first it started after I would eat about 20 to 30 mintues started in my right side under my rib into my side and into my rib area in the back also pain under my right shoulder blade as time has gone on I also have pain in my lower belly on my right side and also belching at time with a bitter taste. I have also lately been feeling some pain under my rib area on my left side. I have surgery on monday and I hope every thing goes ok I cant stand the pain any more also if it is getting worse other side effects are fever yellowing of your skin and white of your eyes. I hope you find out what wrong with you. one more thing I had 2 alta sounds showed nothing first ct scan showed nothing the 2nd ct scan showed stone embedded in the wall of my gallbladder. I had a hida scan and it showed my gallbladder needs taken out . hope this helps

Hi I have been in pain for 10 months, everyday I am in pain sometimes under my right rib sometimes under my left rib, sometimes under both.

I also get pain at the bottom right near my ovary/ appendix!!

I have the pain NOW under my right rib and bottom right, I could cry, some days I do.

I had a scan in febuary it said no gallstones, I have had a colonoscopy, Endoscopy, Ovary scan, barium enema, barium follow through, I am waiting the results of the follow through.

I think it may be gallbladder diease, where its not working right!!

I wish they could find out why I am in so much pain,

I get realy scared it make me very anxious.

how long have you been having the pain, do you get the pain anywhere else!!

take care...Mandy xxx

Mandy, started 2 month ago at first it wasnt all the time . after I ate maybe 20 to 30 mintues I would get side pain under my rib and into my side around to the back under my ribs on the right side. as time has gone on I have been very bloated look like I am haveing twins and at my age that diffently not the problem, for a month and a half my belly been so blown up and have pain every day also I been put in the hospital 2 x . I know have pain in the lower part of my right side down low. also pain under my right shoulder blade. I had several x rays lab work altr sounds and ct scan which the first one showed nothing but the second one showed a stone embedded in the wall of my gallbladder. but they did do a hida scan and that is when they found out my gallbladder is not working correctly. I have surgery on monday cant wait . and yes it can cause alot of pain and when you have gallbladder attack it can last any where 30 mintes to several hours and you will tighten up all round your ribs and back that you feel like you are going to explode. and yea the last few days I have been hurting on my left side under my ribs also my left back. hope this helps hey watch out what you eat it can cause alot of pain too. expecially choclate and soda.

:confused: Hi,

I think I have got a gall bladder problem even thought I had an ultra sound done and it showed no gall stones.

I get very severe pain some nights after I have had a meal The pain lasts sometimes for up to 8 hours. It starts off as a dull ache and then builds up to a very painful cramp lasting for a few seconds and then dies down to a dull ache again. This keeps happeing every few minutes and like I said lasts for hours. After the first few hours you start feeling totally drained and have no energy left at all. There seems to be nothing to take to stop the pain.

Does anyone out there know of anything you can take that will help with the pain that actually works. I have taken buscopan, Mylanta, Panadeine Forte but nothing seems to work.

I would love to hear from anyone who is experiencing the same pain.

I have just recently had major bowel surgery but this pain is not associated with the surgery according to the surgeon.

I have had an endoscopy, Xray and ultra sound but the doctor cannot find the cause of my pain.
He still seems to think it is my gall bladder.

Ask your doctor to do a hida scan . I had several test done and nothing showed up untill they did the hida scan. I have surgery monday 3/30/08. The pain can get really bad also I have stayed bloated all the time. hope this helps about pain I am on pain meds oxycodone but I have cronic back pain been on them for 3 years it helps some but when it gets worse that you have a gallbladder attack only strong pain meds can help some best of luck hope this helps

About a year and a half ago, I had what I believe were gallbladder problems.....awful, unbearable stabbing pain underneath the right rib and at the right shoulder, so bad that I couldn't breathe or stand up within an hour of eating anything.....right around the time I had an ultrasound that came back normal (my dr. had called and told me I am fine, never mind that terrible pain, I guess), the pain just stopped coming and I haven't had problems since. Weird. I hope yours goes away, too, because I wasn't able to find anything that helped in the time I had the pain. (I was actually coming to these boards tonight to ask if anyone ever had gallbladder pain that didn't show up on tests, because I was just thinking about how strange it was, and it's interesting that it has been others' experience.)

I never heard of the hida scan...I will keep that in mind and ask my dr. to do that if the pain ever returns.

Does anyone know about apple cider vinegar and gall bladder attacks? I have had some gall bladder attacks over the last 2-3 years, very far between, and nothing that I can tell specifically brings them on (i.e. eating certain foods, eating a meal, although getting upset sometimes does). Anyway, they have been from very mild to blinding pain and can last from 1-12 hours usually through the night.

The apple cider vinegar can be done one of two ways.....one can add 1 T. of apple cider vinegar to a cup of apple juice and drink it down. Use a straw far back in your mouth if the taste is too much. Or there is a natural apple cider vinegar called Bragg's (you can search for it on the Internet or check your health food store) that you mix 1-2 teaspoons of it with water and a teaspoon of honey. You can drink this hot or cold and the taste is much more mild than the other one. Some people even like it. Take either of these when you feel a gall bladder thing coming on and many times within about 15 minutes it is completely gone. If you get woken up in the night, in full blown attack, like I did last night, it might not help as much but may relieve some of the pain. Hope this helps. I do feel for every one of you!

One way to find out if your gallbladder is the problem, eleminate all fats 100% from your diet for a week or two (includes salad dressing, etc too). If the pain reduces a great deal (may not go away completely) it is most likely your gallbladder.

The surgeon told me yesterday it is when the gallbladder contracts to squeeze out bile to digest fat we ate causes the pain. Gallstones blocking a duck can do the same.I did the above and the sudden stabbing pains stopped but the constant pain remained.

I am scheduled for surgery April 4. It is risky to wait any longer since I am diabetic.

I posted this on the main boards but figured I'd post it here too.

So I had an ultrasound and HIDA scan done the other day because I have been having continual pain in my right side, sometimes VERY painful. While the ultrasound was normal, the HIDA scan showed that my gall bladder only emptied 11%, whereas the norm is 35% or more. My doctor scheduled me a surgical consult for next week, and I am just trying to figure out whether or not I am going to end up actually having surgery. Not that I am worried about it, but just for planning sake mostly. I'm still wondering what the problem would be that would not show up on the ultrasound but showed up as something being wrong by means of the HIDA scan. All I know is that its been a pain in my side for far too long now (pun intended.)

So am I to understand that Gallstones are not the only cause of gall bladder malfunction, therefore there are other reasons the gall bladder is removed due to not functioning properly?

I posted this on the main boards but figured I'd post it here too.

So I had an ultrasound and HIDA scan done the other day because I have been having continual pain in my right side, sometimes VERY painful. While the ultrasound was normal, the HIDA scan showed that my gall bladder only emptied 11%, whereas the norm is 35% or more. My doctor scheduled me a surgical consult for next week, and I am just trying to figure out whether or not I am going to end up actually having surgery. Not that I am worried about it, but just for planning sake mostly. I'm still wondering what the problem would be that would not show up on the ultrasound but showed up as something being wrong by means of the HIDA scan. All I know is that its been a pain in my side for far too long now (pun intended.)

So am I to understand that Gallstones are not the only cause of gall bladder malfunction, therefore there are other reasons the gall bladder is removed due to not functioning properly?

I just had my gallbladder removied on Monday , I have 4 small openings on my belly with staples in each one. as the days go by I am getting less pain. I was told from few other Doctors that the Hida scan would be the one that will let them know if my gallbladder is bad and it did. my stomach is still bloated and hoping it will go down and stay down. I have read allot about the gallbladder and what to expect after surgery and having to use the rest room allot that hasnt happened to me , I still have to use stool softners. and I ate clocate today and ice cream hope I am not pushing my luck but over all feel some what better but its just been few days. hope the best for you the pain can really take over and I have spent plenty of nights crying.

Ryan,

The other tests (Ultrasound/CT scan) are to pick up stones. They HIDA scan checks out the functionality of the gallbladder. A gallbladder can slow in function due to inflammation and other things (I am obviously not a doctor). My ejection rate was 0% - I had my gallbladder removed a week later. They told me it was inflamed, no stones. I had a heck of a week from the HIDA scan to the removal, I honestly think it made things worse (the CCK injection). I cried from pain almost that entire week!

I'm curious as to if you had any reaction during the CCK injection near the end of the HIDA scan. Some people don't, some do. Did you cramp or have any nausea? I'm am wondering if ejection rate has anything to do with the symptoms some get when it's injected.

If you were referred to a surgeon, he/she will most likely see you and schedule a date to take it out. I didn't even see the point in seeing my surgeon other than to meet her. The procedure is fairly easy. Eat no to low fat for a while after (if not forever) and take your pain meds on a schedule for the first few days. I felt a lot better almost immediately but after a week or so I started cramping again. I think I have something else going on though (I've ALWAYS had left sided pain, not right). I'm still better than BEFORE the removal. Oh and I'm 5 months out from surgery.

I hope you are better soon.

Hey Zoe,

Yeah, when they injected the CCK they said that I might get nauseous and boy did I ever think I was going to messy their machines after they injected it. Kept everything down though. But yeah, since the test, my side has been hurting really bad like I am having an attack.

I mean, the pain has been bad enough two times now for me to go to the ER (which is rare for me, I don't even go to the doctor usually), because after the first time they didn't do a HIDA scan. I guess you could say this is the third time I have really hurt, but that is just the effect of them filling it up I guess.

I'm to the point where I just want the pain to go away. I am just worried the surgeon might try to say something like, "Well lots of people live with it." or "Well the ultrasound was normal." I've already learned to live with another annoying problem and this is far worse.

They won't tell you no, if you were referred there they will evaluate you and schedule you. I just wanted it out too. They assured me lots of people have left sided pain with it instead of right and since mine was 0% I figured it couldn't make it worse... and it didn't.

Before all this I rarely saw a dr either and the week between the HIDA scan and removal I almost went to the ER 2 or 3 times (I honestly thought I might die!). During the CCK injection I kept asking if they were SURE I wasn't going to vomit! They told me no one had before and I didn't. I cramped bad too. I couldn't eat that week or it was just horrible, so be careful at least. Low low fat! If you get pain, call the doc to get some pain pills. I didn't use them until after the HIDA scan and boy was I glad to have those that week. Totally worth it, and I am NOT a pill taker. Get some if you are having pain... you will feel much better, at least you can relax a little.

Get well soon.
PS I lost 35 lbs from HIDA scan to a month after removal!

i posted this in another section but thought i might find out more information here too.................

my story starts about a year ago....i was taken to the doctors and he basically rushed me to the hospital with cramping abdominal pain and back pain...i was week and could barely walk.....high fever....and no explaination as to what was wrong.....after spending about 8 hours in the hospital...blood tests ect...i was sent home with antibiotics and pain killers and potassium pills....told to see my doctor in a couples days...that was a tuesday.....by thursday i was no better....went back to the docs and he had to change my antibiotics as the other ones had no effect....he than asked why he had no untrasound results from the hospital and i told him because i didn't have one done there...he sent me back.....had the ultra sound on friday.....
monday went back to the docs and found that all my blood tests ...well he asked why i was drinking anti-freeze....explained that i wasn't....well he explained that one kidney was damaged and liver was inflamed.....thus sent for more blood tests.....ultra sound came up negative ....so...off to a cat scan.....lab request marked on top "URGENT"....we that was done with in 4 hours of seeing him.....not bad.......but the results of the cat scan came up negative as well......he than started to ask if i was doing cocaine....no...don't even smoke pot i explained to him....but wth his persistant asking when ever i went to see him......he explained....kidney and liver damage......well....no matter what tests he sent me for....gall stones...kidney stone.....liver...std's.....tubel pregnancy....pregnancy....appendix...... hell he did all the tests he could thinkof for months and all cam up negative...i was starting to think i was imagining all the pain...but no ...it was there...so the only thing that we could narrow it down to was a health food drink that me and my husband started to drink....made him better...but put me in the hospital....i stopped drinking it and got better....well...except for the constant pain......and the irregular bm......water out the but...to constipation.....than back to water again.....no i don't eat a regular diet....yes i drink pop and i drink boose....but i am drunk after only about 5 drinks....i eat what ever i want to eat and never gain weight..i am aobut 5'10" tall.....weighed between 115 and 120 lbs for so long that i don't even own a scale in our house....i do lots of physical activity (moving furniture and such)...work 7 days a week...but after i got sick last june 07...haven't been able to do the same work......i just turned 44 and me and my husband work together in our own business so it has put more of a load on him.....so....the doc thought he would send me for more tests...april 1st...barium drink.....april 10th another ultrasound (4th i think)...and april 11th...hida.(found out at that point...hay i've gained 15 lbs).....well i got the call last night.....from what i have read...1 out of 4 (25%) women develop gall bladder inflamation...and only 1 out of 20 of those (25%) have no gall stones ....well i am one of those few lol...hubby said i was unique.....the doc says that i have no gall stones but the gall bladder is inflammed....i had an aptment to see the surgeon for a scope on may 27th....well they bumped my apointment up to may 7th to see him about removing my gall bladder.......and now i don't know what to do......yes i am nervous and scared...have read so much on the net and talked to so many people...and everyone has a differant opinon....i feel lost.....hay...i'm just hopping that i haven't written so much here that i run out of space...but i thought a history might be in order/........so what i am wondering...is there a usual cause for gall bladders going bad,.....my kids i had aver 19 years ago....so pregnancy can't be it.....any thing else....and instead of removing the gb....can you not clean it out and maybe it will be better after...since i have no stones to pass that is.......not sure if you all can help.....but i do fee better that i can talk to others in the same boat as me...

thanks

Monday was 2 weeks from my surgery had my removied and I only had one gallbladder stone it was inbeded in the wall of my gallbladder. I am still having problems my stomach still bloats and I get pressure up under my right rib still at times and have pain in my lower right side still have to take stool softners but I have been on pain pills for three years have cronic back pain. I am not very good about watching what I eat wondering does anyone have any ideals if that why I still bloat and have pains in my right side after eatting. Thanks hope the best for all.

I had my gallbladder removed at the very end of January and I have had nothing but pain and trouble since I've had it removed. I go through spells where I vomit and have nausea and stomach pains constantly>>this is not normal. However, it is normal to still have the pains that maybe you've had before such as the pains on the right side that feel like you still have your gallbladder there, they are called "ghost pains." My doctor told me it was perfectly normal to have these and some people have them whenever they eat fatty "fast foods" or other irratating foods.

Thanks for the info very appreciated, hope you get better real soon. hurting all the time get so old.