04-09-2015, 03:23 PM
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#1 | | Junior Member (male)
Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Victoria, BC
Posts: 15
| Turned out gallbladder was not the problem
Saw the surgeon today for the first time since my gallbladder was removed 5 weeks ago. He told me that there was nothing wrong with my GB when he removed it. Needless to say I was not very impressed. He stated that he told me right from the get go that there was only a 70% chance that it would be my GB and a 30% chance it would be with the bile duct/sphincter. I guess I know what statistic I fell into. He basically didn't want to talk to me about it and said he would refer me to a GI specialist. Said biliary dyskensia is rare and for every 100 gallbladders he removes he only sees 1 maybe 2 with this condition. He also said that the GI will probably do a ERCP on me. I said that I have heard that there is a 20% chance of getting acute pancreatis from that procedure. He said NO only 1 to 3% chance. I don't know what to make out of this. All my research states much much higher than 1 to 3%. The other depressing news he told me about is that there is essentially no cure for the sphincter type 3, And that I basically just have to deal with it. I know one thing though, I cant live like this, I cant eat anything, Can only drink water, And cant take any opiate based pain meds cause it causes the sphincter to flare up and give me a massive attack. Any thoughts, Info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
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04-10-2015, 09:27 AM
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#2 | | Senior Member (female)
Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Canada
Posts: 180
| Re: Turned out gallbladder was not the problem
I have heard that a low does antidepressant helps with sphincter of oddi conditions. Like very low, so they aren't even technically an antidepressant. I have heard good things about Nortriptyline for SOD. The medication basically helps rewire your brain to perceive pain differently. I was told before I was diagnosed with gallbladder issues that I may have functional dyspepsia and there is no cure and the best bet is it try a low does antidepressant. I still may even try it because I still have pain and stomach sensitivities.
I am really sorry to hear that the gallbladder wasn't the issue after going through the removal and all. I wish you the best of luck in future treatment plans!
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04-13-2015, 09:14 PM
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#3 | | Junior Member (male)
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 43
| Re: Turned out gallbladder was not the problem
Before I can make any observations it would help to have some background, so a few questions:
What were your symptoms leading up to the consult with the surgeon before the cholecystectomy?
What diagnostic tests were done to evaluate gallbladder function prior to the consult? And what were the findings of each?
Which doctor referred you to the surgeon? e.g. Primary care physician? Gastroenterologist?
Last edited by snowdog74; 04-13-2015 at 09:15 PM.
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04-18-2015, 11:46 AM
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#4 | | Junior Member (male)
Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Victoria, BC
Posts: 15
| Re: Turned out gallbladder was not the problem
snowdog74 - In September 2014 I woke up with upper right quadrant pain. this pain never went away, I still have this pain to this day. Prior to September 2014 I was taking way to many Tylenol #3 with codeine, I would from time to time get an attack that felt like a heart attack that would go right through to my back. Pain was horrible. I suspected GB at the time but stopped taking the codeine cause I was sure that they were part of the problem. When I woke up in September with the pain that I still have to this day I thought it was my liver from all the T3's. I saw my family DR and he sent me for a HIDA scan. The scan came back with ejection fraction rate of 18%, Said that this could indicate biliary dyskinesia. Family DR then referred me to a surgeon and he said that there is a 70% chance that it is my GB and a 30% chance its the common bile duct/sphincter. He mentioned at the time that if that was the case they might have to go in and put a stent in. I had the surgery on March 2nd and I am way worse then I was prior to surgery
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04-18-2015, 11:58 AM
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#5 | | Junior Member (male)
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 43
| Re: Turned out gallbladder was not the problem
Few more questions:
Have you had contrast CT and/or MRI? Any notes there OTHER than confirming absence of stones?
Have you ever taken any PPIs? When? How long?
Have you had bloodwork done since your gallbladder surgery? What were the amylase and lipase levels? Were any other values bordering on or outside normal range?
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04-18-2015, 12:12 PM
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#6 | | Junior Member (male)
Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Victoria, BC
Posts: 15
| Re: Turned out gallbladder was not the problem
Hi snowdog - Sorry I should have been more clear. I had 1 ct scan with contrast prior to surgery and 1 directly after surgery. Also had a MRI CP directly after surgery. I was hospitalized for 6 days after surgery with severe pain. Basically they were giving me shots of dilaudid and they were triggering the attacks. When I finally refused the dilaudid the attacks went away. Howver without a GB a still have the pain under my right rib, And now have a weakness on that side... Such as starting a lawnmower is a problem. I had near perfect bowels prior to surgery now they are a mess. As for bloodwork they did lots when I was in the hospital for 6 days, The only thing that came back was my cholesterol was slightly high. However Im not really sure what they were looking for... They said we went over everything. My family DR did blood when I got out of hospital. There was a full liver panel on there and a bunch of other stuff, But I didn't see anything to do with the pancreas which I found strange. Thanks once again
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04-18-2015, 12:16 PM
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#7 | | Junior Member (male)
Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Victoria, BC
Posts: 15
| Re: Turned out gallbladder was not the problem
Forgot to mention the only PPIs Ive ever been on was tecta. I was prescribed that way before any of this ever started. Had a endoscope prior to all this and it was determined I have gerd. I haven't taken the tecta since.
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04-18-2015, 12:30 PM
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#8 | | Junior Member (male)
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 43
| Re: Turned out gallbladder was not the problem
"But I didn't see anything to do with the pancreas which I found strange."
Can you expand on that? Here's why I'm curious, bearing in mind I'm not a doctor, the pancreas, liver and gallbladder share the common bile duct. One of the distinguishing features of pancreatitis versus gallbladder disease is whether one or both of the amylase and lipase levels are out of whack. So I'm curious if the pancreas is the one place they didn't look for abnormalities. I'm also wanting to ensure that they ruled out any other masses in the liver or pancreas which could be contributing to the problem.
Just so I'm not missing something: How much tylenol did you take when you were taking it, and what was the recommended dosage for the tylenol you were taking? Any reason you didn't immediately get on prescription analgesics at the time?
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04-18-2015, 12:47 PM
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#9 | | Junior Member (male)
Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Victoria, BC
Posts: 15
| Re: Turned out gallbladder was not the problem
I have a doctors apt next week and Im going to make sure I ask him about the pancreas bloodwork. In regards to taking the narcotic Tylenol #3 with codeine. I was on it for approx 6 years. For the first 3 years I took it exactly as prescribed. 2 pills every 4 hours. 8 pills a day. However I ended up going through a rough patch with divorce and a few other things so I began abusing the pills. I was prescribed 240 pills a month but was going through them in approx 12 days. This is what I believe lead to this sphincter of oddi problems that are going on now. When I was abusing these pills I would from time to time get an attack the next day that was very painful and could last a couple hours. An attack that could mimic a GB attack... Hence why doctors suspected my GB and gave me a HIDA exam. When I woke up that September morning with that pain under my rib I never took another pill again. From September to December was rough, The pain was always there 24-7. However in January and February the pain was about 75% better. Then of course surgery in early March and its all down hill since. Thanks once again
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04-18-2015, 02:37 PM
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#10 | | Junior Member (male)
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 43
| Re: Turned out gallbladder was not the problem
Let me know what they tell you about the pancreas bloodwork.
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04-18-2015, 04:22 PM
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#11 | | Junior Member (male)
Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Victoria, BC
Posts: 15
| Re: Turned out gallbladder was not the problem
Thanks, I will post the results after my doctors appt next week
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05-14-2017, 07:50 PM
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#12 | | Junior Member (female)
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 28
| Re: Turned out gallbladder was not the problem
Heywood- what ended up happening? Did you find out what was going on?
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