Gallbladder pain? Help!! - Gallbladder Message Board

Blue_Streak · 03-09-2005, 09:06 AM

Has anyone experienced gallbladder pain in these areas? Is this normal?
Pain is not in just the right rib area ANYMORE...that's where it all started two months ago...but now both left & right ribs--front & back. In stomach area, even in the back directly behind stomach... Chest, sometimes left or right of sternum. Both shoulder blades...stiff neck. These pains are all intermittent...never all at the same time. Also don't have to eat anything greasy at this point to have pain off & on. Of course it does get worse after I make the mistake of eating greasy food.

The Dr's want my gallbladder out & so do I...but it this normal for gallbladder related pain? Help!!

Thanks in advance,
Heather

Katie G · 03-09-2005, 12:06 PM

Hi there - so sorry for your suffering. Unfortunately, GB pain can cause "referred" pain meaning that the pain is felt somewhere else than where it actually originates.

I had pretty typical upper right rib pain radiating around to the back, but due to my GERD, I also midabdominal pains that went right through to my back, and over to the left.

Have you been checked for GERD and/or pancreas problems?

Just a thought. Good luck to you,
Katie G

Blue_Streak · 03-09-2005, 12:41 PM

Hi Katie,
Thanks for your reply. I had an upper endoscope, colonoscopy & a barium enema 4 weeks ago. All was well in that area...no ulcers, inflammation polyps, nothing. I've also had a ultra sound & two cat-scans & they saw nothing with my pancreas or liver. No gallstones either, just a small 3/4mm polyp. A couple blood tests reveled only very slighted elevated ALT liver enzyme...which the Dr's did not seem to overly concerned about. It had went down by the second test. I just hurt & feel miserable all the time.

Heather

actudan · 03-09-2005, 07:10 PM

Blue Streak,

Welcome to my club. I have the hurt and feel miserable most of the time but my location is almost always the upper right quadrant area. Katie made a good point too and that is referred pain. It's especially important when it comes to digestive problems. For example, appendictis is tough to diagnose. The reason is that it can cause pain all over when the affected organ is actually located in your lower right quadrant. The best thing to do is to stay on top of the issue and get more tests done. Good luck!

Blue_Streak · 03-09-2005, 07:25 PM

Thanks for your reply actudan. At this point I've pretty much had every test they can do for my gallbladder...Hida & the above mentioned ones. The Dr's just want to remove the gallbladder, but I of course am hesitant, since all my tests come back normal. Hida came back at 67%. I have no stones, no inflammation they can see...but from what I've read the gallbladder can be diseased despite all the negative tests. Going to a second surgeon for a second opinion on all this pain...

Blue