HELP! Is this my GALLBLADDER or what?? - Gallbladder Message Board

cstarz7721 · 10-15-2003, 02:18 PM

About 4-5 weeks ago i started having these "attacks" of severe pain on my right side under my breast area. I had several in a two week period or so. The pain came on slowly and escalated to the point that I would be wriggling in my seat or bed. They lasted from 45min up to 3 hrs. the last one. The pain was like a stabbing sharp pain and came sortof in waves or like throbbing during the episodes. It also hurts out my back near my shoulder bLade. Afther the 3rd or 4th episode I had a doctors appt. My doc said "NO" when I asked if it could be my gall bladder, she said since I had an ultrasound 9 Mths ago and no stones were present then, it couldn't be my gb. All she wants to do is rule out my heart. Her reasons are that i am on birth control (nuvaring) age 31 and i smoke. She had me do a CT SCAN - which came back normal - 2 EKG'S normal as well- and I met with a cardiologist last week and he thinks the symptoms are atypical for heart but they are going to do and echo test and a stress test over the next two weeks "JUST IN CASE". This is frustrating me because I work out all the time, no cardio probs from what i can tell and I just don't think its my heart. But any time you say "chest pain" docs panic and "cover their bases" Anyway, now I haven't had an attack since 10/2, about 2 weeks. But I still have little twinges now and then almost every day??? I Haven't had any bad gas or nausea throughout and I have always had diarrhea probs even before this... So do you guys think this is my GB?? Did you ever go for lengths of time without an attack?? Or was this something else and its fading away?? I am meeting with my main doc Friday and since I haven't had a full on attack since 2 weeks, I feel somewhat funny to be goin to the doctor, for what seems like "False Alarm?!?!?!? PLEASE GIVE ANY ADVICE OR TIPS ON WHAT TO ASK DOC, OR WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN MY SYMPTOMS, anything at all!!! THANKS A BUNCH!!!

actudan · 10-15-2003, 02:35 PM

Your pain type and location sound like you may have been passing a gallstone. I don't know why your doctor wouldn't think it could not be gallstones since your ultrasound was good 7 months ago. Does that mean you can't develop gallstones over a 7 month period? I really don't know but it seems like you could. Also, maybe the ultrasound missed possible stones at that time (assuming thats what you have). There are many cases where it takes more than one ultrasound to find the gallstones.

A friend of mine had an experience just like yours. He went to the doctor and was told that he probably passed a small stone. He had lost a good bit of weight through dieting and quick weight loss can cause stone formation. Anyway, he mentioned that he didn't feel quite right for several weeks after his bad attack. He also didn't have any nausea or stool change. Several weeks later after his attack, he was 100% okay.

If your doctor suspects heart, I would have the tests performed just in case. The doctors know a lot more than me so I would heed to the doc's orders. I would also ask for another ultrasound if you feel that it may still be your gallbladder. I would first wait to see if you are in fact getting better since you haven't had an attack in two weeks. I would ask the doctor why would it couldnt possible that you may have passed a stone. Good luck with your tests.

hmm419 · 10-15-2003, 06:21 PM

It sounds like your gall bladder to me. I went to the emergency room 9 times in one year, every time I had an "attack" basically the same symptoms you are describing. They would blame it on my endomitriosis and give me darvocets and an antibiotic. Like you said, sometimes you go a few weeks without a very severe attack, I was having at least one bad one a month. My doctor said the same thing, that it wasn't my gb. They did tests on my heart as well and everything came back fine. Finally one day I had the worst attack yet that lasted a few hours. That time I really did think I was having a heart attack or something, the pain was so intense. I went back to the ER and saw someone I hadn't seen before. I asked her to somehow check my gallbladder. She did a simple blood test, my wbc's were sky high and I had to have emergency surgery to remove my gall bladder that day. Doctor's are smart, but sometimes we know our own bodies best. I would go on with the tests she wants but maintain that it could be your gall bladder. Don't let it go! Good luck!

[This message has been edited by hmm419 (edited 10-15-2003).]

suzyshop1 · 10-16-2003, 11:14 PM

I have a gnawing sometimes achy sore pan underneath my breast on the right side that sometimes goes to my back in my shoulder blade.I will soon be checked for gall bladder problems with a hida scan. had an ultrasound done which showed nothing amiss.I have since went to another gastro doc the one that recommende the hida scan.I told him i had an ultrasound done.He said that the ultrasound is not necessarily the best test to determine gall bladder problems.He also said that just because no gall stones showed up on the ultrasound doesnt mean that there are no gall bladder problems.He said there can be other abnormalities of the gall bladder.Are you seeing a gastro doc or just a GP?

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cstarz7721 · 10-17-2003, 10:37 AM

Thanks guys for your advice... Well I went to my doc today for a followup, she is a gp not a specialist. She said since my ct scan came back ok and I haven't had a major attack since 2 wks (even though i feel twinges, some sharp everyday) She suggested asthma was a thought she had ??What the heck..?? and or since I have fiber cystic breast somewhat that could have been it too.... and then she's like... since the ct is ok... and was done with me.. I brought my husband with me and he's like, wait a minute... could you see the gallbladder on the ct, she said no. and we discussed how i have a family history of gb probs which i found out recently since the attacks... again she tried to discount it since i had an ultrasound back in december with no stones present... then i asked if there could be other possibilities with the gb besides stones and would it show up... anyways she then reluctantly set us up with the ultrasound and seemed kinda miffed?? then as she walked to the nurse station to check us out and order the test, she's like by the way when is the last time you had blood work, i said forever ago.... so she said that was another way to check and i got those labs done today too...?? Hello?!?! I feel like she is not on top of things... I think I am changing docs... At least we are getting the blood and ultrasound even though it was our prodding to get them... and i might find something out or atleast rule out others.... right?! i never go to the doc hardly and these attacks were so severe i thought about the emergency room even... but i haven't had one for 2 wks... but it is important to know what is going on before things get worse.... oh well forgive me for venting... we'll see what the results are.... thnks again for your info....