Gall bladder pain

[esue]

Hi,
A couple of years ago I had a night of severe pain in my upper right abdomen which I decided was a gall bladder attack. The pain was very severe, I tried I couldn't move at all. The pain radiated under my ribs into my chest - all classic gall bladder symptoms.

It was 3 am, my husband and daughter were sleeping. I thought about waking my husband but I knew there was nothing he could do other than rush me into the hospital and I didn't want to have to wake our daughter so I breathed my way through it. I felt it wasn't a life or death situation so I could wait until a more decent hour.

By morning it had subsided enough that I could walk around. I went in to see my doctor and she told me I should have gone in at the time as they would have dealt with me immediately. She scheduled an ultrasound for a few days later. I had another attack the next day and did go to the hospital. I met with a surgeon, I had all the symptoms as well as a family history of gall stones. They sceduled me for emergency surgery and whisked me in for an ultrasound where it was discovered there were not stones. I was sent home feeling like a hypocondriact.

Since then my gall bladder has been giving me periodic pain, often it is sensitive to touch. But no major attacks.

One week ago I had a hysterectomy that went well. I feel great and am healing very quickly. But now the pains in my gall bladder are getting worse every day. My post op diet is high fibre, low fat to keep my stools soft.

My question after all of this is, what can be causing the pain if there are not any stones and what can be done about it?

One of the things I am afraid of right now is having to go in to get the gall bladder removed so soon after the hysterectomy.

I would appreciate any help anyone has.

[Blue_Streak]

I would highly recommend that you get a second or even third opinion from a Dr, if you have not already.

I've been to 3 different Dr's (my regular Dr, Gi Dr & a surgeon) who all say my gb needs to be removed. I'm seeing a second surgeon Monday & want this gb out... I don't have stones, but I do have a small polyp. I've had all the tests...ultrasound, Hida scan, Cat-Scans...upper endoscope, colonscopy, barium enema...all tests came back normal-- other then seeing the polyp via ultrasound. I have all the classic symptoms of gallbladder disease & the pain, & it's only getting worse. I know of a few people who had no stones, had all the symptoms & when they got there gb out it was inflamed... There is a condition called acalculous cholecystitis, which can occur without the presence of stones.

Hope you feel better soon...

Heather

[spongebobgamma]

Esue,

I had a ultrasound that came out clear for stones.. My Dr did the Hida scan which showed my gallbladder function is 17%. Ask you Dr for this test.

I know its hard to think of surgery again after only a week. But at least get the testing done.. You can try to eat a low fat diet also..

[esue]

Thank you for the quick responses.

I did see a gi specialist a few years ago when I was having digestive problems. He made fun of all my complaints (diareha, vomiting, pain, fluctuating billirubin levels in my blood work). He told me straight out that I was wasting his time, my symptoms were not anything that mattered to him and he had patients dying of cancer that were more important to him. He must have been having a really bad day because he even made fun of my name and age. I have never felt so belittled in my life. That's why I tolerate the pain now, I hate feeling like the world thinks I'm a hypocondriact and I know that there are other far more ill than I am.

After that I turned to the internet and did some investigating of my own. I found a board filled with people that had my exact symptoms including a skin condition that I was having that I thought was unrelated. They had all found releif taking digestive enzymes which I started on and they worked for most of the symptoms. I felt healthier than I had felt for years and I knew I hadn't been imagining it.

Now I'm back to this gall bladder issue and the thought of going through the whole dr. cycle again terrifies me. I wish I could find a solution on my own.

Thanks for the answers. I know I do need to go see my doctor. The last two nights I took Tylenol at bedtime and that stopped the pain in my gall bladder, but I can't live like that for too long.

Thanks again, you've given me a dose of courage I needed.

[Blue_Streak]

esue,
That's terrible how that Gi Dr treated you. How unprofessional... If you don't get anywhere with one Dr just keep looking till someone gives you an answer, & has you get some needed tests done. I really would get the Hida scan & another ultra sound, to see how your gallbladder functioning/doing... When it comes to the gallbladder that does not have stones....typically they do all kinds of tests to rule out other possibilities. As you can see my lists of tests ruled out my bowel & stomach, liver, pancreas etc etc...so leaves all the Dr's looking back at my gallbladder... If you can find a Dr or Dr's who will work with you like this, that'd be wonderful... I've been fortunate to have a wonderful group of Dr's that are all great...

Keep us posted...

Heather