Gallbladder or not

[Dreamer61]

Has anyone had experience with gallbladder issues? For several months I've been getting nauseous for no reason for days at a time. Went to the doc, he put me on nexuim. Then sharp pains in upper right side of my abdomen so I had an ultra sound which looked fine they said. Starting feeling better for a couple of weeks but two days ago I developed a constant pain in the upper middle area of my abdomen so now my doc wants me to have another gallbladder test which includes some kind of dye. I just want to feel better. Our LSV is coming up soon and I don't want to be sick! This has been going on for months. Does this sound like gallbladder behavior? Just thought I would ask here because you good folks seem to know a whole lot!! Seriously! Thanks for your replies!:wave:

[kja966]

The gallbladder may still be the problem. I am a Family Practice Doc in Wisconsin and have seen this many times. The symptoms fit with gallbladder problems - the GB is a storage tank for bile from the liver. Bile aids digestion, particularily fatty foods. If there isn't enough then you get nausea and gas. If there are stones in the GB then you can have pain too. You can have gallstones or just a gallbladder with no stones but it doesn't work. Ultrasound looks for stones and the second study, usually called a patency study sees if the gallbladder works properly. If both tests fine, its probably not the GB. If it is bad the usual course is to remove it. I would go with the second test. Hope that helps and good luck.

[gamby]

Thanks Doc !


I have the same symptoms along with belching. I have suspected Gall Bladder all along. The second test sounds like a good idea .

[KittyKat]

You don't have to have gallstones to have problems. My ultrasound was negative for stones so I had an old-fashioned test and was found to have sludge in the GB. When the GB was removed the surgeon found some very small stones in addition to the sludge. Good luck.

[asianthree]

I have flair ups at times with the same, some pain, but when its really bad and the GB shuts down liquids will not stay down after a certain point..So a NG tube is inserted for few hours and takes care of the problem...you need to watch your diet very carefully....there are some food that you can not eat or should not eat. Google for diets or look at Ozs site for a good insite on what you should be doing

[Dreamer61]

Ok so Ive got a hyda scan scheduled for this Friday! Im so hoping we can get to the bottom of this! Ive got to get well! Thanks for all your comments and well wishes!

[NotGolfer]

Been there, done that with G.B. issues. The first time, I woke in the middle of the night feeling as though I was having a heart attack. HUGE pain in the upper quadrant of my stomach area. I had 2 more b/4 I went to my doctor! Had an ultra-sound then surgery. NOW the surgery is a piece of cake compared to when I had mine...big incision and long recouperation. Today it's arthescopic and you're up and around in a day or two.

Have a relative who was told they didn't have "stones"...but when the surgery was done, there were thousands of small granules. Everyone's experience is different. I wouldn't let it go....it can be serious!!!

[sjdjmd]

Your symptoms sound like those I had. When I went to the doctor's office they thought I was having a heart attack because of the severe pain. I was taken to the hospital and shortly after all the heart tests, it was determined to be my gall bladder. Bye bye gall bladder...no more problems since. All the best with your situation! You definitely want to feel well for your visit here!

[mfp509]

Keep us posted Dreamer61 - will be thinking about you.

[senior citizen]

Been there, done that with G.B. issues. The first time, I woke in the middle of the night feeling as though I was having a heart attack. HUGE pain in the upper quadrant of my stomach area. I had 2 more b/4 I went to my doctor! Had an ultra-sound then surgery. NOW the surgery is a piece of cake compared to when I had mine...big incision and long recouperation. Today it's arthescopic and you're up and around in a day or two.

Have a relative who was told they didn't have "stones"...but when the surgery was done, there were thousands of small granules. Everyone's experience is different. I wouldn't let it go....it can be serious!!!

That's exactly how my husband felt about 20 years ago. He had returned from a long weekend up at deer hunting camp (lots of cheese, pepperoni and strange "woodchuck" meat stews that all the guys contributed; I sent up a big pot of chili..........on the Monday thereafter, he had pain up and down his arm and tingling.........plus gas, belching, pain, etc. He thought he was having a heart attack and drove himself to our hospital which is very close by...........when we all got up to the emergency room he was sitting up in bed, laughing and joking with the nurses. Didn't look like a heart attack patient to us.

They admitted him for four days of tests.......for the heart, etc.
He was in Intensive Care and couldn't even get out of bed, hooked up to all kinds of machines. Long story short, he had 3 gallstones the size of strawberries. He refused surgery.

I have no idea if they passed or what. For a short while he had gas and belching every now and then..........but finally, all the symptoms left as quickly as they came. That was twenty years ago.

He's fine now. He obviously had eaten too much junk up at deer hunting camp.

[NotGolfer]

When I saw my doc, I wanted to refuse surgery. He told me that would be a bad idea..."IF" the stone(s) got lodged that worse case scenario would be gangreen and some other bad stuff that could be possible. Some years later I heard of an acquaintance's mom dying because she didn't act on her symptoms. Gall bladder issues aren't something to be trifled with! Wonder if the doctor on this thread could contribute his ideas with this!?!

[gamby]

Those who had the gall bladder taken out, (Surgery ) have any problems after surgery. Gas , belching, Bowel problems ??

[senior citizen]

When I saw my doc, I wanted to refuse surgery. He told me that would be a bad idea..."IF" the stone(s) got lodged that worse case scenario would be gangreen and some other bad stuff that could be possible. Some years later I heard of an acquaintance's mom dying because she didn't act on her symptoms. Gall bladder issues aren't something to be trifled with! Wonder if the doctor on this thread could contribute his ideas with this!?!

I hear you and I understand......but he had a mind of his own.
It was twenty years ago when he was 48. The surgeon/internist who sat next to his bed, while I was in the room, to tell him about the gallstones
they had discovered were actually neighbors of ours a few streets over.
Everyone in this town knows each other. They did want the gallstones removed. Again, he had a mind of his own.

I still remember them saying that the three gallstones were the size of strawberries.......well, I buy super big California strawberries, but who knows what size they were referring to. Again, his symptoms subsided and his gallbladder has never bothered him again in the past twenty years.

To play it safe with the heart...they sent him for a stress test and he did very well on it........his heart and circulation, etc. were fine.....they still are.

But, for the ones that gallstone distress mimics heart attack symtoms, I can vouch for that.

[rubicon]

For all of the issues cited in previous threads it is prudent to remove the galllbladder with the advice from your physcian . The type of surgery will depend on the individual. Most cases can be handled by mimimum invasion while some have to go the full measure

[graciegirl]

For all of the issues cited in previous threads it is prudent to remove the galllbladder with the advice from your physcian . The type of surgery will depend on the individual. Most cases can be handled by mimimum invasion while some have to go the full measure


I agree. We should NOT make any major decisions about issues like this from the advice of strangers on a forum. We should consult a physician we trust and follow his/her advice.

[raynan]

I had my gallbladder removed in 2010. The only pain I had was if I had turkey gravy. Took time to figure that out. My cousin's reacted to ice cream. I only had it removed because an ultrasound showed many stones and 2 had escaped. One was at the opening to my pancreas (came back from pathology as precancerous) and the other was at the opening to my liver. The surgery was day surgery, in at 7am home at 2pm. Very small incision and very easy recovery, no pain.

[patfla06]

Dreamer 61 - sorry to hear about your pain!
I went through the same thing (in my 40's) and at one
point thought I was having a heart attack.
If it turns out to be your gallbladder HAVE IT OUT!
Problem is once the gallbladder acts up is fatty foods
give you an attack but also things like salad can.
I did have lots of gallstones and was a blessing to get
it out.
Laproscopic surgery and back running around 6 days
later.
Good luck!

[oot]

Listen to your doctor.....

Had pain like someone was stabbing me in the back. They put me in the hospital and thought it was my heart. My mom told them to check my gallbladder and she was right. I had it out like patfla06 and was up and around in no time.

If the doctor decides it is your gallbladder - then get it out. Could be big trouble if a stone gets stuck in the wrong spot. Better safe than sorry...

[ijusluvit]

These symptoms also profile like a pancreas problem. Demand that your doctor tell you why you cannot get a CT scan to eliminate this potentially lethal problem. Good luck, God bless!

[msendo]

I have assisted in taking many stones out that were lodged in the common bile duct. The patient came in with jaundice, pain, complicated with pancreatitis etc. Go by the advice of your physician, not heresay.

[sharonga]

Has anyone had experience with gallbladder issues? For several months I've been getting nauseous for no reason for days at a time. Went to the doc, he put me on nexuim. Then sharp pains in upper right side of my abdomen so I had an ultra sound which looked fine they said. Starting feeling better for a couple of weeks but two days ago I developed a constant pain in the upper middle area of my abdomen so now my doc wants me to have another gallbladder test which includes some kind of dye. I just want to feel better. Our LSV is coming up soon and I don't want to be sick! This has been going on for months. Does this sound like gallbladder behavior? Just thought I would ask here because you good folks seem to know a whole lot!! Seriously! Thanks for your replies!:wave:

Sounds exactly like what happened to my husband. He had the test you are talking about. Hidascan. Showed no activity from his gallbladder. Dr Han took it out about 5 weeks ago and he is doing great. Take the test, dont be afraid.

[Dreamer61]

I had my hida scan and my ejection rate is only 16%. It should be 35% or better! I'm still waiting on the doctor to call me with his conclusion. We are scheduled to leave here on next Thursday the 4th for our LSV. I've read there's a medicine you can take to help the GB until surgery which I plan to ask my doctor about when he calls so that we can keep our plans to come and visit. Wish me luck!

[rn1tv]

@ dreamer61: I highly recommend the testing. I had identical symptoms for several months and had my gallbladder removed 2 weeks ago. MD said it was a chronic problem. I have felt great since surgery; only wish I had scheduled surgery earlier!

[SALYBOW]

I had all the same symptoms plus belching. After 3 1/2 years I had an ultrasound which showed sludge not stones. My GB was removed and it all stopped. Thank the Lord.

[mikeandnancy1112]

I also had the OLD Gall Bladder Surgery forty years ago. I had 12 gall stones. My symptoms before surgery were pain in my right side, especially when I ate foods, such as sausage, bacon, raw onions, anything spicy. And , yes, at times I would get nauseous. It was a couple of years before I could eat these foods, even after surgery.

Good Luck with everything!