Yes, another gallbladder question

[phorsenuf]

Maybe we should have a seperate medical board....LOL

Anyways, I know there is something wrong with my gallbladder. They can't find anything, but I know! They call is a spastic duct. LOL

I've had what I belive is some pretty bad attacks but I never go to the er even tho my doc says that's the best time. Sometimes after a meal I get a different kind of pain though. It's in my back. I'll describe the best I can. If you bend to the right you get a "crease" . Now put you hand on the crease with your thumb in the front and your fingers to the back (make sense?) The pain is in the area of where your middle finger would be. It's kinda like a stabbing constant pain.
Has anyone ever experienced this? Is this a different type of attack. I get it quite often and it lasts for a while.

Any thoughts? Yes, I know, call the Dr. I will....one of these days. LOL

 

[MareQ]

Seriously - just go to the ER next time you get an attack - when you get there - DEMAND an ultrasound of your gallbladder.

As for your pain - Gallbladder pain often radiates(sp?) towards teh back. It coudl be that maybe you're having "twinges" when this happens - not sure - all I ever got were all out - an elephant is sitting on my chest and I think I am going to die - type of attacks

 

[phorsenuf]

Seriously - just go to the ER next time you get an attack - when you get there - DEMAND an ultrasound of your gallbladder.

As for your pain - Gallbladder pain often radiates(sp?) towards teh back. It coudl be that maybe you're having "twinges" when this happens - not sure - all I ever got were all out - an elephant is sitting on my chest and I think I am going to die - type of attacks

I know I need to go, but I just hate going.... and the elephant pains I'm familiar with. Last time I went it was subsiding and by the time they checked things out I was feeling better and they found nothing. They don't seem to last long and I'm always afraid by the time I get there and be seen it will be over and I'll feel like an idiot. I think these back pains bother me moreso, well more often. Oh, and I do get the classic shoulder pain too.

 

[phorsenuf]

selfish bump

 

[LindaR]

Back pain is part of the "gallbladder thing". As a matter of fact, I thought I had herniated a disc in the t-spine and didn't go to the doctor (I've had 2 spinal surgeries) for quite a while! He took an x-ray. Sent me for an MRI which couldn't see anything because of the screws in my spine.....but hey, you have a "mass" on your kidney, sent me for a cat scan to look at the mass (just old scarring from a kidney infection) and, by the way.........you are FULL of gallstones and need to have your gallbladder removed ASAP. My doctor just laughed when he asked me if I had back pain. HELLO! I have back pain every day!

Gallbladder removed..........and I am back to my "normal" back pain!

 

[phorsenuf]

Back pain is part of the "gallbladder thing". As a matter of fact, I thought I had herniated a disc in the t-spine and didn't go to the doctor (I've had 2 spinal surgeries) for quite a while! He took an x-ray. Sent me for an MRI which couldn't see anything because of the screws in my spine.....but hey, you have a "mass" on your kidney, sent me for a cat scan to look at the mass (just old scarring from a kidney infection) and, by the way.........you are FULL of gallstones and need to have your gallbladder removed ASAP. My doctor just laughed when he asked me if I had back pain. HELLO! I have back pain every day!

Gallbladder removed..........and I am back to my "normal" back pain!

Did it hurt in that area I tried to explain?

 

[Dodie]

I don't have an answer for you, but just want to say: ME TOO!

I've had "gall bladder-like" issues for YEARS (including some pains similar to those you describe) and have had every test known to medicine - all of which come out negative. I've even had the test (don't remember what it's called) where they inject you with dye and something so they can watch your gallbladder work while it goes through your system. Edited to add, based on posts below: HIDA SCAN! That's it!!!! Nothing!

My mother and grandmother both had their gallbladders removed and both say that my symptoms mirror theirs exactly. Very frustrating.

 

[piglet too]

I had to have a HIDA scan before they found out it was my gall bladder. My stone was in the duct and was pencil shaped, so they would never had found it on a normal u/s. Maybe getting one of these will help find the problem?

 

[phorsenuf]

I had to have a HIDA scan before they found out it was my gall bladder. My stone was in the duct and was pencil shaped, so they would never had found it on a normal u/s. Maybe getting one of these will help find the problem?

I had a HIDA scan about 2 years ago when this all started. Yes, 2 YEARS AGO. I've had evey test imaginable which is why they decided a spastic duct. My function was 97% then.

 

[piglet too]

It was worth a shot. Mine was a 32%!!! I went through 3 years of pain before they even looked at my Gall Bladder because I was "too young" for it to be that.

 

[MareQ]

It was worth a shot. Mine was a 32%!!! I went through 3 years of pain before they even looked at my Gall Bladder because I was "too young" for it to be that.

7 years for me - I was 21 when it started. I went to the ER more times than I can count and they NEVER EVER scanned my gallbladder because they didn't believe me. I had numerous scans when I wasn't having an attack and they found nothing.

I finally - thank goodness - after I had my son had a gall stone become lodged in my common bile duct. I say thank goodness because that's what ended up with me having my gallbladder removed at the age of 28. If that didn't happen I would probably still be suffering while they tried telling me it was just indigestion

 

[momrek06]

I was wondering as well...if there is a TEST the MD can do to see if one's GB needs removing....

I am 52yo and in really good shape. I run 4-5 miles daily. I do not eat any junk food EXCEPT on rare occasions.

Last summer I had lobster (for the first time) and my parents live on an Island in Maine...yup first time ever at the age of 52yo. Mom tells me to DUNK it in butter. I DROWNED the lobster in butter.

Well needless to say, later that evening I was sooooo sick to my stomach. Have not been sick like that in years. My parents START
"it's your GB"..."get it out now"....whoa..."I have no idea it is my GB"...one incident and I should be scheduling surgery...NO WAY.

Fastforward: I went to a going away party a few weeks ago and had FOUR slices of PIZZA...YUP 3 and the start of 4 when I said to myself...WHOA...

But never a problem with it at all. Got up the next morn, ran my 5 miles and it was alllll goooood....

I stay away from all fried foods as well as pizza, never eat at McD's or any fast food restaurants....

Just would like to know if one can be tested to find out exactly if they need their GB removed????

 

[Virgo10]

Ah, the battle of the gallbladder. I've been feeling much better the past two days. Of course I've been eating a NO FAT diet! I'm losing weight at an amazing rate as well. I'm staying on this until I get the call from the doctor about when my scan is. Every time I feel like eating something yummy, I just think about how bad that pain was and lose my appetite.

I hope something shows up with the scan, I really do. It stinks being afraid to eat.

 

[phorsenuf]

Ah, the battle of the gallbladder. I've been feeling much better the past two days. Of course I've been eating a NO FAT diet! I'm losing weight at an amazing rate as well. I'm staying on this until I get the call from the doctor about when my scan is. Every time I feel like eating something yummy, I just think about how bad that pain was and lose my appetite.

I hope something shows up with the scan, I really do. It stinks being afraid to eat.

Glad your going for your scans. I know I need to get one scheduled.
Did you ever get the pain in your back like I described?

 

[Virgo10]

Glad your going for your scans. I know I need to get one scheduled.
Did you ever get the pain in your back like I described?

If I'm reading it right, no. I have been getting back pain though. Not THE back pain from my back problems, this is different. I have it right now as I just ate about an hour ago. Anywhere from the waist up to mid back. My stomach is also just a bit off. Not bad but noticeable. And this was after a supper of boiled chicken breasts, white rice, white bread and fat free margarine (just a taste).

I am better but I'm scared to death to eat anything except the most bland foods and I won't until they can tell me what brought on those two horrible attacks!

 

[YourMajesty]

I was wondering as well...if there is a TEST the MD can do to see if one's GB needs removing....

I am 52yo and in really good shape. I run 4-5 miles daily. I do not eat any junk food EXCEPT on rare occasions.

Last summer I had lobster (for the first time) and my parents live on an Island in Maine...yup first time ever at the age of 52yo. Mom tells me to DUNK it in butter. I DROWNED the lobster in butter.

Well needless to say, later that evening I was sooooo sick to my stomach. Have not been sick like that in years. My parents START
"it's your GB"..."get it out now"....whoa..."I have no idea it is my GB"...one incident and I should be scheduling surgery...NO WAY.

Fastforward: I went to a going away party a few weeks ago and had FOUR slices of PIZZA...YUP 3 and the start of 4 when I said to myself...WHOA...

But never a problem with it at all. Got up the next morn, ran my 5 miles and it was alllll goooood....

I stay away from all fried foods as well as pizza, never eat at McD's or any fast food restaurants....

Just would like to know if one can be tested to find out exactly if they need their GB removed????

There is an ultrasound to check for stones and then the Hida scan to check for function. They usually order the hida scan only if you are having problems but do not have stones. Well, at least for me they did. I was having back pain...mostly right sided that radiated to neck and jaws. I was also having bouts of terrible stomach cramping pain etc. My GI dr did upper and lower scopes because nothing was clear cut. My Hida scan was 22% so he siad get the gallbladder out. I also have a hiatal hernia and reflux. Honestly, I have not been any better with the gallbladder out. The surgeon agreed it needed to come out but sort of warned me that it might not "fix" everything. That was an understatement...it seemed to to make everyting worse...chest pain and stomach cramping etc..

To the original poster I get cramping type pains right were you described...they feel more like a bad contraction...luckily they don't occur very often. Good luck getting things figured out...

 

[grinningghost]

Well, if you go for an ultrasound, they should absolutely be able to find stones or inflammation in your gallbladder if they're there.

But if you have that feeling that something is wrong, you should keep bugging the docs. I know with my gallbladder, I never had any trouble at all - and then, one day, boom - I got sick as I've ever been. Really, really sick. Throwing up, unsavory bowel explosions, fever, weakness, pain in my gut, just generally felt like I wished I would die.

One look at the ultrasound and that confirmed it. "Enough stones to make a necklace" was how the one doc put it. And my gallbladder was so inflamed, it was ready to rupture.

You know your own body best - keep pushing them to do something.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

I have had my gallbladder out and still get the pain that you talk about only they call it GERD now.....you see I had my gallbladder out and the following week, I was back in the ER with the same pain. They told me it was phantom pain, seems I had my gallbladder out when what I really had was GERD...my pain can be in the back, it can be in my throat area, like a tightening of my jaw, or in the middle of my chest, scares the life out of me because it mimics heart issues, but my heart is good.....I take Nexium and pretty much know what will set this off and try to stay clear of all fried and fatty foods.

I would ask that they do an ultrasound or a ctscan and really check this area out... Hugs, I know how frustrating it is for them to say you are fine when in fact you are in pain. Keep pushing for answers and for tests to get the answers....I do think that doctors need to listen to their patients more as we do know our bodies..

 

[LindaR]

Phorsenuf, I was gone for a while and didn't see your question.....

YES, my pain was the same as you are describing!

I had mine taken out 10 Nov 2006 (almost a year!). I now follow a pretty strict low-fat "diet" and don't have the "reflux" issues (and post-surgery bowel issues). I have also lost 30 pounds!!!

 

[I Love Pluto]

Eat some brussels sprouts or broccoli. Your answer will come shortly after eating them.