Gallbladder problems

[mary124]

I really didn't know where to put this so I thought this was a good as place as any. I started having pain in the middle of my chest/radiating to the back-right shoulder pain. At first thought it was heart burn so I didn't do anything. Backing up to last year, I had a CT on my abdomen because of pelvic pain, there they saw that I had cyst on my liver, which since it wasn't causing any pain or anything, "we decided to leave it alone and do nothing and do yearly ultrasounds" which is fine with me. This May when I had my ultrasound, my liver was fine, however, they found out my Gallbladder was enlarged. The nurse ask me was I having any problems I told her yes I was, told her the above and for how long- she said why didn't I say anything to them and I told her that I didn't want to "add anything else to my long list of illnesses already" so anyway, the doctor wanted even before that to do a HIDAscan, which came back normal. He then sent me to a gastro doctor who said it wasn't gallbladder and decided to do an upper GI, this showed that I had a "little bit of GERD but that it shouldn't be causing all of my pain that I am having, put me on some medicine and wanted me to see my cardio doctor because of my heart problems, so I went to see my heart doctor. At first he agreed that it was a big possibility that it was gallbladder but we did an Echo and a chemical stresstest (which I did when i had broncitis(?) which I didn't even know that I had! Of course test came back normal. He mentioned that I should go see a surgeon for my gallbladder but after looking at the test results and going over my list of symptoms decided that this is not what is wrong with me. (besides the pain thats pretty much all I have) I am losing weight, I do burp here and now but not a lot but he said that I don't have a lot of signs so that this isn't it.) He suggested that I go back to my family doctor and discussed with him whats wrong with me- I am so tired of going back and forth to doctors and having tests done on me its not even funny! I have a appointment Thursday morning with my doctor for my annual checkup so I am going to really talk to him and demand that he figure out what is going on as its been over 2 months of nothing but pain. Someone suggested that I just go to the ER next time I have an attack and let the doctors there know that I am having a gallbladder attack and see what they would do about it- I don't know about that.
Thanks for listing, I'm just getting tired of going and spending money that i really don't have and taking time off from work. My husband has been really good about this as he said that when "I'm in pain he's in pain " He is willing to go in with me to the doctors Thursday but I said since I'm having my yearly done, I don't think so. I don't know, I'm just getting to the point I'm about to scream!
Again thanks for "listening"

Mary

[mary124]

Now, the doctors office just called me back and reschedule my appointment for next week!!!!!!!!

[Trishann]

Mary it really can be different things. I had chest pain which pentrate to my back and it felt like a heart attack. Which that is the first thing they looked at because it is the greatest risk. Everything was normal. Then they check for gall bladder which nothing showed up. But about a year later I continue to have these attacks about 4 times a week. My gallbladder was taken out, it was severely inflammed. Why nothing showed up before I don't know.

Then start getting chest pain again with the same sympton only that the pain would go up my throat and started spasms that is was so painful. Sometimes it would even go up into my jaw. Find out that my esophagus is damage and imflammed. I have GERD. I do remember telling doctors before that I would literally throw up this clear liquid stuff. It literally made me sick and the pressure builds up and you just have to get it out. Sorry I know it is gross.

What I am trying to say it can be different things and know don't get weary about having test done, continue until you find out what is wrong. Your body is telling you something is wrong so don't stop until you find an answer.

Hope you find what is going on soon so you can get better.

Hugs, Trishann

[Kara29]

Mary,

I understand the stress and tiredness al of these illnesses can cause....and the money! When I had my gallbladder out, I had severe upper back pain between my shoulder blades. I was very sick, in the hospital for over a week. They insisted that nothing was wrong and were about to send me home. I asked them to check my blood work for the enzyme levels that can tell if the gall bladder is in danger. They rolled their eyes left my room and checked again. The Doctor came running back in, FAST. He said your enzyme levels are off the charts for gallbladder disease and there is danger. I was turning jaundice because it started to effect my liver. If I hadn't asked them to check again, they would have sent me home. I was immediately wheeled in for Emergency Surgery to remove the gallbladder. When they got in there they said it was rotting as well as full of rotten stones. That was one the the sickest times of my life, even through everything else I have been through.

You may want them to check your blood work again just make sure they didn't overlook something.

Well Wishes to you Mary!

I hope they take care of the problem and that you feel relief soon. I will be thinking of you. Please keep us updated.

Kara:angel:

[Trishann]

Mary I totally forgot about the enzyme level. Kara is right, my enzyme level was way to high too. INFACT it was still high after I came home from gallbladder surgery and have to continue on the medicine. The enzyme level might be the best bet for them to check.

I am so glad Kara brought this up, like I said I completely forgot about it.

Hugs, Trishann

[mary124]

I know they did a CBC and everything was within the normal range. When I go back next week, I will have them do some more lab work.

[Kara29]

Mary,

I hope they give you the enzyme results and if they haven't, maybe they will test you that day.

Well Wishes,

Kara

[kimisue]

i had the same problem last year. it went on for 6 months. i finally told the doctor even though my tests were normal i wanted my gallbladder out. that must have been the problem since then i have been fine.

[Nancypt]

Hi,
I know how frustrating it can get to have pain and no one be able to find out what's wrong. I had pain in my gallbladder area for over 5 years with all negative test results. I had a laparoscopy in Sept of last year and was diagnosed with IC and endometriosis. The pain I had in the gallbladder area went away after the surgery. They wanted to take out my gallbladder but I refused since all the tests came back normal. I think the endo was causing my pain. Hang in there.
nancy

[mary124]

Thanks for the support everyone, when I go back next week, I will ask for a repeat ultrasound and also labwork and see where we stand on it. I am watching pretty much what I eat, but I am having attacks anywhere from 2-3 days aweek no matter what mostly at night, I have had a few at work, which scares my co-workers and they want to call the first aid people! but I tell them no that I will be ok in a while. I will let you all know what the doctor says when I go back. Again thanks.

[Kara29]

Mary,

We'll always be here to support you whenever you need it. Thinking of you and praying for a good week next week and some answers. :angel:

Kara

[Kara29]

Nancy and Kimisue,

Isn't it so frustrating with these complex pain conditions. It's so hard for them to figure out what is causing what and then we have to have all of these procedures and surgeries to find out or rather rule out one thing or another. Which drags us along the number of specialists we see and meds we try. But we seem to get through it with some friendly support.

We will SURVIVE! and We are Family.......:smile tee

Hugs to you all, :grouphug:

Kara

[Trishann]

Mary that sound just like me. Nothing would show up so I quit going to the ER. The pain would be about 5 minutes or so and then leave. But the pain got more intense and longer, to the point it last up to hour. Again it felt just like an heart attack. I am not saying it is your gallbladder but I still would not rule it out. Hope you do find something out with your appointment. If it is your gallbladder (fats) food will aggravate it. Mary it also scaried my husband too because the pain was so severe. I just did not want to sit in the ER again in so much pain and people are looking at me. But then I had no choice it got so severe and that is when they admitted me in the hospital. If it gets so severe and is lasting longer don't hesitated to get help.

SENDING HUGS, Trishann

[Kara29]

The first attack I had they thought it was a Kidney Stone so they sent me home. A week later another attack hit. I passed out on the floor, luckily my Husband was home. I could not breathe the pain was right up against my diaphram and in my upper back between my shoulder blades. We had to dial 911 for an Ambulance. I stayed in the Hospital for a week and that is when they were about to send me home again with pain medication. This is the time I asked them to recheck my enzyme levels. Then it was taken out. I felt like a million bucks once they got it out and I healed. Mine was taken out by a general surgeon. The pain was right under the diaphram or sternum and it radiated all the way around my upper back between the shoulder blades.

I hope they pinpoint something that they can make better for you next week. There are just so many darn things in our bodies that can have trouble. Sometimes you have to go to more than one doctor and even more than one specialist to get to the correct diagnosis.

Kara

[mary124]

Going to the doctors tomorrow morning. Hoping he will listen to what I am going to say. Its been over 2 months that I have been in pain. I have been back and forth between Primary Care Doc, GI and even the Cardio doctor, they can't agree on what is going on even though the Ultrasound says that the gallbladder is enlarge and I am showing symptoms (pain mostly) of this. Wish me luck.

[Kara29]

Well Wishes Mary! Let us know what happens.

Kara:angel:

[Trishann]

Mary I hope they will figure it out soon for you and so that you can get better.
Hang in there.

Take care and hugs, Trishann :pray:

[mary124]

Just came back from the doctors. I've got them all stumped!! Yes I have some signs of gallbladder problems but not all. My family doctor told me most of my tests that they all did came back fine, (Ultrasound that I had done back in May was the only one that said it was Enlarge);lab work was for the most part in the normal range; anyway, he said since I do not have pain every day due to the foods I eat; that I don't have "classic gallbladder problems". I told him that if you know what causes the pain then why would you eat/drink something that would cause it? (I told him that I had some coffee at work the other day and within 30 minutes I was in severe pain for 4 hours- that nothing I took helped with the pain.(he said that sounds like gallbladder problems). Told him I go back to the GI doctor tomorrow and he said its in his hands as to what he wants to do. I told him I'm getting tired of going to the doctors and if I wasn't dressed like I was I would walk out (I was in a paper gown-getting ready for my yearly checkup). -- told him no offense but still. He understood. Also trying to get rid of an throat infection that I have had for almost 2 months, - (I don't know what he put me on- as he faxed the prescription to the pharmacy) he didn't really want to put me on an antibotic because of my coumadin (blood thinner-I'm on that because of my heart valve replacement that I had about 4 years ago) plus because of the IC); but I have a prescription for antibotics just in case. He also told me if I had anymore problems or just don't feel well just to make an appointment to see him; other than that I'm suppose to see him in about 4 month. In the meantime, the doctor told me to take some Levsin (which is an anti spasm medicine) to see if that helps. I mentioned my weight loss as I have loss about 15 pounds since this thing has started. He asked me about my appetite and I said it was fine that I was still eating 3 meals a day. He said that I was probably not eating like I was use to due to this problem (which could be some sort of blockage) but I said that should of shown up on the Upper GI-right?) He said that there are other tests that they can do to try and figure it out. Told me to go to my GI doctor tomorrow and see what he suggest and go from there. Even though I'm still where I was before I went to see the doctor, I think we gotten somewhere. I will keep you inform. My appointment with the GI doc. is in the late afternoon.

[Kara29]

Mary,

How frustrating to have to go from Doctor to Doctor. People with our troubles seem to love to shove it on to another doctor's hands. Drives me completely nuts! Anyway, I hope the GI Doc gives you some more answers.

Keep us posted.

Kara:angel:

[Trishann]

Mary I really don't know why sometimes it takes a while to get dx. Sometimes I think they can't find out what it is until it really gets bad. But it sounds like you are in pain alot so keep pressing in. I don't know why gallbladder is so difficult to get dx. I know others to that suffer for a while before getting an answer.

To be honest with you I think they should do it the old fashion way. That was sending you for a fatty meal and then come back and have the test done. That is the way my mother-in-law doctor did it. Yes she did have gallbladder problems.

I hope they can find out soon what is causing this pain and know for sure if it is the gallbladder or not. It sure does sound like it but other things can cause it too.

Take care and hugs, Trishann

[mary124]

Well, I went to the doctors yesterday afternoon - still pretty much where I was before I even went - but we are going to do another Catscan ( my cardio doctor suggested it --I was there first to get my INR checked and talking to his nurse about this telling her that when I get sick I lose weight and he heard this and he said he was getting concerned about it as well and we started to talk so he suggested that when I go down for my appointment (the doctors are all pretty much in the same complex) that he suggested a catscan) to see if everything is the same or different) so I am going to have that sometime next week as soon as it is set up. If that is fine than they are going to do some sort of procedure on me where they stick a tube down my throat (I know thats not the right term) and see if anything is going on. The GI doc said if I want another opinion that I can see one of the other doctors in his office and that would be fine with him-- If I want another opinion though I would go to another doctor outside his office altogther. I also might take it up and just go to the ER when I have another one of my attacks and let the docs there take it from there. I know that I can't have surgery right away due to my bloodthinner medication but at least they can run tests and see whats going on at that time and report to the doctors. ( even though i don't have money to go to the ER, but I might as well, as I'm spending money for tests, procedures and doctors, so why not?) Like I mentioned earlier, I'm about to say forget all of this, but my family doctor said no we know there is something wrong with me as he know me well enough that when I'm hurting, or sick I usually wait it out and see if it goes away (like I did this time) so anyway, life goes on. They did change my medications around and added another one. I'm beginning to feel more and more like a medicine cabinet.

[asilva]

Mary,
I'm sorry you are having problems. I started having those same symptoms about the same time you did. I have a gallstone. It showed up on the ultrasound. My GI doctor did an endoscopy (the scope down the throat) and a colonoscopy. I know how frustrating the whole thing can be. I hope everything works out well for you and soon!!::pray:

[sandymarie]

Hey Ladies'

My husband is so upet , I was like you all and thought I was having a heart attack. I went to the er about 8 months and had been having light chest pain and was told that nothing was wrong with my heart. I then was told to go to a heart doc. Well I thought if it wasn't my heart, why were they telling me to go to a heart doc. So I knoe I probably should have but the pain subsided and I didn't go to the heart doc. since they told me it was not my heart in the er. By the way Our er is as dependable as the convience store worker down the road from me. ha Anyway fast forward, last night I started having pain between the chest, where I have a hernia and also have acid reflux which I was told could mimic a heart attack and hurt on the whole side of my body on the right side, including my bladder was going crwazy along with the other pain. I tried to blame the pressure on gas. I have had pain before like is described by you about the gallbladder. Today I have had very light twinges in the left side of my chest. Now what. I would just appreciate some input. Maybe I will just go to my gp and have an enzyeme test run. What do you think? Also When I went to have a hydro 4 yrs back my uro said it looked like I had had a light heart attack and that was the end. Thanks for listening to my rumbling on and on. but I am like you all, I am just so tired of going to the doc with no answers. and no money. A big plus, my whold family is going thru a lot of things that I feel like I just cannot get away. They think I am the rock and I feel like a pebble.lol.

Love all of you and thanks for being my family.:love: :kissing:

[Kara29]

Sandy,

My susgestion would be to go back to your GP and if you feel like the GP just isn't doing it for you then maybe it's time to switch to someone who will listen. Can you go to an ER outside of your town a bit away from the one you went to? I hope you will go back to the ER if you get worse even if it is the one that isn't very good. Sometimes it depends on the Doctor who is in your rotation and happens to be the one that takes your chart that particular day. They rotate so fast you may just get someone that know a thing or two. (I like the younger doctors....:tsk: ) I mean that in a totally professional way. :smile tee Oh and if you do go to the ER or to the GP, ask for as many tests to be run as you can! Might as rule out everything. The liver enzyme levels can fluctuate too depending on if there is a gallbladder infection.

Many Gentle Hugs to you!!:grouphug:

Kara

[Trishann]

Sandy I am so sorry that you were in so much pain. The doctor usually do check the heart first with someone that complains about chest pains. They did the same with me. Through all the heart test just to fine out my heart was fine. But they do this because this is the most life threaten.

I also was told it was just acid reflux but my husband told me no way, this pain is to severe. And yes through the attacks sometimes you do feel alot of gas and alot of belching. My pain started in my chest then as it got worse the pain pentrated through my back. Nothing, absolutely nothing would take away the pain. I cried many hours in my room with this pain. Sandy it is real and don't think this will pass because it will keep coming. Let them do the test and whatever they do, so then it will already be rule out and then they can search for other reasons why you are having pain.

I hope you are feeling better today.
Take care and hugs, Trishann


Mary I hope they continue to search why you are having pain and find out what it is soon.
Hope you are feeling well today too.
Take care and hugs, Trishann