1. Community
  2. Liver and gallbladder
  3. Gallbladder Problems

Is this a gallbladder problem?

Posted , 14 users are following.

carina62
carina62

My GP is referring me for an ultrasound scan.  I'm not sure if i have a gallbladder problem but my symptoms are a discomfort under my right rib, radiating to my back and inbetween shoulder blades.  Could this be a gallbladder problem or a pancreas problem?  i'm getting quite worried now.

0 likes, 41 replies

41 Replies

Next
  • chris91257
    chris91257 carina62

    Posted

    Sounds like the way mine started. I thought I'd pulled a muscle near my ribs the first time it happened. The second time was more severe and ended with me being sent to hospital. After having an ultrasound and an mri scan I had my gallbladder removed a few weeks ago so hopefully no more pain. I hope you get sorted soon.
    • carina62
      carina62 chris91257

      Posted

      Did you have this for a while?  mine comes and goes and has been getting steadily worse since last year.  I guess an ultrasound scan will reveal all, i just can't wait to have it now.
    • chris91257
      chris91257 carina62

      Posted

      I only started getting symtoms last September. I had two really painful attacks with them, the last one lasted 8 hours, the pain was unbelievable. I was given the option of leaving things as they were and hope for no more attacks or I could have them out. I decided to get rid of them and had my gallbladder removed at the beginning of February. I feel great now and am glad to be rid of it. 

       

    • sandra82013
      sandra82013 chris91257

      Posted

      Hi Chris, how are you since your operation? has the pain gone away? My specialist quite rudely told me he thinks having my gallbladder out, with a large gallstone in it will not make my right shoulder and chest pain go away. 😩

  • sally_14743
    sally_14743 carina62

    Posted

    Don't worry 

    you are showing mild symptoms of gallbladder or gallstones...

    if you have gallstones they rub together to irritate the lining of the gallbladder making it sore and inflamed ...this sounds like your symptoms..

    if a stone gets sqeezed into a bile duct your symptoms are absolute agony like broken ribs projectile vomiting for up to 6 hours and inflamed stomach ..that's a colic attack ..generally these occur every few months or maybe annually often misdiagnosed as food poisoning ..but they suddenly stop when the stone dislodges ...

    liver and pancreas problems show up as infection so high temperature general malaise and pale almost white stools and yellow skin jaundice ..this is rarer and if you were at this stage you would of rang an ambulance ..

    so try not to panic many of us on here had the symptoms colic attacks pale stools etc on and off for many many years before a doctor actually diagnosed it as gallbladder ...sounds like you have a good gp ..

    to help it settle eat no fat ..no red meat no caffeine all these things cause the gallbladder to spasm sqeeze extra bile for digestion ....when it sqeezes it rubs the stones together or worse sqeezes one into a duct ..

    if you have stones cutting all fat out will quickly cause your symptoms to settle 

    hope that helps 

    sally ...had mine removed a year ago after 15 years of being misdiagnosed ...feel great now 

     

    • carina62
      carina62 sally_14743

      Posted

      So Sally, did you have 15 years of discomfort before gall bladder problems showed up?  I also suffer from GERD and have been confusing my symptoms blaming it on the reflux but hopefully i will know soon enough what it is, if anything.  I must admit i don't like the thought of having an operation.  The last time i was in hospital was 27 years ago when i gave birth to my daughter and the last time i was "put under" was when i had a D&C due to a miscarriage :-(
    • sally_14743
      sally_14743 carina62

      Posted

      Hi 

      15 years ago I had a terrible colic attack agony vomiting called doc out injected me with anti sic med said food poisoning ...in the meantime had terrible indigestion was told by gp stress gastritus possible ulcers so much burning pain when I ate fruit , spice , coffee etc ..so ate bland ate gaviscon got put on proton pump inhibitors seemed to manage it ..but generally once a year massive attack of vomiting ..told gp I keep getting this she said some people can't stop vomiting once they start you seem to be one ( load of rubbish) gave me anti sic meds to take if attack and said be careful what u eat ...so for the ext few years lived on boiled potatoes boiled veg no fat no fruit very bland food seemed to avoid attacks and had mild indigestion all the time ...then had a massive attack dropped to the floor pain through the roof no vomit fainting sweating etc ..went to doc ulcer ...took meds continious gnawing pain under rib in back and shoulder felt like a mouse chewing felt billious a lot ...went to doc ..gallstone ..scan ..oh my youve had these for years and years they are big and so many your gallbladder is packed ..had removed ..new woman ..no gastritus, no indigestion burning , can eat fruit spice etc stomach solid ..no gallbladder pain .. I wept when I recovered I felt well and I had felt rough for so many years ... So don't be frightened of op day surgery in and out I one day keyhole... But rest don't lift for 6 weeks you'll feel good but you are healing inside ... This if it is what you've got May make your quality of life I improve ..👍😀

    • carina62
      carina62 sally_14743

      Posted

      Thanks for that Sally, i didn't realise that gallstones / gallbladder problems can go undetected for years.  Since i was diagnosed with GERD i have not had any tests to confirm this ie no endoscopy, no scans, was just put on Omeprazole and that was it (12 years ago).  I may now be experiencing mild symptoms of gallstones or gallbladder problems but the scan appointment can't come soon enough now so that at least i will know what is causing this generally 'yukky' feeling i get most days when i wake up.  Will keep you all posted and thanks for your posts, i do appreciate being able to chat about this.
    • sally_14743
      sally_14743 carina62

      Posted

      Snap...no tests done either ... 

      Omeprazole does help with gallstones as it stops the production of bile so your gallbladder isn't used as much ...I stayed on mine for a couple of weeks after surgery then weaned myself off slowly ...

      all will be revealed when scanned have a look mine were like a bag of marbles lol ...let us know xx

    • Moonday
      Moonday sally_14743

      Posted

      wow Sally ..... although I haven't had my symptoms as long as you I too was very ill at the start of 2012 for about 4 months.  GP gave me anti sick tablets, but it didn't help one scrap.   Finally, after four months of feeling desperately sick and being sick I was ready to insist on a second opinion, but the doctor said he thought I had the onset on ulcers and prescribed Omeprazole.   These certainly helped get rid of the sickness and all went fairly well for the next few years til last autumn.  Now I have a date to remove GB ...... I can't wait to feel the way you describe " a new woman".   Thank you.
  • sarah87162
    sarah87162 carina62

    Posted

    It sounds to me like gallstones, I have them.

    An ultrasound scan will show them up.

    Take care and keep us posted.

    Sarah

  • georgina1505
    georgina1505 carina62

    Posted

    Hi,

    It sounds similar to how mine started, I put the pain down to indigestion for months and finally plucked up the courage to go to the doctors where I was given Omeprazole for acid reflux, but I still got the pain - I went back and they gave me a higher dose. But I still had pains, I saw another doctor who did blood tests and booked me in for a scan at my local GP - which showed I did have gallstones. I then got referred to a treatment centre where the consultant said she want to double check and I had the camera put down my throat - it was inflamed so I was put back on Omeprazole and the consultant decided to take my gallbladder out. I had to wait 4 months on the list and I finally had it out 2 weeks ago on Friday. I'm glad I did it, I've always had a HUGE fear of being put to sleep - but all went well (so far). I'm 26 and rather have it sorted than spend my life worrying if I'll have an attack! They were horrdeous, pain lasted hours, I would have chills and would vomit. sad Good Luck

  • carina62
    carina62

    Posted

    My scan appointment has now come through for 17 April but i know now that i will be whittling about it all wondering what it is that is causing my symptoms - what if it's not gall bladder problems?  what else could it be?  the soreness/burning feeling inbetween my shoulder blades (sort of halfway down my back) is now also worrying me too.  I hope it's nothing serious :-(  i am tempted to "google" my symptoms but i know it's the wrong thing to do.
    • sally_14743
      sally_14743 carina62

      Posted

      Google gallstones and I found the Mayo clinic and bupa sites excellent you will see your shoulder and neck pain is a symptom ... 

      Try not to stress , stress causes gallbladder to contract xx

  • carina62
    carina62

    Posted

    Today i feel,  what i can only describe as a feeling like a pulled muscle which hurts when i turn my head to the right and it seems to be from my shoulder blade.  Could this also be GERD related?  i've taken an extra 10mg of Omeprazole today because of this.  My scan is not until 17 April, am getting quite worried now in case it's anything serious :-(
Back to top
Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.