Distended Gallbladder

Posted , 3 users are following.

The TransAbdominal Ultrasound shows distended gallbladder, but no stones. 

I dont have much pain on Right Upper Quadrant or epigastric area although there is bloating there, and now I know its due to gallbladder distenstion. However, i do get gas, nausea and belching plus back pain and right flank pain. 

Is this normal or shuld i get CT scan or HIDA scan to find out more whats going on ? 

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • Posted

    Hello, I would ask for an HIDA as it does appear that your symptoms show a gallbladder problem. The fact that no stones are visual at the moment does not mean that there isn't a problem starting up. My husband had all the similar symptoms for years and at first had a US which showed a thickening of the wall of gallbladder and soupy look inside but couldn't see stones. It was only with him keep pestering the GP due to all the symptoms months later that they eventually found the little blighters and now he is on waiting list. Still got the pain and discomfort but at least there is an op in sight.

    • Posted

      OK, i will ask for HIDA scan.

      The ultrasouns also said normal walls of the gallbladder. 

      "The gallbladder is physiologically distended without evidence of stone. There is no pericholecystic effusion, mural thickening or tenderness with contact scanning. The common bile duct measures 0.4 cm.  "

  • Posted

    Sometimes ultrasounds don't show sludge, which is extremely small stones, rather like liquid mud.  So, do get more tests.  A CT is sometimes better for picking up the stones, too. So you could have sludge.  A gallbladder isn't distended for no reason.  To me, and I'm not a doctor, that means that something is going on.    

    If your gallbladder is diseased, then things generally don't get better!  It's best to find out what's going on when you feel marginal rather than to wait till you're really ill and in pain before doing something.

    Best of luck to you, and let me know how you get on! 

    • Posted

      I know why the gallbladder was distended; its cause of septic infection i had 2-3 years ago and also caused vasculitis that caused mild ischemia in the abdomen, joint pain and lower body rashes.

      In any case, i have a GI specialist appointment in about a month.  

    • Posted

      Okay.  An appointment with a Gi specialist is good.  I'm sure the specialist will be able to find out what's going on and get you properly treated.  

      Please let me know how you get on!

    • Posted

      I still have about 3 weeks left to see a GI specialist. However, I did some reseach and found that I may have acalculus cholecystitis (without gallstones) or cystic duct obstruction, probably from the infection I got three years earlier. Is there any perforation involved in this disease. 

       

    • Posted

      I don't know about perforation.  I do know that if your bile duct was ever perforated, your pain would be too much to bear.  A few months ago a patient wrote into the site to explain that during his gallbladder operation the clip on his bile duct was not properly attached and bile leaked into his abdominal cavity.  He'd been sent home from the hospital by then, of course.  His pain was excruciating and he was rushed to A&E.  They did a CT scan and found the leak, which was followed by emergency surgery to repair the damage.  According to him, he was suffering from the effects 8 years later...oh dear...

    • Posted

      Wow .. ok .... i guess i don't have that much pain, so it is reassuring. 

      In fact, i hardly have pain, only fullness and bloating and few burps during the day. However, there is pooping 3-4 times a day.

      Also, Can't seem to reduce my weight even after exercise in this case. 

      I heard most people say here, that they have lost weight because of cholecystitis....is that correct?

    • Posted

      You could be going lots during the day because you have too much bile in your system.  Bile is the yellow acid that is excreted by your liver.  After you have your gallbladder removed, the bile is not measured or stored by it any longer.

      The bile goes directly from the liver to your small intestine during digestion.  If you have too much of it, you will experience diarrhea surrounded by yellow caustic fluid, which is the bile. This can also result in the feeling of fullness and bloating.  Bile may also back up from your small intestine into your stomach, which can cause acid indigestion.

      There is a hormone that the body should make at the end of digestion which allows the bile to be reabsorbed by the body.  Some people just stop making this hormone.  So that can cause too much bile in your system, too.

      If you have too much bile, don't try to supplement it with ox bile or take additional digestive enzymes.  It will only make it worse. There are several bile binding drugs that can be prescribed for you by your doctor.

      As to the inability to reduce your weight, you could have a fatty liver. Ask your gi doc to check with an ultrasound.  In fatty liver disease, the liver becomes unable to digest fat, and stores it in the liver and elsewhere in the body.  

      It is believed to be caused by excessive intake of sugars, including high fructose corn syrup.  There are several sites devoted to this condition that advocate liver cleansing herbs, etc.,  but I find these herbs to be too harsh on the body.  If you want more info on how to help this condition, please send me a private message by clicking on the envelope underneath my rating.  Please know I am not selling anything, I'll just tell you what worked for me and helped me reduce my own fatty liver.

      Best of luck to you, and please let me know how you get on!

      Best of luck to you.

       

    • Posted

      Hi Rocky, my reply got moderated, so please send me a private message, if you'd like. Lynda

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