Gallbladder, IBS, opinions???

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I have had six months of upper right abdominal pain, especially when eating fatty foods. My ultraound came back normal and HIDA scan had an ejection fraction of 79%, which is considered normal. I may have one episode each week, but wake up several mornings with what feels like morning sickness. (not pregnant) My stomach feels bloated and full, and my bowels are pretty much the same. I also have pain in my back and right side at times. I ate a greasy meal last week and I hurt for hours. Worst pain ever.

My doctor wants to refer me to a surgeon, to see about having my gallbladder removed. If my HIDA scan came back normal, could the gallbladder still be the problem? Are there any other tests that should bed done? I am very healthy and have never had many health problems before. Any advice would be great!

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  • Posted

    Hello from the States!

    I am so sorry to hear of your problems - it is a bit of a puzzlement given your HIDA score (for instance mine was 22% when I had my gallbladder removed nearly 2 years ago, no stones).

    Ony other thought I have - has anyone done bloodwork to see what your current liver enzyme levels might be?  I have also had liver inflammation and pain and know that pain can seem similar to gallbladder pain.

    This site is an excellent place to get information and answers - you are doing the right thing researching before having this surgery done, given your score.

    I am also guessing staying on a very low fat diet while you wait would not hurt anything, and perhaps prevent another episode like you experienced.

    Pulling for you in the States!

    Jonna

    • Posted

      Jonna how are you since removal? My Hida scan shows 19%. Scheduled for surgery this coming Friday. Having trepidation !!
    • Posted

      Hello!

      I don't want to scare you at all with my own surgery reaction, but husband and I both had our gall bladders out within the same year - both for non-stone issues and low functioning (his was 17%).  My surgeon was totally honest with me before surgery telling me that with non-stones issues I had a 20% chance that my surgery would not be successful and that I would still have issues.  Sadly, this is me.  My husband, after initial typical healing with slowly adding fats back into his diet, is relatively fine - just cannot tolerate digestive-wise a real fatty meal, for instance.

      Do you have stones?  Healing seems to be a bit different vs. non-stones GB removal.  My surgeon told me I didn't have to have it out, that I could just stay on a VERY low fat diet (I was doing 2 grams or less per day!!) - my nausea was so bad I lost 23 pounds, when I didn't have that to spare at all.  I had to prayerfully weigh it all out and thought I would just keep losing weight with keeping it.  I could not find anything"'cure-all" to fix a non-stones damaged GB.  I still have phantom pain nearly two years later, and have now had to start taking digestive enzymes and stay on a low fat diet - I have only been able to gain back  2 pounds, and am still too thin.  You just have to weigh out all the factors and do what you're doing - research it all and decide what you are willing to live with and what you simply cannot.

      I truly wish you all the best - at least you have probably an 80% chance of not having the severe issues if you do have surgery.  Not an easy choice - I know.

      Best to you-

      Jonna

    • Posted

      No stones here either. I was 105 prior to issues and now 96, as you can see I didn't have it to lose either. Scary. I cannot tolerate any fats either, past 6 months living on white meat chix broccoli and rice cakes. Nausea is my biggest issue, when I ingest fats it's off the charts bad. I have done a ton of research and been to countless drs. Tried the holistic approach and nothing is working. Surgery is last resort. Pray for me!!! Thanks for responding!!

      Heather

    • Posted

      Hi again Heather -

      Oh wow - you really DO not have any more weight you can lose - that is SO low:-(  - we had so much in common before surgery so I do not blame you for doing this - you have tried all else, just like I did - even if you ARE that 20% you will not have that vicious nausea like you have now a few weeks after surgery - and will in time be able to tolerate  more fat than you are now. 

      Just try to keep in mind how you feel the first three days after surgery is NOT how you will feel a few weeks later - those initial days were tough, but I went w/o pain meds as I so hated their side effects. Try not to do much for honestly at least a week - they want you to keep moving but of course with caution as you will be sore - make sure you have some help of some sort.

      I so hope you will write to me again after surgery and let me know how it is going - I will definitely be praying for you here in the States. and will offer you any encouragement I can. This site also has some great people who care that contribute responses.  Please keep me posted, OK?

      With a hug and prayers -

      Jonna

    • Posted

      Jonna ~ Thank you so much for the encouraging words. I too am in the states, Florida. I can keep the nausea at bay avoiding ALL fats but my prayer is that eventually I will be able to add some in and gain a few pounds. I would love to gain 10 but seems impossible right now. And thanks for the prayers I'll take all I can get!!

      Heather

    • Posted

      Hello one more time:-)

      I am in Missouri, even though my user name is JonnaFromNY - moved out here in July - since many on this blog seem to be in UK assumed you might be, too:-)

      Don't worry - you will be able to eat more fat and put on a few pounds- I can now handle 12-15g total at one meal, unlike 1g before surgery - you just slowly add them in with healthy food - I try really hard to make what I eat count, with really healthy, low/no sugar foods, to get the higher levels of fat slowly added over time.

      I just started taking probiotics as well as digestive enzymes this week - never thought about it before - wow- what a difference in the comfort level of digestion.  So, that is something to keep in mind for down the road if you need them.

      Please stay in touch:-)

      Jonna (in MO:-)!!)

    • Posted

      Jonna - in an attempt to try and save the gallbladder, I've been taking supplements for quite some time. I will continue to take the probiotic. I also stick to very healthy eating habits even before the gallbladder went bad. I had an auto transplant of my left kidney back in July. I was nauseous before that surgery for a couple years and chalked it up to the rare condition that I deal with. Test back in September show that the gallbladder was bad.

      Thank you for all of your support, you have no idea how much this is needed a mere four days before the surgery. 😰🙏🏻

    • Posted

      Sounds like you have been doing all the "right things'.  (I am amazed how many people with gall bladder issues continue to eat "regularly" - high fat, etc.)  Wow - you certainly have been through a lot this year.  I am so sorry - hang in there - you will do just fine getting through this, and I am really looking forward to hearing from you again on the other side of surgery -day by day you will see SOME improvement over life as you know it now.

      Warmly, with prayers-

      Jonna

       

  • Posted

    Hi Kaysie

    i know exactly what you are going through. I had several months of pain under right side of ribcage, around my side and up between my shoulder blades. I had MRI scan, Ultrasound, endoscopy and CT scan. All my exults came back normal. My consultant diagnosed gallbladder disease which meant I had pain as if I had gallstones but i just had enflamed gallbladder. I had it removed a week ago and feel great and pain free

  • Posted

    I too had the nausea and loss of appetite , with the pain in r/side going through to my back etc etc.

    Try altering your diet to a recomended diet for if it is your gall bladder and see if you get some respite from the symptoms.

     Mine improved but unfortunatley i got a phobia about eating , and lost about Two stone.. so dont let that happen.

    I ended up having my gall bladder removed in Dec 16... 8 weeks ago. home same day 3 weeks off work , intital pain from the Op, but fine now. just the odd twinge as it is still early days ..

    But so much better.

    Good luck and do what you think is best for you as we are all so different xx good luck

  • Posted

    Hi Kaysie, sorry you're dealing with this!

    Did you have any reaction when you were given the cck during the hida scan?

    I'm just going to tell you my experience...I started having some gallbladder symptoms a few months ago. All tests came back normal. Hida scan was 48% but had reaction to cck.

    I was sent to see a surgeon who said he thought I should have my gallbladder removed. I had the surgery last week and was admitted to the hospital a few days ago because all of my symptoms became much worse and I wasn't taking in enough fluids. At this point, they have no idea what's wrong me, there has been mention of possible sod or functional gi illness. All I know is that I was much better before I had my gallbladder out.

    This doesn't mean that removing your gallbladder won't help you, but I Wanted to share my story because I went from at least being functional to not being able to care for my children and having to hire outside help (I'm a stay at home mom to my 2 toddlers)

    Maybr you could try some digestive enzymes or acupuncture if you haven't already. There are also some other natural things that you could try...maybe ask your Dr first though.

    Well wishes!

    • Posted

      Keefe, With a bit of luck your symptoms will eäe after a couple more weeks... I had similar pains as though my gall bladder wä still there. but 8 weeks on its all fine now.. hope you continue to improve xx

    • Posted

      After I had my GB they thought I had SOD. I had that surgery and unfortunately for me that did not take the pain I have away for me. My son was in his 20's when he had his GB out and is perfectly fine.

    • Posted

      *hope*

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