Gallbladder issues??

Hello Tom, After reading your story very carefully it sounds like you have been suffering from this condition for many years. It's important to not give up looking for a diagnosis. This is your health and precious to protect. Some day a doctor will go that extra mile to find exactly the cause, diagnosis and prognosis. This will bring extraordinary relief for you.

Just to relate a bit of my experience it took nearly 10 years and 8 doctors to find the cause of my pain from a gallstone caught in the bile duct. Even the ER thought the symptoms presented was a heart attack. Thank heavens it was not. Sent home from the ER many times with pain meds and never a diagnosis. After a few more years and attacks the gastrointerologist showed me the X-ray of the stone caught in the bile duct, blocking the bile and function of the gallbladder. It's out and I am glad that I never gave up to find the answer for my pain.

This may not be the same causation in your case however I want to encourage you to never give up finding your answer to your pain.

When I experienced pain from gallstones it was so unbearable I literally could not breathe. The pain went from my right front side around to my back under my shoulder blade behind the rib area. Every breath was a screamer. 

The pain I described I later learned are the classic symptoms of gallstones. Yet it was missed for many years. I was told everything from go read self help books to see shrinks and that the pain was all in my head. Until one caring gastrointerologist said "the pain was not all in my head , it was all in my gallbladder". Then pointed out the stones. Finally!

Apple cider vinegar is the fermented juice of crushed apples. It contains acetic acid and nutrients such as B vitamins and vitamin C. Apple cider vinegar might help lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes by changing how foods get absorbed from the gut. Apple cider vinegar might prevent the breakdown of some foods

Eat a healthy diet fresh foods only to eliminate any issues with wheat, corn or celiac disease and allergies. Keep a written journal of the foods you eliminate then if your better could be some foods in your current diet. Of course no alcohol for obvious reasons. 

Drinking ACV is very acidic. Apple cider vinegar is the fermented juice of crushed apples. It contains acetic acid and nutrients such as B vitamins and vitamin C. Apple cider vinegar might help lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes by changing how foods get absorbed from the gut. Apple cider vinegar might prevent the breakdown of some foods, and also has helped many with skin rashes. There are many benefits for drinking ACV. 

It's helping you there might be a reason. 

I hope you get to the bottom of this soon. When do you finally say enough is enough, ya know. I'm so sorry your going thru this. 

Kind Regards,TC&GB

H4C

 

Hi Tom all of your symptoms sound exactly the same as mine and I had a stone blocking the bile duct and had my gallbladder removed in Jan after suffering symptoms for about 8 years slowly building to extreme pain. Try a low fat diet as this should help loads     Good Luck and hope you find the answers soon.

Hi Tom so you still got your gallbladder? I have had mine removed and 7 years later I am getting the same pain as you describe. And bowl movements is the same. The pain is bad can last from 4hours to 24 hours. I had to eliminate foods stay clear from fatty food stick to a Mediterranean diet. Also I found what works is some enzyme tablets for my digestive system. Have they checked if you got stones?

I think you are passing gall stones. My attacks were like that.

Thank you all for your replies!

Since I have had two ultrasounds of my abdomen, they seem pretty certain that it is not gallstones which is the problem (They always said that I had none) but the US might have missed them? Could it be sludge?

Hi, TomJohn, sorry to hear that you're having these problems.  It seems to me that you might have gallbladder issues as well as a small hernia.  Hernias can cause pressure and pain as well. I have a small hiatal hernia that I've had for at least 12 years.  I had a colonoscopy and endoscopy that did not reveal it. Also, sometimes ultrasounds don't pick up gallstones.  I think it depends on a lot of factors, including the tech running the machine.  A CT scan is usually more  accurate, but not allways. Sometimes small stones and sludge just don't show up.  I had a CT scan last year that found the hernia, which was a relief, because though my gallbladder was removed in 2009, I still have issues with pressure and pain as I said above. A hida scan can reveal info about your gallbladder's release of bile and is another helpful test. If the liquid surrounding your stools is yellow, then you have too much bile being released into your small intestine by your gallbladder.  If your stool contents are chemically tested, they can show up as normal, but of course the surrounding bile isn't collected for analysis.  Keeping to a low fat diet helps, because when you eat too much fat you are taxing your gallbladder and entire digestive system.  Hope this helps and let us know how you do.      

I am getting another ultrasound of my abdomen next week. I will report back. I doubt they will find anything though.

So I had my third ultrasound. Again the radiologist told me nothing was wrong and all organs looked fine (Pancreas, gallbladder etc.) told me that I have an excessive amound of gas in my colon though (which could indicate gallbladder issue?)

Anyway, today I had a very very mild attack. I ate lunch, then two hours later I had a diet coke, then it started. Lasted for only two hours, and the pain was so mild, but still there though. Tenderness under right ribcage again, that went away after drinking Apple Cider Vinegar.