Gallbladder or Pancreas..
Posted , 4 users are following.
Hi everyone. I'm new here and just wanted to see if anyone out there has or is experiencing what I have been. This has been going on off and on for over a year but in the passed 2 months it has gotten worse. Anything I eat goes right thru me shortly after I eat. My stomach cramps up, underneath my right rib I feel bad pressure and pain, around to my back starts aching as well. Sometimes my whole chest feels like someone is sitting on it. I get a low grade fever when it gets too bad. I'm either constipated or have bad diarrhea which is what I have most. Sometimes it's light colored..during vacation last week it was green for 3 days. Nausea all thru the day but normally doesn't last too long. No appetite and when I do get hungry I can just eat a little and get full already. I've had a ultrasound on my gallbladder which showed it was compressed and staying that way..but still considered "normal" even though my Nurse Practitioner said that could be causing my issues. Had a Hida scan which showed my Ejection fraction was 85%. Discussed it with my doctor and he said it is "normal". I did ask about overactive gallbladder but he didn't seem too interested in that idea. He referred me to a Gastro and got blood work for allergies,stomach bug and lipase this was Monday. They called me back that day to say my lipase (pancreas levels) was high and to avoid alcohol and to keep my gastro appt. Well the soonest they could get me into a gastroenterologist is oct 29th..and I'm not sure how much longer I can stay feeling like this. I'm so frustrated of waiting. I understand they want to make sure they diagnose the right thing and it can take time but I feel like I'm falling apart in the process. I did have some beers on vacation last week which didn't cause me any pain after thankfully but if it was my pancreas I would think it would have. Ice cream, dairy and red meats seems to irritate me the most but it's getting to where anything I eat can upset it more. Any ideas or thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
0 likes, 10 replies
Scottie13 lindsloo
Posted
If your gallbladder is overactive (which it sounds like it is), too much bile is going through which is why you've got the diarrhoea. Did the ultrasound show any stones? When the stones block ducts it can cause issues with the pancreas and therefore pancreatitis which can be really serious and is why you shouldn't have any alcohol. The next time you have an attack and have a fever go to A&E as you can get better pain relief that way. And may get seen sooner as well.
In my case my gallbladder wasn't functioning as well as it should. Had fevers every few days, light coloured stools every now and again, constant pain under ribs on right and through to back and constant nausea as well. The longer it went on the worse it got. After getting cholecystitis the surgeon removed my gallbladder 6 days later. Now 3 weeks post-op.
Really hope you can get an earlier appt to see gastro doctor!! xx
lindsloo Scottie13
Posted
Thank you for the reply! No stones seen during the ultrasound. It was very hard to see my gallbladder, the tech even asked me to stand because she said it was all compressed up and she couldn't see it well. She showed it to me and it looked like a little shriveled up string lol.
Thank you and I hope you recover quickly!
Scottie13 lindsloo
Posted
Yeah that really doesn't sound normal! Gallbladder definitely has something wrong with it if it was like that on the scan! I had 3 ultrasounds, first one saw small stones, next one showed none which is why I got the HIDA scan then next one they think there were small stones. The surgeon said there usually are stones causing problems but the ultrasound just doesn't pick them up. And because the stones are smaller and more mobile they can cause more problems than bigger gallstones.
Ask your doctor for better pain relief and something for the nausea as well. I know sometimes the medicines have little to no effect, especially during a bad attack, but other times if taken early enough can stop it from getting too bad xx
lindsloo Scottie13
Posted
Got some phenergan which helps greatly for my nausea. The pain hasn't been too bad for meds till recently and if it takes too long to get this figured out I will be checking on that. I'm pretty dang tired a lot of the time as well. My energy level has went downhill.
s503 lindsloo
Posted
Hi! My symptoms before I had my gallblader removed was diarrhea most of the time and some days constipation( it was never " normal"
with very bad abdominal cramps and nauseas.My HIDA scan was 23% and I know that to be considered normal it supposed to be between 34- 75% therefore 85% is overactive , my doctor also checked my pancreas for pancreatic insuficience ( diarrhea is the main symptom) but it was negative , I just knew it was my gallblader, go for a second opinion ! I hope you feel better and find out soon what is causing your symptoms .
lindsloo s503
Posted
Thank you for the reply! Yes my stomach cramps are horrible before I have to use the bathroom and during usually. The back pain is getting worse as well. I do miss having a normal BM cause it hasn't been right for a long time
. I'm hoping to get in sooner at a different place than I was referred to. I have a friend at this place and she is going to try to get me in sooner..fingers crossed!
Beenthruit lindsloo
Posted
These symptoms all seem to be gallbladder related. If your bowel movements are pale watch out for dark coloured urine, itching and yellowing of skin and whites of eyes as you can develop jaundice. The yellow stools are due to excess bile and the diarrhoea is triggered by eating something high in fat. I would recommend that you eat a low fat diet, no hidden fats as in baked goods like cake or biscuits, no processed foods, no chocolate or ice cream, no take aways and no alcohol. Replace full fat dairy with 0% fat products or reduced fat where you can and no full fat salad dressings etc. Try to eat wholemeal bread and pasta and brown rice as extra fibre can soak up excess bile. Eat as healthily as you can: lean meat and fish, vegetables and fruit. See if this helps. You need to be very disciplined over what you eat.
It's a horrible illness.
You could try ringing the hospital department and speaking to one of the secretaries and explain that it's getting worse and they may be able to speak to a doctor who can advance your appointment or ask your GP to mark it as urgent.
lindsloo Beenthruit
Posted
Thank you for the response. I'm trying to eat more discipline now, I was on vacation last week and ate a little more loosely. Although I did eat more fish and it doesn't bother me as bad. It seems like anything I eat can irritate now. From rice and chicken to tuna which I had for supper last night.
lindsloo
Posted
So I seen a Gastro Nurse Practitioner and she pushed around on my stomach (first doc or nurse to do that yet). The right side didn't hurt but when she pushed the middle top part of my stomach I about jumped out of my chair. Since I've had past GERD and reflux issues she wanted me to have a scope to rule that out. She then scheduled me for a EGD. I had that done Friday and everything was clear. The Gastro Doc looked at all my tests and results I have had done and now it's more tests on my gallbladder and pancreas. CT is next I believe. This is so frustrating and tiring 😔.
Beenthruit lindsloo
Posted
CT is ok. Worst part is having a cannula inserted and even that’s not so bad as it will come out half an hour later.
Stick to eating the low fat diet and avoid alcohol for the time being. Keep in touch.