Gallbladder pain

HI, Chloe,

You might need a CT scan.  While ultrasounds are generally good, CT scans reveal more.  Did your doctor do a liver panel when you had the blood tests?  And when you say consultant, do you mean a gastroenterologist?  

I'm in the US, and our terms aren't always the same as yours are. So, I'm trying to clarify.  Thank you! xx

If I'm totally honest I'm not really sure sometimes all the medical terms go straight over my head! So the consultant was just the doctor at the hospital who discussed what to do once they had found I had gallstones.

Although even the surgeons on the day of the op repeated a few times that it was never a guarantee (I know nothings ever guaranteed) but they seemed so uncertain.

I'm thinking that I'm going to get myself back to the doctors. I've had the same pain twice since I first posted the message once very bad in bed curled up so I definitely need to do something! Thank you

Hi, Chloe,

Thanks for letting me know.  A surgeon would know a bit about gastrointestinal subjects, but not usually a lot, because his focus is removing and repairing. A GP might know a bit more, but sometimes not enough.

A gastroenterologist is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal disorders.  More than a GP or a surgeon, he or she would know better what might be going on, what tests to conduct and what to do to help you.

In my own experience, my gastroenterologist is more interested in finding out what's happening.  The same cannot be said for the the others.

I would urge you to to start to learn more about what's going on with you.  You need to be your own best advocate, and have enough knowledge to know when someone, yes, even a doctor, is not treating you properly, such as fobbing you off and not giving you enough information.  

Currently, a patient can trust, but verify. To do that, you have to have enough information.  

I hope that things get better for you!   

Thanks so much for the advice! I know what you mean because for over a year various doctors were saying it was acid reflux but I had various tablets and none made a slight bit of difference! Funnily enough since I had my gallbladder out I occasionally get heartburn now but the pain I get is definitely not heartburn or acid reflux! Like you say you know your own body. I'm just hoping to get some kind of resolution to this I have booked a doctors appointment now so hopefully I will get referred for some more tests! X

Do let me know how you progress! xx

Thank you I will do! X

Hi Chloe & Lynda, I'm in the UK and I just wanted to assist in the type of doctors you probably saw. The doctor you see at the hospital that generally puts you in for tests, will be a consultant physician and he/she will be a gastroenterologist with experience on upper gi issues including the biliary system, the surgeon is a consultant surgeon who will be a specialist in the biliary system and probably performing laparoscopies as most seem to be over here and the gp is the first point of contact for the referral process. Obviously in A&E you could see any doctor and not know what their backgrounds are. I hope this makes it easier, I've learnt from this forum that both countries do things very differently.

Chloe, I know that the doctors that I'm seeing are on my local hospital website so you can look at their specialities and get some reassurance that they know what they are doing.

I haven't had my gallbladder out yet, (1st March) due to it not functioning properly but they have already said to me that they believe I have sphincter of oddi dysfunction because I'm in constant pain so I think its not always cut and dried with removing a gallbladder that all pain will go.

I hope you get some answers soon. Let us know how you get on. 

Thanks, Katherine!

By way of explanation, in the US people generally see a primary care practitioner who is usually a general practitioner; a family physician.  Some insurance plans require that a general practitioner refer a patient to a specialist, who will be, for instance, a gastroenterologist, or a gynecologist.

If some patients don't get a referral, their insurance plans won't pay for a specialist.  That means it can take a long time to get to the doctor you really need to see. Some doctors specialize in surgery for a specific area. 

Also, we have medical plans that have doctors with all types of expertise workng for them, but a participating patient has to use the doctor within that network.

It can be a mess, frustrating, and a patient can expect to encounter different levels of competence--just like in the UK.

Hi Lynda, thanks for that. I know that I get confused sometimes as the referral system is very different to over here, but I think I'm getting use to it. We don't have the issue of insurance for payment over here as it done through the nhs which can take longer if it doesn't seem urgent. Out initial referral seems to be similar to you where a gp starts the process to a gastroenterologist. I was lucky initially as because I'm within the age group for women to have gallbladder issues and I'm not overweight that that had to look as massess within the body so was on a 2 week plan , meaning I was seen by a gastroenterologist within 2 weeks and the test he referred me for was in 2 weeks (gastroscopy) and then a 2nd test (ct scan) until they ruled out massess that shouldn't be there luckily. We can go privately here but it does cost alot but you can choose which consultant you wish to see, you'l find that most nhs doctors also see private patients especially in the county I'm in as there's only 1 main hospital which does everything, several cottage hospitals and only 1 private hospital so its very limiting if you want to see someone different. I've seen you respond alot on this forum and gallbladder issues to seem to be a minefield as there are so many things it could be.

Hope to speak to you again in the future.

It's can be unsettling, I know.  Sometimes similar, yet different.  I've read about incredible delays in treatment, and some of the decisions made, and what tests to do or not to do on a person seem purely arbitrary to me.

Thanks for letting me know how it is where you are!  I also hope to speak to you again!

Hi thank you I went to the doctors roughly 2 weeks post op but they said it was too soon...I now have an appointment for next Monday so fingers crossed I will get somewhere with that! Are you having keyhole surgery?

HI yes i will be having keyhole surgery hopefully wont have to wait to long now as in so much pain im going back to the doctors tomorrow for check ups. Hope everything goes well when you go to and hopefully they will sort it all out for you take care from carmella

Thank you and the same to you! Chloe x