Gallbladder worries

Posted , 6 users are following.

This is a bit long, I apologize but thanking everyone know if you read everything. 

Hi everybody, my name is Jamie and I’m new and a bit nervous but here’s my case (this might be a bit long but I want to make sure I get it all). I’ve been having nausea symptoms since December when I caught a bad stomach flu, along with 3 other of my family members and I’m the only one (which kinda sucks but I’m glad everyone else is healthy) that has continuous symptoms. 

Finally went to see a doctor (who wasn’t my normal doctor, she was out of state at the time) mid January because I was fed up, was put on prescription Zantac 150. Didn’t take it (probably a bad choice but I can barely swallow pills, plus I have a fear of choking and /hate/ throwing up! I avoid it all costs) but I got better by myself and a Tums everyday before I ate until late February, started to feel nauseous and barely ate, got fed up AGAIN and saw my actual doctor because she was back in town. Told her I was stressed out and other symptoms, along with us planning surgery for a lipoma that I have. She told me to not eat after 6 pm, not to lay down after eating, and to start walking. Did a blood test to check my blood count, liver, and vitamin D levels and a breath test for h pylori. She put me on Omeprazole for GERD which I also haven’t taken, but it is in a capsule that I can sprinkle in applesauce so I’m trying my best to talk myself up to it. My biggest fear is that decreasing the acid will make my stomach even worse. But if anyone has any suggestions besides applesauce, please tell me because the consistency is gross to me!! I’ve thought about yogurt, is that okay? Besides that, I tested negative for h pylori and the rest of them came back fine except for vitamin D. 

It’s now March and I’ve been doing so much better, until the 18th I ate something that didn’t agree with me and ended up with me having severe abdominal pain and going to the hospital because I could no longer handle it. We went at 12:30 am, started testing at around 1:30 am, and was out of the hospital by 4:30 am. Did a urine test, blood test, and had an ultrasound done of my gallbladder and appendix. Almost threw up because of how bad the pain was until it just faded..

Turns out I have gallstones at 16! Kinda expected it if I’m honest, my mom had the same and it runs in the women on my dad’s side. Was told to stick to a low fat diet and was prescribed Zofran for any nausea. It’s dissolvable so thank god, I haven’t felt the need to take them yet so I’m glad. Went to the hospital on a Sunday night/Monday morning, and I wasn’t complete recovered until Wednesday. My stomach was so sore when I walked out, despite the attack already being over! It’s now Sunday morning (does 4am count as morning?) and I’ve been worrying over my options. 

I have to mention that also before going to the hospital, I had went the previous week to get an ultrasound done to check out the lipoma to see it’s size and what surgery would be best. The nurse told me I was extremely gassy so it was hard to take pictures (I could not stop apologizing and I felt so embarrassed!!). 

I don’t see my doctor until April (though I’m thinking of asking for an earlier date because this anxiety sucks and I only see my therapist once a week) and gallbladder surgery scares me. My mother had it (laparoscopy) and while she’s perfectly healthy now, I’m scared I won’t turn out the same. The doctor at the hospital told me I’m still considered pediatric so he’s not sure if surgery is the right way, but to speak to my doctor about it. But if I’m honest, that pain was awful and I can only describe the pain as close to labor pain as possiblewhich my mom agreed with. The only major symptoms I have is nausea (which comes and goes), very minimal abdominal pain (normally at night), maybe indigestion??, constipation, but I also weirdly get the urge of diarrhea or the urge to use the bathroom but nothing comes out?? Which is weird. My stomach has a burning, rumble feeling sometimes as well. I also have a lot of burping, sometimes tastes like acid (bitter) or what I had ate previously. I also have what I call a brain fog, which I just describe as feeling detached from my body in a way. Moving too quickly makes me feel foggy. After meals, I feel weird in my stomach and then I burp and I feel fine so maybe I’m bloated? I’m not sure. I’ve lost 13 pounds overall, not sure if I’ve lost more since but I’ll know when I go back to the doctors. (155 to 142lbs! I fit in a medium in shirts now and most of my jeans slip on like a charm. I’ve lost weight mainly in my face, arms, and thighs. Keep in mind I’m like 4’11 haha). 

What I’m majorly scared of is surgery and gastroparesis. My mother and I have a lot of differences in our GB symptoms. While she had much more pain and diarrhea to deal with (we had a horrible diet of eating out all the time while she had gallstones), I have more nausea and find it hard to use the bathroom sometimes. I know some people come out of surgery worse than they were and I don’t want to be like that. These past few months have changed my social life and mental health so much and I don’t want to live like this. These past few weeks are the most I’ve felt like myself before my stomach flu but everyday is different and I deal with them as they come. 

So what I’ve been meaning to get to, is the gallbladder surgery worth it? Or should I just do it before it gets even worse than it is? I’ve been also thinking about asking my doctor to either see a doctor that specializes in the stomach or for a gastric empty study (maybe both?) and maybe a HIDA scan. I only know all of these terms and tests and doctors because I’ve been on the medical side of YouTube to learn more (I follow two gals with gastroparesis and god, do I feel for them. I hope they find relief) and lots of internet research. Any help, advice, or personal stories would be so greatly appreciated!

0 likes, 20 replies

20 Replies

  • Posted

    If you have been diagnosed with gall stones then I do recommend the surgery I suffered with pain for over 2 years before I had it sometimes using the toilet many times others not being able to go still had flare ups getting progressively worse. Immediately after surgery I was lucky with no gas pain just pain from the incisions. I had heart burn ECT before but any discomfort after just went I could eat what I wanted when I was in bed on days for pain turned my life around !
    • Posted

      Thank you for telling me! I’m leaning more towards going with it because hike I haven’t had any pain since they day I went to the hospital, the thought of going through it again isn’t fun. Like I said, I’m just a tad worried about whether it’ll work for my body or not. I’m a bit of an overthinker. But I’m glad you’re doing much better now after your surgery (:
  • Posted

    Everyone is different and reacts differently . I had no hesitations as nothing could be worse than the pain experienced when having an attack I'd rather have been in labour again. Generally safe and easy procedure these days though if I'd have left it any longer it would have been worse as it was starting to get infected which is had before apparently my gall bladder was a mess when they pulled it out. The main thing that can also cause issues is if there is a stone in the bile duct of they miss it. Not common but can happen. For me the benefit by far out weighed the risks.

    • Posted

      Thanks for replying Sam, it means a lot. I'm just tired over the anxiety and stress about surgery, gastroparesis, and all these other things that I sometimes want to rip it out myself. Actually starting to have a little pain where I had it before so a tad worried attacks are going to get frequent. Just want a good night's rest at this point, thinking of scheduling my appointment quicker to see my options.

  • Posted

    It isn't going to get better, of that I am sure!   It took them 3 years to diagnose gallbladder issues for me and they finally removed mine 15 years ago!   I suffered much the same as you have described, so I would definitely recommend having it removed.   However, I have had intermittent pain in the gallbladder area ever since and a month ago, the pain was so bad I thought I was having a heart attack!   Long story short, the gastro doctor removed 50 cc's of BILE from my stomach and said all the pain I was feeling was from the stomach bile.   He also said it is common with people who have no gallbladder.   When it's gone, BILE "DRIPS" into your stomach and if you can't get rid of it, it causes pain.   I am now on prescription omerprazole 40 mg, which is a time-released capsule, which the doctor said will help heal the inflammation in my stomach and intestines caused by the bile.   I know you have an aversion to pills, but YOU NEED to dissolve the acid in your stomach, sweetie!   You can put the pills in water to dissolve and drink the medicine.   I believe you should have the surgery; it is really nothing compared to what you are going through.   Good luck!

    • Posted

      Thank you for replying! Working myself up to it, slowly but surely even though my anxiety eats me up about it. I'm leaning towards surgery as well because I'm starting to have more pain without even doing anything and sticking to the diet. Mom has been helping me out a lot, while we are different in how our symptoms started, we're the same in how it's turning out.. and I remember her pain and the pain I was in. Not wanted haha. Gonna see what my doctor says, considering I have another surgery in planning. I'd rather them just do both at the same time if I'm honest, they both give me issues.

  • Posted

    Have you read my posts about Ursodioxycholic acid and read all sites on the net? There are loads of sites from the USA about the dissolving of gall stones provided they are cholesterol based?
    • Posted

      I'm not sure what type of gallstones I have but I have consultation with a surgeon on Friday for two possible surgeries, one being for my gallbladder removal. I have a lot of questions so I'll ask them but gallstones do run in the family so I don't expect them to disappear.

  • Posted

    If you are suitable for Ursodioxycholic acid treatment the gall stones will actually disappear due to the bile acid level increasing & dissolving them. There is plenty of info on the USA internet. 

  • Posted

    In the UK dissolving stones isn't used as much due to them being able to reoccur and they are ineffective on calcium stones . I wasn't offered the treatment had it cut and done ! Take your time to make an informed choice ask everything that concerns you

    • Posted

      Perhaps it's best to fully investigate all possibilities before jumping to conclusions such as the specialist Gastro registrar who had never heard of ursodioxycholic acid so 'thought' everyone she advised must have their gall bladder removed. She was of course uneducated in the chemical treatment of gallstones to the detriment of her patients.

      Are you suggesting that a patient can take one course only of urso? because if you are you would be incorrect. I will not enter into an argument because you seem unecessarily biased against urso and I must say

      you have reason to be.

    • Posted

      I never had gallstones, just a "diseased" gallbladder.   If one is diagnosed with stones, then it makes sense to break them up or whatever the procedure is that you are speaking of and maybe getting to keep the gallbladder.   But like I said, not everyone gets stones.

    • Posted

      Very true.  It is well represented that the digestive system is a complex one. It is however disconcerting to be told by a professional registrar to an eminent gastroenterologist surgeon  that she had never heard of ursodioxycholic acid dissolution of gall stones !

      Shame on her and all those likewise who are not conversant with every aspect of their specially

      chosen subject. After all they are trying to rectify certain complex problems associated with the human body are they not. A patient has a great deal of trust in their doctors and that trust should be reciprocated with expertise experience and a full knowledge in the subject that the doctor is practicing in.

      .

    • Posted

      I was aware of the treatment but was already of the mind that I just wanted it gone. One of my first appointments the doctor brought it up if my case was gall stones which it was. I didn't want there to be chance of reoccurring stones my gall bladder was full of them and I had one in my bile duct . Fair play if that is the treatment others want then whatever works for them. I haven't looked back and it's the best thing to happen for me personally without having reoccurring pain or more than one treatment . I know some people are not always so lucky

  • Posted

    I have the same exact symptoms as you only I have an “overactive” gallbladder (high ejection fraction after taking my HIDA scan). I don’t have gallstones or at least none detected. I can’t deal with the nausea and weight loss anymore. Also feeling crappy 24-7 has taken its toll. Mine is coming out next week. I will do my best to keep you posted. I also don’t know or will swallow pills. I crush them up with sugar and a little water if that helps. 
    • Posted

      Please do! I hope your surgery goes well (: Thanks for the pill tip, helps a lot.
    • Posted

      Did you rule out gastritis by endoscopy? Bcoz I see very very less folks complaining of bloating, burping, dizziness with gallstones. The majority gallstones sufferers I see in this forum is the pain compared to bloating, burping.i myself have gallstones and gastritis , but my major worry is the extreme bloating, burping, dizziness /brain fog compared to gallbladder pain. Please do post how your surgery goes and how do you feel after wards especially with bloating,burping and dizziness/brain fog.
    • Posted

      Hi! I’ve had an ultrasound, upper endo, gastric emptying scan, and a HIDA scan. Everything has come back perfect unfortunately. I’ve been treated for gastritis already and it helped a little with the stomach nausea but it’s never gone away. 
    • Posted

      Wish you do great after the surgery. since you have made sure no other issues. i believe you are on the right track. Please do post how your  feel with the dizziness,bloating and burping after surgery.

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