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My Gallbladder is shaking....

Posted , 5 users are following.

poohbear9453
poohbear9453

I've been having random gallbladder discomfort for a few months now.  Never really serious pain, but more of an uncomfortable sensation in my upper right abdomen.  It's always in the same area and my GP (and me) are convinced it's my GB.  I've had multiple ultrasounds done and even a CT scan and all show no stones.  I've had a few rounds of blood work and all tests for gallbladder, liver, and pancreas come back within normal ranges.  The only other thing that seems to be odd is stool color...it changes more than normal and can be clay colored to a slightly dark brown (normal I'd say).

I read that milk thistle can help liver/gallbladder pain so I started taking that 2x per day and it seems to help.  The only thing now is there are moments where I can feel my GB "pulsate".  Anyone else ever felt this?  It can't be normal... could it be my GB just working some sludge or small stone out (even though scans don't show stones?) due to the milk thistle?  Or is this a sign of a larger problem?

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • sharyejane
    sharyejane poohbear9453

    Posted

    You need to request a HIDA scan, it sounds like you have an over active / hyper kinetic gallbladder. All tests will show normal, but if you have a HIDA and the EF rate is about 75% you are hyper kinetic, meaning your GB is pumping too much bile. 
    • poohbear9453
      poohbear9453 sharyejane

      Posted

      Interesting....Could this by why the discomfort is random, and never really painful?  Sometimes it feels like it's larger than it should be.  I'll ask my Doc for a HIDA scan.

    • Guest
      Guest poohbear9453

      Posted

      good luck on that i have come up against a brick wall asking for a hida scan
  • sharyejane
    sharyejane poohbear9453

    Posted

    Yes, with hyper kinetic sometimes it hurts sometimes it doesn’t. Usually a dull right upper quadrant pain. Doesn’t even necessarily hurt with food, can also hurt when you’ve not eaten. 

    About 70-80% of people have success with surgery (removal) depending. They will try to tell you anything about 35% is normal, but it is not once last 75%. There is a community on FB for hyper kinetic gallbladders if you find out that’s what you have. You will see all sorts of strange symptoms, and different stories that you may or may not relate to. I’ve even seen stories where everything comes back normal, HIDA scan was high and when it was removed they found from pathology that I was inflamed, scar tissues and it had small tiny stones that CT’s and Ultras didn’t pick up on. 

    Good luck! 

  • sharyejane
    sharyejane poohbear9453

    Posted

    Sorry my auto correct messed it up, they say another above 35% is normal, but it isn’t. Anything 75% and higher is over active. 
  • fernando90225
    fernando90225 poohbear9453

    Posted

    The shaking you feel is actually you gallbladder contracting. Possible stones passing and sludge as you said. Sign of bad gallbladder. I was told that my numbers were ok. Don't believe that. You need more tests done on gall. Ultrasound found my stones. Ct also found stuck stone in common bile duct. If gall is culprit I would say yes because it can reek havoc on whole digestive system. Please tell your doctor to be vigilant and you too. Its your health we are talking about here. Good Luck.

    • poohbear9453
      poohbear9453 fernando90225

      Posted

      I guess the optimist in me is hoping that this is just the milk thistle causing a cleanse of my GB.  I've only been taking it for 5 days so the timing sort of makes sense.  This shaking didn't happen before I started that.  I might stop taking it and see if it continues or if things go back to normal.  At this point I wish it was something as simple as a gallstone because then at least I'd know the cause of the discomfort.

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