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Should i take out or do more testing

Posted , 9 users are following.

south1074
south1074

Been through hell the last year, started off with mid upper back hurting on and off and middle of chest just under mid breast bone.  Visited back doctor, nothing with back.  Never really noticed if this was after food.   Starting this year had a rough time after March, lots of pain in back and some mid section of front, things progressively gotten worse from April - now, some episodes of pain in mid back just to left and some right of upper back / spine were unbearable, pain seems to have moved a bit now to right side of back behind liver and some in front where typical gallbladder would hurt and is less in middle of back. I have had loose stools for some time and in general digestive issues and diarreah.  My stools now seem to have a bit of undigested food in them but are solid again.  Not real vomiting but plenty of nausea in the last few months.  The pain has been severe some times.  Research scared me thinking pancreatic cancer, but at age 43 i'm a bit young.  I have lost about 6 pounds in the last month, noticeable to people telling me i'm thinner.  All bloodwork for the most part has been normal, liver enzymes were creeping up a bit but were just under the high range.  Some Dark yellow urine also but it comes and goes, seems I get dehydrated a bit easier which may affect that.   Pain is now mostly in the liver / gallbladder area and stabbing pains and does seem to be worse after eating but i'm not really sure.

Had 3 HIDA's over the last 2 years, 1st one was 90% EF, 2nd one was 50% EF last one was 37% EF.    Had colonscopy, endcoscope, Xrays, 2 CT's - all normal, 2 Abdominal Ultrasounds, latest one showed small amount of layering sludge and a fatty liver.  The CT after that showed nothing wrong with gallbladder or liver.

The GI, Surgeon and GI's PT say gallbladder take it out, my long time internist says no, its something else.    I scheduled surgery but curious if I should do more testing, Internist wants to run another HIDA but i'm unsure what that will really tell us.  

Have several friends without GB's they all say it's not that big of a deal having it out, sometimes u have to run to bathroom.    

Just curious of anyone here had these same types of symptoms.  Most of the pain used to be center of chest to mid back, seems it has moved a bit more to gall bladder area lately.

0 likes, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • fernando90225
    fernando90225 south1074

    Posted

    Yes I had those symptoms for 2 years. Pain and nausea and sludge or stones tell you it is gallbladder. All bloodwork will not show a bad gallbladder. I know from experience. Nausea every second of the day. Well I would get another hida scan. Just to help you with your situation. But sludge is what makes you sick. Stones are worse. You might want to have it removed.. I did and after the surgery I wasn't nauseous anymore or sick. Also what you said about undigested food coming out with stool tells me gallbladder is getting worse. Because it's not doing it's job correctly. Hope I helped you. Good Luck

    • south1074
      south1074 fernando90225

      Posted

      Thanks for the response, did you have any weight loss and the mid back, burning pain? 

      Thank you for your help, it is good to hear similar stories.  

    • fernando90225
      fernando90225 south1074

      Posted

      Yes I did have a lot of back pain. Also lost a total of 30 pounds. Just an overall sick feeling day and night. Good Luck to you. Bye for now. God Bless.😄

    • johnette_68826
      johnette_68826 fernando90225

      Posted

      Hi Fernando,

      Glad you are better and recovered.  Were sick after having your gallbladder out? I had mine out 6 weeks ago and have been very nauseous and sick all day long. Can’t eat much and I am losing weight. Also, have pain where the gallbladder was that radiates to my back and fatigued. Did you experience anything like this after you had your gallbladder removed? 

    • fernando90225
      fernando90225 johnette_68826

      Posted

      Hi hope you are good today. Well I wasn't sick after surgery just had gas pains from surgery. It sounds like phantom pains. It is pain where the gallbladder was and pain from bile reflux too. But all of those pains are relatively normal. You should start feeling better after a few months. You are still healing inside which can take up to a year. Of you still are fatigued and still sick you need to go back to your GI SPECIALIST. FEEL BETTER. Any other questions feel free to ask.

    • sam90321
      sam90321 south1074

      Posted

      this one am having too and am still having the burning feeling in my back hasnt went away, i really thought i was the only one

  • alana97422
    alana97422 south1074

    Posted

    That’s exactly the pains I used to get I thought I had trapped wind or indigestion until a gallstone got stuck in my bile duct!! Then did I definitely know I had gallstones never felt pain like it, it was worse than labour!!! My ultrasound scan showed stones in my gallbladder and sludge at the bottom of my gallbladder and obviously my bile duct was distended where the stone was. I ended up with jaundice and Gavin an ercp to remove the stone!! I had complications with the ercp and bled losing so much blood I nearly needed blood transfusion. I was very unlucky with that as only 5% of people bleed!! I can honestly say the gallbladder removal was nothing the worse pain I had was the trapped wind after the op. I haven’t had any other problems since eating normally now and maybe have to odd looser stool but not where I have to rush to the bathroom I’ve actually only just realised after reading this yes it’s after I have eaten a lot of unhealthy food!! Hopefully I will get your problems sorted but do not fret about having your gallbladder removed xx
  • Micklemus
    Micklemus south1074

    Posted

    Why don't you talk to a GI who knows that ursodioxycholic acid treatment will dissolve cholesterol gall stones ?

    It is also given to patients who have damage to the liver.......  If it will dissolve gall stones it may dissolve sludge? The GI's who know of Urso are the ones to consult I would have thought!  

    It is quite a nasty job but half a fresh lemon in quarter cup of warm olive oil to emulsify the  'drink' flushes the gall bladder...... research that on the internet.......... Many fitness fanatics drink that occasionally but when this is drunk the toilet is soon needed.  If cholesterol stones are flushed they are seen to be green. 

  • Power1on
    Power1on south1074

    Posted

    Has anyone ever tried orthophosphoric acid or OPA as it’s called I’ve been battling with gallbladder issue for a few years now I still have my gallbladder as or now anytime I have a attack I take 2droppers full and sip it down and the attack subsides 80% just a thought it’s whatbive been doing and working so far I never have a bottle far from me 
  • sam90321
    sam90321 south1074

    Posted

    same exact symtoms like you including, on and off cold chills, chest pain left and right and bad acid reflux, bloodwork came back normal, was having heart problem during acid reflux issue, result came back my heart was showing abnormalties but after the acid reflux pill kicked in my heart results came back that my heart was healthy and now the acid reflux came back again in 3 weeks after the 1st round and am getting same symtpoms again but sorry for off topic i do feel like its linked to my gallbladder problems because it all started after eating a fatty meal but i did a ultrasound and it cane back showing lots of stones inside my gallbladder so i will be having surgery in 2 weeks for removal, this problem cause me depression, aniexty and panic attacks and this been going on for 3 months straight, i have been trying to avoid surgery for 2 years but it has been causing me ongoing symtoms now

  • Micklemus
    Micklemus south1074

    Posted

    So if you are very worried about having your gall bladder removed why don't you research Ursodioxycholic acid treatment and speak to your surgeon and ask does ursodioxycholic acid dissolve cholesterol gall stones?

  • erica000
    erica000 south1074

    Posted

    My pain was in the center and left side of my chest, not the right side like everyone explains. It felt like my food just stored itself there and made me sick to my stomach. My labs came back normal all 3 times in 10 years that i've been tested. my 2 Ultrasounds, normal no stones, catscan was normal as well. My endoscopy, normal. My HIDA scan was 33% EF, which was just slightly under the 35% normal marker, which lead my doctors to all tell me it was normal. I lost weight but only because i couldn't eat. I tried 8+ medications, and was misdiagnosed with IBS, and placed on xanax because they told me maybe i was just psyching myself out when i ate?

    I took a risk on this elective surgery and got it out against all medical advise from doctors. I wish i went against advise sooner so i didnt have to suffer for 10 years.

    I will be honest, your bathroom habits do change. I noticed that if i eat something and i get that feeling, i use the bathroom, and then its over and done with, with the exception of once or twice when i have to run back in shortly after. When i had my gallbladder, the pain and suffering would last days before subsiding.

  • shannon72303
    shannon72303 south1074

    Posted

    Hi, I cant talk about the pain as i never had a pain attack before my surgery. I would and still get bad heartburn. i had nausea and throwing up and stopped being able to eat. i went to the emergency room and they ran tests and did a CT scan and Ultrasound and thats where they found stones and one of the walls had started to thicken so i had to have emergency surgery that night. I am almost 6 weeks post op, and its not been fun. i still have the nausea and sometimes throw up. the nausea is usually been in the mornings and goes by the afternoon.

    i have a appointment with a GI doctor in 11 days so im hoping to get answers to why im still sick.

    whatever you decide or have decided, you have to make the best choice for you. it doesnt matter the stories on here like mine, if it has to come out, then it has to come out. I pray everyday for everyone on this forum that we all start feeling better. Coming on here is like therapy to me. In some strange way, its comforting to know im not alone.

    Shannon

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