gallbladder problems?

[tenofcups]

Has anyone here had any gallbladder problems--either gall stones or a gallbladder that's not functioning properly? I just got back from my doctor (first time visit with him; second time in that office) with symptoms of what I think is probably "just" reflux. But they've gotten serious enough and gone on long enough that I wanted to make sure it wasn't my heart or lungs. Basically, I'm having frequent chest pain and difficulty breathing.

Anyway, he's hypothesizing a gallbladder problem, which totally took me surprise. I go for an ultrasound tomorrow to see if there are stones, he did a blood test that will tell something about function, and if no stones show on the ultrasound, he wants me to go for some sort of radioactive x-ray test.

I can't quite figure if I think he's onto something or going out into left field. For the moment, I intend to take the tests, but I guess I'm still just surprised since gallbladder had never entered my mind and I have no pain in my right abdomen, shoulder, or back, which is where that usually shows, at least according to the reading I've just done since I got home tonight.

So...not really sure what I'm asking here except, I guess, if anyone's dealt with any of this before? :confused:

[Nanner]

I'm actually going through gallbladder problems right now.

A little over a year ago, in Nov. 2004 I was diagnosed with gallstones. It felt a lot like severe heartburn, and I had one really bad episode with nausea and vomiting. I was referred to a gastroenterologist who did an u/s and diagnosed me. However, I'd just learned I was pregnant, so he wanted to do a "wait and see" kind of thing, because he didn't want to do surgery while I was pg. if he could help it. I never had pain in my shoulder or right side of my abdomen, either, but back pain--I did have back pain, but it was in conjunction with the heartburn feeling. It kind of felt like the heartburn was radiating back through my body, if that makes sense.

Anyway, my entire pregnancy, the stones were asymptomatic. Now my son is 7 months old, and the pain started resurfacing. I'm getting the gallbladder removed on Feb. 2nd.

All I know about gallstones is what my doc has told me and what I've experienced. So I'm guessing that even though the symptoms you listed are common, you don't necessarily have to be experiencing all of them to have gallstones.

Good luck with your u/s. I do hope it's your gallbladder, and not something more serious!

[tenofcups]

Thanks Nanner. I've decided not to do the ultrasound right now, because I do know that I have reflux and I honestly believe the pain is coming from that. I'm going to try to get a perscription to deal with that instead as a first course of action and then follow through on the ultrasound if necessary later. I guess I don't see a reason to go looking for another problem when I know for a fact that I have one that is not being treated but that I've experienced before. As least that's what I'm thinking right now... I intend to call the doctor again on Friday and discuss it further.

But thanks for your description of what you experienced with the gallstones since that does seem more like what I'm experiencing than what I read about online (I know, I know... the dangers of self-diagnosing!)

[Nanner]

Well, if you've been experiencing reflux for a long time and are familiar with how it feels, then you probably know that reflux is what it is. Although with my pain I first thought it was heartburn/reflux, after a while, I knew that's not what it was. It was just so much more painful than any heartburn I'd ever had. And the pain just seemed "deeper," if that makes sense.

Anyway, if it were me, I would get the u/s anyway, just to rule gallstones out. Better to know now than to continue experiencing such debilitating pain. Not to mention that if it is your gallbladder, you risk getting an infection and having to have emergency surgery, which often results in regular abdominal surgery (6 week recovery) rather than laparoscopy (1-2 week recovery).

But then again, I don't know your situation. I have great insurance, so I only had to pay $15 for mine. The way I see it, if the technology is available to find out for sure what the pain is (or at least rule something out), and the insurance is already paid for, might as well use it. It gives you immediate results.

Anyway, I hope you're able to get a handle on whatever this may be. G/L!

[pewee9196]

I dealt with this a year or so ago. In addition to heart burn I also had a side stitch. (basically felt like a running cramp that never left) I also had problems inhaling completely. In my case it was my gall bladder but it took a lot of tests to figure that out. The ultra sound will show stones but not if it is not functioning. I had to have a Hyda Scan (that is the test your DR was talking about) for them to determine that. During this process I did take heartburn meds. I did not have surgery. I just opted to change my diet which was funny- I don't eat fatty foods to begin with but was higher than normal.

Good Luck

[Sweet_Thang]

I am having surgery to remove my gallbladder on the 5th of Feb (Nanner and I are gallbladder buddies! *lol*)

Each persons symptoms are different. My problems?? Well, I thought I was having horrible, and I mean horrible gas problems. About mid chest area. Some shortness of breath, but not much. At first my fam dr thought I might have a hiatal hernia or something else that resulted from having gastric bypass. I never experienced the shoulder pains, but experience lower back pain on the right side. Now, the back pain I contributed to an accident that I had about 20 yrs when I was in college in which I landed on my lower back right side. To this day, if I am NOT feeling well at all, my lower back hurts/aches.

While on my honeymoon in November, the pains came back to the point that while heading back to the hotel, I had to stop several times to sit and rest. I bloated up like a balloon and spent a good time with my pants unbuttoned.

When I returned home, I went to the dr and had an ultrasound. No hernia but numerous gallstones. It has to come out. My surgeon said better than later because you don't want to pass a gallstone.

I would highly recommend that you go ahead with the u/s. It wont' hurt to at least rule it out. It would be better to know now, then end up in the hospital emergency room with a gallbladder attack, if that's what you have.

GL

Lexie

[wsusquirrel]

I had my gallbladder removed in 2000 at the age of 26. Most doctors were telling me it was reflux or other things BUT finally my family doctor ordered a ultrasound. Thank goodness! The surgery was not exactly fun BUT my life is completely different - for the better. No more pain. :D The pain from gall stones is so horrible, I just could not stand it anymore.

Wishing you the best!!!

[Mrs. Alting]

My advice to you is to get the ultra sound!!!

I was sick for 2 years before they did the ultra sound. It started out with reflux than as the time went by I started to get back pain, bloating, gained weight, chestpains, there was a few episodes as I called them where I vomited. The docor could not figure out what was wrong with me finnaly I said give me an ultra sound!!!! And I had 3 gal stones the size of golf balls. So I said take them out. I had liporscopic surgery I went to the hospital in the morning had the surgery and left that afternoon. My recovery was only about 2 weeks and I was walking around, it was still a little sore when I would laugh though but not bad.

You can still have gal bladder symptoms after you have the surgery which I have had a few mostly just the reflux once in a while but I feel a million times better and the great part is that I lost alot of weight after the surgery:)

If you have any questions please let me know
Kristie:)

[tenofcups]

Thanks to everyone for your responses. I called the doctor last Friday and asked for a perscription for Prevacid or Nexium and explained that I wanted to try to treat the reflux and see how that worked before going for any other tests. He agreed (or he consented; I'm not sure if he agreed) and I've been taking Nexium for almost a week. I feel A LOT better!

It's hard to tell right now if that's all I need--I know it can take a while for the results to fully kick in and I've acquired a cold in the meantime so my chest is kind of achy and I'm coughing from that...

But I still feel that really made the most sense as a first course of action and will most likely be looking for another doctor (I've only seen this doctor once). I guess I just didn't feel that I fully trusted him or his opinion and I'd like to have someone lined up who I feel more comfortable with.