Experience with gall bladder issues????

[Anonymous]

I'm fairly sure that I have gallbladder issues: attacks of extreme pain in right upper quadrant of abdomen, abdomen in that area tender when touched, bloating, pain radiating to back. I've also had intermittent nausea, among other things. I've had several of these over the last several months, most severely last night (my Dr. Office appears to be closed due to snow).

I realize that Internet Doctoring should be taken with a grain of salt but the write-ups on GB infections or stones or inflammation seemed SPOT ON.

Just curious if anyone had experience GB issues, what your symptoms were, and more important, what was your treatment. This morning (after last night) I still have stomach pain (not as severe), bloating, nausea. Also a very low grade fever.

Any insight, experiences, etc. is greatly appreciated.

[Anonymous]

I had sharp extreme pain after eating any meal with fat, particularly ground beef. Like screaming pain. It would ramp up maybe 20 minutes afterwards and last about 20 minutes or do. I suspect I passed a stone, because by the time I got abdominal scans, nothing was found. Have family history of gall stones. See if pain happens after fatty meals. Keep food log + pain log. And get yourself checked. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

My symptoms were similar to yours, OP. Eventually it got so bad I developed pancreatitis and could have died, needed 3 corrective surgical procedures. Please see a doctor. Gallbladder removal is nbd, better to do it sooner rather than later.

[Anonymous]

Yes! I’ve had similar issues during the whole pandemic. I got bad reflux, had an endoscopy which was clear. Then I started having random, terribly painful attacks which I thought were trapped gas. They started getting more frequent and severe, especially with holiday food. Scheduled with a new GI and it took him about 30 seconds to suspect gallstones. I’m getting my gallbladder removed soon. I fit the profile of forty, fair, fat and fertile, fwiw.

[Anonymous]

Don’t hesitate — find a good gastro now and get it resolved. You do not want this to evolve into an acute problem. An ultrasound can easily diagnose the issue and as other posters have indicated the surgery is nbd. Usually done outpatient unless you have pancreatic involvement. I had mine at 11am one day and was up doing light activities the next day — and felt so much better!

[Anonymous]

They’ll order an ultrasound first. If that comes back clean, ask for a HIDA scan. My daughter suffered for way too long and couldn’t even tolerate 1g of fat. Her HIDA scan showed that her gallbladder was overactive. The solution is the same…removal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They’ll order an ultrasound first. If that comes back clean, ask for a HIDA scan. My daughter suffered for way too long and couldn’t even tolerate 1g of fat. Her HIDA scan showed that her gallbladder was overactive. The solution is the same…removal.

That’s awful! How is she after surgery?

[Anonymous]

I have been wrestling with getting a dx for over a year now - my attacks aren't quite classic presentation but they can't find anything else wrong with me. I've modified my diet enough that they are quite rare. It's been a real hassle doing all the imaging and follow ups- if I were OP I would just head to the ER when next attack occurs. (after this omicron spike, perhaps).

[Anonymous]

Suffered with daily pain, but not excruciating, for about four years before I had a full on ER worthy attack. The stone was diagnosed quickly by the gastroenterologist but my duct was clear and they said discomfort was not enough to warrant removal. Made me feel like I had a ticking time bomb! The time bomb finally went off this fall lol. Ended up in the ER on morphine and had the surgery three days later. I still had pain miorroring gallstones for the first two weeks after surgery and I was panicking thinking I was gonna have the pain forever but it went away.

[Anonymous]

I'm fatty beef PP.

My cousin had to undergo emergency removal at the ER because a stone got stuck blocking the gallbladder. So it's best to get checked asap to try to head off a possible emergency. Will prob be ultrasound and MRI if my memory serves. If those come back neg, will order HIDA scan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They’ll order an ultrasound first. If that comes back clean, ask for a HIDA scan. My daughter suffered for way too long and couldn’t even tolerate 1g of fat. Her HIDA scan showed that her gallbladder was overactive. The solution is the same…removal.

That’s awful! How is she after surgery?

Surgery was canceled last week when the surgeon got Covid, rescheduled to tomorrow. Fingers crossed it happens.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all the responses. Ugh. I'm reallllly hoping for no surgery as I had major abdominal surgery in the spring (and still rehabbing from that).

My "attack" lasted about 3 hours last night (well, that's when i finally dozed off). But, still tender and nauseated and bloated today.

[Anonymous]

Do you have any mint tea?I used to have attacks that could only be stopped with mint tea and laying flat on my front.

Until you see a doctor, obviously.

[Anonymous]

Sorry to hear OP!

NP. In hindsight, I had a couple of shorter painful attacks over a a year that I wrote off as bad indigestion. Then one night a few springs ago I had an attack that lasted hours. The next morning I felt fine and went to work. Met a friend out for lunch and I recall exactly having ranch dressing on a salad. That was it! Got gradually nauseous during the day and by the time I got home the smell of DH grilling was unbearable. By 8 PM, was vomiting off and on for hours. No fever, but I knew then exactly what it was by then. Went to my primary care doc in the morning. She sent me to get a scan that confirmed many stones in gallbladder. Another test showed like a grain of sand size piece in the duct. I saw a gastro doc for an outpatient procedure to clear the duct, and then a week later had a scheduled surgery (outpatient) to remove. During this time, I too like PP's daughter above, could not tolerate even 1 gram of fat without bringing on full blown pain and sickness. Good luck to you!

[Anonymous]

I had similar symptoms. It all disappeared when I had a HIDA scan. I had horrendous pain during the HIDA scan, but afterwards the pain was gone for good. Doctor said it was most likely gallbladder sludge and the scan flushed it out. I lucked out. I was convinced I needed my gallbladder taken out. Later found out from my mom that she had gallbladder sludge when she was younger and it somehow resolved itself.

I hope you find out what is causing your pain and you get successful treatment soon.