I have a question (or a few!) and I'm
hoping someone might be able to help me.
For about 2 months I've been getting an
intense, steady pain in my right upper
abdomen, right below the rib cage. It
usually lasts for a few hours at a time,
then goes away, sometimes for a day,
sometimes a couple weeks (at most). I
ended up in the ER about a month ago
because it started to feel an awful lot
like pancreatitis, which I had a few years
back. They did blood work, and all my
levels were normal. The doctor did an
ultrasound (on a machine that could be
moved from room to room) and told me I had
gallstones. Then he sent me up to the
"official" ultrasound room, and afterward
told me he was wrong, no gallstones. He
told me that I had peptic ulcers and gave
me medicine for acid reflux. I started to
feel a bit better for a couple weeks, and
then it started back up again. I went
back to my regular doctor earlier this
week, and she believes it is my
gallbladder. She said that the stomach is
on the left, and with my pain being on the
right, that doesn't make sense. They did
blood work and a new ultrasound, but I
won't hear anything til next week. I
haven't had nausea, appetite loss, or
vomitting, but could it still be my
gallbladder? Do you know if that is
hereditary? Also (yes, one more
question...), could this in any way be
related to my past episode of
pancreatitis?? We never figured out the
cause (no, NOT alcohol), so I'm just
wondering if all my "problems" can be
linked together??? Thanks!!
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sillyakchick
Moderator
Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 2689
Thanks: 4
Thanked:0
Posted: 07-16-07 13:20pm
Well, you do present a very puzzling
picture. There is a condition related to
Gallbladder disease, which usually
presents following removal of the
gallbladder. It is called spasm of the
sphincter of oddi (the opening of the bile
duct from the liver to the stomach. There
have been those who believe that this
condition can be present without
gallbladder removal, but most physicians
disagree with this. The only reason that
i bring this up is because pancreatitis is
a side effect of having this disorder.
You could have a gallbladder problem in
absence of stones. To diagnose this they
would use a test called a hida-scan. This
will determine how well the GB functions
when it is working to eject bile into the
system for digestion of fats.
Yes, It could be your gallbladder in spite
of no nausea, vomiting, etc.
Gallbladder disease is hereditary, in that
you are more likely to have problems if
your mother did.
It could be related to pancreatitis if
there was a blockage before which caused
fluids to back up to the pancreas.
I hope you discover the cause of your
symptoms soon.
Thank you!! Hopefully I will get the
result of my ultrasound by tomorrow. If
that shows nothing, my doctor wants to do
a hepatobilliary scan (sp??)... I'm
guessing that's similar to the hida-scan?
And if that comes back negative she has a
list of other tests to run. I'm hoping
they figure it out sooner rather than
later because I'm getting awfully sick of
the pain. Thanks again!
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sillyakchick
Moderator
Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 2689
Thanks: 4
Thanked:0
Posted: 07-16-07 16:29pm
That is the hida scan. You are welcome,
and feel free to post back here with any
other questions you may have.
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