Gallbladder problems, maybe

jannieC · #1 03-22-2006, 08:01 AM

I'm having an ultrasound this morning to see if I have a problem with my gallbladder. Nothing to eat or drink after midnight last night and if you know anything about me, you'd know I can't live without my morning coffee.

I'm so thirsty now, it's insane. Anyway- has anyone ever had gallbladder problems? Surgery?

elie · #2 03-22-2006, 08:24 AM

Don't know anything, sorry

I'm just writing to say I hope everything goes well

. (and that if I could not drink coffee I would probably have a horrible headache the whole day

)

skcin · #3 03-22-2006, 09:26 AM

I haven't, but I had a friend who did. We think the Atkins diet did it, or at least played a part. I remember she was all upset about needing surgery cuz someone told her it was awful, and it took a long time to recover.

Hers went just fine & she said it wasn't bad. I can't recall if she had the entire organ removed or if it was just stones...

Keep us posted, hope everything goes well.

Ghosty · #4 03-22-2006, 09:28 AM

My sister had her gallbladder out. It was quick - I think just a day surgery done with laser, and she was so happy afterwards to not have any pain or feeling cruddy like she did before the surgery.

Good luck with it. I would hate missing my morning coffee too. I had to fast a few times in my life for medical tests and for when I had a c-section. It's horrible. I drink water throughout the night too and am always thirsty. And count on my morning coffee also. So it was really aggrivating. But soon it will be over - then go splurge and get yourself the best coffee ever!

I hope you don't need the surgery, but if you do, the good news is that gallbladder surgery has come a long way all these years, so it sounds like after you heal, you'll be happy to have had it done. Hang in there! Let us know how it turns out.

JazmenFlowers · #5 03-22-2006, 10:23 AM

oh Jannie I hate to hear this! what are your symptoms? I had to go in once for all kinds of tests ($2500 worth) to figure out what was wrong with me. I had intense pains all night and woke up early the next morning and I swear I thought I was going to die...everything had an electric green outline and I was passing out. They said gallbladder, kidney, this, that, everything and it turned out to be...gas. Yes, let me tell you how embarassing and ridiculous I felt, but they said gas pains can be some of the worst pains.

Anyway, didn't mean to go on about me, but I don't really have any knowledge of gallbladder problems, but I hope everything works out and keep us posted.

BTFLCHLD · #6 03-22-2006, 10:53 AM

yes i have known a few people who have had it removed...
and all were much better once it was...the surgeries were
fine and unremarkable...i hope the testing reveals what may
be ailing you. as jazzy asked...what are your symptoms?

((((((janet))))))

jannieC · #7 03-22-2006, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JazmenFlowers

oh Jannie I hate to hear this! what are your symptoms? I had to go in once for all kinds of tests ($2500 worth) to figure out what was wrong with me. I had intense pains all night and woke up early the next morning and I swear I thought I was going to die...everything had an electric green outline and I was passing out. They said gallbladder, kidney, this, that, everything and it turned out to be...gas. Yes, let me tell you how embarassing and ridiculous I felt, but they said gas pains can be some of the worst pains.

Anyway, didn't mean to go on about me, but I don't really have any knowledge of gallbladder problems, but I hope everything works out and keep us posted.

Well, see now, I've been saying all the while that it's gas, and the reason I even went to the doctor to begin with is to find out why the hell I'm in so much pain all the time. It all started when I joined Weight Watchers (cue in the scary music), so I thought I was having a hard time adjusting to all the fiber. Every day, without fail, at around 4pm, my stomach starts bloating up and by 5pm, I'm in pretty severe pain. It just feels like horrible gas. In spite of the fact that I am um, going to the bathroom regularly for the first time in my whole life (sorry, TMI). Anyway, she felt about my stomach and decided I needed to have this ultrasound. My mother and sister both ahd gallbladder surgery, so that factored in as well. This procedure cost $400 with no insurance, so I'm not happy this morning. But I am munching on a Fuji apple and sipping my coffee now, so that's good. I'll get my results hopefully by the end of this week.

JazmenFlowers · #8 03-22-2006, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jannieC

Well, see now, I've been saying all the while that it's gas, and the reason I even went to the doctor to begin with is to find out why the hell I'm in so much pain all the time. It all started when I joined Weight Watchers (cue in the scary music), so I thought I was having a hard time adjusting to all the fiber. Every day, without fail, at around 4pm, my stomach starts bloating up and by 5pm, I'm in pretty severe pain. It just feels like horrible gas. In spite of the fact that I am um, going to the bathroom regularly for the first time in my whole life (sorry, TMI). Anyway, she felt about my stomach and decided I needed to have this ultrasound. My mother and sister both ahd gallbladder surgery, so that factored in as well. This procedure cost $400 with no insurance, so I'm not happy this morning. But I am munching on a Fuji apple and sipping my coffee now, so that's good. I'll get my results hopefully by the end of this week.

yeah, well, I'm right there with you (see this morning's blog on myspace).

I have chronic stomach problems. Sorry if this is TMI. I've never been "regular" or really not had a stomach ailment of some sort. It sucks to always go through the same thing every day. It's exhausting. What you're describing sounds like gas to me. Have you tried taking like Mylanta Gas or something to see if it eases it? The regular Mylanta works well too.

BTFLCHLD · #9 03-22-2006, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jannieC

(cue in the scary music)

as far as i know, at least in the experience i had had with the few who have had it, a symptom of gallstones is continual vomiting of bile (!omg jazzy i typed bile!) but that just may be the case when they become large and block a duct. have you tried GASEX (or whatever that med is) for relief?

hayley · #10 03-22-2006, 11:05 AM

Gall bladder problems are hereditary, so if your mother and sister had it, you definitely might be suffering.

I had severe attacks for several months a couple years ago that were cited as gallbladder problems. I was told that it was probably due to my change in diet- I had started Weight Watchers a couple months before. Apparently, changing your diet all of a sudden from high-fat to low-fat/high fiber can throw your system for a loop. I was posting at the WW boards at the time, and there were a TON of people who had had theirs out or who had problems. It shocked me. So I was better about my diet, and they went away for awhile. They came back in a big way about a year ago.

I found out then that my pains weren't related to my gall bladder, although the pain mirrored what a gall bladder attack would. I was in so much pain- they would just come on out of nowhere and last for hours. I was in the ER a couple of times, and finally the last time (when the pain had lasted nineteen hours without reprieve) that it was actually my rock star liver causing the pain. I gave myself alcoholic hepatatis with my drinking! Woo!

Patti · #11 03-22-2006, 11:16 AM

I had an ultrasound in December for possible gallbladder problems. I was having extreme pains in my stomach, radiating around to my back. The ultrasound showed no stones, so the next step was an upper and lower GI. But the doctor told me that just because there weren't any stones, it didn't mean my gallbladder was functioning normally. It turned out, though, that I have/had an ulcer. I've been on meds since December, but I'm doing ok now. FYI, this was one of the reasons I quit smoking. The GI doctor told me the location of my ulcer was exacerbated in large part from smoking.

Good luck Jannie, I hope all goes well for you!

DavidMn · #12 03-22-2006, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jannieC

I'm having an ultrasound this morning to see if I have a problem with my gallbladder. Nothing to eat or drink after midnight last night and if you know anything about me, you'd know I can't live without my morning coffee.

I'm so thirsty now, it's insane. Anyway- has anyone ever had gallbladder problems? Surgery?

My mother had gall stones removed about 15 years ago.

jannieC · #13 03-22-2006, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BTFLCHLD

as far as i know, at least in the experience i had had with the few who have had it, a symptom of gallstones is continual vomiting of bile (!omg jazzy i typed bile!) but that just may be the case when they become large and block a duct. have you tried GASEX (or whatever that med is) for relief?

I've tried ALL the gas meds- Gas-Ex, Mylanta, I even bought some Beano. Nothing is relieving it. My doctor said that I should not still be suffering 10 weeks into WW. Eh, I don't know. This ultrasound is the end of the line for me. If it doesn't show anything, I'm going to have to wait until I have a better job with benefits. SUCKS.

Thank you all for your support.

Look- it's post #1000 for me!

( I had "pot" #1000, instead of "post". oy)

BTFLCHLD · #14 03-22-2006, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jannieC

Look- it's pot #1000 for me!

i hope you find an answer honey
sorry youre hurting... take care janet

Brad · #15 03-22-2006, 11:59 AM

I've never had the surgery myself, but have watched it countless times...

It wouldn't surprise me if it's the most common surgery performed next to say c-sections and hysterectomies. It's pretty routine surgery, now done almost exclusively laparascopically...meaning they punch 3 very small holes in your abdomen. One is near your navel, and that's where the camera goes in. The other two are in your right upper abdomen, near your gallbladder. That's where they put in the instruments to isolate the gallbladder from the liver, clip the ducts, and remove it. All that with just tiny scars. Now, sometimes they can get in there and things may be a huge mess...such as scar tissue or the anatomy may be in such a way that it is very difficult for the surgeons to see anything with the camera. In that case, they'll have to go ahead and cut a regular incision into the abdomen and remove the gallbladder that way. But out of the say 20 gallbladder removals I've seen, I think I only saw them do that once.

Your symptoms sound like they could be gallbladder. Many, many people have gallstones (cholelithiasis) alone (most common are overweight/obese women over 40, although anyone can get them). If there are no symptoms or signs of obstruction, typically nothing is done. I think you can have laser treatment to break the stones up, but you're probably just going to reform them later anyway.

But sometimes the stones can get stuck in a duct and cause blockage (biliary colic). With that you typically will experience crampy right upper abdominal pain that comes and goes and is worse after meals, especially those high in fat. The gallbladder can also become infected (cholecystitis)if a stone is blocking the duct, and this causes severe, steady right upper abdominal pain, fever, high white blood cell count, and abnormal liver enzymes. In either case, the gallbladder is almost always taken out to prevent further complications. Your liver is actually what makes bile (the gallbladder just helps to store it) and it will continue to do so even after the gallbladder is gone. It (the liver) also has a duct that feeds the bile to your small intestines, so there is no problem with not having enough bile get into your system.

Anyway, I rambled on and on basically to say...if it is gallbladder, don't worry too much about it! It's very common and very routine surgery. If you have surgery you'll be fine in a day or two!

Sorry for the rather verbose response. But I'm actually being unleashed into the real world of medicine July 1 when residency starts, and I figure I may as well start practicing now!

Oh, and on edit: if it is anything to do with the gallbladder (any of the things I mentiones above), the ultrasound will find it!

Brad