For thirty years doctors have said I am having a gall bladder attack when I complain and tell them my symptoms. Then, they perform tests days later and say it is NOT my gall bladder.
Last night, I just felt unwell because I am starting to have sinus problems, but with a twist. Slowly, the pain in the gall bladder place twisted, wrenched, and tortured me. Eventually, I just went to bed about midnight. In five minutes I was fighting my way out of bed because the nausea told me what was going to happen. I got to my little pink tub just in time.
After I cleaned it, I just sat down here. Waking up at 1:30 holding the tub, I was now feverish. So, off to bed again, trying to cover up with all I had, head too. The room was cool for sleeping easily, but not enough for covering my head. Today, at 2:30 pm I finally awoke for the final time, feeling worse than ever.
This has been going on for at least 30 years. I've probably complained about this before.
Today, for the first time, a medical professional has told me I need to see the doctor when I am having a gall bladder attack. She is in the Birmingham office.
I am considering getting an appointment next week and then inducing an attack. I can eat too much cheese and bring it on. If I add milk, ice cream, and fry something, I can pull this off. Is this a foolish move? This needs to come out.
A friend's daughter, only 8, had her gall bladder removed before it was inflamed and was an emergency. She had suffered for two years. The operation took place when the child had not one complaint. The surgery was scheduled and it happened two weeks after that. There was no middle of the night screaming ride to the ER. Mother scheduled a few days off as did the father.
Right now, I have a 101 temperature and think that is from the sinus infection. If I did not have the extreme pain, I might think this was just nausea from sinus drainage. It is not.
Your turn
Does anyone know if this is ever done for an adult for convenience instead a response to a painful life threatening attack? Or, will I just annoy the doctor by asking?
I don't know if it's ever done for convenience. When I had a gallbladder infection, I was in horrible pain. I was in the hospital for ten days and my gallbladder was not removed. I had gallbladder pain on and off for years after that. I had to be careful of anything fatty or fried. I wouldn't blame you for inducing the attack. Maybe you'll finally get help.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Ten days and no surgery? WOW! I thought an infection was cause for removal. Thanks.
DeleteAfter having my second daughter I started to have what I thought and my doctor thought was gall bladder attacks. There were times I would just be writhing in pain and have to call my husband home from work because I couldn't take care of the kids because of the pain. But all the tests came back that my gall bladder was fine.
ReplyDeleteMy doctor's second thought was that I may have developed lactose intolerance. I used to drink milk with breakfast every morning and snack on yogurt and cheese. Basically eat a lot of dairy. Plus I would cook with cheese a lot. I cut back on my dairy quite a bit. I love cheese way too much to give it up but I know longer drink milk every day or eat yogurt. Since I cut back on the dairy, I haven't had another attack.
I know each situation is different but it might be worth a try before going the route of surgery.
M ripples,
DeleteI know that I consume more dairy products than is good for a person. I have eaten the 8 oz. chunk of Kraft in less than 24 hours.
It would be nice if the doctor would inform me of other reasons and cures besides surgery. I don't have to have surgery, but I do need some sort of relief. Thanks for telling me about this.
They should check your liver function.
ReplyDeleteWhen my gall bladder was was removed, besides the severe pain, I was jaundiced and my liver function was fubared.
Still they wanted to schedule me for some tests over the next few weeks. I asked if they could admit me, since I was already in the hospital, run the tests, and pull the damn thing out before I had another agonizing attack.
Jess,
DeleteThanks. So, did they run tests and what did they find? How long did it take for them to decide to remove the gall bladder? What did they test?
They admitted me, tried a ultrasound (they couldn't see anything - even though they had to have pushed the probe to my backbone.) Did a gallbladder scan, a cat scan (the dye makes you taste metal), performed a procedure that only be described as roto-rooting out the bile duct and removed the gall bladder, which looked like a leather pouch full of sharp marbles.
DeleteThe removal was a laproscopic procedure and allowed me to return to work within a week.
Jess,
DeleteYes, that ultrasound was rammed to my backbone, too. Nothing!
My daughter had her problems for a solid week, and was in ER and doctor's office every day in horrendous pain before they figured it out. Then, after laparoscopic surgery, she was back to normal within one day, even though they told her to wait two days. Thanks. Now I know what they can do to look for problems. I think the ultrasound is the only thing I have had done.
Why did they have to roto-root the bile duct? Were you conscious or fully sedated during the bile duct work?
I was sedated. The procedure requires passing an instrument down the esophagus, through the stomach and into where the bile duct empties into the duodenum.
DeleteA scope allows the doctor to see, while they use tools to remove any obstructions in the bile duct.
I had some pain after the procedure, which prevented removing my gall bladder by conventional surgery, which requires a large incision, splitting the bile duct for removal of obstructions and a much longer recovery time.
I was instructed to not lift anything heavy, or heavy exertion for 6 weeks. I followed the instructions, since it hurt if I even tried to push too much.
I had ONE gall stone. No one told me it was the size of my gall bladder. I suffered many nights, rolling on the floor, yelping. The pain would extend into my back and over both shoulders! But I never threw up.
ReplyDeleteWhen it ruptured at work, my firemen friends carried me to the ambulance, but I never threw up.
It makes me wonder if you're having diverticulitis, or pancreatitis. Those hurt like hell AND make you throw up.
lotta joy,
DeleteI never heard of one huge gallstone. The pain has started going to my back and spreading. See, I don't want mine to rupture. I hope I have the cell phone handy from now on.
No one has talked about either of those. I have been throwing up for 30 years from pain that I have assumed and everyone else has assumed was a gall bladder problem. Thanks for telling me all this.
You might have a problem with diary like M Ripples said. I use to eat a lot of dairy and one night I thought I was going to die. Four years ago I had my gall bladder removed, I had 8 stones(looked like raisinettes. When you get an attack the stone blocks the duct and that is when you get the pain. You probably need a mri of your abdomen.
ReplyDeleteWell, I eat enough dairy to have a problem with it.
DeleteWho on earth are you? I clicked on your very long name and got nothing.
Thanks for the help. I am not sure what this is, I just want it to stop. Yes, I feel like I am going to die.
I don't know why the numbers but Im Vicki Green aka TorgG@aol.com
DeleteViicki,
DeleteOkay. I have never seen any designation like that.
I started getting some pains in my gut. I thought it was heart burn. They did an ultrasound and found gallstones in my gall bladder and two weeks later they performed surgery and it was gone. They didn't want me to get to the point where the gall stones were trying to move out, which is what causes the severe pain. My mother suffered with her gall bladder from the time she was 16. When she finally had it out, it had calsified and was one big stone. They can check and see if you have gall stones and not make you wait until its an emergency.
ReplyDeleteJane,
DeleteI hear some people like your mother have the problem for years. I am done with hurting. That one big stone might be like lotta joy's.
They have check some but find nothing. There are other things they can do, I hope. Thanks for the comment.
I can remember my mother rolling on the bed in agony and crying and crying. She didn't want to have the surgery until she had lost some weight. Finally her doctor said enough is enough and scheduled her for surgery. She had put up with it for 20 years. She never had any problems afterwards. I had mine out about 14 years ago and it has only been in the last couple years that I have trouble dealing with fatty meats.
DeleteJane,
DeleteMy ex-husband moaned and groaned in the bed, saying he was afraid. He stayed in agony for six months, getting worse every day, eating little fatty food and lost 30 pounds. without wanting to or trying to. Finally, he could only drink water, then could eat or drink nothing. He was begging the doctor in the ER to take it right then in the middle of the night.
I cannot wait until Monday!
I pray you will get the help you need this time.
ReplyDeleteSue,
DeleteHopefully, this will all be resolved. Thanks.
Please, try eliminating dairy for at least 1 week. You may be amazed.
ReplyDeleteBarbaraB,
DeleteI don't know if I can remember not to eat dairy. I will try my best. Thanks.
three words: Adult Abdominal Migraine
ReplyDeletehttp://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/h/adult-abdominal-migraine.html
hmmm
Delete