Gallbladder problems since last year

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-28-2004
Gallbladder problems since last year
30
Thu, 02-03-2005 - 12:39pm

I've been sick for what seems like FOREVER!! Last Septmeber I had a severe UTI and while I had that the Dr discovered I had H. pylori. I finally got rid of that right around Thanksgiving. I started feeling better for a week and than began to get sick again.

Ever since then I have had bad pain in my stomach, and i'm nauseated EVERY SINGLE DAY, some days its horrible, some days its bearable. I had an ultrasound which revealed a polyp on my gallbladder (which i have named "George" ") ) but the Dr said it wasn't cancerous. I have since had a Cat Scan of my Abdomin and it turned out fine. She said there was nothing else wrong with me, no thickening of the gallbladder walls or anything. She put me on some stomach medicine and said if i don't feel better in three months we'll see if my gallbladder is functioning correctly.

I'm a senior in college and work two jobs, I CANNOT go on like this being miserable everyday and missing things I am supposed to be at!

I was thinking about having my gallbladder removed over Spring break. if I had it out on the friday beforehand do you think i would be back to work in a week?

I'm calling my Dr tomorrow to make an apt to discuss my options. I am certain its my gallbladder, (runs in the family) and i really don't want to have to go and take any tests, esp that two hour one where they put the stuff in that goes to your liver first. forget what its called. its hard enough to get into the dr with my schedule, much less take the day off from work!!

HELP!!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-14-2003
Sat, 02-05-2005 - 4:07pm

thanks Jo

thflowers-hahd23222.gif picture by Wren53B

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 02-05-2005 - 9:43pm

Hi Wren - acutally when I was in grade 8 I was 140 lbs! I think my heaviest was about 150 lbs. When I turned 14 I went on a very un-healthy 'teenager' type diet (ie. tossing out lunches my mom made me and pretending I'd had dinner at a friend's place). I went down to 120 and got really sick after a flu hit me.

My 'normal' adult weight was about 130 -135 (give or take). I did go up to 140 about 10 yrs ago when on high doses of steroids for my lupus. I was on disability leave and basically layed in bed and ate - plus the steroids made me puffy - but I didn't gain as much weight as most people do on high doses.

Mom's side of the family is big boned. My mom is very over weight. She could loose 100 lbs and still be a full figured woman. Mom's side of the family is big boned.

My dad's side of the family is more delicate in structure. I would have to say that I take after his side more than mom's. My dad was slightly overweight - he had awful eating habits and considering how he ate - he should have been much heavier. The women on his side would be considered slim. On the down side I also have the health issues from dad's side (auto immune and digestive disorders).

My only sibling is a sister (4 yrs younger) who shops at the Plus Sized stores. . .she's not as big as mom - maybe 30 lbs over weight.

Jo

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-14-2003
Sun, 02-06-2005 - 2:54pm

Jo

thflowers-hahd23222.gif picture by Wren53B

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-22-2004
Tue, 02-08-2005 - 6:05pm

Sorry to barge in on y'alls conversation. I found this board while trying to find info on gall bladders. My dbf's daughter (27yo) is in the hospital with suspected gall bladder infection. Doing the tests now. Of course I googled GB disease immediately upon hearing about it. Most of what I saw said that if it came down to removing the GB, that basically all her problems would be solved....pain relief, no watching her diet anymore, etc. I assumed no more stones being that there is no GB. But it sounds like some of you still have stones, still have problems with some foods, etc. What's the real scoop on all this???

Thanks.

Lucky

*****edited to apologize for wearing my cl hat on this board. I thought I had taken it off, sorry!




Edited 2/8/2005 6:07 pm ET ET by cl-luckyme814
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-14-2003
Tue, 02-08-2005 - 7:32pm

Hi and Welcome to Digestive Disorders-Lucky

thflowers-hahd23222.gif picture by Wren53B

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 02-08-2005 - 9:37pm

Hi Lucky - keep in mind that the stories you read on message boards are from people who have problems of some nature. Those who have their GB out and never have a nother problem aren't the ones posting!

I think that most people go on to eat what ever they want.

There are some that have problems (ie. one or more of the following: pain, diahrea, gas, bloating)when eating food that is high in fat content - and I mean really high - like burgers & fries, rich sauces, butter, etc.

And it's my belief that that is a very small number who have problems when they are eating healthy diets and do not consume foods mentioned above.

I'm not a professional - just one of those in group #3 and my opinons are based on what I've read and what I've learned from others.

You can develop gallstones after having the GB removed. I think that considering I really din't have any predisposing conditions (ie. genetics, diet, weight) yet ended up with gallstones that maybe my body could be prone to developing stones even with the absense of a GB. Thus - I'm watching my diet. Having said that I'm still experiencing discomfort (will post about that in another thread - got ultra sound results today).

Perhaps if I didn't have symptoms I would eat differently - I can't even imagine eating a burger & fries but my co-worker eats them all the time (her gb was removed about a month before I had mine out).

Best of luck to your daughter,

Jo

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-14-2003
Wed, 02-09-2005 - 2:49pm

thanks JO

thflowers-hahd23222.gif picture by Wren53B

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Sun, 02-13-2005 - 3:02pm

HI and Welcome aboard!


Love your name too!!

 
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-16-2005
Wed, 02-16-2005 - 5:39pm
I had my gallbladder out last april - I had gallstones that caused pancreatitis( I think I spelled that right) so I had to get it removed. I am in college and was back to class/work in about a week. The recovery time from the surgury was not very long or too painful. The worst of it was the months after the surgury. It seems like a lot of foods tend to upset my stomach so you might have to watch what you eat. It has gotten better over time, but my digestion is still not the same. It can be kind of inconvienent if you are in class or at work.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-28-2004
Sat, 03-19-2005 - 9:25pm

Thanks for all of your responses everyone!!

Sorry I havent' been here for awhile, My second job is at An Accounting Firm and with Tax Season in full swing.. oy vey.. life is CRAZY!!

I have still continued to be sick, things are a little better bc i have been eing VERY careful on what i eat, and not eating very much but i am still sick.

i was re-tested for h.pylori and it was negative. My dr referred me to a GI specialist and he has me doing several tests. i just did the stomach emptying test at my hospital thurs, will find out next week how that went. (those egg beaters are REALLY good! i was surprised!) weds, the 23'rd is my Scope test, thrilled about that let me tell you. I don't come out of any anesthetic very well so i'm nervous about that. hoepfully after then i will have some answers as to what in the tarnation is wrong with me!! i'd like to get back to having a life sometime soon. this has been going on for over 6 months now and my social life is kinda zilch because i'm miserable all the time and don't know from one minute to the next when i'm going to be sick!!