U/S Results regarding GB

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-06-2004
U/S Results regarding GB
2
Wed, 11-02-2005 - 1:35pm

Hi!

I had an abdominal ultrasound on Monday as a follow-up to my MRI to check my GB, pancreas and liver. The MRI showed one gallstones and an indeterminate mass on my liver. I picked up a copy of the radiologist's report yesterday. It says: "GB is physiologically distended. There is no GB wall thickening or sonographic Murphy sign. There is a sizeable mobile stone measuring 1.2 cm. The duct is normal in caliber measuring 5mm." Impression: Uncomplicated Cholelothiasis. The liver mass is not visualized so the U/S cannot shed light on its character."

I have not heard from my doctor nor do I expect to anytime soon. He didn't want me to even have the U/S because he doesn't think I have a problem wih my GB. His Nurse practitioner set it up after we talked about the MRI results. Whe he finally called me last Friday, he sounded anoyed that she had ordered it and was going to talk with her and then get back to me whether I should cancel it or not. I don't have any upper or lower right quad pain - mine is all in the left upper quad under my breastbone and above my waist and in my left shoulder blade area. He said it can't be GB because I dont' have any right quad pain. I also have GERD pretty bad - my upper endoscopy showed erosive esophogitis - so I get lots of upper mid & left chest pain. He is sending me for two tests on my esophoghus - a manometry and 24 hour Ph probe which requires a tube in your nose down to your esophogus which I have to wear home for 24 hours. I am not looking forward to either one - they do not sedate you! I know I will be gagging terribly.

Anyway does anyone know if a mobile gallstone is better or worse than a non-mobile stone? Can anyone shed any light on my radiology report? I can't find anything on line to help. Have any of you had non-right quad pain that was GB related?

Thanks
Sue

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 11-02-2005 - 8:02pm

Hi Sue - sounds like you have so much going on!


It is my understanding that gallstones can attach themselves to the interior wall of the gb. When they do that there is no guarantee that they'll stay there - they can de-tach and become mobile.


I think that comment was more of an observaion of what they saw rather than a comment that is going to sway the treatment decision either way.


One of the risks of gallstones is that they become lodged in a duct and cause an obstruction. This is something that doesn't happen instantly - you'd gradually feel worse and worse, vomiting, pain, possibly diahrea, turning yellow and then emergency surgery would be required to remove the blockage.


Prior to a major gb attack that landed me in hosptial & came up with a diagnosis I didn't have any of the classical symptoms. About once every 4 - 6 months I'd wake up in the night in really bad pain (so bad I'd be crying on the bathroom floor) , I'd vomit, feel better and then go back to sleep. The pain would last maybe 5-10 mintues - by the time dh would get dressed to haul me to the hospital I'd be better. The doctors always said 'watch and see'. This went on for at least 10 yrs - but because it was only a few times a year they just figured I'd eaten something bad, it was stress, etc. I'm not over weight and there is no family history of gb problems - so I didn't really fit the picture either.


Keep us posted & hang in there,


Jo

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-06-2004
Wed, 11-02-2005 - 8:41pm

Thnaks Jo for your reply and consideration! Much appreciated!

Sounds like you really had a rough time with your GB. I have to say (although I hate to jinx myself) that with all my digestive woes I doubt have nausea or vomiting. That would really put me over the edge. My Gerd pain is pretty intense at times and my IBS varies in how it presents itself - sometimes explosive D and then the old constipation. Ugh!!! Nothing is ever easy is it! As my dear father used to say - its the first hundred years that are the hardest!

Sue