Newbie here - desperate for answers
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| Wed, 03-01-2006 - 5:57pm |
Hello everyone. My name is Pamela. I've come here in search of some support and answers.
I have a history of "stomach issues". When I was in college I was diagnosed with an ulcer. This was before they could find them with h.pylori blood tests - I had an upper GI series that confirmed the ulcer. So I was on Zantac for a while.
Then after having children, etc... I was diagnosed with acid reflux - surprise surprise. I've been on and off Nexium for that. It got pretty bad for a while - I was aspirating acid and having what sounded like bronchitis or pneumonia for several months until we figured out the acid reflux problem and got that taken care of. I had a videostrobe done of my vocal chords during that time as well. I was doing a regimin of Nexium twice a day and Zantac at night before bed.
I wasn't excited about being on Nexium long term, but until I get the acid reflux under control and loose some weight my doctors have convinced me that I need to stay on it a while longer. At one point the acid reflux was so bad that they believe the acid had come up and burned a hole in my eustachian tube. But I've been good about being on the Nexium and those symptoms have gotten much better.
Over the past year I have had several "attacks" (as I like to call them) where I get incredible pain - right in my stomach - accompanies by nausea, vomiting, and diahrea. The attack lasts anywhere from 2-4 hours and they vary in intensity. A couple of them have sent me to the ER because I have been in so much pain. But I get frustrated with ER docs so I prefer to ride it out at home if I can.
It used to be that the attacks would come - I would get over them - have a couple of days afterwards where I would have to be careful what I ate - gradually working up to eating normal food again. Then I would be fine. Until the next attack. The attacks would often times be months apart. Doctors checked for gallstones - nothing showed up. Diagnosed as gastritis.
Well, the attacks have become more frequent (anywhere from once a month to once a week). So my Primary Care Doctor referred me to a GI specialist. He decided to do an endoscopy. I had that done on 2/14 (Happy Valentines Day to Me). They didn't find anything unusual. A little esophagitis - but nothing really bad. And a little duodenitis. So basically stomach acid going where it shouldn't - but we knew that. He said it was a mild case. He didn't even find any evidence of chronic gastritis. He took some biopsies and those all came back negative - no cancer and no infections.
A week after the endoscopy I had another "attack". The ER doc I had was one of the nicest I had ever encountered. The GI doc wanted me to have certain blood tests when I was in pain - she did those for me - they all came back normal. She treated the nausea and pain and I went home. She sent records to my GI doc and encouraged me to follow up with him. I did. I present with classic gallbladder problems so he decided the next step would be to check my gallbladder again.
I am now having more consistent pain - not just attacks - problems eating, etc... Pain in the gallbladder area - moving to the back and between my shoulder blades - Pain by the breastbone.
I had an ultrasound yesterday - still no gallstones present. I am having a HIDA scan on Friday. If they don't find gallbladder disease - I don't know what I'm going to do! What else could this be? I need some relief from this pain! The ultrasound checked my liver and pancreas, too - so far nothing irregular - no ulcers, no chronic conditions, nothing to account for the pain I'm having (and I have a very high tolerance for pain). I have changed my diet - I don't take Motrin or Advil. If they come back and tell me this is stress related - well I don't know what I'll do.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Have any of you had gallbladder disease without the presence of stones? Have any of you had a HIDA scan? I just want some answers and feel like I'm in a holding pattern and I am most afraid that they won't find an answer and I will have to continue with this pain. Any feedback anyone has would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Pam

Hi Pam. I know how frustrating it can be when they cannot find the source of such pain. For the past 3 months I have had catscans, ultrasounds, barium enima, endoscope, and a hida scan. Everything came back normal (for the most part, nothing that could be causing the pain I am having), except the hida scan. I do not have gallstones, my gallbladder looked normal on the catscan and ultrasound but the hida scan did show it is only working at 30%. So yes, you can have gallbladder problems without stones...it is not as common but definately possible. The test is not bad, just long. You have to fast the night before then get an IV (for CCK), lay on a table for two hours while they take pics of your gb functions then they inject the CCK (enzyme your body produces after eating a fatty meal) and take more frequent pics. My pain is under right and left ribcage and in mid-back, and am scheduled for surgery in two weeks. Good luck, let us know how your test goes.
VAN
Thank you so much for this response! It was just what I needed to hear. I'm glad that they found something (not glad that something is wrong - but glad you have answers), and hopefully you will get some relief soon after the surgery. It's good to know that they may still be able to find answers for me.
Pam