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| Sun, 03-05-2006 - 3:13pm |
Hello everyone, I'm not new to ivillage but new to this board! I'm here because I've been having some problems off and on--and lately it's more "on" than "off!" lol.
I'd say it began about a year and a half ago, I went to the hospital w/severe abdominal pain. They gave me pain meds and I waited a while before they took me down for an ultrasound. The ultrasound came back normal. I went home not too long after cause the pain had passed--though I still felt bloated and weak.
For a while now (since mid December I'd say) I've been having severe nausea, vomiting now and then, lots of bloating, gas, indigestion and diarrhea as well as pain. The pain is cramping, fullness and at times, more like pressure but it's been mostly bearable. I've not had to return to the E.R. for any emergency treatment. However, feeling so yucky, I DID go to my doctor in mid January. She did bloodwork--that came back normal. But because of all the symptoms and the fact that her touching my abdomen for an exam was painful, she ordered an ultrasound. That came back stating I had "sludge" in the gallbladder. My doc told me to continue with a bland diet and call back if I didn't feel any better. I didn't--so after about two weeks I called! They sent me for a "HIDA scan" on February 23rd. It took a long time for the gallbladder to show up. One of the techs said that it usually takes 15 to 30 minutes for it to start showing up. It took mine closer to an hour. Still, I didn't think too much of it--completed the test, had some nausea and discomfort but was otherwise okay.
Usually my doc is real good about getting back to me with test results and so since I hadn't heard I assumed it was normal but I thought of it the other day cause I'm still not feeling well and so on Friday afternoon I called my doctor's office. It was my luck that the doc was off. The nurse/receptionist asked for my identifying information and looked it up on the computer. She was business like but cheerful. Then she said kinda serious "Ohhh...." I said "Oh, what?" She told me that it had come back showing "The gallbladder is swollen and the doctor is referring you to a surgeon. She feels it should be removed." That was it--no further explanation, timeline, nothing!
Hence, my questions/confusion: What should I expect? Is a swollen gallbladder serious? I also have Irritable Bowel Syndrome and so I wonder too if perhaps it's that and surgery would be painfully pointless?? (Although, I don't have symptoms like this with the IBS!) Also, I always heard and read that "if you have gallbladder trouble---you KNOW it cause you are doubled over in agony!" I'm scared of having something removed and have it turn out that isn't the problem. Plus, I'm not in "agony"--although I AM fairly uncomfortable on a daily regular basis!! I began having a low grade fever at night too. Not sure what THAT is about! I've heard and read also that the gallbladder is now removed laparoscopically?? Is that true in most all cases? I have some weight to lose and I'm hoping that doesn't cause a problem and also I have high blood pressure which is being successfully treated. I've never had surgery before in my life so I just don't know what to expect!
On top of all that, I was planning to leave on an extended trip to Canada very soon. Should I postpone that in your opinion? Or, is it possibly an option to say "IF I need surgery, let's wait til fall." (Probably feeling like this that is a dumb question because I'm anxious to fix WHATEVER it is that is going on!!). Thanks for any info./advice you might offer. Lori

Hi, I dont have a swollen gallbladder, gallstones or sludge, but my gallbladder is only functioning at 30%, which was found during a HIDA scan.
My pain started as on and off in December, but has gotten to the point it is always on and much more painful. I am scheduled to have mine removed in two weeks lapriscopically as an outpatient. They do them lapriscopically unless they go in and for some reason cannot.
Did you find out the results of the HIDA scan from your dr? I would talk to him, find out results, recommendation and ask about trip.
Good luck!
VAN
Good luck, keep us posted!
VAN
Hi Lori,
Welcome to the board!