Not Stones... what's my problem?
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| Sat, 03-24-2007 - 11:06pm |
Every 3-8 weeks I get pain similar to that of someone with gallstones. The pain starts mildly mid day and escalates throughout the day, often making it difficult to sleep. I'll wake up feeling better, or mostly better - but the pain will creep back later in the day. This usually happens for about four days and then fades away till the next time.
One month ago I felt the pains in conjunction with my period (not always the case). For 2-3 nights I lost sleep to the pain (right side around the ribs, radiating to my back, shoulder blade, like a burning insidious pain) Several years before my doctor had fluffed off my concerns. Perhaps I was too vague in my description. In any case this time I went to a walk-in clinic. The doctor gave me T3s and told me to get an ultrasound.
I went to my family doctor to see what the results were and he kind of smirked at me and asked me why I was there to see him. The tests showed nothing. No stones. I was and am pretty distraught because I had no explanation. I felt like my doctor thought I was being a hypochondriac and wasting his time. Because the pain had gone away by then I kind of was starting to wonder if that was the case.
So now a few weeks the pain has returned.
I don't neccessarily notice a direct correlation with my diet. Today I didn't get a chance to eat untill 3pm. When I did eat I ate a sub and vegetable soup from Subway.
I'm approximatly a week away from my period (I can tell, I want icecream!) where last time I was mid-cycle.
Any ideas what else could cause this pain aside from gallstones? I've heard a little about the concept of gallstone sludge?

One question, are you in Canada? It doesn't matter except that I have friends from there that refer to 'T-3's' also, something we don't get here. I believe they are a type/strength of Tylenol with codeine?
Unless you are in active pain, it's possible that an ultrasound isn't going to pick up whatever is causing your pain, or any gallstones present might be too small to see. Can you see a Gastroenterologist? Does your OB-GYN think there is any connection? Here is some information that you may find helpful, if not, please let us know!
http://digestive.health.ivillage.com/digestivesignssymptoms/abdominalpain.cfm
http://www.medicinenet.com/gallstones/article.htm
CL of

<Yes, I'm in Ontario. That's exactly what T3s are. They barely make a difference for my pain, and Ibuprofen etc has zero effect.
I don't have an OBGYN, I have a general practise doctor that always seems in a rush to get me out the door.
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<I'm sorry - but I don't have any answers but I would suggest either keep pestering your doctor (or find another one that isn't going to give you the brush off - which may be easier said than done).
I think that sludge would show up on an ultrasound - but I'm not certain.
I was diagnosed w/ gallstones in Aug/03 and had my GB out in Feb/04. For at least 10 yrs prior to my diagnosis I would have odd symptoms that would come and go and my doctor just took the 'wait and see' approach. I often think that had I been more persistent then I could have been diagnosed early & taken steps to modify my diet and avoid growing more stones and stressing out my poor old GB.
All I can say is keep on your doctor - waking up due to pain is not 'nothing'. Maybe he'll make the referal to a GYN and a GASTRO just to keep you out of his exam room.
Jo
(ps - I had no idea that "T3s" were 'Canadian')
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