Anyone had their gallbladder out?

littlestjerry · March 2014

I've been having stomach problems and acid reflux. Just had a gallbladder ultrasound and a HIDA scan, which apparently measures the functioning of your gallbladder? Ultrasound was normal, HIDA scan was "low normal." The nurse that called about the results said my doctor said if my symptoms don't go away with reflux medicine (currently just on OTC because my Nexium prescription suddenly cost like $300), he wants my gallbladder out.

I'm honestly not sure about this. Isn't stomach pain like the hallmark of gallbladder issues? I don't have that. I have awful acid reflux and I get full easily and am very frequently nauseous, but no pain. I feel like the doctor is just casually like, "oh, let's just take it out," as if I have plenty of time off work and lots of money to pay for it. If you had yours out, did you have any symptoms similar to mine??

Karadee1 · March 2014

I had mine out 6 years ago. I had pain that felt like heartburn, one day it got so bad I felt like I was having a heart attack. I worked in the city and had a long walk to my car when this gallbladder attack happened, and when I got to my car I just laid in the back seat contemplating dialing 911. Thankfully it subsided a bit in intensity after a few minutes that I was able to drive myself home.

After that I had an ultrasound and it showed that I had gallstones, and what they said was a sand-like substance hanging around the bottom of my gallbladder that would eventually become stones. I had it removed a few months later.

In the mean time between diagnosis and surgery, I had pain in my upper right abdomen, never anything that felt like stomach pain. It was a distinct different kind of pain, and would typically happen after a high-fat meal.

Sorry this is long...I hope it helps.

MallardDucky · March 2014

I had pain but felt like acid reflux pain times a thousand. It just keep getting worse and worse. I had many stones, doc waited till after I had the baby. He was just a few weeks when I had it out.

The surgery was not bad at all, I felt soo much better right after (while still in the hosptial). They give me some extra time to sleep since I was going home to 2 babies and DH was gone due to military.

The next day I was sore but I didn't even take pain meds. By the third day I was back to my old routine just a little stiff and sore like I had a hard work out.

littlestjerry · March 2014

I definitely don't have the types of pain you guys are describing. I'm really frustrated because I don't think gallbladder removal is the answer, and I'm becoming convinced there is no answer. I certainly don't want to have needless surgery though!

Rae1105 · March 2014

I had mine taken out at 17. I was fine, always had reflux and stomach issues but nothing too substantial. I never had gallstones or anything but I had surgery for ovarian cysts before. One day, I ended up doubled over in pain. I couldn't stand, walk, hardly breathe it was so bad. We went in thinking it was a cyst again because it was close to where the pain was for those. Did the CT scan, MRI, ultrasound, and then finally the test you were talking about. Found out my gallbladder was working at 4%. They took it out and it's been fine since. Granted I have serious issues if I eat too many fried or spicy foods. That part sucks. But it was worth it in my opinion.

Oh and I had to quit drinking overly sugary drinks. My body wasn't able to handle it. RIP daiquiris.

Karadee1 · March 2014

Little Jerry said:

I definitely don't have the types of pain you guys are describing. I'm really frustrated because I don't think gallbladder removal is the answer, and I'm becoming convinced there is no answer. I certainly don't want to have needless surgery though!

I always think it's a good idea to get a second (and maybe third) opinion when surgery is being discussed. Obviously not for emergencies or whatever, but for something like this, a second opinion might be helpful.

I guess depending on what your health insurance is like, see if you can find a specialist (gastroenterologist maybe?) or a different one depending on who you saw the first time.

ToastieSimons · March 2014

for 7 years I would have bouts of nausea which then turned to severe reflux pain, felt like an elephant sitting on my chest. then they would fade away for a few minutes and come back with blazing intensity while I had severe pain right between my shoulder blades on my spine. Felt like I was laying on an arrow head. It was right under my bra strap. Sometimes it would last minutes, sometimes hours. Sometimes it would be gone for months, sometimes years.

Finally, a gallstone got lodged and i turned extremely septic and the dr removed my gallbladder.

littlestjerry · March 2014

Ok, so I've got some similar symptoms to some of you it looks like. @ToastieSimons, I had similar stuff in college and was then fine for many years, which always confused me. But I'm still put off by having basically normal test results.

ppants · March 2014

I'm a nuclear medicine tech and do GB scans. IMO, a younger person with a "low normal" ejection fraction (EF) may still have GB dysfunction as an issue. Sometimes it just depends on how the radiologist reads the exam. Our EF considers greater than 35% is normal, but if a patient has an EF less than 40%, but greater than 35% the radiologist may make note of it.

littlestjerry · March 2014

Thanks, guys!

Helenahhandbasket · March 2014

I had mine out about 6 years ago. I didn't have abdominal pain so much as sharp severe pain that felt like what I assume heartburn feels like. TBH, before I was diagnosed with gallstones, I convinced myself I was having a heart attack.

The procedure now is not as invasive as it used to be, but if you are unsure, it can't hurt to get a second opinion.

Helenahhandbasket · March 2014

caradi said:

I had mine out 6 years ago. I had pain that felt like heartburn, one day it got so bad I felt like I was having a heart attack. I worked in the city and had a long walk to my car when this gallbladder attack happened, and when I got to my car I just laid in the back seat contemplating dialing 911. Thankfully it subsided a bit in intensity after a few minutes that I was able to drive myself home.

After that I had an ultrasound and it showed that I had gallstones, and what they said was a sand-like substance hanging around the bottom of my gallbladder that would eventually become stones. I had it removed a few months later.

In the mean time between diagnosis and surgery, I had pain in my upper right abdomen, never anything that felt like stomach pain. It was a distinct different kind of pain, and would typically happen after a high-fat meal.

Sorry this is long...I hope it helps.

I should have just dittoed this!

jesuisfatiguee · March 2014

My most recent gallbladder attack involved more gas and nausea than pain-in-the-ribs, and even some dizziness. I drink ginger tea daily, which seems to help a lot. I have also heard that drinking some apple cider vinegar in apple juice can help, if it is a gallbladder issue.

Spin313 · March 2014

I had mine out a year and a half ago. I had a reoccurring abdominal and back pain that would wake me up at night. It felt kind of like a charlie horse sensation. Two days before I had surgery, I was having terrible chest pain about a half hour after eating.

bumpuser1691848 · March 2014

I had severe pain in my ribs/abdominal area and horrible nausea after eating, especially at night. It was the absolute worst pain I've ever had. It got to where it was a daily occurrence, so they finally took my gallbladder out last week.

dashofreality · March 2014

I've been having what I'm pretty sure are gallbladder attacks, started with my first pregnanacy. Horrible pain under my right ribs and also in my upperback. Problem is I don't have stones. They want to do a HIDA, but I have put it off because I'm afraid I will be where you are - potentially low and I just decided that at this point my attacks aren't frequent enough for me to want to take out my gallbladder.

My mom has had her gallbladder out but years afterwards she has gone through what you were describing - horrible knife in stomach pains and acid reflux. She did the run around of scope, nexium etc. Only thing they could ever find was slightly elevated acid. She finally had a doctor ask her about stress, and this was at a time we had a lot of deaths in our family. She manages her pain now by managing her stress and she eliminated diet soda, she is off of nexium etc.

Also random but do you have allergies? I've developed oral allergy syndrome and it is getting to the point that some fruit will give me instant horrible heartburn.

GL - if you dig around the internet you will find a lot of people with these issues and no real clear answer. Hope you feel better soon!

littlestjerry · March 2014

No food allergies that I know of. I thought coffee was making my acid worse, but not drinking it seems to have no effect on whether I get an acid attack or not.

I'm really passive with doctors, so I want to make sure I don't get pressured into surgery. My appointment isn't until May, so I'll probably do my usual avoidance and deal with it mentally later.

EMOmamma · March 2014

My gallbladder attacks were worse than labor. It was so painful I basically blacked out. One stone got stuck blocking my pancreatic duct resulting in pancreatitis and emergency surgery.

Before I had it removed I never had trouble w/ acid reflux or heartburn, even when KU.

My H has acid reflux and switched to Dexilant last year and it has worked great for him.

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