For the last 4 years, his wbc have been real low. He complains of stomach pain in his lower right side and back area. He is fatigued alot, drives 1 hr to work and back home in an office job and yet rides his bicycle twice a week about 40-50 miles each time. He was very sick around Christmas time with stomach issues, and later anytime around alot of people get infection - like the last time was pink eye.
He has had all kinds of tests - MRIs, ultrasounds, blood and all the GI doc says is maybe fatty liver disease, or maybe gallbladder, but the GI says neither of those are conclusive. He said he could take his gallbladder out, but it's not a for sure thing and not sure if it will help.
He is so tired of being sick. He's depressed of course and will turn 64 in August. I know we aren't doctors here, but perhaps someone might have some ideas?
thank you.
Hello, my boyfriend had galbladder issues too and he has to get his removed after a year of this town I live in not knowing what's wrong with him. The key to testing the galbladder is a HIDA scan, has your doctor done that? It tests the functioning of your galbladder and My doc said it can also tell if there might be a problem in the liver or pantcris. Then he'd do further test but you shouldnt get it removed until that scan is done.
He did have the Hidi scan. he said it's borderline. his pancreas was fine as well as the liver. so frustrating for him.
Hi Debra
Unfortunately virtually all problems to do with the digestive system can have identical symptoms and even those symptoms can and do vary massively from person to person.
I certainly wouldn't recommend removal of any organ on the off chance it might fix a problem if it's not the cause it may very well only add to an existing problem.
In this situation there's really no choice but to be guided by your husband's specialist, to keep going back to him and if you feel he's not taking the situation seriously enough change him and see someone else.
Best wishes
I agree. Thank you. I had my gallbladder removed in 4/17 and I would NEVER recommend ANYONE having it removed. God gave it to us for a reason...and I had no choice.
I think he needs to see someone else. But it's like dragging teeth getting him to even go!
Hi Debra. I had mine out still having issues with my stomach. But I can eat non- fat foods. I'm a vegetarian now after removal of the gall. I cheat a little and I'm ok sometimes. To me sounds like it's his appendix. I remember the stabbing pain lower right side. Got sick everyday. Nausea vomiting. Please have tests on his appendix. Good Luck to your hubby.š
As I have said to others on this site, go to a practicing hospital like the Mayo clinic and have a complete work up. His doctor or doctors are missing something. I wish him return to good health. I have health issues which I have already stated on this forum and believe me when you don't have your health it becomes very depressing.
they checked his appendix and it was just fine too! thank you!
I'll mention it to him.. We have already spent $3k on tests and that's with insurance! He just doesn't want to spend anymore money...I'll talk with him some more and see if he'd be open to going to UCSF. thanks so much!
Did he do a full abdomen MRI with contrast ?
That's very detailed , it ruled out any problems whem my gastroenterologist tried to convince me my gallbladder was diseased but it wasn't .
He should try in his diet to have apple cider vinegar and milk thistle supplements to detoxify the liver , and every 2 days take activated charcoal to absorb toxins in the digestive system . Hope he improves soon
oK. I believe he did, but I"ll ask. I'll get him the milk thistle and look for the activated charcoal. He has tried ACV and hates it.
thank you!
Has he had a HIDA scan done? I had 3
Ultrasounds. 1st showed small gallstones, 2nd they couldnāt see the gallstones but the gallbladder was very distended. And 3rd they think there were gallstones again. The HIDA scan showed my gallbladder wasnāt functioning properly and when it was removed it showed I had chronic cholecystitis. So kept getting repeated episodes of cholecystitis but it never showed up on bloods. If he hasnāt had the HIDA scan done then think this is the next stage to try before deciding whether to remove the gallbladder xx
Sorry just read he has had HIDA scan and it was borderline. Like what percentage was it functioning at? 35-75% is classed as normal. Anything below 35% Iād definitely go for removal. I know I felt horrendous with stomach and back pain and severe nausea before it was removed. Couldnāt have gone on that way any longer xx
Iāll have to ask. I think it was 34 thatās why the doc said borderline.
And I think if he chooses to have it out then insurance may not cover when the doc said he didnāt think he needed it out.
So you had your gallbladder out? I did last year because I had an horrendous attack. But I pretty much feel sick after every meal. I take oxbile. Enzymes to help.
And how about you?
This is my third attempt to write this to you so hope it comes through. He is too young to feel so terrible. Hopefully UCSF will accept your insurance and they surely will find the answer and when he feels good again, the co pay won't be so painful. I paid mine back in installments so think about doing all of this. good luck.
hope my information will be helpful for you ... initially i had right side pain whenever i eat fatty foods. Then after few years i got a bit severe pain, did Hida scan and found my gallbladder not working 0%. As year goes, i now got gallstones. So this is a span of 10 years. So i feel its definitely a gallbladder issue, i can say it can go worst after few years and if you did the hida scan , it will show less %. I would advice to do another hida scan after a year or 6 months.
Any reason why you suggest not to remove the gallbladder? i'm been suffering(Dizziness,burping,bloating ,confusion and many more side symptoms) for almost 10 years and now i'm at a point to remove my gallbladder. appreciate your response.
My mom had hers out, I did too and we both suffer from MAJOR indigestion, gas thatās horrendous, diarrhea, bloating. My mom has passed now but she lived on Pepto Bismol tablets. I live on papaya enzymes and oxbile and Lypogold to aid in my digestive track. I canāt eat fried food anymore, sausages , fatty foods forget it. A little bacon I can tolerate. I only use avacado, coconut or olive oil. No spicy anything. Sometimes honestly I donāt want to eat because of the digestion issues. But the oxbile helps some. Itās worse in the middle of the night. Thatās when the bile acids are working. So I get up and eat some enzymes.
I had a major gallbladder attack out of the blue. I am a small person -5ā2ā 106 lbs. it was unusual for me the doc said. But heredity was a factor
Hi. Have him try a cleanse every morning. Organic apple cider. It helped me with my gallbladder issues. Just a table spoon. Or try it with warm apple juice. Hope it helps your hubby.
Heās tried AVC and gets diarrhea. Not his appendix. Doc ruled that out