I had my first Gastro appt yesterday and considered myself to be lucky that I was having an "episode" of severe pain during the consult after eating 2 hours before I arrived! I was a little upset this morning after an ultrasound revealed no stones.. I mean, I should be happy but I felt like there was no solution to my probelems. My liver and pancreas were also normal. I headed right back to the Gastro doctor with the results and was so happy when he said that the test was'nt the final answer and that he wants me to now do an MRI because sometimes "stones" are in the form of sand and can't be picked up on the ultrasound. He said that if that for some reason didn't show what was clearly going on, then he is going to do an endoscopic ultrasound. I am so relieved that this doctor seems to be knowledable and is taking my pain seriously instead of brushing it off as something minor. In the meantime he prescibed me an antispastic medication to stop the pain until my MRI appt on the 10th!
Hi Michelle, I had a MRI scan and it shows everything, so if you've got stones there they will definitely show. I'm now having my Gallbladder out on 13th July.
Hi Michelle,
I had pain,usually right sided, gastritis and stool colour changes.
The ultrasound found a fatty liver, but the ct scan with contrast
found nothing despite ongoing issues.
I was ruled out of having an mri due to a small piece of metal
from a childhood accident that was decided not to be dug out.
However, the specialist sent me for a choliangiogram and it
showed I had naturally occurring narrow ducts with evidence of "sludge". So instead of a stone lodged in the duct, sludge is
causing issues.
My local Dr told me the results and seems to think at this stage the Specialist will try to correct issues through a low fat and
moderate carb diet rather than remove the gallbladder.
I can fully empathise with what you are experiencing, i hope it is sorted soon.
Yes it is nice to atleast know what is cauing the problem isn't it?
Hope you manage to get to the bottom of all this.
Take care and keep in touch
Praying for you
Love Sarah xx
Michelle,
I recently had my gallbladder removed after going through 5 months of agony. I had all sorts of tests. Stress test, upper gi, endoscope (showed superficial ulcers) ultrasound (showed no stones), bloodwork, HIDA scan (EF was over 80% and I had pain during the part where they make your gallbladder contract), ct scan (showed fatty liver). 1st surgeon wasn't sold on it being my gallbladder. After 3 months on the brat diet, I got a second opinion. New surgeon specialized in biliary issues and she saw my hida scan and said "that's not normal. More than likely your gallbladder is bad. I had surgery 3 weeks ago. Pathology on gallbladder showed chronic disease and it was FULL of stones.
The ultrasound isn't a 100% accurate tool when checking for stones.
Hi now wondering if my recent ultrasound scan which showed no gall stones is similar to what happened with yours. I am waiting for an endoscope due to indigestion/heartburn, pains and bloating issues. I am also tender over gallbladder/liver area and have been told i have slightly fatty liver and slightly raised GGT levels which is why i had ultrasound. I did not realise ultrasound was not 100% accurate.
I'm not 100% sure. I thought it was odd that neither of my ultrasounds showed stones. But my mom, who is a radiologist, said it's possible that their could have been sludge, or the composition of the stones made them hard to see, or my size (even though I've lost 150 lbs, I'm still big) could have kept them from getting a clear picture. My surgeon said she sees a case a week like mine, on average.
But I had a lot of the same symptoms. Indigestion, heartburn, and I have a fatty liver as well. The only time I had tenderness over my liver/gb region is when I had the attack that landed me in the hospital.
My wife had her gallbladder removed about 6 months ago after an ultrasound showed hers was full of stones.
Yes, my gastro doctor said that no evidence of gallstones doesn't rule out gallbladder disease.
Yes it sounds like he really wants to help you. My doctor gave up after my gastroscopy was normal and all other test before that which is 3 ultrosounds, x rays of my stomach and my chest and blood tests. Also she send me to physiatris to see if my pain is in my head . Aftet my gastroscopy i went back to see my results and she told me there is nothing else she can do for me .. She told me i have to learn how to live with this pain. I didnt agree with her and told her i want hida scan done .. She told me i wont get approved because my tests are normal . but she still send the referal. Hospital called me with an appoitment next day . i went 2 weeks ago and today got my rsults.. My gallblader is at 19% . She wanted to book me for surgery right a way and i told her im going to try natural remedies first and see if this helps if not ill come back . I would never think i will be happy to hear my gall blader is bad but after dealing with this pain for 3 years and not knowing where is it coming from its a nightmare. I feel like ivr been depressed for all that time because i didnt know what was going on and wondering day and night what the heck is going there why do i have this pain where is it coming from and reading things online made me even worry more . so im glad finaly i got my dignosis. Only thonk im worried now is the ALP level in my blood is low .. Its at 29 few miths ago was at 33 and norm is 35 .. So not sure if this has to do with my gall blader .. Or there is something else i should be worried about ? Mr google says its mailnutrition , celiac or lukiema.. My doctor says its nothing to be worry .. She would worry if the levels would be higher ...any one lese has this ALP lower ?
Ask for a HIDA scan. Make sure they do ejection fraction. I went months not knowing why I had pain, nausea, and vomiting until I finally wound up in the ER and they did a HIDA scan with ejection fraction and found my gallbladder was only functioning 7%. They never found stones on CT scan or ultrasound. Best of luck! I know it's miserable!
Good news Michelle. Hope all goes well for you.
Was gonna ask you for your symptoms as I am getting nowhere with mine which I formaly believe are gallbladder related despite normal bloods and normal ultrasound.
If youve time to repy/listen Id be obliged. TA. Alan