Woke up from a sound sleep at 2a 10 days ago with horrible abdominal pain, nausea, chills, bloated, sweats. Worse than labor, felt like a metal band wrapped around my ribs and upper belly squeezing me, I couldn’t lay down, could barely walk. I’d had a few days of uncomfortable lower rib pain, particularly on the right side, during a trip in December, but figured that was muscular at the time. My husband insisted on driving me to the ED, about 40 minutes away. The doctors ordered blood & urine tests, took a history, and did an abdominal exam. They also gave me zofran for the nausea, and a GI cocktail (Mylanta with oral lidocaine) but that didn’t help much. Slowly, the pain receeded, and I was discharged with diagnosis of gastritis to follow up with my PCP. I was told my labs were “mostly normal.” I take high dose ibuprofen and various meds for another condition, and I think that’s why they were eager to blame it on gastritis.
I had a horrible weekend and then saw my gastroenterologist and PCP last week. Gastro was certain it was gallbladder and ordered followup bloodwork and abdominal ultrasound. I was still having symptoms - periodic sharp and dull pains mostly right upper quadrant (RUQ), nausea, bloated, occasional chills, just generally feeling cruddy. Also my chronic headaches were oddly worse, and had been in the days before the attack. ED labs were not “mostly normal” - high white blood count, elevated liver enzymes (ALT & AST), signs of hemolysis. Updated labs were better, but with a high ALT. Ultrasound showed many stones and signs of liver inflammation, no CBD dilation. Diagnosis was updated to cholecystitis, with referral to a general surgeon for gallbladder removal.
Problem is - I feel like crap. I try to do things, and I’m okay here and there, but I’m tired, nauseous, bloated, gassy, periodic pain - like I’m getting over a stomach bug. I see the surgeon in 2 1/2 weeks, and then I don’t know how long it will be to get into the OR and have everything approved by insurance. Hopefully no more than a week, but it really depends. Antacids and the zofran don’t help. I eat pretty well already - low fat, lean protein, whole grains, minimal dairy - but I’ve cut any “occasional” fats, desserts, etc. out in the meantime. I’m trying to keep with light exercise too, though it’s not easy. Warm compresses, baths don’t seem to help.
Any suggestions while I wait? I had a painful bout last night not nearly as bad as what sent me to the ED. I just generally feel like garbage and it’s hard to go out knowing that I could get stuck feeling really poorly and be nearly an hour away from home (we live out in the country). Ideas? Thanks!