Gallbladder-less gallbladder pain - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

MiladyB · 10-17-2008, 09:35 PM

Sorry I haven't been around much. Life is keeping me rather busy plus I've been dealing with some abdominal pain. Looks as if I'm having gallbladder pain where there ain't a gallbladder.

I had my gallbladder out in June. Since that time I've had some rather intense upper abdominal pain. It doesn't come often so I've kinda been ignoring it. (Suppose I should listen to my own lectures). I finally fessed up to my doctor a couple weeks ago. Had an ultrasound which showed that my ducts that used to go to my gallbladder are dialated. Thus the cause of my pain. I'm headed for an MRI in the morning to try and figure out whats causing them to be dialated. Bets are that I have gallstones in them but surgeon wants to make sure it isn't an obstruction. Depending on what they find the treatment could go a couple of ways....either further surgery or a drain put in for a while. I'm hoping its the drain. I'm really not liking the idea of further surgery.

Anyway, just thought I would update all of you. I'll let you know what's going on when I know.

Nyn · 10-18-2008, 12:41 AM

Ugh, sounds awful, I'm so sorry

I hope it is an easy fix for you.

Pain = BAD!

I'm glad you listened to your own lecture, though, and are getting it fixed, whatever it may be. (((HUGS!)))

Marella · 10-18-2008, 12:44 AM

I'm so sorry for your pain... but OMG, thanks for fessing up to your doc. They'll get to the bottom of it soon enough.

MiladyB · 10-18-2008, 07:06 AM

Thanks Nyn and Marella. I'm doing fine with the pain. It doesn't happen often, maybe only 8 times in the past 4 months. It lasts any place from 5 min to an hour but its been intense enough to wake me up a couple of times. So we shall see. It really sounds as if it is what the doctor suggested from the get go. He is pretty sure I still have stones in there...now to see how bad they are and if a drain will be able to get rid of them.

OsoDelDesierto · 10-18-2008, 07:44 AM

Beth, I'm so sorry about your pain.

If it is gallstones, I hope the drain can remove them, so that you don't need surgery. You have my good thoughts, prayers, and love, Milady!

Debz · 10-18-2008, 09:02 AM

Wow, Beth. I too have been having ghostly gall bladder pain. Kinda weird, as I had mine removed in 1988. I'm thinking there might be stones in my common bile duct, but after 20 years? Like you, it only kicks once in a while...so I haven't gone to the doctor. Curious to know how this all turns out for you.

MiladyB · 10-18-2008, 11:45 AM

Thanks Eric!

Deb, I'll let you know what they find out. Just came back from my MRI a little while ago. They said I should hear in 3-5 days. My surgeon's nurse said she will check for the report on Mon and Tues for me but the latest should be Weds.

Yeah, I had been ignoring the pain too but one night it was really bad. DH was really close to hauling me off to ER. I took pain pills and Valium and finally just knocked out. Slept the rest of the night. Ultrasound showed dialation of the common bile duct so something is certainly there. You may want to check into getting an ultrasound.

Corrine · 10-18-2008, 01:14 PM

I'm sorry to hear about your pain Beth. Interestingly, you're the second person to have mentioned it in the past couple of days.

A friend of mine had his gallbladder out a couple of years ago and suddenly started having pain. Eventually, they took him seriously and yep! - stones in his common bile duct. He goes in on Monday but I don't know how they handle it.

I have to wonder why they don't flush the common bile duct through when they take gallbladders out - especially if they have to come out because of stones/sludge - stands to reason that some of that crud has been making it's way to to the pancreas.

MiladyB · 10-18-2008, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corrine

I'm sorry to hear about your pain Beth. Interestingly, you're the second person to have mentioned it in the past couple of days.

A friend of mine had his gallbladder out a couple of years ago and suddenly started having pain. Eventually, they took him seriously and yep! - stones in his common bile duct. He goes in on Monday but I don't know how they handle it.

I have to wonder why they don't flush the common bile duct through when they take gallbladders out - especially if they have to come out because of stones/sludge - stands to reason that some of that crud has been making it's way to to the pancreas.

Not sure why they don't flush it, Corrine. One of my surgeon's PAs said its harder to do that after a RNY. Not sure why that is though. Sounds like what is the most likely treatment of choice for me will be a drain. I'll have to be sedated so they can stick a tube in the common bile duct, flush it out and then leave a bag in place to drain. Not something I look forward to but something I most certainly can deal with.

Now if that duct is obstructed I have no idea. My surgeon didn't go into detail. He just basicly said we need to see what is causing the dialation. Then we'll have a talk about what his plans are.

MiladyB · 10-23-2008, 07:14 AM

Just thought I would update you guys about my phantom gallbladder pain. Looks as if I'm headed for the next step. Au ultrasound showed a dialated common bile duct. This past weekend I had an MRCP which is essentially an MRI of that area. Verdict came in yesterday that it was inconclusive. Didn't show any signs of stones or obstruction. BUT it didn't visualize the lower part of the duct. So no real answers.

I had a long discussion with my surgeon's nurse. (I love this nurse!!) She wanted to know how I felt about the whole thing. The suggestion had been made by the radiologist to check my liver enzymes. (I knew they were ok. Had them checked a month ago.) She wanted to know if I was comfortable with that choice. Can you believe it someone really asking how the patient feels about a decision??

Anyway, I told her no and she actually was feeling the same way I was. So she decided to have her own chat with the radiologist and give my surgeon a call (who is out of town on a conference). All came to the conclusion that I needed a consultation for a possible PTCA which is a drain that is place through my abdomen into the common bile duct. So I'm headed for that consult on Monday morning.

So how has the pain been? I managed to have one very intense attack when I was working bariatrics Tuesday night. Came pretty close to having my surgeon's PA walk me down to ER. The unit was crazy so I decided to work through the pain but had the PA checking in with me often asking how I was doing. Gotta love the man! He agreed with my surgeon's nurse...this has to be checked out further, so that's the next step.

I'm ok today but still don't feel right. I took an oath to call the office if things got worse. Had a lecture from my surgeon and his nurse about not calling. So I promised I would even if it was the weekend.

So guys no answers but heading up this chain of tests further.