Gallbladder issues, normal LFTs

[Lara1]

Hello everyone!

I am new to this community though not new on HealthUnlocked. I’ve joined because I’ve been having gallbladder issues for years which now have gotten worse. For those of you who have this problem, how did you get it diagnosed? I’ve been having great difficulty getting my doctors to diagnose my horrible RUQ pain as my LFTs are always in the normal range or slightly above. I’ve had ultrasounds and IRMs and they all came back negative for any sign of inflammation or stones. I also had a HIDA test which was in itself a horrible experience - after drinking the stuff they give you to get the GD to contract I started having excruciating pain that lasted for 2 days! The result of the test - nothing wrong with my gallbladder!! I’ve spent all day today in emergency with a horrible attack and again, no diagnosis. I am completely lost as to what to do next. Any ideas of how I should go about getting a diagnosis?

Many thanks and a painless weekend to all!

Lara

[Hidden]

Hi

I had mine out in 1985 when I was 20!! It was diagnosed with a gastroscopy. Hope you get sorted soon, it's a horrible thing to have. Love and hugs Lynne xxxx

[Cats2018]

I was diagnosed in hospital ER during a painful Gallbladder attack. I’d had abdominal ultrasound testing for suspected gallbladder issues in August 2018, another ultrasound in January 2019 and a HIDA Scan in April 2019. None showed gallstones or anything wrong with gallbladder. But July 5th I had what turned out to be a gallbladder attack, and on July 7th another one which is when my husband took me to the hospital ER. Blood tests indicated inflammation of pancreas. Had CT Scan with contrast and another ultrasound - which showed gallstones. Diagnosed with Acute Gallstone Pancreatitis. Surgery July 8 to remove gallbladder and since then pancreas inflammation has cleared.

[Lara1 in reply to Cats2018]

Hi Cats, thanks for sharing your experience. I get an attack per week, extremely painful, but neither my LFTs nor my pancreatic enzymes are raised significantly. Hence all the doctors I’ve seen so far dismiss my pain. It’s impacting my life more and more as I have to take sick leave from work during the attacks. Can’t believe that in this day and age there is no more reliable way to diagnose this thing..

[ThreeSmiles in reply to Cats2018]

Cats - Yeah - a success story! N1 👍

Angus

[Hidden]

Hi Lara

Sorry to read your going through alot of pain which I can relate too! My gallbladder was removed in October 2016 by key hole surgery after multiple gallstones were highlighted on an ultrasound!

Can I ask, have you had a CT or MRI scan of your abdomen /chest, If not then I suggest you talk this over with your GP as soon as you can as this will rule out various things.

I wish you all the best !

ShropshireLass

[Lara1 in reply to Hidden]

Hello! Thanks for your reply. I’ve had 2 MRIs in the last 5 years, several ultrasounds and a scintigraphy. Nothing ever comes up which I find unbelievable considering the amount of pain I’m in. I should mention that I have a systemic autoimmune disease, so it’s not gallstones causing this, but probably inflammation due to my condition. I just can’t understand how none of these tests can pick it up!

[kathmax in reply to Lara1]

Are you in pain everyday Lara?

[Lara1 in reply to kathmax]

Yes, every single day, worse after meals + nausea.

[kathmax in reply to Lara1]

Me too but also have diarrhoea not sure if it’s the pain relief I’m taking is causing itThankyou for replying Lara

[Lara1 in reply to Hidden]

Can I ask you if you feel better the removal?

[kathmax]

How old was everyone when they were diagnosed?

[Cats2018 in reply to kathmax]

Kathmandu

I was 74 😮

[kathmax in reply to Cats2018]

Have you had your gallbladder removed Cats and what symptoms did you have?

[Cats2018 in reply to kathmax]

Yes I had it removed recently on July 8,2019. Emergency surgery. Pressure just under breasts that surrounded me front to back. Felt like I was being squeezed to the point of pain. Thought I was having a heart attack. Turned out to be Acute Gallstone Pancreatitis. Blockage of flow from gallbladder, liver and pancreas.

[Bootandall]

That is awful Lara. Hope you get some answers, and more importantly some relief, soon! X

[Cats2018]

Because it had also caused pancreatitis the surgeon said that could be life threatening. so they admitted me to the hospital the day I went to ER during the attack and did the surgery to remove gallbladder the next day. It did not take long to recover. I was sore over the incisions for a few days which would be expected after surgery and was told not to lift anything larger than a gallon of milk for 6 weeks. I went home the day after the surgery. 😊

[Cats2018]

Good luck!