Is it a gallstone or something more serious

[Booth29]

Been suffering with indigestion type pain and heartburn on and off for last month, have been taking omeprazole for years for acid reflux. Saw gp after 2 weeks who said to double dose, and then freaked me out by going on about pancreatic cancer. Felt a bit better, but still tender in centre of chest and still getting stabbing type chest and back pains, all over not particularly in one spot. Went back and saw usual gp, this week, she felt stomach and said bit tender, so to try diff ppi and buscopan. Had ultrasound last yr which showed a gallstone, which she thinks may be causing probs. Have had terrible trapped wind all this time and anxiety through the roof. Referring me to surgeon about possibly getting gall bladder removed. Trouble is discomfort still there and can’t get pancreatic cancer out of my head, my mum died from it. Know anxiety won’t help, could the trapped wind be causing the pains as well? Constant rumbling going on, ibs flaring up too, shoot me now😰

[Hidden]

Hi Booth 29,

I really do feel for you, doctors could so very often do with minding their damned bedside manner, they're supposed to be reassuring not downright scary!

I know from personal experience that trapped wind can cause the most appalling pains which can crop up in the most unexpected places in your torso. It's understandable why babies make so much fuss when they get wind!

I also know that gallstones can cause the symptoms you describe as my mother had to have her gall bladder removed because of them.

I'm not surprised your IBS has flared-up, it always does if high-levels of anxiety are present. PPIs also bring their own problems, of course. I've been much better since I stopped taking omeprazole and, having read a lot about low stomach acid being the cause of reflux rather than high (and doctors rarely test to be certain which it is), I've just started to take betaine hydrochloride with pepsin immediately before meals. So far, I've had no reflux symptoms and a distinct decrease in IBS symptoms too. Might be worth discussing with your doc.

Don't despair and try not to think about pancreatic cancer. I sincerely hope you get sorted with this soon.

Best wishes,

Cat

[Ari3 in reply to Hidden]

Hi cat u mentioned that doctors rarely test for which High or low acid is causing the discomfort /acid reflux but if they do do you kno when’re they do it in uk ?

[Hidden in reply to Ari3]

I'm not sure whether there's a really definitive test for it or not, but some doctors will prescribe betaine hydrochloride + pepsin so that you do a trial-by-treatment, i.e. if your heartburn/reflux increases whilst you're taking it, you've probably got too much stomach acid, if it decreases it's probably too low.

You can buy it quite cheaply at lots of online outlets though and do your own trial which is what I did.

[b1b1b1]

Maybe ask for your doctor to prescribe a CAT scan, or sonogram, just to set your mind at rest. xx

[Hygieneguru]

Tell the dr you need a hyda scan done. It’s the only way to determine for sure if you gallbladder is bad and needs to come out. It will give you a % that it is functioning at. I went through all sorts of tests that said gallbladder was fine. Hyda scan determined it was only functioning at 8%. Insist on it.

[Ajo13 in reply to Hygieneguru]

Hi! I saw your comment about the HIDA scan and wondered if you had any stool changes prior to the scan and gallbladder removal? I have a scan next week, but have had weird symptoms and am sort of worried about pancreatic cancer.

[Fergie53]

Very interesting thread! I have all the symptoms you describe and I do have confirmed gallstones, IBS and gastric reflux. I take Omeprazole and beginning to wonder if that is causing some of the problems - I have appointment coming up with Gastrodoctor, my main issues atm are days of feeling constipated (even if I do go) followed by loose bowel and cramps - so difficult to pin point what it is!