Hida Scan Normal...pain Under Right Rib?

Hi desperate,
thanks so much for your kind words & concern. I am feeling tons better then yesterday ...They say the day after surgery is the worst & they are not joking. It's like night & day. My incisions hurt, but i'm not in the pain I was the first day. It'll be a few weeks before I feel 100%, but i'm confident the gb was the nasty little culprit.


I sure hope you are able to get somewhere with this surgeon you are seeing next week. It's no fun waiting around for all these tests to come back. And definitely no fun with a dr that does not seem to take things seriously. I was so fortunate that all 3 of my dr's were very concerned & wanted to see me get better, quickly...


Take care & hope you have a great weekend...


Heather

Dear heather:
now that you have had a few days to heal, I wonder how you are feeling. I do hope that losing your gallbladder solves all your medical problems. I am so sure that is what is causing me to be sick.......I have been watching my diet very carefully, but sometimes I eat something that I don't expect to cause pain and it does anyway. Like this morning........I drank low acid orange juice and five minutes later got very dizzy and had four horrible stabbing pains in my right side. I thought, oh boy, here I go to the hospital before I see this new doctor. It stopped but I haven't felt too terrific all day.
It is so frustrating when you think you have the necessary diet figured out and then boom. Over the last four months I don't think there have been three days in a row that I have felt good. It's either dizziness, nausea, cramps in my upper abdomen, soreness in my upper abdomen and back. My family and friends must be sick of me being sick.........I certainly am! I really never had any lingering health problems in my life and it certainly makes me feel compassion for people who do. I don't think i'll ever take feeling healthy for granted again.
Sincerely,
mj

Dear heather:
now that you have had a few days to heal, I wonder how you are feeling. I do hope that losing your gallbladder solves all your medical problems. I am so sure that is what is causing me to be sick.......I have been watching my diet very carefully, but sometimes I eat something that I don't expect to cause pain and it does anyway. Like this morning........I drank low acid orange juice and five minutes later got very dizzy and had four horrible stabbing pains in my right side. I thought, oh boy, here I go to the hospital before I see this new doctor. It stopped but I haven't felt too terrific all day.
It is so frustrating when you think you have the necessary diet figured out and then boom. Over the last four months I don't think there have been three days in a row that I have felt good. It's either dizziness, nausea, cramps in my upper abdomen, soreness in my upper abdomen and back. My family and friends must be sick of me being sick.........I certainly am! I really never had any lingering health problems in my life and it certainly makes me feel compassion for people who do. I don't think i'll ever take feeling healthy for granted again.
Sincerely,
mj

Sorry my message posted twice.......I submitted the first time and it didn't show on message board and then I submitted again and message came up twice. I must have done something wrong.

Hi mj,
still sore some, but am getting better with each passing day. Will probably take a few months to get to feeling totally normal again.

Hope the dr's thursday can figure out all your health woes.
It's no fun being miserable & not knowing for sure why...


Take care,
heather

Heather,

good to hear you are getting back to normal. I am slowly getting back to normal as well. I still have the nausea if I eat too much fat in one day...I'm guessing it's my body saying "slow down, that's what got you into trouble in the first place" lol. I still have a big bruise around my belly-button incision(they must have really pulled/stretched to get that diseased thing outta there) the other 3 incisions are healing well. I'm still tired as heck all the time but i'm just assuming it's my body still healing and probably the kids wearing me out as well ;o)
i hope your recovery is quick and you can get back to enjoying life!

Magmolgold,

i do hope you figure out what is causing your problems. I know how it feels to not know what it is. I went 1 1/2 yrs. With the nausea and pain - and numerous tests - before they figured out it was my gb. It got to a point where everything I ate caused pain and nausea. Even a glass of water caused pain.
Hang in there and keep "nagging" eventually someone will listen and know what it is.

Donna

Hi donna,
wish I could still say I was doing better. Had a painful night last night. My back started hurting by my ribs...It hurts to touch my very bottom rib, on my back-- & the area between my last rib & waist on the my side... Not sure what's going on with this. Hurts to touch & hurts to breath. Like the movement of breathing is hurting my ribs called my surgeon this morning, but he was in surgery. So patiently waiting to hear what he has to say. I'm hoping it's just muscle related...As I know I had a lot of tension there before surgery & can imagine I still do. Kind of hurts to walk to as it jars that area. I also had some pain over where my gb used to be yesterday, but would imagine this is due to healing inside.

Have you had any problems with pain? I'm now one week post opt...


Heather

Heather,

yes I did have some weird twinges and pains the first week. Especially at the incision between the breast bones and the belly-button one. The belly-button incision is still a bit tender and feels like a lump or something(i'm thinking maybe scar tissue?) I had some weird pains in the gb area too. They weren't anything like what I use to experience though. I'm guessing its just my insides healing...I hope!!
Take it easy!! Please let us know what the surgeon says!

Donna

Ended back up at the hospital today. Called my surgeon & told him about the pain in my right side, low. So my surgeon sent me to get a blood test, to check my blood count & chest x-rays. He prescribed more pain killers & told me to go to the er if gets worse. Feel weak & like total crud... Then the nurse who took my blood did not get my vain & was fishing around in my arm...Holy poop it hurt/hurts... What a stinkin' day...

Blue

Ouch!! I do hope you get better...And quick! Let us know the results. Hopefully nothing serious and your just healing!

Donna

Dear heather and donna:
well, I went to a new doctor today. I thought I was very organized with my approach.......I spent considerable time yesterday typing the progression of my symptoms for him so I wouldn't end up rambling and not getting out the facts. He actually was very nice......But he said he didn't know what was wrong with me.......That usually with gallbladder symptoms there are just attacks and then no pain afterward. Well, as both of you well know, it's just not like that all the time. I have that unbelievable cramping under my breasts and down my right side, and even after that subsides there is soreness..........I think heather described it as bruised ribs. Anyway, he asked me to keep a very detailed diary for the next week to help him define the problem. Kind of makes me just want to tell them the symptoms they want to hear.......Typical gallbladder symptoms are plastered all over the internet. It would make things so much simpler.
He probably nearly dropped over when I said(after he looked at me with that look like i've never heard of these symptoms) that I have read several postings on-line written by people who identify with my symptoms. He probably really thought I was brazen. Oh, well! Frankly,
it gives me courage to know others have experienced the same thing.
Heather, I hope they find out quickly what is wrong......You must feel so terribly discouraged at this moment. You thought you were on your way to a pain-free existence and now this. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
And donna, I am so glad that you are feeling better. What exactly did convince the doctors to remove your gallbladder? I think I am explaining my problem so well to him........I just don't think it can be that rare that they never heard of it.
I hope to hear from both of you soon and do hope there is good news from heather.
Sincerely,
mj

Mj,

the gastro Dr. Was convinced after numerous tests that it had to be my gb to blame...Even though the hida scan came back normal. The only thing wrong with me was my gb was inflammed and had a bunch of polyps and he explained inflammation can cause symptoms like nausea, vomitting and pain. I was experiencing the nausea and pain(no vomitting thankfully--only when I had the flu twice). The nausea was daily and at different "levels" and the pain felt like someone punched me in the stomach and also an "aching" under the right rib cage. I could only trust that this Dr. Knew what he was talking about and went for it. So far the pain is gone(i do still feel the odd twinge--but nothing like before) and the nausea still plagues me once in a while, but again, nothing like before. I had a bit of nausea this morning when I woke up but it went away about an hour later. I still have a bruise around my belly button incision that is slowly going away. Other than those few minor complaints everything else is going well.
Please let us know how your feeling and what your Dr. Suggests.

And hopefully we hear something from heather. I am wondering how her tests went!

Donna

Hi donna & mj,
I heard back from my surgeon. He said my tests came back normal... He said it's still probably the gas they inflate your tummy with during surgery causing me grief still. He just said to move around a lot... I also feel pretty sure it's muscle tension as well... I've also had a low grade fever today. He also said if it gets higher then call them back.... Area over where my gb was has been a little achy today...But feel much better then yesterday.





Mj hope you can get somewhere with the dr's soon. If you don't' get anywhere with this guy, try another till you get some answers...Because what you describe is exactly how I felt after gb attacks... My surgeon was well informed on all the symptoms... What donna describes & you & myself-- he described them all without my asking him... Can't believe he said you'd have attacks then no pain afterword. He's a very misinformed dr, i'd have to say! I'd be cautious with this guy if you decide to keep going to him... Actually i'd be running the other way...





Heather

Dear heather and donna:
i'm happy to hear that your tests came back normal, heather. Maybe in a couple days you will notice a major difference in how you are feeling. I actually remember that after I had my appendectomy, I felt pretty bad and very tired for awhile and then all of the sudden I started to feel better. It is frustrating though when you just want so badly to feel well again.
Maybe, heather and donna, you could give me some input about your symptoms before you had surgery.. It seems that since I have changed my diet drastically in the last week, I am not getting the really serious pain high in my right rib area. The pain actually has moved more to the center of my abdomen at about waist level. It is just sore all the time......It doesn't seem to matter if I have eaten or not at this point. It is even there when I wake up in the morning.......And until I eat a little something(which is all I ever eat at one time because I am afraid) I feel a little nauseated. And, you know, when I hurry when I am walking, it makes the soreness in my abdomen ache more. Sometimes it even hurts in my neck/throat (not like reflux) but like it is tightening up.
Have either of you or, for that matter, have any readers felt like this? Thanks for your help.
Sincerely,
mj

Mj,

my symptoms were nausea(daily), loss of appetite at times--probably related to the nausea and aching pain under my rib cage that would go through to my back and between my shoulder blades. I would also have the feeling of being punched in the stomach that would last for days. A diet will only last for so long before the "attacks" start becoming more frequent in number and intensity, although some people claim that they cut fat out of their diet and didn't have attacks for years. It got to a point where it didn't matter what I ate, everything made me nauseous and the aching would start. One day certain foods wouldn't bug me while another day they would. The worst by far was fatty, greasy foods like gravy, french fries, fried chicken, pepperoni pizza, and anything with cheese sauce on it. I also had where I was only able to eat a few bites and I felt like I ate a whole thanksgiving meal! I would feel bloated all the time as well(those 2 symptoms might have been from the mild gastritis I have--i still have the bloated feeling at times but my appetite has gotten alot better!). I went from weighing 140lbs before all my gb problems started to 108lbs the day of my surgery. I lost a few more pounds after surgery because the nausea was still with me but have managed to get myself up to 113lbs in the last week. Lol!
The decision to have your gb removed is totally up to you. If I was to go through with the surgery again to get relief from what I was feeling, I would do it in a flash! Just make sure you go through all the tests necessary to rule out anything else it could be because you don't want to remove your gb and find out that it wasn't to blame for your problems!
To me it does sound like your gb that's giving you your troubles, but I am no Dr. Or expert...Just someone who's been through gb problems ;o)
sorry to ramble on!

Heather,

glad to hear it's nothing serious and your feeling better. That darn co2 was in my system for 2 weeks! I would roll from my back to my side and I could hear the gas moving...Sounded like water gushing in there. They should do a better job of getting it out before they stitch you back up!!
Hang in there and it will be gone before you know it!

Donna

Hi mj,
donna's symptoms are very similar to what mine were. For a few years I had a problem with nausea after dinner several nights a week. Did not realize at the time what the problem was. Then a few months before the pain kicked in I was getting not just the nausea after dinner, but I was getting what I thought was the worst heart burn ever. It was pretty painful... For a few weeks before the pain really kicked in I was waking up at night with my heart racing. I knew at this point something was not right. My first full blow gb attack scared me & my hubby badly & ended up in the er with the dr sending me home saying I had heartburn... This attack started with the bad heart burn...Then had pain in my chest, right arm, up into my neck & jaw...All right sided. Attacks after that occurred after I ate anything fried, greasy or oily. With these attacks I always had a sharp stabbing pain under my right rib. Sometimes the pain would go through to my back. I also had chest pains, & pain behind & between my shoulder blades. Towards the end I did not have to eat anything to have bad pain...Like donna even drinking something seemed to cause problems... The last few weeks before surgery I also started getting the feeling like someone punched me in the stomach --right between to lowest ribs-- & I had that feeling most all the time...It bothered me to even wear wind/sweat pants.

I'm looking forward to seeing my surgeon again next wednesday to see what they found out about my bad gb. Since it looked bad on the outside really curious as to what they found inside & with the polyp in there...

Hope everyone has a nice weekend...
Heather

I have been experiencing the same pains for 3 years now and they removed my gb 2 years ago. I've had ct scan, endoscopy and I go for mri on wednesday. Liver enzyme shows normal. My pain is closer to the diaphram. Sometimes it feels like there are sharp rocks poking me from the inside. I've been going through the same thing with feeling sick to my stomach but I never vomit, just have no appetite. This is now my sixth doctor (including a revisit to the surgeon that removed by gb) and still no answer. Hopefully the mri will show something.

Dawn r.... Hello! Your post is scaring me! I'm 6 weeks post op this coming thur... I am having the sharp rocks poking me from inside feeling too... It comes and goes... Sev times a week... My pain seems to stem from my 'sternum' area.. I'm guessing that is where you are calling the diaphram area??? Right between my boobs! Sorry... Don't like calling them breasts! They are boobs or boobies! Lol a little lower where my ribs meet... I swear its swollen... Had that trouble before my gb was removed... When I mash there it hurts and makes me nauseous. :( now the pain radiates to the left and sometimes on the right... I'm thinking my liver... Ughhhh scares me... Or pancreas! I've been really thirsty but my labs show a normal glucose level.. I'm still taking it easy on my fat intake.. But definitely am getting more than before the surgery.

Please let us know what the mri shows.. I go to my gastro doc for follow up on a colonoscopy that he did a week and a half ago.... I'm extremely constipated after the gb surgery... Sure hoped that surgery would make me better in that area!

Heather!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm glad I found this board again in my 'favorites'.. Heeheee I saw where I first posted to you. Glad you are doing better and will catch ya in our daily emails! ;)

donna... Am watching your progress! Glad your surgery went well... I had all the classic symptoms.. Plus a few more! ;) heart palps was one! And a mysterious lower right sided pain that was "too low' for gb... That has been there since 1996 and ya know what?? It's gone!!! Dumb doc's! Just wait til I chew them out! Ha :lol: have had the runaround for years with these crazy symptoms... But am feeling much better now though and hope to figure out this sternum/under rib/back pain soon!! :(

Mj,

how are things going for you? I hope better.

Heather