This started about 3 years ago with an attack of pain radiating across my lower abdomen relieved by bowel movement. After that I had pain in upper right quadrant a nights, relived in a.M. With b.M. After a second attack for which I went to the er, I had ultrasounds of abdomen, ct scan, barium enema, colonoscopy, and hida scan. No stones were detected, all else except the hida scan was normal. The hida scan ejection factor was low but I had no pain. I saw the surgeon who was called to the emergency room. He said that taking my gallbladder out might eliminate the pain but only a 50-80% chance that it would. So, we decided no surgery.
About a year later I went to a gstroenterologist for a second opinion. He thought I had ibs or a functional bowel disorder. I increased the amount of fiber, and began taking gas-x for excessive gas. The pain in urq disappeared. Constipation also disappeared, but gas remained, sometimes it was very great, lasting all through the night, and distending my intestines greatly. In may of this year, pain increased. It seemed to involve my stomach (i was under a lot of stress). An endoscopy revealed chronic gastritis for which I will soon take a prevacid-like medicine. A second hida scan showed a 9 % ejection factor. I had very mild pain and felt a bit sick when the cck was injected, but no pain afterward. A new gastroenterologist who performed the endoscopy and ordered the 2nd hida scan recommended surgery if the pain returned. My primary m.D. Recommended surgery just yesterday. I am a bit doubtful that surgery will end the pain which does not include real classic gallbladder pain other than pain in upper right quadrant.
My questions are, is there any reason to remove the gallbladder for a low functioning gallbladder, i.E., is it dangerous to keep it? Second, is there any way to increase the gallbladder function? Third, can any other problem be causing the low function, such as ibs, food intolerances, etc.? Fourth, what are the chances that removing the gallbladder will eliminate the pain? Thanks...
