Gallbladder Disease Forum - Still a Gallbladder Problem With Negative Hida Scan?

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Q: Still a Gallbladder Problem With Negative Hida Scan?

asked by: tanyasparks on May 30th, 2007

New User

Hello,
I'm a 27 year old woman who has been having severe URQ pain with horrible bloating and acid reflux. I had an ultrasound with negative results. No gall stones noted. Then, I have had one HIDA scan with a 60% ejection rate. The test still caused the same pain and nausea. I then has a colonoscopy done but still a negative result. I'm at my wit's end. I was put on aciphex and told that I probably had IBS. I was in the ED this past sunday with the same pain. THe ED Dr. said that it was most likely my gallbladder and told me to see my GP. She gave me Nexium, Lortabs, and Phenegrin (sp?) and set me up for another HIDA scan. I have been vomiting everytime I eat. I'm so afraid that I will have another negative scan and nothing will be done. I'm a CNA and work 12 hour shifts in a hospital. All of my nursing coworkers agree that there is definately something up with my gallbladder. I have already had to miss so much work because of this problem. Could I still have a bad gallbladder even with negative HIDA scans, ultrasounds, and bloodwork? I don't know what else to do. Here are my symptoms. I have gnawing RUQ pain when I eat. If it is something that has even the slightest amount of fat or oil, I throw up. Alot of nausea especially after I eat. The pain seems to be underneath my rib cage and radiates into my back between my shoulder blades. Severe bloating and acid reflux. Could this still be my gallbladder or something else? I don't think it is IBS. The only other explanation they have given me is Chrone's disease. HELP!!!!!!

Thanks
Painful in TN

Replies(10)

tinkinpink84

replied on May 31st, 2007

Especially eHealthy

I would definately get a 2nd opinion, it sounds alot like gallbladder problems but also my dr told me that ulcers can cause very similar symptoms soi was given an endoscopy the day before my surgery but i already knew i had stones but they wanted to make sure i didnt also have an ulcer, since ulcers can mimic gallbladder pain. So maybe also request and endoscopy. My husbands going through similar things he is getting both the endoscopy and colonscopy done.

gallbladderornot

replied on April 21st, 2008

New User

How did it turn out?

I am having the same issues. I had a negative ultrasound and a 59% ejection fraction from the CCK Hida Scan. The CCK injection made me horribly sick and I ended up in the ER the day after. I am waiting to see a surgeon, but don't want to do it if it's not that. Can you have negative scans and still have gallbladder disease?

pinkcow

replied on April 6th, 2009

New User

Pain in lower right rib

I just went today to get an HIDA scan. I do not know what the results are until tomorrow. I have pain in my lower right ribs and feel some in my back. I first noticed the pain when I was 19 shortly after I had my first daughter. It hurt a little and would go away for awhile. After I had my third daughter I was 25 the pain got a lot worse so I went to the Doctor. They said it was back problems and gave me meds. The pain went away but over the years the pains kept coming back and more frequently lasting longer. Now the pain does not go away and is stronger. I am 30 now and the only thing that has come up in the test so far was an enlarged bile duct in the liver. The HIDA scan guy said that the test does not always show there is something wrong with the gallbladder when there is. Another thing when I was getting the HIDA scan is the meds they gave me made the pain worse in the spot that hurts.

alwayssickandtired

replied on June 16th, 2009

New User

Frustrated

I'm dealing with the same thing. I've had x-rays, a colonscopy, and a HIDA scan. And I've had tons of blood tests. All the results came back normal. I'm physically and emotionally exhausted. There needs to be one gall bladder test that can check for disease, stones, and obstructions all at one time. I'm putting out around $200/month on Dr bills only to hear that they can't find anything wrong. I have all the symptoms for gall bladder disease. I'm going to a GI dr at the end of the month and demanding that we find the source of the problem. I'm getting desperate. I've heard of so many people who have had so many tests for their gall gladder that all came back clear and then still have their gall bladder removed to find out that it was indeed the problem. Something needs to be done about this. Too many people are suffering.

jrscriv

replied on June 18th, 2009

New User

I have passed my ultra sound (no stones detected). Got my HIDA scan test results today and was told the ejection was 65%...now they are sending me to have an endoscopy done. I am so frustrated too. I am not a doctor, but it seems to me that the process of elimination is time consuming and painful. I still cannot eat and I have sharp pains under my right rib cage and my back (directly behind the pain in front). My question is has anyone with all of these same symptoms been diagnosed with anything other than a gallbladder problem? I don't understand why they can't just take the gallbladder out and see if any new symptoms come up...is that crazy? I am just sick of being sick.

esperanza101

replied on June 21st, 2009

New User

Gallbladder symptoms- all tests negative

I am having the same problems. I have been having pain under my right rib (for about a year now). All scans come out negative (ct scans with barium, ultra sound, blood work, hida scan, endoscopy, etc.)- which makes doc's believe nothing is wrong... but something is horribly wrong! Everytime I eat I feel sick and have to use the restroom (#2), loss of appetite. Always in pain. The most recent pain is now on the bottom of my left rib. Horrible pain that sent me to the e.r. last night (Doc said that he didn't want to do any ct or x-ray because i have had too much radiation and believes its damaging)... So no answers! Told me I may have GERD or gastritis. (I'm 21, and believe i'm in good shape!)
I am 100% positive that it is gall stones, or a sick gallbladder. Just today as I was working, I went to take a breahe in and I felt this horrible "grinding" pain in my right rib area that was SO painful! I'm just so sick of negative test results and doctor's who now think i am a hypcondriac! I'm in serious pain, and at my witts end trying to "persuade" doctors into going in laproscopically to explore what could be wrong! Seems like no one wants to.
I just want this thing out!

Caitlinrg

replied on July 2nd, 2009

New User

Do any of you have these symptoms only right around your period?

woodburymom

replied on August 12th, 2009

New User

I have been having the same symptoms as the rest of you--RUQ pain for 4months. The pain can be on a daily basis but ebbs and flows thru out the day. Some foods seem to make it worse but that isn't always the case. I have had a negative US,HIDA(EF 46%), Abd CT, Colonoscopy, blood work, EGD and today an Endoscopic EGD--ALL NEGATIVE. Can it still be Gallbladder? The pain occ goes into my right shoulder and right side of neck. I supposed the next step is diagnostic exploratory laprascopy. Any advice? Anyone had negative tests but had their Gallbladder removed anyway...And they feel good again. Beyond Frustrustion. Thanks
T

suzanner

replied on August 12th, 2009

New User

Hello there
I, like you, had some similar problems - it wasn't so much when I ate food - i didn't tend to get a gnawing pain (which to me suggests an ulcer). I get terrible pain under my ribcage and between my shoulder blades - I was constantly being sick - couldn't even keep water down and in the end had to be hospitalised as i was dehydrated and it even affected my vision. A consultant found out that there was a problem with my liver (which accounted for the back pain and upper (between the shoulder) pain. After 2 liver biopsies it turned out I had non alcoholic steatosis hepatitis, which basically meant there was fat in my liver. I don't know if anyone has tested you for any of these symptoms - like you my HIDA showed my gallbladder to be very functional, even though I had 'sludge' in my gallbladder, but no stones. I have read on websites that many people have said they have sludge and it causes them such pain - whereas one of my doctors said it would not cause problems, and yet a consultant said it would cause pain!! Who do you believe. I also get IBS and fibromyalgia which also accounts for pain I have. I hope you manage to get things sorted out - apparently most of my problems were down to my liver. It meant a diet change and weight loss. I was so severely sick (vomitting) I didn't think I was going to get through it.
Good luck, from Suzanne

grannyk

replied on August 12th, 2009

New User

Hi to all.. I am 41 and 2 years ago I was going through alot of the pains that you all are discussing shoulder pain and having all of these test done and no conclusive results to support the reasoning in my pain.. my indigestion was so servere that water would bring it on and I couldn't eat anything at all.. my ultrasound came back ok and when I went to my surgeon I had eaten about 10 sunflower seeds just trying to get something in my stomach that didn't create the indigestion about 1 hour after eating them I drove myself straight to my surgeons office in so much pain I couldn't hardly move. He ask me what all I had eaten and drank that day and I told him.. He instantly told me that I was in a full blown gallbladder attack.. I asked how he knew cause we hadn't even discussed the results of any test and he said that the for sure sign for him was peanuts.. he said if anyone is ever in doubt of gallbladder to eat some nuts and if you get uncontrollable pain that is the attack. Come to find out he also told me once we discussed my test that the ultrasound hardly ever told them what they really needed to know.. the hida scan is very reliable and my bile duct was full of stones.. so the sunflower seeds saved me..I thank God for my surgeon he was Heaven sent.. I don't really reccomend eating the peanuts cause it was the worst shoulder and rib pain of my life.. and I litterally drove myself to his office hunched over and could not stand up.. I had surgery two days later.. Good luck to you all and I hope you all find relief VERY VERY soon!! God Bless!

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