Gi Doc No Help. Seriously Frustrated.

[emilykay405]

I saw my GI on Wednesday. He basically said that I don't have Celiac based on my test results (not that surprised) and completely blew off any of my other questions about it. His opinion is that all my symptoms are coming from a malfunctioning gallbladder. Ultrasound and HIDA scan for that Monday.

 

Some of my symptoms are definitely coming from my gallbladder. If I had doubts before, the poking and prodding he did at the appointment that hurt for hours afterward cleared that up.

 

However, I do know that no all my symptoms are caused by it. I still have fatigue, uncontrolled GERD, brain fog, inflammation, the scalp rash (which of course has mostly cleared up so I can't go to a dermatologist), etc, etc. And even with various medications my Sjogren's is still not under control. My SED rate keeps getting higher and higher. So I am gluten free, as of now.

 

Just needed to vent a little...not even sure this is the right board for it. =c)

[cyclinglady]

Let's be positive!  At least you're getting a HIDA scan.  A non-functioning gallbladder can cause serious problems!  I had mine out 7 years ago and the HIDA scan showed 0% functionality!  The pain was so severe that I passed out!  It's a family curse but all other previous scans/tests showed that I didn't have stones and that it looked okay.  It took years of working and not working before it started to rot (infection).  Finally, they caught it with the HIDA scan.  

 

That said, once you get results from your scan you can address your GERD issues which may resolve when your gallbladder is removed.   I believe there is a diet to help with GERD if you find that your GB is okay.   It all else fails, stick to the gluten-free diet.   

 

To get relief now, try to avoid fatty foods.  It was the rack of lamb that did me in finally!  Ha!  

[emilykay405]

I think mine is a family curse too. My Mom had hers out a while ago and they had to do the HIDA to see it wasn't working.

 

I will be glad to have it gone though. I deal with the big D enough...waking me up in the middle of the night is icing on the cake plus all the other nonsense it causes.

 

I actually started bringing my lunch to work today, gluten-free, too. I haven't felt this good after lunch in a long time.

[cyclinglady]

I think that I coaxed my gallbladder along for years after I identified foods that bothered me.  But, waking up in the middle of the night can definitely be a sign of a non-functioning gallbladder.  I'm glad you're feeling better today.  

[LauraTX]

I have gallbladder polyps and I haven't had a HIDA scan, I can tell this thing hates me with a vengeance and doesn't work right.  It used to respond to bad foods, now it just hurts whenever it wants.  About once a month I am up all night screaming.  I need to get it taken out, but I am putting it off as long as I can because I have a lot of other health things going on.  According to my GI, my severe GERD is at least partially because of my gallbladder.  Of course there is a lot of overlapping there, but I do hope for you that maybe they are able to find fault with your gallbladder and yank that sucker out, and hopefully it will help.  

 

But overall, if you feel better on a gluten-free diet, by all means do it.  No one knows your body as well as you do because you can feel things they cannot.   A lot of what ails us has blurred boundaries with what causes what.  If you go gluten-free on your own accord, maybe go see a different GI doctor who knows about gluten intolerance, once all your other health problems get under control a little more and you have time to mess with the gluten issue again.  But I know a girl who I am pretty sure has celiac and DH, but she went gluten-free on her own years ago, it fixed her rashes, and she has no intention of going back on gluten just so they can test and get an official medical answer.  

[LauraTX]

By the way I love your lovely bird hat

[emilykay405]

Thanks LauraTX! That's my Sun Conure, Beaker.

 

Really, the HIDA scan is just a hoop to jump through...I know it needs to be taken out but it has to be confirmed, blah, blah, blah. I'm planning on getting it out before the end of the year so I don't have to give my first born child for a deductible.

[shadowicewolf]

HIDA scan is what identified my gallbladder as not working right, everything else came out normal.