Help Me!`

[runnerkat]

So I don't know where to turn! Nobody can figure out what's wrong with me, doctors aren't helping, and the healthcare system is moving so slowly, like it doesn't matter that I'm miserable and in so much pain!!

Basically, I went gluten-free last summer and initially felt better. Slowly I've discovered other food intolerances including dairy and soy. 6 weeks ago I developed a terrible pain in my back that hasn't gone away since then. It is on both sides of my mid-back, right underneath my ribcage and it prevents me from being able to twist around without pain. Sometimes the pain is worse than others, and it's started to wrap around to the front of my body underneath my ribcage when it gets really bad and the pain just radiates throughout the entire area and is absolutely awful!

I've also had diarrhea most mornings that is yellow and leave a floating residue. I have elevated liver enzymes, I'm very underweight, I'm never hungry, and I have amennorhea. Last week, I had a HIDA scan to look at my gallbladder, and they determined that my gallbladder is smaller than it should be and that it performed irregularly when they injected me with the CCK medicine (I think that's what it was called). So my dr referred me to a gallbladder specialist, but I don't have an appointment until MAY 19!!! And I'm absolutely miserable! The pain has started to affect my daily life, which is especially hard since I'm a college student.

Then, last night, I had the worst pain I've ever felt in my front right under my ribcage. It started on the right side and eventually migrated to the left. I was nauseous and the pain was absolutely terrible - so bad that I just wanted to curl up and die. I called my dr., who advised me to go to the hospital, which I reluctantly did. Needless to say, it was a complete waste of time! All they did was take blood and urine samples and determine that I wasn't dying, that I didn't have a gall bladder attack and that I don't have hepatitis. They said they had no idea what was wrong with me, pumped me with morphine (which didn't even help) and sent me on my way. I just feel so depressed and awful right now! Nobody is helping me and I don't even feel like anybody cares to search for an answer. It's like they don't understand that I have to live with this every day and it is completely affecting my life!!

Has anybody had any related experiences or have any idea what might be wrong?!?! I'm desperate at this point!!! I just want to feel better and be able to live my life happily!! Please help me if you can!!

[rinne]

Sorry to hear that you are feeling so badly.

Many people have an initial positive result to go gluten free and then find they have other sensitivities, sounds like you do too.

My thinking is once our digestion collapses it takes time to recover and to recover we must drastically simplify our diets.

What is your diet like now?

[ravenwoodglass]

I am so sorry that you are suffering so much. The first thing I am going to suggest is that you call the office of the doctor that you have an appointment with and ask to be put on the 'cancellation' list. That way if someone calls and cancels you can be gotten in sooner. Also talk to a nurse and explain how much pain you are in and also about the D and the change in stool color.

If this came on suddenly you may also want to ask your doctor to do stool samples to make sure you do not have some sort of food poisoning.

I hope you get some relief soon.

[ranger]

Have they taken a look at your pancreas? It's very painful and very serious. Run - don't walk - to a Doc. Hope your'e feeling better. Let us know

[Rebecca's mom]

Sometimes there can be "sludge" in a person's gallbladder; that wouldn't show up on a blood test, and sometimes it won't show up on an ultrasound, either. I remember when my gallbladder was acting up, I was in severe pain. You may want to have your doctor check this again - unfortunately if if IS your GB, it will need to come out. The good news is that you will feel SO much better once it is out!

[swalker]

Sounds like you need to detox. I'd suggest a master cleanse, reflexology and oil pulling.

[debmidge]

So I don't know where to turn! Nobody can figure out what's wrong with me, doctors aren't helping, and the healthcare system is moving so slowly, like it doesn't matter that I'm miserable and in so much pain!!

Basically, I went gluten-free last summer and initially felt better. Slowly I've discovered other food intolerances including dairy and soy. 6 weeks ago I developed a terrible pain in my back that hasn't gone away since then. It is on both sides of my mid-back, right underneath my ribcage and it prevents me from being able to twist around without pain. Sometimes the pain is worse than others, and it's started to wrap around to the front of my body underneath my ribcage when it gets really bad and the pain just radiates throughout the entire area and is absolutely awful!

I've also had diarrhea most mornings that is yellow and leave a floating residue. I have elevated liver enzymes, I'm very underweight, I'm never hungry, and I have amennorhea. Last week, I had a HIDA scan to look at my gallbladder, and they determined that my gallbladder is smaller than it should be and that it performed irregularly when they injected me with the CCK medicine (I think that's what it was called). So my dr referred me to a gallbladder specialist, but I don't have an appointment until MAY 19!!! And I'm absolutely miserable! The pain has started to affect my daily life, which is especially hard since I'm a college student.

Then, last night, I had the worst pain I've ever felt in my front right under my ribcage. It started on the right side and eventually migrated to the left. I was nauseous and the pain was absolutely terrible - so bad that I just wanted to curl up and die. I called my dr., who advised me to go to the hospital, which I reluctantly did. Needless to say, it was a complete waste of time! All they did was take blood and urine samples and determine that I wasn't dying, that I didn't have a gall bladder attack and that I don't have hepatitis. They said they had no idea what was wrong with me, pumped me with morphine (which didn't even help) and sent me on my way. I just feel so depressed and awful right now! Nobody is helping me and I don't even feel like anybody cares to search for an answer. It's like they don't understand that I have to live with this every day and it is completely affecting my life!!

Has anybody had any related experiences or have any idea what might be wrong?!?! I'm desperate at this point!!! I just want to feel better and be able to live my life happily!! Please help me if you can!!

Question #1: Did any doctor do a sonogram or MRI of your abdomen?

You sound like I did almost 2 years ago. I had my gallbladder removed.

Please check out this link. He's a gallbaldder speciatlist/gastro here in NJ. I learned about him after I had my gallbladder removed.

You absolutely are saying the same things and having the same experience I had in 2007 - the smell of food made me nauseous. Your post sounds like it was written by me (minus the gluten free issues and my gallbladder was normal sized).

As I got sicker, my liver enzymes went up and I lost almost 20 lbs. in a month's time as I was not eating and had constant diarrhea - which 3 gastro doctors said wasn't from the gallbladder ( I later discovered on my own that it was from the bile salt irritating my IBS).

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Anyway, I had HIDA scan and passed it - but got my gallbladder removed by a surgeon who felt it was the best idea after hearing my symptoms. Some weeks after removal of gallbladder I felt better but had diarrhea still. I am on Questran for the diarrea and sometimes Immodium and Nexium for the gastritis from the bile salts . My gallbladder was biopsied after surgery and I was diagnosed with a bad gallbladder - similiar to having a bad appendix I suppose.

It's almost 2 years later and I still have issues with bile salts giving me pain in back and midriff and diarrhea and the Nexium with Questran and Immodium is appearing to take care of it. I started Nexium about 1 month ago as the back pains were getting worse and I had midriff pain (again).

I feel that taking my gallbladder out was the correct thing to do and that I did not have Habba Syndrome, but it's reasonable for you to check out Habba Syndrome as I believe Dr. Habba uses Questran to help his patients first before suggesting gallbladder removal.

Keep in mind that your symptoms can also be an indication of another digestive disease, not necessarily gallbladder in nature. I suggest Immodium until you have your appointment - it'll help - unless you are already using it and you are having diarrhea thru the Immodium. Tell the doctor that if that is the case.

Best wishes on your May 19th appointment.