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Original poster

Reflux or gallbladder ?

35 replies

Runwayqueen · 09/03/2013 01:04

I'm on omoprozole (sp) for what my gp has suggested is reflux. I thought I had got the reflux under control but in the last four weeks I've had 3 bouts of severe pain. It's much more intense than the pain I've associated with the reflux, and it happens regardless of taking the omoprozole. A colleague has suggested possible gallbladder issue, as the pain is so much more intense, and along with the severe bouts I've also been in discomfort with although much more mildly. Pain is accompanied by vomiting.

Anybody had anything similar?

OP posts:

Zavi · 09/03/2013 01:57

Yes, sounds like it could be gall-bladder (most common in over-weight females above the age of 40).

But you really need to go back to your GP.

Reflux does not cause intense pain.

Troubledjo · 09/03/2013 02:11

I had gallstones and eventually had my gall bladder removed. It was really intense pain (worse than childbirth!) and I was frequently sick but from the severity of the pain rather than anything else. For me it wasn't connected to what I ate, but for some people it has diet triggers (usually fatty food). The pain lasted anything from around an hour to 4 or 5 hours. If you go to the doctors you should be able to get an appointment for a scan which will show whether you have gall stones or not (although lots of people have them without causing problems - it's only when they move that it hurts). You need to get it checked out because if they get stuck in whatever the tube is they go down, they can cause infection.

Original poster

Runwayqueen · 09/03/2013 08:40

Thank you for getting back to me. It will be the third time of going to the docs about reflux so hopefully she will listen

OP posts:

Inthebeginning · 09/03/2013 08:47

If the pain gets really bad go to a and e. My drs were useless because I didn't fit the bracket (mine were caused by me losing weight). I had a weekend if such intense pain that dh took me to a and e. Gallbladder was full to bursting and infected and they rushed me in and did emergancy surgery.

gingeroots · 09/03/2013 09:55

I think it's not uncommon for reflux to cause chest pain ,often a pain so bad that people mistake it for a heart attack .

But obviously whichever it is it needs sorting ,so definitely go back to GP .

Original poster

Runwayqueen · 09/03/2013 13:20

Funny you say about weight loss, in sept 2011 h left, I was 15st, have now gone down to just under 11, having gone down to 10st, but come up again. Whilst I was 15st I had no problems at all. Strange

I defiantly feel able to distinguish the pain now, the recent pain has been so much worse than what I know to be reflux. Today I can feel the duller pain which is how the last bad pain attack started, seriously hoping it amounts to nothing. Shall certainly ring gp Monday

OP posts:

Amani · 10/03/2013 11:41

Hi runwayqueen,
I am in exactly the same boat as you. Chronic pain under right rib cage, chest pains, bloated everything I eat and headaches, left breast hurts like mad. Been on omopazol (sp) for over a month, no relief. hAd scans, bloods and come out clear...awaiting endoscopy result. Overall feel like &@£!. Going to see gp on Thursday...What is with me....????

Amani · 10/03/2013 11:44

Query - would stomach/relux issues caused pain in breast? I keep getting these shooting pain which hurt like mad for a couple of seconds then go...?

ShotgunNotDoingThePans · 10/03/2013 13:15

The overweight thing is a fallacy I think. I was told at my pre-op scan that losing a lot of weight quickly is the likely cause. The ultrasound operator looked skeptical when I told her this has never happened to me - but then I remembered that I put on about 4 stone with my first two pgs (carb overload to quell morning sickness). The excess weight fell away once I was bf and eating normally and I never thought anything of it. But it was when my second DC was a toddler that the pains started.
Also not necessarily related to diet for me - stress was more of a trigger.

I does sound like the gb and it's horrible. Had mine out before Christmas but I'm now finding dietary advice I didn't come across before (not the dreaded gb flush), and I wish I'd tried a few supplements/dietary changes for a while first.
I do feel better now but have been left with a belly that feels like a sack of spuds hanging off the front of me - so am having to take supplements/implement dietary changes anyway.

Anyway, priorities: get yourself checked out and I hope it's sorted quickly.
Maybe try a hot water bottle on the painful spot, that sometimes helped me.

wrenster · 10/03/2013 20:47

I'm in a similar position actually. On Omeprazole (only for a week) as started having acid/indigestion issues. Don't feel it's helping hugely as the pain won't seem to go away. It's not horrendous just there constantly a dull ache under my right rib cage and food just sitting in my stomach it feels like. Very uncomfortable and it's making me very nervous about eating anything at all.

Hoping Gp will help me some more this week!

No real advice, but you're not alone and I hope the pain will go

BettySuarez · 10/03/2013 21:04

Glad I have found this thread, have been experiencing some symptoms that could be Gall Bladder but need to go and see doc and some of it just doesn't add up.

Pain under ribcage on my left hand side (although it also radiated across to the the other side and also sits centrally)

It also seems to radiate to my left shoulder blade but it's relieved by burping!

Could this be reflux?

I have also had stabbing pains around my tummy button and a pulling sensation in lower abdomen.

Oh and I'm fat and forty!

ripsishere · 11/03/2013 05:26

I had pancreatitis, diagnosed as gastritis. I've never felt pain like it. IIRC, I had a month in hospital with daily blood tests for an enzyme whose name I forget.
Can you ask your GP for that. The bloods, rather than the in patient stay.

triplets · 11/03/2013 22:14

My 24yr old niece had her first baby in Sept and has been really unwell ever since. She started getting pain under her rib cage, thought it was reflux/maybe an ulcer. She went to her gp many times, fobbed off with pain killers. Then 2 weeks ago the pain got much worse and she was taken into hospital, they scanned and found gall stones and an over large gall bladder. She now has an appt to have her gall bladder removed. It also affected her liver, she was jaundiced and had very itchy skin. Hope you get sorted soon.

BettySuarez · 11/03/2013 22:30

Managed to get GP appointment today and now waiting for abdominal scan and bloods so at least investigations soon to be underway.

Funny you mention about itchy skin as I have noticed tingly skin on my shins and forearms this evening. But I'm sure it's easy to imagine have of these symptoms

BettySuarez · 11/03/2013 22:58

How you feeling now OP?

ChookKeeper · 11/03/2013 23:18

Hope you get sorted soon. I had my gallbladder out two weeks ago having had 3 attacks of biliary colic. I thought the first was just really bad indigestion but I work in a GP practice and after the second attack was advised to see my own doctor as my symptoms pointed towards gallstones. A scan and blood tests confirmed the problem and my doctor referred me for surgery. All was straightforward and I'm back at work after a fortnight off.

ihearsounds · 12/03/2013 00:04

Mine started nearly a year ago. Completely erratic and random. Mine is a pain in the middle of the chest that shoots to the back, between the shoulder blades. It is horrendous. It wakes me in the middle of the night. The pain also comes with difficulties breathing. I will start to burn up, even to the touch and I will sweat loads. The only relief I get after a couple of hours is to throw up, and it's not your normal looking vomit. I am then usually extremely weak and will almost crawl to bed and sleep. By which time I look like shit and not really coherent. It is really scary tbh.

Mine is reflux. Have had various tests and scans. Tried various meds. My diet was closely monitored to see if there was a trigger, which unfortunately there wasn't, only known risk factor was coffee, which even after cutting out didnt do anything. I don't smoke. Alcohol wasn't a trigger. Am not overweight and not over 40 yet (all of which are known risks).

Ask for a scan to check your gallbladder. Ask for urine and faecal samples to check there isn't an infection, as an infection can cause these pains. Also ask for blood test for infections. Get checked for diabetes. Ask for an endoscopy. Then there's something called a manomentry, plus other tests than can be done including a ph test. Also consider IBS.

Thankfully I have a decent gp, who checked all the above, plus more that involved more tubes inserted. Now its just trying to find a permanent solution that hopefully doesn't include surgery.

Original poster

Runwayqueen · 13/03/2013 20:23

I've been really crap at ringing the docs, I keep thinking they are just going to fob me off. Boyfriend has been nagging me to go so if I don't go soon he will march me down to make an appointment. In the meantime I've done the one thing I know the gp will tell me to do and put myself on a low fat diet. No severe pains yet but again can feel constant milder pains.

Will ring them 2moro (I have always feared GPS btw) thank you for asking

OP posts:

wrenster · 13/03/2013 20:47

Can I recommend something?

My acupuncturist (who is an amazing man!) lent me a fantastic book about all of this called Good Gut Healing by Kathryn Marsden. I have already read it cover to cover and taken on board all of the advice re foods and general habits. I'm already seeing a difference (in a few days) and I was actually eating completely the wrong types of food to try and ease my pain. it covers all issues from gall bladder/IBS/reflux/hiatus hernia/bloating/ulcers.

He also recommended Food Combining by the same author which I've ordered as I'm thinking I'm probably going to be in this for the long haul and the more I can help myself rather than relying on medication is a good thing I think.

Hope this might help someone

Original poster

Runwayqueen · 14/03/2013 17:57

Docs booked for 2moro

OP posts:

Original poster

Runwayqueen · 15/03/2013 17:39

Back from the docs, with a prescription for co-codomol and a number to call for an ultrasound. It wasn't my normal doc, she was lovely and listened and explained. I've been told to stop taking the omoprozole and to reduce my fat intake as much as possible

OP posts:

Original poster

Runwayqueen · 04/04/2013 21:16

Scan 2moro morning, really hoping it shows gallstones because I certainly can not put up with this pain much longer (although I guess I will because of waiting lists). 2 more attacks since I first posted even with low fat diet

OP posts:

Amani · 05/04/2013 11:53

Runawayqueen ? same boat as you ? (I?ve got another thread going on same issue). My bloods and ultrasound came out clear for gall bladder issue, however am pending the results of CT scan. Horrible pain below right cage and down right hand side of abdomen ? feels like my insides are burning today (as opposed to a digesting glass feeling yesterday) and can feel the pain all down my back.. Consultant is on leave for two weeks so playing the waiting game?. 

MyPlugInBaby · 05/04/2013 12:15

How did the scan go? I hope you've got some answers.

Did yesterday's wedges do anything?

Original poster

Runwayqueen · 06/04/2013 21:57

Well I was told 1-2week wait for results but got a call from gp asking me to go in Monday morning, so will find out then.

Wedges not to repeated

OP posts:

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