Undetected Gallbladder issues on ultrasound anyone?

[IamOliveOil]

For the last 6 months maybe longer I’d been suffering with abdominal pain in the area just under breast top of my rib, repeatedly been to the gp who advised it was costochondritis, I didn’t believe it was as had this years ago and it was in a different area, anyway after weeks of taking naproxen it didn’t make a dent and actually gave me some gastritis symptoms.

My GP referred me to gastro for investigations and whilst awaiting the app through work, in the mean time I had a few trips to A&E in extreme agony in my right flank front and back in rib cage area where a Doctor (finally physically examined me) suspected Gallstones, my bloods weren’t concerning for them to take any action and told me best thing to do is wait for the private app as I’m not in dire straits for anyone do any emergency investigations so I was packed off and told to take codeine and buscopan and keep on a very low fat diet.
Finally had an ultrasound which showed all normal, also had a endoscopy which showed a 2cm sliding hiatal hernia, I’ve since end of Oct have been on a strict diet of zero fat basically nothing over 5grams per 100grams and this has brought it under control however still having some pain when eating in the right flank front and back but managing on paracetamol and minor amounts of codeine. I am still getting terrible gas, diarrhoea, I’ve lost an unhealthy amount of weight in a very short space of time and very concerned.

I’m booked in for a CT scan and wondered has anyone had gallbladder issues that went undetected on an Ultrasound that were found from further scans like CT etc?

I’m so miserable, I’ve not left the house since mid Oct as I just struggle to find stuff I can eat that doesn’t cause pain and isn’t cooked on oils etc so just desperate to know of any other experiences, wondering if it’s all in my head at this point…

appreciate any responses, thank you in advance

No scan - just blood tests. The enzymes go rocket sky high and the bilibruin too which are signs of fatty liver and jaundice. Then they come down again and I'm made to feel like a fruit loop. Despite the pain, tiredness and malaise.

Can u ask for a fibro scan for liver or more liver investigations ?

Hi lovely people

thanks for all your messages and advice, spent a few days feeling sorry for myself and then went to see my consultant Tuesday. HIDA showed 50% ejection and I think normal is anything over 35%

During the appointment I was a madwomen between rage and crying out of desperation for more investigations, he was basically saying there is no more he can do and needs to refer me for a second opinion to a gastroenterologist (he is upper GI and general surgery) I wasn’t aware there was much difference but anyway…

Whilst trying to comfort me he showed me emails from himself to the radiologist, the consultant admitted to me that when he saw the scan showing an 8mm nodule in the gallbladder he expected that due to my symptoms it would need to come out, but as the radiologist had said it seemed normal as showed in a scan in 2021 no action taken!
I explained about family history and that I’ve been suffering with referred pain since mid 2022 which I was sent to rheumatology for!
Funny how they didn’t mention this nodule before, it was noted as just a thickening! Anyway after I pretty much begged he agreed to go back to the radiologist and ask for an MRI, I was quite forceful among the lines of ‘when you speak to the radiologist please ask them how they would feel not leaving the house for 6 months, not eating, losing their social life not to mention living in pain and lack of sleep!’ So hurrrahh I’m being sent for an MRCP scan. Pray for me!!

I’m not clued up on these things but why is the radiologist calling all the shots here just because something was visible 2 years prior to it potentially being an issue doesn’t mean it’s not the culprit surely?

Will keep you posted, thanks for your support 💐❤️

Fingers crossed for you OP - I hope you get the bloody thing out sooner rather than later.

My symptoms sound very like yours. I also have a sliding hiatus hernia, oesophagitis and diverticulosis. I had an endoscopy and colonoscopy just before Christmas and the results and symptoms lead to a diagnosis of GERD or GORD. The consultant has prescribed Proton Pump Inhibitors (lansoprazole) which I am pinning all my hopes on. Only started them two days ago and I will be delighted if they work. Might be worth trying? Good luck with your treatment.

Almost 30 years ago I had terrible recurrent bouts of pain that was mainly in my back on the right. It would come on in seconds, last for hours and then go away just as quickly. I used to be crouched on the floor, writhing around and searching for a more comfortable position. I had lots of endoscopies and none of them showed anything. Eventually I saw a gastroenterologist privately, and he agreed to remove my gall bladder. After that the problem went away.

I hope they can get to the bottom of your problem, OP. There's just nothing worse than being in terrible pain but tests keep failing to find the cause. I was self-employed at the time in a busy job, and I kept having people tell me it was all stress-related. Fingers crossed that it is a gall bladder problem and that they can remove it, because if that's the case then almost certainly you'll be absolutely fine afterwards

@IamOliveOil
How is everything going?

Thanks for the messages all and reaching out @mechanicalpencil
Since I begged for the mri had a few flare ups ended up in hospital on morphine around the 6th Feb, they found
adenomyomatosis which they explained as a small fatty deposit that shouldn’t cause this issue… I’ve gone for a second opinion as thankfully I’m private through work so previously saw upper GI and bariatric now with Gastroenterologist who is looking deeper into my pancreas as the last attack was mainly on my left, have seen him for consult and going for bloods and to drop in stool tests. I still have this constant pain my right so personally think my gallbladder is responsible but the Upper GI surgeon wants to me to check he hasn’t missed anything with the gastro so let’s see how we go! He did admit that if I hadn’t had that CT in 2021 he would be recommending removal of gallbladder so not sure why the fact I am in pain and still on a limited diet isn’t enough to sway it…

I’ve come off the omeprazole completely and will not be going back, it was not helping and actually feel better weaning off it.
I have been taking digestive enzymes with each meal and a 50 billion probiotic daily and that has held off for now although I’m still on zero fat but hoping this new guy will sort me out! Keep you posted 💐