Have bad gallbladder - is pain on left side related?

[kickanxietysbutt]

I'm hoping there's somebody out there who's had gallstones or sludge that can tell me whether or not they've had pain more often on the left side of the body than the right.  An ultrasound confirmed that I have both sludge and stones, and after five months of pain and not knowing what's going on, I was thrilled to hear that the problem is something so easy to fix.  I know gallbladder pain is traditionally associated with the right side of the body, but up until a week and a half ago, I had no pain whatsoever on that side.  I have had a lot of upper back pain just to the left of my spine, tons of acid reflux, left rib pain, and before I had a lot of pain on my left side (hip / abdomen area), which has since subsided.  Now I have pain all over, but I'm wondering if anybody else has experienced pain like mine, more on the left side.  The ultrasound tech and the nurse I saw said pain on the left side of the body is fairly common, but the surgeon said those symptoms don't sound related.  Anybody have any insight?

[Lovethesummer]

My endoscopic ultrasound didn't show anything.  Now I am going to have another Hida scan.  The last one was 5 years ago and it shows low functioning gallbladder.  Let us know if you find out if the left sided pain ended up going away with gallbladder surgery as it did for others in this thread.  Thanks!

[a2005h]

I have had left upper abdominal pain/ left shoulder blade pain since january, and on occasion, nausea and horrible diarrhea accompanied the pain. I was first sent for a colonoscopy, which was a-ok, and then finally my PA scheduled a hidascan, which revealed a low functioning gall bladder. I see a surgeon on the 22nd, so hopefully I'll know more then.

Has anyone with similar symptoms to these also felt like the left part of your stomach was moving a lot and "knocking" really hard. Everything I have read about the gall bladder has talked about right side pain, which i do not have at all. My symptoms to however relate to those with pancreatitis, hmmmmm.....I just hope I get the answers to make it all go away, asap!

[Bekahlorraine3]

I also experience the stomach knocking. It's so uncomfortable :(((. Did you ever find any relief or answers?

[Aevans93]

I have had left side pain under my rib for 2 months now and just over the past 2 weeks I've developed right side pain. I've also had constipation, diarrhea, nausea and sometimes vomiting, headaches, chills and low grade fevers. It does hurt more when I eat. I've had all Upper GI test the only thing they found was red lining in my stomach and my Hida scan showed a high EF of 81% and I have heard a too high fraction can be bad also. Gallbladder disease runs on both sides of my family. I'm having my gallbladder removed first thing tomorrow so I hope this is the answer and solution to my problems I have a 13 month old baby boy I need to be healthy for. I hope and pray everyone else finds answers.

[Lovethesummer]

Thank you for your post.  I am a mother too and have left sided pain.  I had a hida a while ago that showed a low functioning gallbladder.  The pain was on the right side.  I didn't do anything because the pain went away. Now the pain is not going away.  I had a baby 5 months ago.  A CT and an ultrasound have not shown anything.  I am having an endoscopic ultrasound to look closer.  I am hoping it is my gallbladder.  I'll post again when I know more.  

[srw2111]

Thanks for the information. I was referred by GP because of severe left upper quadrant pain and nausea which began over Christmas but by January was unbearable. My scan showed a large stone and sludge in my gallbladder and although I specifically asked the sonographer to check my pancreas, as this was where the pain was, I was told that the pancreas seemed clear. I have had pain in the centre and right side occasionally and I made sure I kept saying that mostly the pain and discomfort was on the left but no one seemed to want to confirm or deny that this was gallbladder related. I was scheduled for surgery in March but op was cancelled due to illness so now have a date for later this month. I am hopeful that this will be the end of this misery.

[lkkk08]

Thank you for your post. I have been having left side pain under my ribs and up through my shoulders. My mother had her gall bladder out after having me, and I was wondering if this could be a gall bladder issue after delivering my daughter 10 months ago. Any particular reason why mothers would feel it more on the left?

[blondie1212016]

I have had left sided pain for over 2 yrs or more..Then the right side, in my ribs and also shoulder pain..The shoulder pain feels like someone is ripping it out..A few years back they found stones but have been to scared to have it out..They say you get really sick and hurt just as bad as if it was left in there..So I've held off..Not sure how much longer I can take the pain..The left side is all swelled.. although my doctor swears it's not coming from my gall bladder but I say it is..