Acalculous Gallbladder Disease?

[BlueEyezz]

For nearly a year now, I have been experiencing what I think are gallbladder attacks. The week after they occur, I have a light throbbing pain in the upper right area just below the ribs.  When I went to the doctor after having the first of  these episodes, I ended up going through an ultrasound to see if there was a possibility of stones. There were none.  After that, I endured many other tests to pinpoint the cause of my pain. I did the barium swallow test as well as having an endoscopy and colonoscopy done.  My gastroenterologist took a shot in the dark and said IBS.  But I don't even have the typical symptoms of someone with IBS. I'm very frustrated.
I finally spoke to another doctor in September, who was about to put me through another ultrasound to verify there were no stones, then I would have the HIDA scan to determine the functionality of the gallbladder.
However, just a week after this doctor's visit, I was laid off.  I now have no insurance and am freaking out. I obviously did not have either of these tests done because of the insurance issue.
I have felt absolutely terrible this week, and while I have not had any SEVERE pain, the nausea is back and the throbbing pinpointed pain is as well.  This usually happens every couple of months, where I'll have just a terrible week of feeling HORRIBLE.
I don't know what to do.  I have no insurance, and I guess I just don't want to run to the ER if it is not absolutely necessary.  When should I be 100% concerned about my condition? When do I need to go? And what should I watch out for.  The likelihood of my getting insurance is at least a few months away, and I'm so scared that this time, I'll won't feel better.

[BlueEyezz]

Hello, anyone??

[Jaybay]

I guess you can afford the COBRA payments?  What will be more expensive: COBRA or paying out-of-pocket for a known medical problem that may include surgery?  Sell whatever you have to, or adjust your budget however you have to in order to keep that coverage.  It may not be too late.  I'm "thinking" you have up to 90 days to decide.  Of course, you'd have to pay premiums back to your lay-off date.  You can also probably explain the situation to the doc who ordered the HIDA scan and try to work out some kind of payment plan with him and the facility where the test will be done.  Most hospitals are more than willing to do this.

You really need to get the HIDA scan done, and that's an expensive test.  If it turns out your gallbladder isn't functioning properly, it will probably need to come out.  All you can do in the meanwhile is stick to a low- to no-fat diet.  When you eat fat, the gallbladder contracts to eject its stored supply of bile that helps break down the fats.  If your gb isn't functioning, or stones are blocking it, you'll experience pain, nausea, and even vomiting or diarrhea.  Some people with bad gallbladders will have very greasy stools because fat isn't properly digested.  Keep a food diary so you can help yourself figure out what foods are better or worse.  It might help your doctor with a diagnosis as well.

Since you don't have stones, you may be able to manage symptoms for quite some time through diet alone.  It just takes some experimentation.  Then again, it may be something else like Spincter of Oddi dysfunction or something altogether different.  

[BlueEyezz]

No, the COBRA payments are well over $600 monthly. There's no way. I was thinking of applying for catastrophic/emergency insurance through Blue Cross/Blue Shield or something. I can better afford a plan that, while it may have a higher deductible than my previous insurance, it will be tons better than nothing.

You are right, though, it's definitely my diet that affects this.  I notice that if I go through a time of eating a lot of not-so-great for me foods, I end up going through this.  I hope to keep this up for at least a couple more months until I get insurance again. :(

[Jaybay]

I hear you - I've been in the same boat before and it's not fun.  I had to pay off a surgery when I had no insurance and it took a good 3 years, but I did it and no bad marks on my credit.  Whoo hooo!  :-)

At least you know now pretty much what you need to avoid in the food department.  No more fast food for you until you get this sorted out.  :-)

[women_2020]

Hello I just wanted to say I have to agree with Jaybay with his advice, he said it all pretty well. I too went through what your going through with GB pain, and the ultra sound didnt show anything. A few weeks later I had the hida scan and it showed a injection fraction of 17% which was very low. They did take my GB out almost four months later , but for me it didnt cure the pain. As Jay mentioned above I ended up having sphincter of oddi dysfuntion, and boy did that take for ever to get a dx! Almost three years later to be exact, and it took me going through every test you can think of, four different GIs, and finally a 14 hour drive to MN to see a specialist named Dr Freeman. I spent about a week there having test, and also had a ERCP done to put stents in my panc & biarly ducts. He also dx me with SOD 3 , and mild chronic pancreatitis while I was there. I was so relieved to finally have some answers, even though to you that must sound nuts lol. If you think this is your GB then just try and eat right, if you smoke that will cause pain too, no drinking, and sometimes heavy lifting bothered mine . I hope you find a way to get some help and feel better, I know the pain I had was horriable! Good luck and if you ever need any questions answered about GBs or SOD feel free to contact me, my addy is in yahoo/and email name is women_2020, I had to write it that way because they dont let you list whole emails here ( they block them ) hehe. Also I run a support group that you can also contact me at..........http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Sphincterofoddi_pancreatitis/