Bile buildup in bottom of stomach

[gyantis]

I am a 61 year-old male who (perhaps) has a gallbladder problem.    Two weeks ago I suddenly awoke with an EXTREME sharp pain in the spot I have read pain from a sudden gallstone blockage of the bile canal(?) is found.   I could not straighten up or walk into the ER but was feeling better even by the time I reached the ER.  I had a sonogram which showed nothing.   I felt nauseous and bloated.   I had NO appetite.  Eating at all increases the nausea and still does.  

The ER doctor performed sonogram then had a CT scan done.  It showed several minor diverticulitis infections  (I was already aware I have that condition and carefully watch my diet) but I had and have no pain in the colon area that does become painful when a diverticulitis infection becomes severe (none in several years).   I was given prescriptions for Cipro, Flagyl and Sucralfate then sent home.  I was also told to have an endoscopy as I had ulcers last year due to too taking many aspirin due to another medical problem (although this pain was not in the area where the ulcers occurred).  

The endoscopy showed no ulcers but did show a significant buildup of bile in the bottom of my stomach; the same area where I have felt nauseous and bloated for many months.   By then (ten days after the attack) the pain in my right middle stomach area had dropped considerably.   My endocrinologist had no answer for the buildup of bile in my stomach except to keep me on Sucralfete to see if the bile buildup would go away on its own.   A check of my medical records shows he put me on the same medication several years ago when I first complained about the same dull nauseous feeling in the bottom of my stomach; the same symptoms as now.    I still have a dull ache where a gallstone would become lodged and, perhaps, temporarily blocked the canal.  No sharp pain has reoccurred.  I have reduced my diet to a very low calorie one (several cans of Slim-Fast a day) and I feel better by the low caloric intake.  But I a losing weight rapidly and just Slim-Fast (and Jell-O plus yogurt) cannot be a long-term healthy diet.  

I am wondering if a passing gallstone might have caused a temporary full blockage but cleared by the time the sonogram was conducted.  The sharp pain has gone but the dull pain remains to this day.    The pain was sharp and extreme for only a hour and had dropped 80% by the time I reached the ER.   Could the current dull pain be from the damage the passage of the gallstone did?  

But, most important, what might cause a buildup of bile in the bottom of the stomach?  My doctor is having me do nothing other than take Sucralfate before meals which makes no difference in how I feel.   And, as I say, my meals are now almost nothing nor am I hungry due to the nauseous feeling where the excess bile buildup is located.   I have also taken one Nexium each morning since the ulcer problem of a year ago.  

Should I consider additional testing and/or treatment or surgery up to, and including, removal of my gallbladder?  Would that remove the constant excess buildup of bile in my stomach?

As it is now, I am tired, lethargic, mildly ache all over, mildly nauseous ("pit" of my stomach), mild ache where a gallstone blockage would have occurred (if it did) and my life is suddenly confined to trying to sleep as much as possible and then just sit in a chair as the symptoms get no better or worse.  My endocrinologist doesn't seem concerned and did not even schedule a follow-up visit.   In the meantime, my life has almost stopped.

Thank you in advance to anyone who provides me advice or comments.

Gary in Kansas

[vansie22]

Hi Gary, I know its a few years after you made this post, but I wonder whatever happened?  Did you discover what was wrong with you?  I was diagnosed with having pancreatitis about 4 months ago.  I several bouts of it and was hospitalized three times.  I did the typical treatment and didnt eat or drink for a few days and then they slowly put me back on a diet.  But the pain never fully went away.  And on top of that, when I eat anything (and I mean anything, even just a few sips of broth or even if I eat nothing), I develop a lot of bile buildup in my stomach.  I know that because I will become sicker and sicker (nauseous and it gets worse and worse) until i literally cannot do anything.  And I will eventually vomit and when I vomit, I will vomit a HUGE amount of yellow, caustic fluid.  Even if I ate nothing that day or just a few sips of broth, I will literally vomit a gallon to two gallons of yellow bile filled water, like fluid.  It is horrible tasting, and it goes on and on for about 5-10 minutes.  The ONLY time I feel ok is when I have recently vomited that much, though.  It is like my stomach is filling and once it is emptied of that vile bile, then I feel ok.  That is, until it starts filling again, usually within 12 hours.  The doctors keep saying its related somehow to the pancreatititis, but I KNOW that it is something more.  ALso, how long am I expected to feel like this?  I cannot work.  I cannot do anything because I feel so bad.  Anyway, if anyone has any suggestions, I will listen!  

Thanks,
Vanessa

[gyantis]

Sorry, I meant my gastroenterologist not endocrinologist.    I am on pain medication and not thinking clearly.