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All Normal Gall Bladder tests

I've heard that even with a HIDA test for the Gall Bladder it can come out normal, but the Gall Bladder still is the issue.  My doctor said there are many times that all the Gall Bladder tests have come out negative, but they removed the Gall Bladder because everything was pointing to that.  In a lot of those cases all the problems went away.  I'm due to see the surgeon for a consultation Wednesday April 3rd 2013 at 11:00am to see about having this last test and discuss all that I've been dealing with.  Wondering what's going to happen.  I WON'T have surgery unless a test confirms that's the problem.  Anybody else know what the problem could be if it's not a Gall Bladder problem, but it's all symptoms of the Gall Bladder?
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2827584 tn?1340579696
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I'm not sure exactly what you are referring to when you say that all symptoms point to the gallbladder. The unfortunate reality is that there is no single symptom that specifically points to the gallbladder. There is significant overlap of symptoms with problems such as peptic ulcer disease, reflux, and numerous functional GI issues. I'm not sure what you are asking in your post. It sounds like you are saying that you have typical gallbladder symptoms but, for some reason, have to see a surgeon before getting a full evaluation. In the current era, approximately 20% of gallbladders that are removed are removed due to gallbladder dysfunction. Data document a 93% rate of symptom resolution in this group. Generally, before operating on these patients, other upper gastrointestinal disorders must be ruled out.
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Avatar universal
A related discussion, Gallbladder pain? was started.
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A related discussion, Gall bladder surgery was started.
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A related discussion, Hida scan normal but gallbladder sludge present was started.
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A related discussion, gallbladder was started.
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it was during the test and after that i was ok... not really serious but now i get pain all day no matter what i eat.
Helpful - 0
2827584 tn?1340579696
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Did you experience any aggravation of the pain when they gave the CCK?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
i have been having this pain that doesnt go away. it started 3 years ago and it comes and go. but since late last year i have been having this pain that doesnt go and i have been in pain ever since then. the pain is under my right rib cage and i feel like passing out due to pain  whenever i eat spicy of fatty food.my ultra sound,endoscopy and cat scan came back normal. my hida scan injection fraction was 35% and my GI said it was normal but suggest i take out my gallbladder and if not the gallbladder then its my bileduct.am so much in pain and discomfort and i take elavil for my pain and insomnia due to the pain and my low appetite.
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2827584 tn?1340579696
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
It sounds very frustrating. Can you be more specific about your tests?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
this has beeen going on for about 3 years and my life has been on hold with no solution.. i cant function with all this pain.i have chills and waist pain and pain under my right rib cage that shot up from my stomach to my chest and my colar bone and neck. the discomfort under my right rib cage is unbearable and it feel like hard rock with so much pain.my stool looks like clay, dizziness,nausea,light headache, low appetite and lost 35 pounds. food sticking out of my throat after meals. pain when i eat and pain when i dont. i have surffering. i have spent alot of money doing test and all came back normal.i feel weak and tired with no energy but yet everythng came back normal.am in pain 24/7 spreading all over my body and the pain from my right rib cage dont  ever go away, its sits there and spread all over. my GI surggest i have my gall bladder out and the surgeon wants me to do more test and now they came back normal. Hida scan.2 ultra sound, Endoscopy,CT scan and blood work.i have been to the ER several times at first i thought i was having a heart attack. please i need your advice on what to do.am Deppress and dont know what to do.
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Avatar universal
Christopher R Watter, MD, I cannot THANK YOU enough for your reply.  I've been dealing with pain/discomfort under my right rib that radiates to my side and back.  More so, it's a feeling that something is there that doesn't belong a discomfort/inflammation type feeling.  I've had the following: Indigestion, nausea, burping, runs if I eat the wrong things like chicken soup, loss of appetite, unable to eat without this uncomfortable full feeling like I had a Thanksgiving meal, but I've only eaten 5 crackers with cottage cheese type thing.  I've only been eating 1 slice of toast with peanut butter and jelly for breakfast, during the day just cottage cheese with plain crackers and chocolate chip ice cream.  Every time I try anything different than these I feel worse.  The more active I am the worse I feel.  
I'm due to have the HIDA test and I'm posting ahead for help.  I've been told by my primary Dr that the surgeon may just take out my Gall Bladder even if the HIDA test is normal.  Reason for this is several people have had a lot of the Gall Bladder symptoms with normal tests and had the surgery and their issue's went away.  I DON'T plan to have surgery until the tests say I need it.  
My question was basically, what else can my problem be if all symptoms point to Gall Bladder, but all tests so far for Gall Bladder have come out normal.  Just want to be ready for some idea's if my test comes out normal, because I want to say No to surgery if it's normal results.  
So far I've had:  Lots of blood work done to rule things out, urine tests for possible infections, CT and Ultra Sound.  Next I see surgeon Wed April 3 for consultation about all this and about the HIDA test.  Primary Dr said that the surgeon may just go by my symptoms and choose to do surgery.  I say any GOOD SURGEON won't ever do unnecessary surgery.  
THANK YOU for your inputs I TRULY APPRECIATE IT!!!  :-)
Helpful - 0

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