Stomach Pain... Gallstones?

[JennifersHope]

Just wondering if it is common for Cfers to have Gallstones? I have been having some GI symptoms and when I told my doctor he thinks I am classic case of Gallstones..

My Symptoms.. none unless I eat.... HA... I can actually eat.. toast ..crackers.. anything with out grease or fat in it.. I ate pizza the other night and it made me have the worst stomach pains ever... even worse then missing my enzymes... The symptoms went away about 5 hours after I ate it and after vomiting... Now I only get stomach pain and vomit when I eat something heavy...

My question is.. is it common for CFers to have gallstones or gall bladder trouble ???

Of course they want me to have an ultrasound.. which I will do eventually if I don't get better, but even if it is my gallbladder, I am not doing anything about it till school is over anyway.... I did just have a stomach virus so maybe I am not over it yet.??? From what I understand anyway, if its was gallstones it is not emergent anyway, and you can go through peroids where you have no pain as long as you eat a low fat diet. I was told ppl can go for years like that...

I am just tired of having a zillion tests done especially if it is just going to pass..


Thanks for any help,

Jennifer

 

[JazzysMom]

I have had severe problems in the past. I actually started going to the Chiropractor as an alternative to testing &/or surgery. It worked for me. I had the worst Christmas 2 years ago when I was on the couch all Christmas Day or hugging the toilet. I am assuming it is common with CFers. Just from all the crap we have running thru our bodies. I dont statistically how accurate that is, but it seems to make sense to me.

 

[supermanfan]

Yes. It is a common issue that CFers face. I have known many CF friends that have had their gall bladder removed because it caused them trouble. My gall bladder is filled with 'junk' as my doctors says, but I have yet to have gall stones.. thank goodness.

 

[blindhearted]

I have had my gallbladder removed about 2 yrs ago. I had the same problem with eating anything with fat or heaviness. It felt like a knife was being stabbed in me and being twisted right under my sterm (breast bone) / between my lower ribs / upper abs. I had an ultrasound but it showed i had "slug" (or junk) in my gallbladder, no stones. They told me stuff was fine but I demanded more test, we done a HIDA Scan (they inject dye into you and scan with a CT type machine). It showed that my gallbladder wasn't working at all. So I had to have it removed.

 

[JennifersHope]

That is exactly how it feels.. Just like Danyell said... Do you guys have any suggestions of things I can do to help with the pain??? I am avoiding fatty foods as best as I can.. I have no appetite anyway...I just don't have it in me to get one more test done right now..... Maybe I will feel differently soon but right now.. I just need to be able to buy some time.. so any helpful suggestions would be greatly appreciated... Who knows... I might not even have gallstones... I do take a lot of steroids so maybe it is just gastric irratation....I do take two meds for reflux ( Protonix and Previcad)....

Thanks again..

Jennifer

 

[JustDucky]

(((Jenn)))...I am sorry you are having such pain. Unfortunately, gallstones are common with CF'ers from what I was told. Your pain sure sounds like gallbladder problems, but like you said, you are still trying to get over a stomache virus...I am due to see a GI doc to tweak my meds for my pancreatic insuff. I know an ultrasound will be ordered to eval the gallbladder too even though I am not really having any pain except when I eat something really fatty and don't take enough enzymes. I know from being a nurse and taking care of people with inflammed gallbladders, they were told to avoid fat. Just watch for fevers or increased pain, vomiting. I pray that you feel better soon, you have been through alot already with the IV's and still going to school. Know that I am in your corner, rooting for you! Hugs, Jenn <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[blindhearted]

Jenn, my doctor tried me on Nexium for a little while. It seem to help a little but I knew something was wrong. Gallbladder problems are also very common in my family. They told me I was too young for gallbladder problems (21 at the time) but I had a cousin w/ no cf to have her's removed at 18, so I knew that too young had nothing to do with it.

I would avoid eating fatty foods and dont eat three large meals a day (I had the problem where i would eat too much, almost like I couldnt tell when I was full and that would cause nausea/vomitting) instead 5 or so small ones. When I had the pain I would take 1 - 2 advil (suggested by my local doctor), if the stomach pain got too bad I would sometimes placing an ice pack (wrapped in a towel) on my stomach during bad cramps it seemed to help.

But to be on the safe side, call your CF doctor and explain your symptoms, they might try to adjust your enzymes or change your reflux medicine. If nothing else suggest a ultra-sound. I understand you dont want any more test because I was in college when all of this happened to me. I hope you start feeling better soon and it can be easily taken care of.

 

[65rosessamurai]

Augh!! Gallstones!!
You guys had an excellent description of how they felt...though I also first thought it was heart palpitations!! That was probably a hint the doctor took for an ultrasound, found a few stones, but I never had surgery! I don't recall having to vomit during that time, when it was most severe, but the pain from the stones, and fatty foods would do me in!
I must have been about 25 when they started.
My case to avoid surgery could be related to avoiding fats (Which I always try to do, anyway), and I was in Judo, so everytime I was thrown on the mat, it probably equalled the therapy for a new technology to break up the stones and let them pass without the need of surgery.
My dad had his gallstones removed, a few days in the hospital, but I had enough after my two polyp surgeries to hope I didn't need that, too!
Even now, I get a few passing gallstones, which I can feel under the rib cage closer to my back.
Well, Jenn, fortunately the ultrasound doesn't hurt much at all (If you haven't had one by now), unless you've got a little bloating and gass in the intestines. In that case, just a little discomfort while they move the "mouse" around on your stomache.
I don't know how much time off, or days to schedule an ultrasound would take for you, but it's possible your CF doctors may want the results, before making their adjustments. I can understand your problem, and hope everyone else's suggestions help for you.

 

[anonymous]

My daughter had the horrific abdominal pain as you all have described. It got to the point that limiting her diet of fats did not help anymore. She had to have her gallbladder removed when she was 9 years old. The surgery was a major surgery and very scary at the time we were going through it. They did not want to use general anesthesia related to pulmonary problems so they did an epidural block. When she was having the gallbladder issues her liver enzymes were also elevated. Once the gallbladder was removed her liver enzymes were back within normal and have not been elevated ever since. She also started gaining weight - which was the greatest blessing. Unfortunately at the time they did not relate her liver complications to the gallbladder so they did not do the laparoscopic surgery- they did the traditional (major incision) so they could also biopsy the liver at the same time.

 

[Cutecurlz]

Hi...I had that same trouble about 10 yrs ago. I ate anything and my tummy hurt like crazy. I had an ultrasound done....I had 3 gallstones. I had surgery and removed the gallstones and at the same time took my gallbladder cause my gallbladder was so infected. Doctor said I was lucky to get it out when I did...or ELSE!! Even to this day I get the odd tummy pain....MOSTLY bloatedness and gas...lots o gassssss. CF doctors don't know why and can't figure it out. Good Luck to you!

 

[JennifersHope]

Thanks guys.. I really appreciate all your input and support... I guess the only way to know for sure is to just get it checked like you said..

I guess I was just in the mood yesterday to pretend like I had some sort of control and say ..NO MORE TESTS.... sometimes it takes me a while to come around with telling my dr that something else is bothering me.. I don't want to seem like a complainer, though my dr knows I never open my mouth about anything....

I am sure I will call him and let him know or go to see him...someone also mentioned to me that CFers that are adults can often get Pancreatitis.. I am not sure though.... I can't figure it out for myself... I have some Pancreatitis symptoms.. some gallbladder and some signs of an ulcer... though the drs I work with say I am classic gallbladder...

Thanks again,

Jennifer

 

[abloedel]

Jennifer - I'd love to hear the outcome of any tests you have done. I have experience similar symptoms in the past and am currently going through them as well. I had a blood test which ruled out pancreatitis, but they still think something could be going on with my gallbladder. Our clinic is getting a new GI specialist, so I'll be one of the first to see him/her. S/he's supposed to start in January.

I do hope you feel better and find some relief soon! It's awful pain and you're aloud to complain!!! I have found that a heating pad helps me a little.