Well they just called and said the test came back normal. I'm thoroughly depressed now, and I don't know what to think. I was so hoping that was it. I'm still having that nasty pain under my ribs and circulating to the back, it seems to be getting worse. I'm going to call my surgeon, maybe this other hospital just screwed up Don't know what else it could be.

*Called the surgeon.. he can't even see me until August 22nd Nurse says that if those tests don't show a problem then there shouldn't be a problem and seemed thoroughly disinterested in even talking to me.*

Sarah

Boyfriend knocked me back into shape, I called back and told that lady NO, I need to come in sooner, it hurts bad. She said well go to the ER then. I said why bother, the tests show nothing so they think I'm lying. She then tried to tell me that he had nothing sooner than the 22nd and I said fine, let me talk with him then so he can tell me he can't see me. She then gave me an appointment for August 1st and pretty much hung up. I am going to say something about his office help the next time I'm there.
I want to go smack her, my boyfriend wants to go perform abdominal surgery on her. At this point my surgeon doesn't even know whats going on.

I'm thinking of performing a test, making myself a fried hamburger or something and see if it makes me worse..that way I'll have some REAL evidence. I read that the HIDA scan has less than 50% accuracy. So now I'm not as worried.. maybe they just don't see it. I'm off to make myself a bacon cheeseburger. lol

Sarah

Diagnotic tests are not the be all and end all. But, before you go ballistic, have they checked your serum amylase and lipase levels too? The pain you describe also is consistent with pancreatitis. In addition, you can have an inflammed gallbladder without gallstones or obstruction and have a false negative on the HIDA scan (not typical). But this is not very common. The usual problem with the HIDA scan that can make it less conclusive is a false positive, not a negative. It is much more accurate than an ultrasound. But, in cases where other things may need to be ruled out, CT scanning may be necessary.

Obviously, if your pain became more severe, you would need to go to the emergency room. Or, if you are having such a hard time with your surgeon, you may just want to go to your primary doctor for additional screening tests. I certainly would not sit around in pain for weeks.

http://www.doctorslounge.com/gastroenterology/forums/backup/topic-12325.html

http://www.emedicine.com/EMERG/topic98.htm

Jan

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Jan Dollar,

Thank you Jan, I will keep serum amylase and lipase levels in my head for when my GI calls back on Monday and request testing them. I will also mention pancreatitis. I will try these, and then go ballistic. Thanks

Sarah

Poor you, Sarah. God those obnoxious know-it-all nurses (yeah, there are some like that) really drive me mad! I understand you wanting to go on a fat binge to test the gallstones theory, but I'm a bit worried you'll end up on the floor in pain. I'd say steer clear of fat to reduce your pain as much as possible till you get this properly checked. I wish I knew more about your health system. Here, it's all state/public, but in an emergency like that you can opt to pay a fortune and go private. In your case, if that's an option, I'd do it. Hate to say it, but being a nice and patient patient ( ) often isn't the way to go when you're up against a nurse who has decided you're not a priority. So I'd keep bugging them till they let you in. No way should you have to put up with this. Be your own best friend and keep at them till you get some real help. Good luck!

Sarah,
I know exactly what you're going through. It's so frustrating when their are no answers and no proof. I had the same kinda results you had on the HIDA. that, along with the ultrasound came up mostly normal. Unlike your docs, mine made it clear that with my symptoms, it had to be the gallbladder. Like you tried Ithe greasy fat test, and I definitly felt the painful reaction. What happened after that bacon cheeseburger?
My surgeon said the HIDA results are not accurate because the "stuff" moves around, and inflammation is hard to detect. He wants to do the removal and I'm trying to avoid it, but the last 12 hours of nausua is making me nervous.
Keep pushing. Don't let them belittle your pain. Find a new doc if nessasary. At this rate we might have sychronized sara(h) gallbladder removals
-sara

In all honesty the pain didn't increase much after eating the burger. As long as I stayed lying down yesterday, it stayed a dull throb.
Today the gall bladder area feels quite a bit worse (so far.. just woke up) I feel like I also have bad acid reflux and my guts are very sore again. I'm rather constipated but still have the need to pass stool quit often.. I have to bear down kind of hard to pass it and while I'm doing that I push the area where the gall bladder is because it feels like it'll shoot out across the room if I don't.
Just feels like somethings messed up and now I have the bloody stools too

I'm so glad your doctor is cooperating with you and I hope you get the rotten thing out or whatever is necessary so that your able to feel better soon.

Sarah

Maybe you're partially obsructed too? Have you tried 'cleaning' yourself out?

No, I haven't tried cleaning myself out because I'm still going the same amount as I usually do. Maybe slightly more. Just a bit harder to get it out.
A partial obstruction sounds like a good possibility since I kind of feel like I'm digesting in slow motion. Didn't feel the pain from the burger, I think, until today. Because it's worse today for no reason.
I don't know if I should try like, milk of magnesia or something because I AM going and that stuff usually turns it right to water. Maybe I should consider liquids for a few days. I've just been so much more hungry lately, lol. Okay.. I'll stick to liquids for today and see if the blood stops and what-not. Thanks.

Sarah

Sarah, try grape juice, it works as a natural laxative for us. Don't give up, keep calling and telling them you're in pain. And I would definitely say something to your doctor about the nurse or receptionist that is giving you a hard time. Sometimes the doctors are not aware of the way their staff treats the patients.

Hope you get some relief soon,

janna

Do you have a good general practitioner that you could acess a little easier? It would be easy enough for him/her to run the lipase and amylase.Just a thought...