Gallbladder questions

**bamamomto4** · 12-13-2004, 01:07 AM

I'm not sure whats wrong with me but was told by a friend it could be my gallbladder.

What are the symptoms?

I have this softball size 'knot' in my stomach (below my breast--right in the center of my stomach) that hurts.It's doesn't hurt all the time.And it seems certain things aggervates(sp) it and makes it swell up. When it's 'acting up' I get full after only a few bites.,hurts to sit up straight,hurts to lay on my back.
And if I'm laying on my back and just raise my head and neck up,you can see how large this 'knot' is....I'm really scared

I need to see a DR but I'm scared to go

If anyone has had gallbladder problems,does this sound familiar?

Please say a few prayers for me.

**i.m.cheap** · 12-13-2004, 02:20 AM

I have had my gallbladder removed, but your symptoms sound like maybe something else. Go see your Dr. The gallbladder is located under your liver, on the right side of your ribcage. I did have alot of pain across my middle back with mine. Only a sonogram can tell if you have gallstones. Please see a physician.

**COUNTRYBUMPKIN** · 12-13-2004, 05:28 AM

My best friend had Gall Bladder problems and no, her symptoms were not like what you just described. If it were me, I would go to the doctor and have it checked out. Sending my hugs and prayers to you.

**mrscornbread** · 12-13-2004, 08:29 AM

I have gallstones, but the pain is usually located in my back and halfway across the front under my ribcage. Tammy please go scared or not. Remember ( this is what I have to always tell myself), if it is something bad, the sooner a Dr. knows the more he can do about it. PLEASE just go, it is probably not as bad as you are afraid of.

**matt&roxy** · 12-13-2004, 08:53 AM

I had my gallbladder removed when I was 21 and I agree with the others, it doesn't sound like gallstones. My experience with the stones was awful, I literally wanted to die the pain was so excruciating!! Please go to the doc, it could be something serious or it could be absolutely nothing.........but you should really find out SOON........

**Darlene** · 12-13-2004, 09:55 AM

Hernia? The worst part is not knowing & wondering all kinds of things. Can't do anything about it till you know what it is.

Cheering you on~go see your doc Tammy!

It'll be OK.

Need more of a nudge, I could pm you every hour on the hour.

**dz_blonde_girl** · 12-13-2004, 10:26 AM

Please go ee the Doc on this one, Tammy. It doesn't sound like gallbladder to me either. Of course I've been wrong before, and will probably be wrong again, eventually.

**AmyMCGS** · 12-13-2004, 11:07 AM

I had a lot of gallbladder problems when I was pregnant-- constant pain in my side, bowel problems, food problems, etc. Then after DD was born it quieted down for a few months. Then, last year at this time (the week of Christmas, actually) I started having unbelievable pain right in the center of my ribcage-- up high, just below my breasts. I called DH home from work and he took me to the ER one night because it was so bad. It turned out to be my gallbladder acting up again. It was taken out in February, and I sure don't miss it!

I'm not sure yours is gallbladder, but, you definitely need to go get it checked out. I can tell you with mine I had many tests done (because mine was not funtioning at all) but none of them were painful or invasive.

Go get it checked out- and I hope you find some relief soon!

**MMP** · 12-13-2004, 11:14 AM

Gallbladder can actually affect each person differently. For me it was the pancreisis(sp), I would eat and be so dizzy and nauseated I couldnt stand myself. For my MIL it was her colon and another lady I talked to thought she has sprained her shoulder when she fell waterskiing.

I agree, get to the dr. Mine was killing me. My liver enzymes were elevated, I couldnt eat without major pain. They tried to kill me in the ER so I ended up spending 8 days in the hospital ending with surgery two days before Thanksgiving last year.

**bamamomto4** · 12-13-2004, 07:24 PM

I didn't call today because it wasn't hurting. I know I need to,I'm just to scared to go in

Darlene--I did have a umbilical (sp) hernia in 2001 and had surgery. Maybe it's just gotten worse and bigger..??? It was repaired but no mesh was put in.

I just hate going to the DR. Especailly when I don't know whats wrong and what kind of test they'll do

I make an appt this week.

Thanks everyone

**forestdale** · 12-13-2004, 07:38 PM

I think it's a hernia or a muscular problem. It doesn't sound like your gallbladder, you generally have referred pain in the right shoulder with that + you feel nauseated and the smell of food often makes you puke.

You can't know what the problem is until you go and you won't know what tests they'll do until they see you. I think you'll probably have an xray, but it f it's muscular, you might not have any tests.

I understand that you're scared but it must be worse not knowing.

Try to gather the courage to phone for an appointment. Then we can all cheer you on when we know you're going for a checkup.

**PrairieRose** · 12-13-2004, 10:12 PM

I had gallbladder problems and stones and suffered with it far too long. It sounds a LOT like what my symptoms were Tammy. I would occaissionally have the pain that went all the way through me to my back as well. But I did have what felt like a small football under my ribs and pretty darn close to the center. I agree that you should see your dr. but I think maybe you've hit the nail on the head. It could be just sluggish and not have stones, which presents differently than stones. Don't wait too long, gall bladder stones can cause really, really serious problems if you pass one.

*edited to add*
I thought at one point after Thanksgiving dinner, in the night, that I was having a heart attack. I had mine out when I was about 27. They've made leaps and bounds in that surgery since then. Don't be afraid Tammy, just go.

**bamamomto4** · 12-13-2004, 11:20 PM

I said earlier it wasn't bothering me today.Well since eating supper...it hurts. It's right between my ribs(below my breast) that hurt now.feels like a bubble in there ready to pop at any minute.But it's not hurting anything near what it was yesterday.

Do certain foods make it worse? (we had steak and fries)

I'm calling tomorrow....

**mrscornbread** · 12-13-2004, 11:23 PM

I had the same thing a couple of months ago, it went away

**i.m.cheap** · 12-14-2004, 12:40 AM

High fat foods will make it hurt worse. The gallbladder surgery they do now is very simple. I did not even have to spend the night in the hospital. I went in early one morning, and home that evening. They make tiny little incisions and pull it out through your belly button. I didn't even have any stitches, just three band-aids.