I've had ultrasounds and HIDA scan years ago to rule out gallbladder disease. All negative.
It runs in my family.
Wednesday and Friday evening about 2 hours after dinner I got an intense stomachache up high just below the xyphoid process.
I felt gassy and the need to burp or have a bm. No luck.
The intense pain lasted about 2 hours and it went away.
Both nights I ate quinoa, chicken breast and vegetables (broccoli, zucchini, carrots and onions). I've eaten the combo before with no issues.
I would get this type of stomachache years ago after eating steak served in a restaurant.
I don't know if it was MSG or what they cooked the steak in.
The pain would have me curled up on a bathroom floor for hours before it would go away. Always the feeling of needing to have a bm and if I could the pain would ease.
I never eat steak due to this.
I know many w/ Lyme have had gallbladder issues and/or have had them removed.
Two nights within a week is too often for me to feel this type of pain.
If it continues I will have to see the primary dr. for tests.
Any input would be appreciate.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Doesn't sound too good. I have no idea where the xyphoid process is but I will assume it's in the upper right quadrant.
For now, I would leave out broccoli and onions in future meals and see if that helps.
Maybe it's time for another HIDA scan.
Posted by one4islands (Member # 28187) on :
The xyphoid process is that bony protrusion at the end of the sternum.
My pain is dead in the center of my upper gut just below that area in between my ribcage.
Posted by DeniseNM (Member # 11182) on :
That's where my gallbladder pain was. Almost sent me to emergency, it hurt so bad.
gallbladderattack.com has info on what to eat, etc., that might help.
Posted by lululymemom (Member # 26405) on :
I had chronic cholecystitis and had severe attacks, none of my tests showed this until they did a biopsy on the gallbladder.
My HIDA scan was done after the surgery, so I'm not sure if that would have shown the thickening of the walls. I had no stones.
Posted by one4islands (Member # 28187) on :
I was told that sometimes gallbladder disease isn't picked up on tests.
I am hoping like crazy that this isn't my gallbladder.
I'm one of those unfortunate ones with a sensitive digestive system which I know gallbladder removal can then cause bm issues in some.
Both my husband and grandmother had no issues after their removal.
My husband's gallbladder removal was a freak thing.
He had colon cancer and they thought it has mestastisized to his omentum. They opened him up and found his omentum wrapped around his gallbladder.
No cancer, and a diseased gallbladder with no symptoms.
My grandmother almost died because she let the pain go on too long and gangrene set in.
My 95 year old grandfather who was in remarkable health died last year due to complications from gallbladder surgery-sepsis set in and shut down his vital organs.
Posted by lululymemom (Member # 26405) on :
I have also had a sensitive digestive system most of my life. The surgery now is very safe and usually done by laparoscopy.. I no longer have the attacks but I still have chronic pain in my upper abdomen. I attribute this to my bartonella infection. It seems to be improving with treatment.
I chose to have the surgery despite the objection of my GP... I just wanted relief from the attacks I was having.
Posted by steve1906 (Member # 16206) on :
What Is Xiphoid Process? If you are experiencing pain and discomfort in the lowest portion of your sternum or the bone that connects to the ribcage, then you must be experiencing xiphoid process syndrome. For non-medical practitioners or somebody who is not so familiar with medical terms, surely you must be wondering what is xiphoid process pain because it is a condition that is not so common and since its symptoms are intermittent and are associated with other health conditions such as gallbladder, bone, and heart diseases.
Share Xiphoid Process Pain and Tenderness: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment What Is Xiphoid Process? If you are experiencing pain and discomfort in the lowest portion of your sternum or the bone that connects to the ribcage, then you must be experiencing xiphoid process syndrome. For non-medical practitioners or somebody who is not so familiar with medical terms, surely you must be wondering what is xiphoid process pain because it is a condition that is not so common and since its symptoms are intermittent and are associated with other health conditions such as gallbladder, bone, and heart diseases.
This explains why all the more pain in the xiphoid process and its other signs are overshadowed and most commonly mistaken for the aforementioned conditions. Usually, it is only after thorough medical examinations that the xiphoid syndrome is confirmed.
Generally, xiphoid pain is triggered by harmless activities such as lifting heavy objects or bending and even large meals can start pain attack or xiphoid process. Diseases, medical conditions, medication to certain drugs, and toxins are also among the common causes of pain in xiphoid process.
Signs and Symptoms of Xiphoid Process Pain The most common symptoms of xiphoid process pain include:
■Chest tenderness ■Chest discomfort ■Shoulder tenderness ■Shoulder discomfort ■Back tenderness ■Back discomfort ■Epigastric tenderness ■Epigastric discomfort ■Chest pain ■Back pain ■Shoulder pain Treatment and Management of Xiphoid Process Pain and Tenderness If you are experiencing the symptoms of xiphoid process pain, consult your physician immediately.
Usually, cases like these are managed by conducting lab tests such as x-ray then the treatment will start based on the x-ray result. Analgesics are usually given. Hot or cold treatment and an elastic rib belt are also recommended. To avoid getting xiphoid process pain, avoid lifting heavy objects especially if you have a history of the syndrome.
Posted by one4islands (Member # 28187) on :
Thanks Steve. I've had xyphoid process pain along with rib pain and sternum pain. That is no fun, but at least a heating pad or Aleve has worked magic.
This pain is "below" the xyphoid process in the open area between the rib cage. Upper gut I suppose.
It's not gastritis pain as I've had that too and that is totally different.
Posted by kidsgotlyme (Member # 23691) on :
I went to ER in March for SEVERE pain. I had been ignoring it for about two years but I couldn't take the pain anymore.
I didn't have a Hida scan. They did an ultrasound and found a LOT of stones.
They kept me in the hospital on pain meds for three days until they took my gallbladder out.
I couldn't eat anything without getting sick.
Maybe an ultrasound would show something.
Posted by hadlyme (Member # 6364) on :
My two gallbladder attacks were so painful that I ended up in ER with both. Pain in my upper back was almost the worse for me. Like a knife in your back twisting back and forth.
Very simple ultrasound can show things, and very easy surgery to get the gallbladder out.
Sludging of the gallbladder from IV Rocephin was my cause.
Posted by ukcarry (Member # 18147) on :
Yes, good ultrasound equipment should show one way or another if there is anything untoward with the gallbladder: mine showed a diseased one [adenomyamatosis...sp?] and, as others have said, the keyhole surgery was straightforward.
In my case, the extreme pain was due to a stone blocking the bile duct: if that happens, they have to unblock it in one op, then remove the gb at a later stage.
Posted by lululymemom (Member # 26405) on :
I had several ultrasounds that did not show that I had a diseased gallbladder. It was when they took it out that they seen how bad it was.
Posted by ukcarry (Member # 18147) on :
Some ultrasound equipment is more sensitive than others: after my first ultrasound, I was sent on to a larger hospital with better equipment, as they didn't want to get it wrong. Adenomyamatosis is apparently easily confused with cancer of the gallbladder and the quality of the equipment can make all the difference in diagnosis.
Posted by lymeinhell (Member # 4622) on :
Do you take Milk thistle? It helps desludge the gall bladder.
GB disease runs in my family too. I went on Milk thistle in 2004 to help my liver while taking abx. Little did I know then that it also helps the GB.
I've been off abx six yrs now but continue with multi large doses of it. If i run out and don't take it for several days, I will experience upper rightside abdominal pain. So I guess I've been self medicating.
Posted by Igor's mom (Member # 29191) on :
I have had upper right quadrant pain for about a year...went to ER had CT scan, later had HIDA scan and Pet scan and MRI all showed nothing out of the ordinary in the GAstro area... tested postivie enough for lyme 4+ and 2 IND on the Ingenex test that my LLMD Dr. M in Maryland has me on minocycline but the upper right pain comes and goes. Its there now under the rib cage. Its like a dull ache, makes me burpy and I get chills. Does that sound familiar to anyone. I was hoping to avoid having my gallbladder out thinking this was all lyme related but not sure of that either now given this discussion. Does that sound like what you had lulu?
Posted by lululymemom (Member # 26405) on :
Igor's mom, I had what felt like severe spasms in that area. They would be very disabling. I was also told I had polyps in my gallbladder, which were mutiplying. When they did the surgery, I didn't have any polyps, just thickening of the G/B wall..
I should also say, that I completely lost my appetite and had steady nausea for 2 months. I had to take gravol everyday for 2 mo. just to get food down. I lost a total of 30 pounds.
I now have that dull ache occasionally so my problem is not completely resolved. I considered sphincter of oddi dysfunction but have not pursued that yet.
I think chills might indicate a blockage but that should have shown up on the HIDA scan..
For me, thinking I had the polyps was enough reason to have the surgery. I think there should be some evidence there to have the surgery.
Posted by canefan17 (Member # 22149) on :
Orange Peel before meals. (Research labs makes product called Limonene Complex)
Opens bile duct Helps detox liver (you also may need Sydetox)
These are a few great remedies to help relieve gallbladder/liver issues. Gives yourself a better chance at recovering them.
Posted by blinkie (Member # 14470) on :
Can other abx cause gall stones? I'm been on multitudes of various abx in my treatment. But never rocephin.
I've been having what I thin kare gallbladder pains on and off lately.
Posted by Igor's mom (Member # 29191) on :
Cane can you explain more about the orange peel before meals? and I couldn't find anything called sydetox.
Posted by steve1906 (Member # 16206) on :
There are a bunch of different liver flush recipes. I think I would try some of them before resorting to having the gallbladder removed. Some people have serious considerations in this matter - so, it's not for everyone.