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Gastroenterology  (Expert Forum)
 | 
is a gallbladder or food poisoning:
Answered by
Kevin Pho, MD - Internal Medicine
Kevin, M.D. Boston - MA
This forum is for questions regarding Gastroenterology issues such as Acid Reflux (GERD), Barretts Esophagus, Colitis, Colon/Bowel Disorders, Crohn's Disease, Diverticulitis/Diverticulosis, Digestive Disorders, IBS, Stomach Pain.

is a gallbladder or food poisoning:

by tghile, Nov 30, 2005 12:00AM
Is this a gallbladder or food poisoning?  

Right now, I am a 34 years old male. I was in very good health

Between 1991 and 1995 (when I was around 18 years old), I have been admitted to emergency room for serve upper abdominal pain, neck and back pain more than 13 times!  From 1995 until 2003, things were fairly normal expect I had mild indigestion and mild upper abdominal pain here and there.

Unfortunately, things got worst in Nov. 2003.  In Nov.21st, 2003, I had food poisoning after I ate fish and caned mushroom cream sauce. On the same day, I vomited the fish and the mushroom sauce. Continued to vomit everything I ate for straight six days and lost 11 lbs.  In addition to these symptoms, I start to loss weight and appetite with extreme upper abdominal discomfort vomiting undigested foods, primarily meats.  I feel like a tennis ball stuck in the back of my breastbone. In recent days, I feel very depressed too.

IN THE LAST TWO YEARS I HAVE DONE THE FOLLOWING TESTS:

ENDOSCOPY (TWICE): both of say minimal gastric

FOOD EMPTYING TEST: Negative

COLONOSCOPY: small internal hemorrhoids

CT SCAN RESULT: normal

BARIUM SWALLOW RESULT: normal

GASTRIC MOTILITY STUDY: Normal

HIDA SCAN TEST RESULT: everything seen, At no time during this period was there evidence of activity within the gallbladder itself. No activity in the gallbladder is seen.

ULTRA SOUND (three times)

FIRST ULTRA SOUND RESULT: Gallbladder is distended with a large gallstone.  CBD is 2 mm.

SECOND ULTRA SOUND RESULT: there is a gallstone in the gallbladder neck. The stone measures approximately 1.2 cm.  Gallbladder wall is thicken

THIRD ULTRA SOUND RESULT: There is a non-mobile gallstone in the gallbladder neck and also some sludge in the gallbladder.  The CBD 4 mm in diameter. The stone measures approximately 1.3 cm.

LAB WORKS:

COMPLETE BLOOD TEST (TWICE): BOTH OF THEM ARE NORMAL: Hepatitis A, B and C: negative, CELIAC disease panel: normal, IGA Serum: normal and HIV and STD: negative

URINALYSIS (twice): both of them are normal

H. PYLORI TESTS: negative

FAMILY HISTORY:

My mother, my brother and two sisters have removed their gallbladders.

MEDICATIONS I WAS PUT ON: Reglen, Zelrom, Prevacid, Protonix and PREVPAC.

My questions to you are:

Can food poisoning stay for two years and have the above symptoms?

Can you have a gallbladder problem without upper or URQ pain?

What is the effect of bile duct obstruction or gallbladder problem on the Kidney?

Can a gallbladder problem cause depression and loss of sexual interest?

Why one test says CBD 2 mm and the other test says CBD is 4 mm?

What does it mean “no visualization of gallbladder” during HIDA scan?

I have a strong family history gallbladder disease. Am I likely to have a gallbladder disease?

With a 1.3 cm gallstone in the neck of my gallbladder, why I don’t have the URQ pain?

Based on my symptoms, studies and my medical history, am I a good candidate for gallbladder removal?

Why morphine with HIDA scan

by Kevin Pho, MD, Dec 01, 2005 12:00AM
To answer the questions:

1) Although possible, it is unlikely that the symptoms of food poisoning would last 2 years.

2) Yes, it is possible to have gallbladder symptoms without discomfort.  Further evaluation can be done with an MRCP to evaluate the biliary ducts.

3) If the gallbladder issues remain untreated, it can lead to severe liver disease that may affect the kidney.

4) Although possible, I am not aware of gallbladder diseases that specifically leads to a loss of sexual interest.

5) Different ultrasound techs or radiologists have have different interpretations of the ultrasound.

6) This means the gallbladder was not seen during the HIDA scan.

7) A family history of gallbladder disease increases your risk of gallbladder disease.

8) A surgeon would have to answer this question after a proper examination.

9) Morphine is sometimes used if the gallbladder cannot be seen on HIDA scan.  It increase the tone of the Sphincter of Oddi.



Followup with your personal physician is essential.



This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.



Kevin, M.D.

kevinmd_b
Member Comments

by scooty, Dec 05, 2005 12:00AM
would consider consulting a naturopathic doctor!



I have been mis-diagnosed for over 2years. When my naturopathic doctor was able to tell me what was wrong with in one meeting. My (former)primary care doctor is out of practice (i think) diagnosing anything that isn't a cold or flu type illness.



After having an ultra-sound it took my (former)primary care doctor 3weeks, to contact me... and it was me that made the initial call to find out the results of the ultra-sound... I have enough gallstones that my (former) primary care doctor suggested immediate surgery.



There are 14 states that honor naturopath's as primary care doctors.



Check out : http://www.naturopathic.org/



Good luck.



by Westminster, Dec 07, 2005 12:00AM
And the 'naturapath' said?
Continue discussion
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