When I experienced my first attack five years ago I almost instantly knew what was happening. My mother had her gallbladder removed around that same age, I had lost a large amount of weight and the attack was following a delicious but very greasy meal. The pain was very centralized to one specific area of my right side. It had to be my gallbladder.
After a brief doctor visit, I was scheduled for testing. Once I finally got into that first ultrasound the attack had subsided, I felt great and we learned there were no gallstones. Therefore, I went on with life until the next attack hit. Another visit to the doctor with the same symptoms prompted blood work and scheduling another ultrasound. Their belief was that with more than 6 months since the last one the results might have changed. To no surprise from me the results were the same, and attack number two had subsided.
The next attack resulted in a referral to a specialist to see what else could be done. They were very hesitant to agree with my self diagnosis and wanted to rule out an ulcer. Therefore, I was put on ulcer medication and sent home. I was already post attack at this point so I can't say for sure whether the medicine helped or not.
I believe there was an attack or two that I let come and go without even going to the doctor out of sheer frustration. However, the last attack occurred during a stomach flu last fall, and it was too terrible to ignore. It resulted in a visit back to the specialist who said the next step was an endoscopy. Lo and behold my stomach was in great shape, and I was even given pictures to prove it. They advised the next step was a Hidascan.
Now you might say well why didn't you do the Hidascan then and not wait. Well, shortly after the endoscopy was when I ended up in the hospital with my second DVT; therefore, more hospital bills were not high on my list, and of course we were way past the last attack at that point. Amazing how different the priorities are based on whether currently having a gallbladder attack or post attack.
So we get to this attack. I rode it out for 10 days before finally giving in and making a doctors appointment. He agreed that it had to be my gallbladder but felt no surgeon would talk to me without a Hidascan. So today the test was performed, and within 2 hours of its completion my doctor called with the results. My gallbladder is not working!!!
So finally we have the test results to support what I felt the answer was five years ago. Surgery will be scheduled, and this series of attacks will end.
I have felt at times that I was crazy and maybe I was making this up and wasn't in pain. It feels good to know that I am not completely nuts.
I feel the moral of this story is that when you know something doesn't feel right make sure you don't give up. Sometimes you have to find the right doctor or the right test. It is an awful feeling to know there is something wrong but nothing concrete to support it.
It is important to allow your medical team to help guide you, but you must be an active participant. There were two times they wanted to do another ultrasound, and I demanded something different. I refused to spend more money and come up empty handed once more.
I am not excited about having surgery, but I am glad to finally have this resolved. So don't give up, if you truly feel more needs to be looked at or tested. It is your body, and you know it better than anyone.
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