I think I am having a problem with my gall bladder. I've always suspected that I've had gall stones now, and again. In fact last year my dr believed I had some small gall stones that were discovered through u/s while checking something out. This past week I have had stomach pains the majority of the time, and at least after one meal EVERY day, I have extreme pain, cramps, and gas, and need to use the bathroom immediately. I end up being in there for at least 30 mins, sometimes over multiple trips (becoming difficult at work). This used to happen to me once in a great while, most usually after having a really high in fat meal, that I over-ate at (like it ALWAYS happened when we went to an all you can ea buffet). I'm also as of this week feeling sick most of the day, and heartburn-which I never have.

Now starting yesterday I am having a really bad pain in my right shoulder, I guess near the shoulder blade is the best way to describe it. At times I notice the pain more than others (like right now it hurts really bad). I'm pretty sure this is related to something going on with gall stones, and/or my gall bladder from research. Has anyone experienced this before, and do you think it also could be gall bladder related? Please respond if so, I hate to go to the drs and say I think it is gall bladder related, and get laughed at.
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I've updated a few posts below.

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If you really want something in this life, you have to work for it. Now, quiet! The're about to announce the lottery numbers... - Homer Simpson

This is exactly how my gallbladder problems were. I kept thinking that I was having a pinched nerve/pulled muscle in my right shoulder blade/upper back. And then about a year ago, I called DH at work and told him I was sick. He came to my office and found me curled up in the fetal position in the floor---thankfully, my job didn't have a lot of public contact! He took me to the ER and they diagnosed gall stones. I had surgery within 2 days of the ER visit. My gallbladder, per the doctor, was really sick and I could have had some serious issues had I not gotten it taken out.

Anyway---yes, my right shoulder/upper back, I'd say right in the lower curve of my right shoulder, hurt like H E double hockey sticks! I also had some sick stomach/extended bathroom issues...I too, thought it was just from eating certain foods ( greasy stuff, bell peppers, red meat, etc.)
You won't get laughed at I'm sure. They will do an ultrasound on your gallbladder to see how badly the stones/blockage is. If you need surgery you can do it either laparascopically or open. Lap usually requires only a day surgery and your home that night and can go back to work within a week (assuming you have a relatively sedentary job). If you have the traditional surgery you may have to stay in the hospital for 3-4 days, and you may be off work a bit longer. You do need to get it checked out. I'm betting it IS gallbladder, but it could very well be something else that needs to be checked out!

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

I had gallbladder problems from grade school until I finally had it out in my late 20's. My pain always started out as an ache under my breast, and the pain got worse gradually over a few hours until I could scarcely breathe. Then I would have a pain in that spot the next day, like when you get one of those awful cramps in the back of your leg and it still hurts the next day.

What your symptoms sound more like to me is what a co-worker of mine has. I believe it is called Irritable Bowel Syndrome. She was taking Zelnorm and it really helped her until it was taken off the market.

I think you should see your doctor and ask for an ultrasound with dye contrast. I will tell you this - in all the 20 plus years I had that awful gall bladder pain, not ONE medical person thought that was what I had, and I had every test done. Even after it was out I asked the surgeon if there were any stones and he said there was just "sludge". But I never had that pain again, thank the Lord

Your symptoms sound EXACTLY like what happened with me back in 2004, I had problems with going to the bathroom and I do have Irritable Bowel Syndrome so it was hard to determine what was what. I had excrutiating pain in my shoulder and below my rib. One day DH came home from work to find me in a fetal postion on the couch I couldnt move and it was so bad I couldnt even get up to the medicine cabinet for pain meds and he had to call 911 to come get me. I have other health issues, and the EMT said I think its her gallbladder and the ER Dr blamed my pain all on my lupus and fibromyalgia and said I needed to get to a pin management Doctor, he did nothing ran only blood tests and left me sitting on the stretcher crying and writhing in pain for 4 hours and my DH almost put him through the glass window of the nurses station wanting to know why they had left me there with no pain meds. They sent me home to see my Dr the next day and upon her exam she admitted me and I was given constant pain meds, over the weekend since it was friday certain tests couldnt be done. Monday they did a Upper Endoscopy and then another specialized test where they injected me with radioactive dye, called a hydascan and found my gallbladder was not functioning and Tuesday night about 9:30 pm I had my gall bladder out. Wht a relief however I am in that 1% that gets phantom gallbladder pains now. It was done laproscopically and I cant see any of my scars the surgeon was great. I did find out later that for some reason the ER Doctor seemed to think that I had already had my gallbladder out and thats why he never explored it, I take with me a complete medicla history wiuth my medications listed and surgerys etc, to the Er and any Dr I see so no clue where he got that idea from.

Please get yourself to the ER now if the pain is bad enough you can get very very sick from a infected gallbladder they said had I just lived with the pain as I tend to do and let it go I would have been in somer eally bad trouble with possible pancreatitis and worse could have died from sepsis. My gallbladder when examined by the pathologist showed lots of lymphocytes and some other signs of infection. Please please get yourself looked at ASAP if not at the ER bya Surgeon, it sure sounds like it needs to come out. I was feeling pretty good within 3 days of the surgery and was back doing my then normal household stuff like laundry etc.

I will say some prayers that all goes well for you and you feel better fast.

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~ Christine ~
Grammie to Trinity Lorayne Jean Keens Born June 9, 2011 Loving my awesome guitar picking 100% Country Boy boyfriend Kenny !
RIP Daddy~ 01/24/1930-06/01/2007 I miss you !
Dont Think you Can .. know you can ~ Jeff Hardy

Thank you all for your responses. I am going to see if I can get in to the dr this morning. I'll be sure to update you all.

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If you really want something in this life, you have to work for it. Now, quiet! The're about to announce the lottery numbers... - Homer Simpson

I had gall bladder complications after my last pregnancy (11 years ago) . I had a couple of trips to the ER before they figured out what it was. I thought I was having a heart attack, but it was on the wrong side of the chest, LOL. For me it felt like a a pressure/pain on the right breast. I had to write down everything I ate to figure out what was triggering the pain, it's greasy/fatty foods. It was 2 weeks before my surgery was scheduled, so I had to eat low fat and that did avoid any further pain. I had to have the test where they put the dye (iodine) into your system and do the x-rays, etc. my gall bladder was 93% blocked, but no gall stones. The suregery was day surgery and it was awful, I could barely get out of bed for a week, I had the lapriscopy surgery and it was supposed to be easy, but I was in soooo much pain and could only get out of bed to go to the bathroom (this coming from a person who had 3 children with no meds and up and about immediately) for a week. Good luck.

I went to the drs this morning, and she sort of laughed at me, and said it was "too consistent" with gall bladder issues (??). I really have a dislike for the drs here. I told her that I agreed, which is why I thought it was gall stones and/or something wrong with my gall bladder. She put in an order for some blood work, and an u/s, I'll get the blood work done tomorrow, but the u/s probably won't be scheduled for a week at least. She said to take tagagment in the meantime also. This shoulder pain is really driving me nuts though.

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If you really want something in this life, you have to work for it. Now, quiet! The're about to announce the lottery numbers... - Homer Simpson

If the pain is bad, then go to the ER. The ER has the capacity to get the blood work, and ultrasound done in the same day.

If it IS gallbladder (and I'm inclined to thing it is), Tagamet will not help.

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Jesus love me--you he only tolerates!

That is also what I was thinking, because yesterday I looked at the OTC meds, and it seemed like they were just all specific to heartburn, or similiar, and I don't think it is going to help my problems. The shoulder pain is definitely not bad enough to go to the ER, well I say that now..at 3 in the morning it feels much worse, but I will definitely keep that option open if I need to.

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If you really want something in this life, you have to work for it. Now, quiet! The're about to announce the lottery numbers... - Homer Simpson

this happened to me as well, i finally ended up in the er having emergency surgery the next day because it was so bad, please follow up on this or u might end up in agony like i was and having complications from the surgery afterwards for waiting too long to seek help, good luck to u

Hi,

I also had alot small stones and had to have my Gall Bladder removed about 9 yrs ago.
My first attack was on our vacation a few hrs after a meal we had.
I thought i was having a heart attack, I couldn't yell for my husband or anything till the pain backed off.
I had attacks 3 times a wk. Dr. said I had to get them to slow up.
I was in pain for 2 -3 ms before surgery took place.
Trouble was one time a certain food would set it off another time it didn't cause any pain. A person never knows.
I had lost 10 lbs at the time only good thing that came out of it all.
Still after 9 yrs later I have bowel problems.
I just figured out a few months ago this is what has caused my extreme Hair Loss I have suffered for 7 yrs now.
And not one Dr through the years knew what was causing the Hair Loss.
I am trying to get bowels under control now.

My daughter also had Gall Bladder problems while carrying her baby and they just keep hoping she wouldn't need emergency surgery before her Baby came.
She made it through and had surgery a wk after her baby came she also had an Attack while in Labor.
My attacks were different from hers. Her's came any time and lasted longer she didn't even have to eat something to cause it.
Everyone is different I guess when it comes to this issue.
Also, the Dr told me some people can have stones and never have the pain and mine were alot of small stones and Causes me the pain .

I had my gallbladder out over 10 years ago. For 2 years I had problems with my bowels also. Then I was told to take Lecithin to help. It works really well, and it's not that expensive and is available in health food stores, walmart, and I think even some grocery stores. Hope it helps you.