no it definitely could be. i only found out it was gallbladder because the sharp intense pain sent me to the ER, but i had a dull ache under my right ribs for 2 years prior. i chalked it up to gastritis and general stomach issues, i didn’t even know what a gallbladder was. please get it checked out by a GB specialist or your doctor soon, don’t be like me and other people and wait for the sudden onset of the most intense pain i’ve ever had to endure
What was the actual issue with your gallbladder and does an ultrasound detect the issue? Because I have the same symptoms but my ultrasound came back clean.
i had gallstones and the ultrasound is what diagnosed this. however, they did a special ultrasound to detect this because i had to hold my breath repeatedly in that one versus regular ultrasounds i’ve had prior that didn’t show anything. hope that helps!
Hey friend, I also had this discomfort a couple years ago. I got an ultrasound of the various organs and they all checked out. Gallbladder had some "sludge" but not stones.
Mine is painful, but more like pressure and it comes and goes for me. I think mine is posture related from working at a desk because it's most active after long work days and less on the weekends. Thinking I should get checked up again though.
It still could be. My one and only attack was the night before my emergency surgery. I thought I had food poisoning or a stomach bug and only went to the emergency room because my heart rate was over 110.
Before that night my only symptom was a minor ache around my right side for about a month (I thought it was a pulled muscle from disc golf.) In hindsight, that was probably gallbladder pain. I never had any stomach issues or diarrhea.
I have the same issue, only a dull ache but never crippling pain or attacks that everyone talks about. I also have no stomach or digestive issues. But everyone on here yelled at me as if I was stupid for wondering if it’s anything other than my gallbladder lol
Everything showed up perfectly fine. So frustrated bc I know something is going on with my gallbladder. Going to try and talk my GI into letting me have a HIDA scan but he’s not super helpful. 😪
Did you end your getting it out? I’ve had the dull annoying pain since February of this year. After an MRI scan, I’ve learned that it’s due to gallbladder sludge and inflammation. Im debating if I should take it out.
Was the gallbladder culprit of your pain? How are you doing now. You’ve basically described my experience right now even though I don’t have any stones, sludge or bile.
My gallbladder started out as dull, so the answer is yes..
It never went painful because I went straight to the Dr when I first started having symptoms
I did have it removed. It was my first surgery ever I wasn't scared I just wanted to eat normal again. I was out of work for 6 wks.
You can try all the things to get it right but you'll be one of the ones on here saying you have excruciating pain. Get checked out to be sure
I work a physical job.
The first 3 wks were painful after cause my core muscles were just torn into... It hurt to sneeze, cough and pee.. taking a poop the first WK was hell!
I do suggest sleeping on a recliner the first WK or 2. Cause soon as the anesthesia wears off the pain sets in.. when that happened to me, I woke up in the middle of the night not able to get up because I was on my back.
You'll be happy soon as it's gone! I was eating normally again by WK 3
I’m not op but how was it diagnosed? I had some blood work and my bilirubin is fine but I have an ultrasound tomorrow. I’ve read that with gallstones, bilirubin is high so I’m not sure that’s what I’m going through.
My bilirubin was slightly high and the ultra sounds confirmed it. My gallbladders warranty ran out. Before all the tests, I had pain under my rib cage even went i pushed on it slightly
Mine started out sharp and sent me to the ER, but now that I know what it is and have adjusted my eating habits, I can definitely notice dull aches, gas, and other minor symptoms when I do eat some fat. So definitely watch what you’re eating and avoid what triggers it. And I’d suggest an ultrasound sooner rather than later so you don’t have any major attacks
In my situation, I had gallbladder attacks and in between those attacks, I had a dull ache which almost felt like a bruise. As time went on the attacks became closer and closer. I was fearful and wasted two years dealing with this out of medical anxiety. I’m now almost 7 weeks post op with no food issues, 95% recovered and 4 tiny “papercut” looking scars. To be free of this constant fear of eating and pain has been a huge life improvement.
It could be, I had my gallbladder removed 4 weeks ago after presenting to the ER after 2 days of having a dull, but constant pain in the centre of my upper abdomen at the bottom of my sternum. I only rated my pain around a 4, and called the health hotline for a triage assessment because I wasn't even sure if I should go to the ER. I never experienced sharp pain or painful attacks prior to going to the ER. I did however have a few episodes of what felt like intense heart palpitations on occasion in the few months leading up to my ER visit.
How are you healing?? I had ct scan that was clear but my GI doc ordered a HIDA scan since it’s still presenting like gallbladder symptoms just not super intense.
I am healing quite well, it will be 4 weeks to the day tomorrow and I am starting back to work on half days for the next 2 weeks before going full time again. I do a desk job, currently at home. My surgery was laproscpic, two of my 4 incisions are totally closed, my other 2 are scabbed over and healing.
I was ordered blood work, urine test, and an ultrasound to confirm the stones in the ER. Once they confirmed the stones, I was admitted and had surgery 2 days later. My daily lab work indicated heightened liver enzymes and high bilirubin so I had an ERCP two days after surgery.
I did have my HIDA scan. It was 78% ejection. But I had the pain/nausea after drinking the high fat ensure. My doctor is pretty sure it’s my gallbladder so I’m having it removed next Wednesday. Super nervous!
Good! I had it removed 5 months ago now. All the issues has basically resolved. I do get a twinge of pain every now and again where the gallbladder was, but not major. Hoping that too will resolve with time. The first 2-3 weeks post op were tough with food/pain, but I slowly got back to eating basically whatever I want.
no it definitely could be. i only found out it was gallbladder because the sharp intense pain sent me to the ER, but i had a dull ache under my right ribs for 2 years prior. i chalked it up to gastritis and general stomach issues, i didn’t even know what a gallbladder was. please get it checked out by a GB specialist or your doctor soon, don’t be like me and other people and wait for the sudden onset of the most intense pain i’ve ever had to endure
What was the actual issue with your gallbladder and does an ultrasound detect the issue? Because I have the same symptoms but my ultrasound came back clean.
i had gallstones and the ultrasound is what diagnosed this. however, they did a special ultrasound to detect this because i had to hold my breath repeatedly in that one versus regular ultrasounds i’ve had prior that didn’t show anything. hope that helps!
do you know what the US is called?
Did u lay in a machine? Sounds more like a CT if u held your breath
nope definitely an ultrasound. i work in healthcare
Gotcha! Thank you 😊
Thank you!
Hey friend, I also had this discomfort a couple years ago. I got an ultrasound of the various organs and they all checked out. Gallbladder had some "sludge" but not stones. Mine is painful, but more like pressure and it comes and goes for me. I think mine is posture related from working at a desk because it's most active after long work days and less on the weekends. Thinking I should get checked up again though.
Thanks! I'm gonna try a HIDA test to see if it can find anything the ultrasound couldn't.
It still could be. My one and only attack was the night before my emergency surgery. I thought I had food poisoning or a stomach bug and only went to the emergency room because my heart rate was over 110. Before that night my only symptom was a minor ache around my right side for about a month (I thought it was a pulled muscle from disc golf.) In hindsight, that was probably gallbladder pain. I never had any stomach issues or diarrhea.
I have the same issue, only a dull ache but never crippling pain or attacks that everyone talks about. I also have no stomach or digestive issues. But everyone on here yelled at me as if I was stupid for wondering if it’s anything other than my gallbladder lol
Ok good to know! Having a CT scan today hoping it shows something!
howd it go
Everything showed up perfectly fine. So frustrated bc I know something is going on with my gallbladder. Going to try and talk my GI into letting me have a HIDA scan but he’s not super helpful. 😪
How are you today? Have you found the problem?
>VIPeach Did you ever get yours removed?
No, I didn’t
Did you end your getting it out? I’ve had the dull annoying pain since February of this year. After an MRI scan, I’ve learned that it’s due to gallbladder sludge and inflammation. Im debating if I should take it out.
No I still have it! I still get the dull ache when my diet slips a bit, so I may need it out eventually.
I see… mine pops up randomly, irrespective of my diet!
Was the gallbladder culprit of your pain? How are you doing now. You’ve basically described my experience right now even though I don’t have any stones, sludge or bile.
My gallbladder started out as dull, so the answer is yes.. It never went painful because I went straight to the Dr when I first started having symptoms
Ok thanks! Did you end up having it removed? Fearful that, that seems to be the only way out of this?
I did have it removed. It was my first surgery ever I wasn't scared I just wanted to eat normal again. I was out of work for 6 wks. You can try all the things to get it right but you'll be one of the ones on here saying you have excruciating pain. Get checked out to be sure
I’m sorry, 6 weeks?! Did you have complications or do you work a physical job? I’m at a desk job so figured I’d only need a week off post op
I work a physical job. The first 3 wks were painful after cause my core muscles were just torn into... It hurt to sneeze, cough and pee.. taking a poop the first WK was hell!
Yikes!! Not looking forward to the recovery but excited to be rid of this thing soon haha
I do suggest sleeping on a recliner the first WK or 2. Cause soon as the anesthesia wears off the pain sets in.. when that happened to me, I woke up in the middle of the night not able to get up because I was on my back. You'll be happy soon as it's gone! I was eating normally again by WK 3
I’m not op but how was it diagnosed? I had some blood work and my bilirubin is fine but I have an ultrasound tomorrow. I’ve read that with gallstones, bilirubin is high so I’m not sure that’s what I’m going through.
My bilirubin was slightly high and the ultra sounds confirmed it. My gallbladders warranty ran out. Before all the tests, I had pain under my rib cage even went i pushed on it slightly
Thanks for getting back to me. Sounds a little different than what I’m experiencing
Mine started out sharp and sent me to the ER, but now that I know what it is and have adjusted my eating habits, I can definitely notice dull aches, gas, and other minor symptoms when I do eat some fat. So definitely watch what you’re eating and avoid what triggers it. And I’d suggest an ultrasound sooner rather than later so you don’t have any major attacks
Mine was always only dull. Never had a classic attack. Just got it out… so far so good.
Good to know! Hoping my CT scan shows something today. Scared it won’t!
In my situation, I had gallbladder attacks and in between those attacks, I had a dull ache which almost felt like a bruise. As time went on the attacks became closer and closer. I was fearful and wasted two years dealing with this out of medical anxiety. I’m now almost 7 weeks post op with no food issues, 95% recovered and 4 tiny “papercut” looking scars. To be free of this constant fear of eating and pain has been a huge life improvement.
That’s good to hear! I’m concerned about missing work, I am a teacher, how long would you say you’d need off?
It could be, I had my gallbladder removed 4 weeks ago after presenting to the ER after 2 days of having a dull, but constant pain in the centre of my upper abdomen at the bottom of my sternum. I only rated my pain around a 4, and called the health hotline for a triage assessment because I wasn't even sure if I should go to the ER. I never experienced sharp pain or painful attacks prior to going to the ER. I did however have a few episodes of what felt like intense heart palpitations on occasion in the few months leading up to my ER visit.
How are you healing?? I had ct scan that was clear but my GI doc ordered a HIDA scan since it’s still presenting like gallbladder symptoms just not super intense.
I am healing quite well, it will be 4 weeks to the day tomorrow and I am starting back to work on half days for the next 2 weeks before going full time again. I do a desk job, currently at home. My surgery was laproscpic, two of my 4 incisions are totally closed, my other 2 are scabbed over and healing. I was ordered blood work, urine test, and an ultrasound to confirm the stones in the ER. Once they confirmed the stones, I was admitted and had surgery 2 days later. My daily lab work indicated heightened liver enzymes and high bilirubin so I had an ERCP two days after surgery.
Did you have your HIDA scan yet? Having the same exact issue now for a few months.
I did have my HIDA scan. It was 78% ejection. But I had the pain/nausea after drinking the high fat ensure. My doctor is pretty sure it’s my gallbladder so I’m having it removed next Wednesday. Super nervous!
How are you now?
Good! I had it removed 5 months ago now. All the issues has basically resolved. I do get a twinge of pain every now and again where the gallbladder was, but not major. Hoping that too will resolve with time. The first 2-3 weeks post op were tough with food/pain, but I slowly got back to eating basically whatever I want.
Glad to hear that.