"gallbladder" attacks with no gallbladder

General
21

HI Fighter, you said you feel as though something is also wrong with your kidneys, have you ever discussed this with your doctor, i had a kidney biopsy which doesnt really hurt, its more just uncomfortable whilst its being done, and then the laying on my tummy for 6 hours to let the kidney settle back down to where its supposed to lay. I do have kidney involvement, and liver, heart and lungs. There are blood tests for the heart and lungs, and liver and kidneys too. Its worth asking your doctor what your results are like for the liver enzymes and kidney, which is the on the blood form, they usually do them as standard when they do a full blood count, so i would ask if i were you, as its your body and you are entitled to know how things are with everything. I wish you luck with it. What makes you think you might have kidney problems, i hope you dont mind me asking? Do you get alot of back ache and other things? I also have a thing called irritable bladder which is basically inflammation that makes me need the loo more, which is frustrating at times, there are so many things that come with the Lupus, its so hard sometimes to deal with them all isnt it? Anyway you take care, look after yourself, bye for now, love and hugs Astrid40xoxo

fighter said:

You know I kinda feel like it may be a problem with the kidneys as well. But I will hope for the best, and prepare for whatever the outcome will be. Good luck with your appointment and your health. Many blessings and hugs xoxox

MegLupusNewbie said:

Hi Fighter- I read that sometimes the test for a urinary tract infection comes back positive but that the problem is actually kidney disease. I guess your doc has considered this? I hope your stomach problems get sorted and you feel better soon.

Meg

22

Hi MegLupusNewbie, first i must apologise for spelling your name wrong last time, sorry about that, i must of hit the wrong letter, honestly what am i like, so sorry. Anyway yes it is true that having reoccurrant Uti's can be a sign of kidney disease. The reason they started to be concerned about mine right at the start was i always had blood in my urine, which obviously shouldnt be there, it was part of the inflammation happening, and i also had these things called cast's in my urine, which are kind of whitish like chalk and have like a small twisty little thing, and that was another sign of kidney involvement, so they sent me off for a kidney biopsy which came back positive that i had kidney involvement with the Lupus, it is scary as you read all sorts of things, i have been lucky, and mine is being managed without dialysis yet, so i hope it doesnt get any worse, there are lots of options though before there isnt any hope, like having a kidney transplant. The way some books put it, makes it look as though there is no hope whatsoever. The worse book for this is an old American one, which maybe back then when it was written there wasnt as much hope. The book is a dark blue colour and called The Lupus Book, and if you read that one, it makes out there is no hope for Lupus sufferers, which is not good, as we need accurate and true information, not something thats going to scare the life out of us. Anyway good luck Fighter, i hope you get some answers about the kidneys, and take care, look after yourself, love and hugs Astrid40xoxo

MegLupusNewbie said:

Hi Fighter- I read that sometimes the test for a urinary tract infection comes back positive but that the problem is actually kidney disease. I guess your doc has considered this? I hope your stomach problems get sorted and you feel better soon.

Meg

23

yes, there are auto immune diseases that affect the liver. there are now so many auto immune diseases it is impossible to keep up on all of them. But i do know the can affect the liver because my husband has one that does just that...produces too much iron and must give blood to keep iron at normal levels. Than he gets anemic lol!

Also Meg is 100% right about urinary track and it possibly being really in your kidneys....it happen to me that way. But one thing i want to point out..that is hardest thing especially 1st couple years of finding out you have chronic illness is that not every time you are sick is it tied in to it. Your iratable bladder could easily be if your are newlywed for example and active sexually. You could be allergic to condoms,plus other contraceptives and even sperm! that did actually happen to me!! I was worried my kidneys were screwing up thank fully i had a great team of Doctors ...who really taught me not to assume it is part of my disease till i get to know it better. Even than...you still will get sick just like others and has nothing to do with our diseases. But first years...it is like oh man is this going to be another part of my body it is going after!!

But really have doc check your kidneys out...protein levels etc .. irritable bladder will show up without signs of it being in your kidneys but since you are new he should check them just in case and to ease your mind

I really hope you find out what is wrong....in one way as long as they can treat you...it is good if they do not have a name..maybe you will luck out and this is temporary problem....not a chrnoic one.

also i just searched clay stool(poo) and it came up as possible few things, lack of bile, inability to digest certain foods...here is the link http://ibdcrohns.about.com/od/otherdigestivediseases/a/palestool.htm.

you mention that you thought it might be bilary cirrhosis. which states caused by alcoholism. Women become alcoholic much quicker than men since their bodies metabolize it differently. Of course depends on what you drink and how much...but just 2 drinks daily period is too much and can cause physical damage.

http://www.cspinet.org/booze/women.htm here is facts the center for public interest set up....they are very reputable group and usually ahead of main stream 'news reports'.

I am not saying at all that you are....i just would like to give you the information so you can learn about effects of it on women's bodies. I personally...still think a glass of red wine...though you can get same benefits from 100% red grape juice as well.


lack of medical care.

Also Meg is 100% right about urinary track and it possibly being really in your kidneys....it happen to me that way.

I really hope you find out what is wrong....in one way as long as they can treat you...it is good if they do not have a name..maybe you will luck out and this is temporary problem....not a chrnoic one.

also i just searched clay stool(poo) and it came up as possible few things, lack of bile, inability to digest certain foods...here is the link http://ibdcrohns.about.com/od/otherdigestivediseases/a/palestool.htm.

Also....there is another site i go too...for sarcoidosis...i feel i must mention this..maybe i should do it in new topic but it really upset me these type of stories. Over there is another young woman 27, who was just diagnosed with sarcoid. Doctors believe that is what killed my brother...though how we got sick was similar he was much more ill than i was growing up. Just like lupus etc much more is known now than when we first were sick or diagnosed since he was sick all his life..really me too just not as bad.

But these women...one was put at high risk by her health insurance of 20 years ...so she cannot see any specialists only the few names of doctors on the list. She does not have them assisting with paying her for meds now either so she is bind there. ...she wrote because i was upset that newly diagnosed young woman...had biopsy and showed she has it in her lungs...a very bad place to have it...that doctor said come back in 6 months!! She could be severely ill by than!

She also has spent all her money so does not have any more for health treatments. I been lucky...i have had health insurance all my life. My husband did not divorce me so i would continue to have it when he saw how much it would cost me and plus in my small community so many people who got sick...than the insurance company kept raising their rates till they had to let it go....

He did make me apply for disability..something all my doctors thought i should do as well but was too ashamed. I felt since we had the money and insurance...it should go to others who really need it more than i did. Well..i got that broke ,,,we only are married for health insurance. So i have both disability and his insurance...which opens a lot more doors for me.

I am lucky and realize it....but over 20 years ago a friend of mine had small child, daughter only 4 years old who had type of cancer. Not there was a treatment that had good chance of saving her life but the insurance company refused it...we could not raise enough money in time and she died at 5 years old!! That broke my heart and made me wake up about insurance companies...and how health care if for profit in this country. that is so wrong..it should be for saving lives!

So i just want to remind all of us who do have insurance be it disability or what ever ..from your job like mine use to be...we are so lucky...my friend just broke her wrist..no insurance.she is healthy ...but things happen...she has 2 daughters grown ones...one has SLE with cancer now....and other has Crohns ..which was very active a year ago..she was put off work for year.

Just when i heard one woman tell her story...and her sarcoid is active ...she needs treatment and test but cannot afford them so she waits till she cannot stand it than goes into emergency and than she says...she just has to say she is not able to pay the bill. Yes i suggested for her to go on disability..and many other things...maybe she has tried and got turned out and just is too tired to fight them..hopefully she will tell me more.

i could tell that i push some of her buttons by telling the first young newly diagnosed that she must see a doctor before 6 months that it could really affect her health severely. I missed the sentence that said in one way it was okay to wait since she ran out of money to pay doctor bills etc. Made me want to cry....i wish i had enough money to pay for her to go.

We must push our representatives to pass anything that gives health care to all...the small details we can work out later...but we cannot let people die because we are arguing over really idiotic things that do not matter in the big picture.

i apologize if i sound like i am on band wagon here...it just really upset me greatly that this young woman really might die without her medical care...where if she had it...now days she could live a somewhat normal life. I hope i did not offend anyone...just wish there was something i could do for them both!

I hope you do find out about your bile and pale stools..and that it is nothing...just lay over from gallbladder removal and that you just have problems now digesting certain foods. I did not mean to take away from how bad you feel ...or how serious your issue is....just feel sometimes we all need to appreciate the little things we do have.

oh one last thing i kept meaning to tell fighter..when my kidneys would get really bad...my stomach hurt..it hurt to breath even..so pain can be in one place but really come from other places....but think most people do get antacid pills after gallbladder surgery. you could try otc brands...prevacid is good one...any of the those..purple pill one is good.. sincerely hope you get well soon!! ;

24

MegLupusNewbie and Astrid, thank for the advice, my doctor didn't mention anything about my kidneys, but I will mention it for him, I go back in 6 weeks. This is why I love my LWF family. I will be sure to keep everyone updated. Many blessings and hugs xoxoxox



astrid40 said:

Hi MegLupusNewbie, first i must apologise for spelling your name wrong last time, sorry about that, i must of hit the wrong letter, honestly what am i like, so sorry. Anyway yes it is true that having reoccurrant Uti's can be a sign of kidney disease. The reason they started to be concerned about mine right at the start was i always had blood in my urine, which obviously shouldnt be there, it was part of the inflammation happening, and i also had these things called cast's in my urine, which are kind of whitish like chalk and have like a small twisty little thing, and that was another sign of kidney involvement, so they sent me off for a kidney biopsy which came back positive that i had kidney involvement with the Lupus, it is scary as you read all sorts of things, i have been lucky, and mine is being managed without dialysis yet, so i hope it doesnt get any worse, there are lots of options though before there isnt any hope, like having a kidney transplant. The way some books put it, makes it look as though there is no hope whatsoever. The worse book for this is an old American one, which maybe back then when it was written there wasnt as much hope. The book is a dark blue colour and called The Lupus Book, and if you read that one, it makes out there is no hope for Lupus sufferers, which is not good, as we need accurate and true information, not something thats going to scare the life out of us. Anyway good luck Fighter, i hope you get some answers about the kidneys, and take care, look after yourself, love and hugs Astrid40xoxo

MegLupusNewbie said:

Hi Fighter- I read that sometimes the test for a urinary tract infection comes back positive but that the problem is actually kidney disease. I guess your doc has considered this? I hope your stomach problems get sorted and you feel better soon.

Meg

25

Mention IBS or gastroparessis?

26

Hi Everyone,

I just got back from the doctors and my ultrasound was inconclusive- no stones in the duct seen and they said the duct was thickened and that it may or may not be normal. The doc ordered a CT scan. He did not mention gastroparessis- and I was diagnosed with IBS a long time ago but this pain that i get is not IBS - it is in my upper abdomen and I have vomiting,the pain goes right to my back just like a gallbladder attack. I don't drink and I eat healthy. This is so frustrating - I really need a specialist not my family doc trying to figure this out but I am on a waiting list months and months long.

What is gastroparessis and what are the symptoms?

Thanks for all your replies!

Meg

27

Hi MegLupusNewbie, I am so sorry you havent got an answer as to whats happening to you. Its so frustrating isnt it? It sounds as though the doctor is trying to eliminate everything. Have you had an endoscopy at all, as that deals with the top part of you abdomen, and if you have been vomiting it could be do with the stomach as well as else where. Its even more frustrating when you know you live a healthy life like you have said eating healthy and not drinking either. I really do think that the doctor is just trying to eliminate things, as one thing can lead to another in all those areas, i used to work as a nurse, and this is often how the doctors work, if they arent sure, they do a series of tests to try and eliminate what it isnt first, and then go into things further, but it is frustrating for sure. I used to have test after test, but sadly mine alot of mine came back with something wrong, only a few came back normal. Try not to get stressed, although easier said than done, i am only saying not to get stressed as we all feel worse when we get stressed, we are all here for you. The trouble with stress it is a known fact it exaccerbates what we have wrong with us, i know its not easy though. I have my moments where i am completely stressed, when i realise i try and think about something else. Or come on here and chat with people, that can help. I am thinking of you, and i really hope they find out whats up soon for you, and you get some treatment, as you cant go on like this much longer, i will keep you in my prayers, take care, thinking of you, love and hugs Astrid40xoxo

28

Hi Astrid,

I had an endoscopy aboout a year and a half ago, before i got diagnosed with Lupus. The doctor was thinking maybe I had inflamatory bowel disease. The doctor had told me if there was anything abnormal they would call but they never called. I recently got a copy of all my medical records and the scope report said I had inflamation of my esaphagus and my stomach that they thought it was that h-pylori (sp?) but a biopsy was done and was negative so they said it was GERD. I was not having these same attacks of pain at the time just regular IBS type digestive complaints.

It looks like I have no choice but to keep waiting and waiting - my CT is not scheduled until April.

Thanks for all your kind words of encouragment,

Meg

29

Hi MegLupusNewbie, Was it an endoscopy or colonoscopy, as the colonoscopy usually deals with the bowel, it looks by what you are saying that you had both investigations. Thats awful that you have inflammation of the oesophagus and stomach. There are so many things that can happen with an inflammed stomach, something might of developed since then, sometimes its not easy to tell, until a patient presents with symptoms that go with the inflammation. I had inflammation in my stomach, and it turned out i had Caeliacs disease, which is quite hard for me, as i hate the food they do without the gluton etc. I am so sorry you are having to go through all this, and without much luck in finding out whats going on. IBS is not easy either, i used to get it really bad, but i have it more under control now, as i worked out what foods seem to trigger it, it took me a while to do that though. Some vegetables like cauliflower and broccoli were causing a flare with the IBS for me, and when i had gravy made from meat juices, which i never make myself, but if i went to someones place for dinner and that was with the food, i would have it, then have to be rushing off to the bathroom very soon afterwards, so i worked out that was a thing i had to avoid too.

I really hope they have some luck finding out whats wrong with the CT Scan, is it an all over body scan, or just the areas where you feel most pain? Its a long time to wait until April isnt it? Time does go quite quickly, so hang on in there, and any time you want to chat, or just vent about things, feel free to contact me, or just speak to everyone on here, i know you have the full support of everyone. Keep hanging in there, take care, look after yourself, i am thinking of you, love and hugs Astrid40xoxo

30

Hi Meg yes i have had trouble with my stomach also.I have pain and bowl trouble and gi trouble I get noushaous all the time.have pain and swelling even in my groin and stomach.no one can figure it out chest pain throat problems i have had it all and on tom of that i was told 2 times i had lupus and now they say it could be somthingeles but i know what i have and also have many picutures of everyflare i have had .no one is gonna tell me i know my body.and i have had every symtom going and more i am on hydrocloriquine and maxsalt and other meds.so yes it does affect your stomach.please wright back ladyd.

31

I also have what many would call a 'nervous stomach' where when i get stressed, i actually will vomit from all acid that builds up. It also goes straight to my intestines and diarrhea can act up.. where I literally am getting sick from both ends....worse part is cramping is so bad i pass out so i end up on floor with bunch of newspaper under me.

For me it can happen due to bad water..which i put filter on and cured it to foods like cream cheese to honey and pineapple of all things can set it off. Often it is just when i over do it this will happen to make me rest as i say. Since after a bout i usually can be out of it from few days to few weeks or more. Chicken soup ..bland diet seems to help when i either been sick or feel i might be about there.

Imodium helps a bit but not with cramping. Only thing i found that seems to stop them is Vicodin I even tried other pain pills and they do not stop it near as fast as Vicodin can...plus the drugs out there like bentyl (sp might be wrong) which is suppose to help specifically with cramping...did nothing.

That is one stomach /intestinal problem than i get one that feels more like stomach pain from like anti inflammatory drugs like Motrin or any of them but i did take ibuprofen at prescription strength for over 10 years at least and did not always eat food before taking it.

The first one is more nauseated stomach with a lot of cramping similar to period cramping but it can be higher in my large and follow all way down to small intestine. You might look on how your intestines wrap around front of stomach area than work way down.

I am positive 2nd kind that I tend to get when over tired or bad water is tied in with auto immune part of me....cause often if listen well and just stop what ever i am doing and just rest, i can stop it. But i have to literally do nothing and just read or watch tv..in other words lay down and rest.

I had ton of tests trying to figure out what caused it in my teens and twenties...my brother had similar problems as well and he had auto immune issues too.

Long shot here....you might ask your doc to just check out your heart as women often have stomach ache with dull back pain with heart attacks or problems....our symptoms are very different than men's.

Also i go to Dr Oz sight and search about clay stools...if you mean like mucus i remember that is indication of something but i do not recall but he at least speaks openly about how different stools do mean things so you might to search there plus just google search clay stools.

i am sorry....i just had stressful weekend where i kept vomiting due to being so stressed....i got new doctor who though he admits he knows nothing about lupus started giving me 3rd degree...and when he touched me...with out asking first(huge no no for me) he got mad when i said it hurt and said i was faking it! There was more to it but i know how frustrating it is to have bad stomach pain..

It just could be so many things that i agree your doctor most likely is trying to eliminate most obvious.....if you feel they do not know than you might ask to see gastric doc. But my feelings really go out as i know no fun to be in pain plus feeling nauseated etc on top of it.