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Is it IBS, gallbladder...any advice would help

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Posted 4/11/2007 3:11 PM (GMT -7)
Hi...I've had about 6 episodes of right side pain (between my ovaries and my ribs) higher up and towards my side rather than my abdomen...usually seems to be accompanied by gas...lasts for a few hours easily...about a few weeks in between. I'm thinking gall bladder and will probably go get checked out, but wondered if anyone had any ideas. The spot that is painful is very tender to the touch, although I can't seem to find any particular place or lump or bump associated with it.

 

Posted 4/11/2007 3:27 PM (GMT -7)
Hi lucy,
Welcome to HealingWell! :-)
You might consider having your appendix checked as well. Do you have a temp? Do you have any other symptoms besides pain and gas? Is your pain relieved by a BM (bowel movement)? Have you been diagnosed with IBS and are wondering if you pain is associated with that?
Posted 4/11/2007 3:44 PM (GMT -7)
Since your pain is in the middle of your right side, Lil's right that you should have your appendix and gall bladder both checked; either one can radiate pain up or down. One particularly tender spot (as opposed to sore all over) is usually associated with a problem with one of those organs. Make sure you get a hida scan on the gall bladder. Too many doctors want to be cheap and just do the ultrasound, but that doesn't test functionality at all. You can have a bad GB and not have stones. Of course, if they find stones on your ultrasound, then no hidascan is needed.
Posted 4/11/2007 4:02 PM (GMT -7)
No, during these episodes there is no nausea, or fever, or rebound tenderness lower in my abdomen...doesn't seem to be relieved by a BM, although I do notice I seem to have more of them than I used to...I don't have the symptoms of gallbladder disease, i.e., pale or fatty stools...just the pain in my side. Guess I should just quit guessing and go to a gastroenterologist or just have a colonoscopy done anyway as I just turned 50 and need a full physical anyway.
Posted 4/11/2007 4:46 PM (GMT -7)
Yes, that's a good idea! Ultrasound and even possibly a CT scan might be good too.
Posted 4/12/2007 7:21 AM (GMT -7)
Sometimes pain is the only symptom of gall bladder disease. I know of people who went to the doctor for this odd pain in their side and find out their gall bladder is full of stones. From just what I have observed, stones don't seem to cause quite as many symptoms as outright dysfunction, because a stoney gall bladder will keep on functioning to some degree a lot of times. When it's dysfunctional you tend to have more episodes of nausea, vomiting, indigestion, diarrhea, etc. But, like I said, sometimes pain is the only symptom. Fever is actually not a symptom of a bad gall bladder, but I think it frequently is when your appendix is bad.

Yep, probably time to get proded anyways.
Posted 4/12/2007 8:09 AM (GMT -7)
Yes, Keri, you're right about the fever... I only asked because it is associated with Appendicitis. Other symptoms are abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting.
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