So it wasn't gastritis after all
By syramoon
@syramoon (654)
United States
May 19, 2012 9:18pm CST
So for about two weeks, and two emergency room visits, the doctors at a local hospital has me convinced that I had gastritis, and I had no choice to be miserable even though for the most part of it I gave up eating real foods, and only ate yogurt and still hurt, and for a few days couldn't hold anything down.
Thursday afternoon after about 2 days of constant pain and not being able to eat or drink anything, I gave up and went back to the Emergency Room, even though my friends thought I were crazy and that they were only going to tell me the same thing as last time.
It was early afternoon, and I was being checked in, you know the nurse asking questions and such, and a doctor passed through the room. She glanced at me, and was ordering them to check my liver enzymes and get me on fluids, right then. About half an hour later, before my blood work had even came in, I was having another ultrasound, my last one had revealed nothing, but I was like, hey this doctor is trying to find out what's wrong. It still showed nothing relevant, but by the time I got back from the ultrasound, the blood work was done, and it showed my liver enzymes were through the roof, which lead the doctor to think that I most likely had something (a gallstone) blocking my bile duct, I was admitted Thursday night, and had a scope to check my bile duct, and remove the stone which was successful. Also at the doctors advice, this morning I had a same day surgery to remove my gallbladder to prevent future incidents such as this one.
I'm home now, and sore as hell, but somehow relieved. Relieved that I wasn't crazy and my body was telling me more was wrong than they thought,and relieved that my scope also showed no sign of gastritis or ulcers. My stomach is healthy. I'm phobic of hospitals, doctors, and surgeries, but this time I'm relieved that a surgery could prevent it from happening again, and that once I heal from this surgery, I can get back to trying to get my ankle well, and focus on that without worrying about having gastritis.
3 responses
@rewardsinlife (1132)
• United States
4 Jun 12
Hmm you are making me think second about my diagnosis. I haven't been able to eat since Friday as I have had a fever, and horrible stomach pain. Dr. told me it was probably just a virus or gastritis as well and to come back in by wed. if I didn't feel better. I always worry it could be something like a stone. Well I am glad you got it figured out, I will be sure to go in if I am not feeling better soon.
@syramoon (654)
• United States
4 Jun 12
If you can't hold anything down including water, I'd suggest going to the Emergency Room if it lasts too long. Dehydration is dangerous. But also when you do go back to your doctor, I would ask for a blood test to check the level of your liver enzymes. If you have a stone blocking your bile duct, they will be up. I didn't have a fever with mine, but everyone reacts differently. They never want to diagnose it as a gallbladder/bile duct problem at first. And when the problem first starts the symptoms can mimic a virus or gastritis. So I now tell everyone I know to tell the doctor they want their liver enzymes checked. I'm most likely paranoid, but a simple blood test can diagnose the problem.
@rewardsinlife (1132)
• United States
4 Jun 12
I am able to keep water down and have it flush from my system as well so I am okay that way but it just hurts. It puts so much pressure on my stomach to drink it and have it go through which makes me think there is something more. Thanks for the tips, I will keep an eye on it. You know you don't feel well over the weekend when you keep all of your electronics turned off and don't do anything but sit in pain. aye 
@DoctorDidi (7018)
• India
4 Jun 12
Gall bladder stone usually produces a colicky pain and the patients tussles up in the bed. It occurs usually in a fat fertile female of forty years. I do no know whether you fulfill any of those criteria. However, it is a good sign that the proper diagnosis was ultimately made and your gall bladder has been removed. Otherwise, it could lead to malignancy if only the stone was removed leaving aside the gall bladder as it was. However, I cannot understand why your first USG of upper abdomen did not reveal the presence of the stone. It might be that it was in the bile duct and so it was missed in the USG. I think, henceforth, you would follow strictly the restrictions advised by the doctor like avoidance of fatty food.
