Still Sick!

Aug 26, 2004 02:42 PM written by nurseygrrl | 23 Comments

I am so upset right now....I have had what my doc has been calling a 'stomach virus' for almost two weeks now. Starting on Monday, I've had severe stomach pain right below my breast bone that burns right through to my mid back. It feels like I'm having a gall bladder attack even though I had my gallbladder removed in 1995.

All of my blood work (amylase, lipase, CBC, and h. pylori test) came back negative. I just got off the phone with my doc and she said to take 2 ASA and 2 tylenol every 4 hours and she made me an emergency GI appointment for tomorrow. She said if it gets any worse to go to the ER of course.

She said it may be common bile duct stones...But, I had an ERCP after my gall bladder removal and everything was a-ok. Can you just form stones in your commonm bile duct without a gall bladder?

This is awful, I've used up all of my sick time already and had to call in sick for tomorrow.

Wish me luck!

*jnette* · Aug 26, 2004, 03:37 PM

Oh.. poor girl. You do sound miserable. I truly wish you a most speedy recovery... but please do get it checked out.. been going on to long now.

(((HUGS))) and keep us posted.

*Tweety* · Aug 26, 2004, 03:41 PM

Get well soon. Perhaps you should insist on a CT scan if all else is negative, the emergency visit could do that for you as well.

*SmilingBluEyes* · Aug 26, 2004, 03:42 PM

(((((((((((((Ali))))))))))))))))))

feel better soon!!!

purplemania · Aug 26, 2004, 03:48 PM

yes, to the question about the retained gallstones after surgery. I had that problem but the MD prescribed Maalox & Tylenol. No repeat surgery to date, but they bother me sometimes.

*CHATSDALE* · Aug 26, 2004, 04:40 PM

you know whether or not you are sick enough to go to er....don't wait until too late...you are the only you you have

rollingstone · Aug 26, 2004, 04:45 PM

Hope you feel better soon. Good thing you had some sick days you could use.

explorer · Aug 26, 2004, 05:21 PM

Originally Posted by HerEyes73

I am so upset right now....I have had what my doc has been calling a 'stomach virus' for almost two weeks now. Starting on Monday, I've had severe stomach pain right below my breast bone that burns right through to my mid back. It feels like I'm having a gall bladder attack even though I had my gallbladder removed in 1995.

All of my blood work (amylase, lipase, CBC, and h. pylori test) came back negative. I just got off the phone with my doc and she said to take 2 ASA and 2 tylenol every 4 hours and she made me an emergency GI appointment for tomorrow. She said if it gets any worse to go to the ER of course.

She said it may be common bile duct stones...But, I had an ERCP after my gall bladder removal and everything was a-ok. Can you just form stones in your commonm bile duct without a gall bladder?

This is awful, I've used up all of my sick time already and had to call in sick for tomorrow.

Wish me luck!

I wish you luck!

RNMedic1977 · Aug 26, 2004, 08:25 PM

I would look into information on "Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction (SOD), your S/S sure sound like SOD. Good Luck!

Here is some info from Indiana University's GI website:

I have had my gallbladder out so why am I still having gallbladder pain?
Biliary spasms affect from 2 to 10% of people who have had their gallbladders removed. A few people have it with intact gallbladders. It is more common among women then men. However, the causes of this syndrome are still unclear. It is generally considered a functional distorder that has a psychological component (somatization) and may increase under stress. The condition has symptoms of gallbladder disease pain and can start from a few weeks to years after the gallbladder has been removed. Burning pain in the epigastric (upper stomach) area radiates around to the back or under right shoulder blade. It often begins about a half hour after eating and can last for several hours. There can also be cramping under the shoulder blade or back and the stool (bowel movement) can be light tan if the normal amount of bile is not going into the intestine.
These spasms and burning sensations are thought to be caused by contractions of the common bile duct (the duct that allows bile from the liver into the small intestine) or a tightening of the Sphincter of Oddi (the muscle opening that controls the flow of bile and pancreatic enzymes into the small intestine). Sometimes "gallstones" can form in the duct that may not be visible on Ultra Sound that will produce these symptoms.

To read the full article, and find more answers on SOD, go to: http://www.indiana.edu/~engs/hints/oddi.html

Nurse4years · Aug 27, 2004, 01:08 AM

Get info from your facility re: family medical leave act. I once utilized it when I was having physical problems. My Sup gave me a sheet of paper for the Doc to fill out.
He simply stated that I might have to take off days due to this illness, and I never had any problems.
I thought that FMLA was to take care of family members only, and not for personal, but Sup assured me, so I didn't ask questions.

Good luck, and feel better.

Still Sick!

Still Sick!

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