anyone have any problems with their gallbladder due to lupus?

Hi Bella,

 

Yes, the gallbladder has been known to cause problems.  I think it's probably related to the fact that it's part of the whole function of the liver, which is affected by lupus in many people.

 

Often when our liver enzyme tests come back elevated, the gallbladder is the first thing that is checked.  I had that experience last summer.  My gallbladder wasn't what was causing the issues, but it was suspected in the beginning. 

 

Maybe someone else wil have more information for you too.  I hope you start feeling better quickly now that yours is gone!

 

 

I lost my gallbladder in 2005 from inflammation that made it basically stop functioning at all. I had been suffering pain for 15 years when they finally took it out. It was such a relief. But I have to be careful about the fat content of anything I eat now.

I wasn't told much about the condition of my gallbladder but they strongly suspect it was the lupus since when I go off Imuran my liver function tests start to be abnormal and going back on normalizes them in a month of less.

When I was 23 I had my gall bladder removed and was told at that time that alot of the symptoms I was having was from the diseased gallblader. But now that I have found out 20 years later that I have Lupus I believe (as does my Rheumy) that I had Lupus 20 years ago. My Rheumy has said that there may be a link between Lupus and Gallbladder disease.

Had mine yanked in 1996. I had had gallbladder like pain that they just couldn't diagnose. Nothing showed up on anything, I even had a hydascan with cck, which made me horribly ill but still showed nothing. I finally saw a specialist at a diagnostic center in Clearwater, FL. He did an endoscope and took samples from my gall bladder. Turns out that instead of forming visible stones, mine was producing tiny crystal shards that would cut up the inside of my gall bladder everytime it would contract. He took it out laproscopically(which was pretty new back then) and after a weeks bed rest, I was fine. I haven't had any abdominal or shoulder pain since. Who knows if it was Lupus way back then, I guess we'll never reallly know for sure.

I realize it has been some time since you made this post.  I am new to this site and have never done or shared information regarding my DX of Lupus, or shall I say Connective Tissue Diffuse.  I do believe that Lupus can cause gallbladder problems.  I was DX with CTD/Lupus 2003.  It took several months and hospitalization before the DX was made as my symptoms varied so.  In 2005 they ran a CAT scan of my mid-section and found that I had 2 cyst on my pancrease, thicking of the wall in my gallbladder, fibroids inner and outer of the urterus, and a dropped bladder.  Needless to say, my number of specialist increased after that.  Just last week, I had my gallbladder removed.  I've been unable to work for about 2 months now.  As usual, my symptoms aren't consistent.  When I started out, I thought I had a 24 hour stomach virus that was going around.  After two and a-half days of throwing up, none stop, I went to see a doctor.  My white blood cell count had dropped to 3 and I tested positive for the H-polyri bacteria.  Neither of these are consistent with gallbladder problems.  I had an upper GI and biopsy done that came out ok.  Then they started looking at the gallbladder.  I had an ultrasound done and they only found sludge in the gallbladder, no stones.  I then had a Hydia scan done. My ejection fraction rate was 14%. Because of the lupus and inconsistent symtoms, it took an additional 3 weeks and more test before they removed my gallbladder.  I go back for my post-op follow-up tomorrow.  I can't wait to hear what they found in the pathology report. 

I hope that everything turned out alright for you.