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Posted 11/4/2008 2:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Everyone

I have had pain under my right rib cage for over a year. I have gotten misdiagnosed by mainstream docs (I feel) with "oh you hurt your ribs and leave it alone and it will get better by itself" or "it is gas". If it is pressed on during an exam, it feels like it swells and hurts more for a while then eventually calms down- but is still there. Sometimes it hurts to lay on my right side. One Lyme doc said it was my gallbladder and my regular doc says no because an U/S of the abdomen showed no stones or abnormalities. I was just wondering if Lyme and co-infections (without IV Rocephin) would be enough to give gallbladder issues. I read the bugs like the gallbladder lining. Anyone else have this? I hesitate to ask for a HIDA scan because I want to avoid dyes and radiation. I also would never have my GB out at this time because it is tolerable on most days. It would also be helpful to know if there is a natural approach to try making the gallbladder healthier. Thank you- Minx
Posted 11/4/2008 3:59 PM (GMT 0)
Minx: Here is a web sight about gallbladder/liver cleansing. http://www.besthealth.com.au/gallbladdercleanse.htm D
Posted 11/5/2008 5:43 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Minx! I'm sorry you are not feeling well. I think infections and drugs can be hard on the liver---it is so busy trying to detox stuff. Maybe your liver is swollen? It can be quite painful, but so can the gall bladder. If your docs can't seem to answer your concerns, maybe a good naturopath could help you. They might be able to use "muscle testing" to find out the problem and give you supplements to help. Just a thought.
I hope you feel better soon. Best wishes. bablymers mom
Posted 11/5/2008 9:54 AM (GMT 0)
Minx,

When I first went to my doctor I had elevated liver enzymes.  The did a bunch of blood work to rule out Hepatitis/other causes and did an ultrasound to make sure my liver wasn't enlarged.  Everything turned out OK (maybe liver enzymes returned to normal 3 weeks later).  However, they did notice that the walls of my gallbladder were thicker than normal.  I don't know for sure this is a result of the Lyme but I wouldn't be suprised.  I also had some tenderness under my rib cage although it seemed to get better even before I started antibiotic treatment.  

I hope you feel better soon.  If you find out any additional info on GB and Lyme let me know.

Take care,

Brad

Posted 11/8/2008 3:35 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks all for you comments. I have read about the liver and gallbladder cleanse. I have read people can get sick from this like a lot of vomiting and it is a little scary. If anyone has done this cleanse I would like to hear how you made out. I do work with a naturopath and I can always ask his advice, but I haven't seen him lately.
Brad- good to hear your tenderness got better. That gives me hope which we all could use!

Be well, Minx
Posted 11/21/2008 3:39 AM (GMT 0)
I know this post was up a while ago but I'm curious as to how you are doing now? Did you get the HIDA scan?

I have chronic pain and soreness under my lower right ribs. I have a script for a gallbladder ultrasound but I already had one a few years ago and it showed nothing. A HIDA will probably be next--UGH. Do you have nausea also?

Here's an interesting post I found on LymeMD's blog:

http://lymemd.blogspot.com/2008/06/lyme-and-gallbladder.html
Posted 11/21/2008 3:53 AM (GMT 0)
I have had the same pain off and on since childhood. A GB untrasound years ago showed an enlarged common bile duct. I think the next test was a HIDA and I never found out the results.
My endo said it sounds like a Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction.
I don't know the reason, though.
Posted 11/21/2008 4:22 AM (GMT 0)
Hi LymeinMD

I am still the same. I decided that it is probably inflammation of the gallbladder. I did see Lyme MD's post about the gallbladder. Actually, he has mentioned gallbladder disease in his blog today also. I decided not to go ahead with a HIDA for now because I avoid all tests that involve dye, radiation or are invasive--if possible. I am a big chicken and would probably only get my gallbladder out if I had to be taken in on a stretcher! Even though I think I read that Lyme MD has experience with people doing better with their Lyme after the diseased gallbladder is removed. Maybe a dumb decision on my part but for now I am willing to live with it. If I have nausea, it is so minimal that it really is not a problem. How long have you had the pain? I think there could be hope for this to get better. Brad posted here that his got better. Lyme Md also mentioned it may get better treating Lyme with abx. Keeping my fingers crossed!

Kitty- When will you find out the HIDA results? Keep us posted!

Take care, Minx
Posted 11/21/2008 6:48 PM (GMT 0)
Gallbladder?..... what gallbladder?????

I think the Lyme and probably the abx's over the years just went for my gallbladder. I went from weighing around 148 lbs. (my normal "pre-Lyme" weight was 135) to 181 lbs. almost overnight. I had all the gb tests and they removed it and found it to be chronically inflamed. The weight starting dropping off.... I got down to around 148 again... and in the past ten weeks jumped 20 lbs. and then lost 10 lbs. I'm being re-tested with another 2 pelvic sonograms........... who knows what they'll find. I ALWAYS end up getting tested twice. There's always a slight problem with the first test... and I end up with further testing or a repeat and then everything is "normal". This has happened with my heart EKG and brain MRI............. man this Lyme disease is just eating me away from the inside out.

Sorry for kind of hijacking your post.
Posted 11/22/2008 1:57 AM (GMT 0)

My ultrasound and upper GI showed zip.  Still had issues, so I bit the bullet and had the HIDA scan done.  Was not bad...about 1 - 2 mins of cramping and naseau.  Worst part was laying flat on your back for all that time!!!!!

That did show my GB was not functioning properly, ejection rate way below the normal. Sigh, so what else is new with this disease?  Nothing is normal anymore rolleyes

Posted 11/22/2008 3:46 AM (GMT 0)

1bitten2xshy said...

My ultrasound and upper GI showed zip.  Still had issues, so I bit the bullet and had the HIDA scan done.  Was not bad...about 1 - 2 mins of cramping and naseau.  Worst part was laying flat on your back for all that time!!!!!

That did show my GB was not functioning properly, ejection rate way below the normal. Sigh, so what else is new with this disease?  Nothing is normal anymore rolleyes

That's what m gb was doing.  It took over an hour to complete it's "function" when the normal time should've been around 15 minutes.  I always felt full, up to my neck full... even if I just had a glass of water.

Lyme disease just really sucks!


Posted 11/22/2008 2:49 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,  I too have been having this problem. The Dr told me there doesn't seem to be anything wrong and maybe my gallbladder is just sludgy! what the hell does that mean! That was 2 years ago, and I'm still experiencing intense pain.
Posted 11/25/2008 4:02 AM (GMT 0)
bitten--what are you going to do? Are your docs recommending to have your gallbladder removed?

2 tired-- did you have any tests done to check your gallbladder yet?

--I would love to hear from anyone who has tried the liver/gallbladder cleanse on their experience.

Thanks, Minx
Posted 11/25/2008 8:33 PM (GMT 0)
Once I find a Dr to take me seriously, I'll get me gallbladder checked again. My GP said it was probably just gas when I inquired about it recently. I had an ultrasound 2 years ago when it first started, but found nothing abnormal was found. They said there was a small spot on my liver, most likely a blood blister. They didn't investigate further.
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