Gall bladder problems

believer · 03-09-2003, 04:01 AM

This is kind of an off the subject question and I hope someone can answer this for me. My mom has been having elevated liver enzymes for the past 6 years. She is constantly having stomach pain and has to be in the bathroom for a while first thing in the morning. She's only 46 so it's not an age related thing I'm sure. She has always suspected that she has gall bladder problems but ultrasounds show nothing. I have heard that you can have tiny gravel like stones or "sludge" that may cause the higher enzymes in the liver and stomach problems and it may not show up on an ultrasound. She has been tested for everything from hepatitis to cancer. They cannot find the problem. I was reading in another post that some of you have had your gall bladders removed and was wondering if anyone knows anything about this. My mom is seeing an internist but he doesn't seem to listen to her about the gall bladder thing. Her sister had hers removed at the age of 24 and her ducts were blocked. I know this isn't related to pcos but I am just worried about my mom.

P.S. She had a full hysterectomy at the age of 35 so she has no female reproductive organs - so it isn't related to that.

Arlyn · 03-10-2003, 01:07 PM

I'm really not sure what it could be. I've had my gallbladder removed. Mine hit fast though - I got horribly sick over a weekend out of town, came back and did the ultrasound, and they were able to see it through that. I had it out about 3 weeks later.

Wish I could help more...

Sandye · 03-10-2003, 01:55 PM

It took almost 8 months of tests to determine that I had a bad gallbladder - it took a kineva hida (sp) scan in nuclear medicine department to detect the problem. Two days after seeing the surgeon my gallbladder was removed.

Good luck to your mom!

Sandy