Followup to my gallbladder questions (long, sorry)

Well ladies - it wasn't the gallbladder. After recovering from the Bladder infection that got me down 2 weeks post-op ... Friday, July 14, I began running a fever again of 102. The pain in my right side was just KILLING me when I would take a deep breath. Went to PriMed on the following Sunday, they gave me antibiotics, more pain meds & scheduled an ultrasound. Negative for gall stones. The pain & fever continued and increased until the following Friday, when I just had to go to the emergency room after work. (Yes - I pushed myself for a whole week working in pain for 10 1/2 hour days to try to get caught up a bit from the 3 week LSH recouperation.)

After a gazillion tests in the hospital - they did a EDG (esophagogastroduodenoscopy.) They found that I have a very large hiatal hernia and a bleeding duodenal ulcer. Since the ulcer is under the gallbladder area ... thus my strange, hard to diagnose, pain. Now, the infection is in my bloodstream and I'm one sick puppy.

One test they ran on Saturday though, the CT scan, showed a large cyst on my left ovary. But luckily for me, it was in the process of rupturing when they did the pelvic ultrasound on Monday. Made me wish I'd had the ovaries removed!

I got out of the hospital today (Wednesday) and I'm very tired and weak. Well - at least I got one week of work done, but the doc said not to go back until next Monday. Hopefully this "recovery" stuff will end soon. I can't STAND being inactive!!! I actually did a few quarterly payroll returns for my clients on my laptop in the hospital.

Now, I've got several months of medication to take & hopefully the bleeding ulcer will heal. I've read a bit about the ulcers and it seems that NSAIDs can cause them to flare up. So - watch out for the pain meds if you have a sensitive stomach or ulcers!

Thanks to all who have emailed me since my last post. Hope you are all recovering with less complications than I have had!

You should also find out what is causing the ulcer, not just that it is irritated by the NSAIDs. If it is the h-pilori bacteria you need to get rid of that, or the ulcer can keep coming back and the lining of the stomach/duodendom will be weakened further. This bacteria just doesn't disappear. It is usually a heavy course of very strong antibiotics. (Somebody very close to me had this very same problem, so I read up on it at the time, a few years ago.) WHatever you do, do not let the doctor tell you that the ulcer is in your head! State of mind can aggravate it, but it is a bacteria that causes it, not a state of mind! Also, you may want to research a natural product called "mastic gum." Some articles I read about this plant seem to show some potential promise in terms of healing ulcers. But as always, ask your health care practitioner first!

bagleybj,

I'm so sorry you've had so many problems! I'm very glad that they seem to have you figured out now, finally! I've been taking Aciphex 2X's daily for about 9 mo for an esophugus ulcer caused by acid reflux. This medicine is a once a day med! I should be healed by the end of the year and will go back for a follow up EDG. I hope yours heals as fast.

All nsaids, ibuprofen, & asprine can aggrivate ulcers, I was told to be sure to eat something before using any of them and hopefully the Aciphex will protect me. I am now recovering to the point I only need Tylenol at night for my back and leg pain.

Folky is right about the bacteria, ask your dr about it.

I pray you recover from all very quickly!

The doctor called me & the results are back from the biopsy & culture. It is the H-pylori bacteria. Guess I'm in for a LONG round of antibiotics now. Everything is starting to make sense, though. I've been having problems a lot longer than I thought. I thought it was just work stress. (Wonder why ... I worked 9 hours from home today ... while logged in to my computer at work.) I work for an accounting firm and our department has had a lot of turnover for the past year. My workload just keeps growing and being out 3 weeks recovering from the hysterectomy - then another week with this problem .... oh, my goodness - I may never catch up. I won't be having any stress relief for a VERY long time.

Thanks for your thoughts!