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Can underfunctioning gallbladder change your appetite?
Long-term upper central abdominal pain. Been in a constant state of nausea for years with intermittent gnawing, burning stomach pain, and reflux. Been on omeprazole and famotidine off and on as they help reduce the reflux which is unmanageable and painful without them, but they also increase stomach pain and nausea. Pain is worse after highly acidic and fatty foods. One brownie one day can cause hours of stomach pain and intense nausea that makes it hard to sleep at night despite additional antacids and elevating the head of my bed the whole night and not laying down within 2 hours of eating. Other days I have have two brownies and be fine until I have a splash of juice (literally less than four ounces) and that will set off the pain even when eaten in conjunction with a well-balanced meal. I eat chocolate sparingly, and avoid tomatoes, alcohol, and caffeine.
Normal abdominal CT in 2020, no thyroid, liver, heart, or kidney problems. No vitamin deficiencies. I have tried cutting out every food known to man with mostly inconsistent results, though it generally helps me to avoid high carb, high fat, and high sugar foods. If I do eat them I do my best to pair them with highly alkaline vegetables which usually helps offset the acidity of the offending foods but not always.
Normal gallbladder ultrasound. Negative for h. pylori. History of gastritis, GERD, and IBS which I have only been able to manage with long-term diet modification (see above, not strictly low FODMAP). I have a HIDA scan scheduled for next week and I am actually for the first time in a long time genuinely nervous for the results. Most of my tests have been frustratingly normal, but if I have my gallbladder taken out I know that can be necessary but also cause other lifelong issues.
I have often felt like my GI symptoms somehow affect my appetite. I overall eat a very balanced diet, but I seem to crave more carbs and dessert than I really think is necessary. I think dessert and flexibility around a variety of food is part of a balanced and healthy approach to eating, I am not dessert-avoidant, but I feel that given my flexibility with food I am still confused that I still often feel unsatisfied after meals and continue to crave these foods, but when I let myself eat them it often triggers unpleasant symptoms like stomach pain, reflux, and bloating, even though I do not eat them to the point of excess. In your experience has an underfunctioning gallbladder (with normal ultrasound) affected your appetite? Is it something you only noticed when you got your gallbladder removed?
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@lookingforanswers2022 Hmm...except for the cravings you describe, this could have been me several years ago.
The HIDA scan, demanded by my RN daughters after cholystectomy solved her years-long issues, showed a barely functioning gall bladder in spite of normal bloodwork and ultrasound. The scan showed just below 40% of normal function, about the threshold for surgery, so my docs decided we should go ahead. It turned out the gall bladder was "hardened" and what part of it was functioning was inflamed.
Surgery was an immediate relief for me, although I had to follow a strictly low-fat diet for about a year. Now the only limitations (still) are a lower tolerance for highly fatty foods, but I can eat them in moderation. My liver function remains perfectly normal 5 years later. I can even eat the occasional bowl of ice cream or a brownie (mostly my sweets are limited too 1-2 pieces of dark chocolate.)
Sue
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3 ReactionsHi Sue, thanks for your reply. Now that you mention it I think the cravings might be due to several sleep disorders which are difficult to manage right now. Since I'm not recovering my energy from sleeping I'm likely getting it from food. I'm taking steps to manage things sleep-wise but that's a topic for another forum.
Like you, I have seen a number of people mention online that even while their ultrasound was clear, upon surgery the doctors found inflammation and even gallstones that for whatever reason had not shown up on the scan.
I can't tell you how badly I've been wanting answers for my symptoms and how badly I wished I could have something that could at least be corrected by surgery...and now that surgery might be on the table I'm worried that there will be complications or that I won't wake up from the anesthesia. I've only ever had one other surgical procedure before and a few outpatient procedures and have never had any issues, adverse reactions to anesthesia or surgical complications. But a dear cousin of mine died within four months of diagnosis of an unusually aggressive cancer several months ago, so understandably health and mortality have been on my mind lately even though my health problems are not cancer-related.
I've also been worried about post-cholecystectomy syndrome. Historically speaking I tend to be a statistical outlier when it comes to my medical conditions and adverse reactions to most treatments. I just got a new PCP and she is the one who suggested getting my gallbladder tested for my gut issues. I've seen other PCPs, dieticians, and GI specialists for years but this is the first time anyone has brought up the gallbladder. I've had a lot of tests done that have all come out normal, but I have a feeling that this HIDA scan is going to be different. The prospect of surgery--while it may be necessary--is also a bit intimidating.
I understand fear of surgery - I think it has been anesthetized out of me with about 20 surgeries over the past 50 years, for problems large and small.
One thing I can say for certain is that it is much more refined, better meds, less issues with "anesthetic hangover " due to precise dosing and immediate interventions for nausea and pain.
As for post cholecsytectomy syndrome, in the dozens of people I know had the surgery, no one had serious after effects, beyond needing to be super careful about diet - low fat, small meals, no carbonated beverages for a while.
I hope this turns out to be a solution for you.
Sue
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