Hello!

I have SOD and the pain was horrible and excruciating after eating. I tried a lot of things, but did not want to have an ERCP due to the risk of pancreatitis. I tried acupuncture, and now I rarely have pain. If you want to read more, please see the "Supporter Introduction". I hope you can come to a good decision. It's a hard call to make. When they do an ERCP they cut a slit in the sphincter to allow easier flow of bile. THis can sometimes cure the problem. However, you can develop scar tissue there in the future, requiring additional surgery. If bile backs up too much then pancreatitis can result. Best of luck.

I had my gallbladder removed on 04-04-08. All my pre op testing showed gallbladder to be normal. I had a CT scan, HIDA Scan, endoscopy, colonscopy, abd. ultrasound and various blood tests. They all showed to be normal, but my dr. , after doing all of these tests, said it still could be my gallbladder, so we agreed to remove it. I had it done laparoscopically and was sent home the same day. I have not recovered as fast as he said or I thought and over the last couple of days have been having pain much the same as I did prior to surgery. It hurts right between my breasts up high and I get nauseated after I eat and cannot eat much at a time. I had hoped the surgery would have solved my problem. I have read different blogs and some sound like my post op symptoms are normal and sometimes I have doubts. I'm soo ready to feel good again and this slow recovery is very disheartening and depressing. Any answers or advice would be greatly appreciated. nanak

I was told that sfter surgery the quality of life isn't good.... You are not able to do much of anything.. My father will be required to have a surgery done soon... I'm afraid.

That is not true. Most people have no complications at all with a cholecystecomy. I had mine out 20 years ago and I unfortunately got Sphincter of Oddi. Unfortunately no one could tell me what the pain was from and I just had to suffer through the pain. Since investigating on my own, I realized it was from spasms in the duct. I learned how to deal with it. Unfortunately, I can't drink champagne, soda or hard liquor anymore, but that is something I just learned to do without. If I avoid these things, it is just like nothing was ever wrong. Some people do get pancreatitis from an ERCP, and if at all possible, I would suggest never to get a ERCP done unless totally have to due to the potential complication of this happening. I am a nurse and have seen this happen way too many times. Pancreatitis is a horrible thing to have to live with. Just find out what causes the pain and avoid it. It is a whole heck of a lot easier! Good luck with your dad's surgery!