Problems After Gallbladder Removal Posted: 03-14-05 12:07pm
Sorry this is long. I just turned 22.
I have never had weight problems and don't
"fit the mold" for having gallstones. I
guess that is why it took a year of
throwing up and going to the doctor before
they finally did an ultrasound and found
that I had gallstones. I did not have
pain associated with the stones, just
nausea and vomiting. After I had my
gallbladder removed, I started
experiencing pain in my upper right
side...Pain similar to post-op pain. It
lasts for several days and then goes away.
I went back to my surgeon who said to
take aspirin and it would go away. Ha!
Nothing helps when I have this
pain...And it lasts for several days. I
starting going to another doctor who took
me seriously. She scheduled several
tests and found that my bile duct was
enlarged. She thought I might have a
sphincter of oddi dysfunction. She
referred me to a gastroenterologist who
performed an ercp. During the
procedure, they found my bile duct to be
twisted. They checked for a tumor but
did not see anything at that time. They
clipped my sphincter of oddi so that there
would be a steady flow of bile out of my
duct and removed sludge from my duct.
Of course, I developed pancreatitus after
the procedure. A couple of months
without pain followed the ercp. It was
great! And then it all came back.
Sometimes it is accompanied with nausea
and vomiting. The doctor put me on
celebrex for a little while. The pain
went away for a while, but now it's back.
While it used to occur only once or
twice a month, recently, the pain has
started once a week (and lasts for three
to four days). The doctor put me on
nexium. The pain came back. Has
anyone experienced anything similar? I
am so frustrated. Is there anyone out
there with advice or a similar experience?
Please let me know.
|
bkdaniels
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 13 Mar 2005 Posts: 48 Location: Little Rock, Arkansas
Problems After Gallbladder Removal Posted: 03-14-05 14:24pm
The sphincter is too tight, leading to
painful, excess pressure in the ducts.
This is a common disorder in young women
with typical symptoms of biliary colic.
Often their gallbladders are removed,
sometimes even if no stones are found, and
the diagnosis is only made later when
further investigations reveal the high
pressure in the sphincter.
Another explanation for recurrent pain
after a cholecystectomy is that more
stones are present. Although stones
usually form in the gallbladder, they can
also form in the bile ducts, producing to
the same symptoms. It may also be that a
very tiny stone was left in the bile ducts
at the time of surgery, and this stone has
been slowly enlarging since. In rare
cases, the duct leading into the
gallbladder (the cystic duct) is not
clamped and cut close to its base during
the surgery. This can lead to an
enlargement of the remaining part of the
duct, which can also lead to more stone
formation.
Your doctor can guide you through the
appropriate tests. (by ronen arai, md.
Www.Health.Ivillage.Com)
best wishes,
|
Guest
Guest
Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction Posted: 03-31-05 18:42pm
Hang in there. I'm 46, had my gallbladder
out in 1998, stones had crystllized. A
few months later, pain returned and I
waited too long to see the gi. It was sod
which made my liver toxic from backed up
toxins. Lupus came up, autoimmune
hepatitis too but everyone stopped looking
after the sod was fixed with ercp #1. 2
years later pain returned, ercp done
immediately, but I got pancreatitis
afterwards. 3rd time: same as #2, repeat
er visit and hospitalization for
pancreatitis. I was pain free for almost
1 year and a half. Now it's back.
Throughout all these years, sle (lupus)
symptoms come and go, including positive
bloodwork. I now feel that lupus might be
causing the sod, liver, pancreas problems.
I am waiting for rheumatologist referral
but am seeing the gi dr in 4 days in the
mean time. If I do have lupus it makes
sense to treat the cause not the symptom.
How many ercp's can be done on me before a
potentially fatal result? Gi docs dont
know the answer but are concerned. Good
luck, get 2nd opinions and dont let them
tell you, "it's in your head!"
|
shannonv33
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 15 May 2005 Posts: 14 Location: lapeer
Gallbladder Removed 3 Weeks Ago And Having Attacks Again Posted: 05-15-05 09:39am
Going through the same thing.....Pain is
worse than before and is happening at
night. My breastbone hurts and then it
goes into my back...Afterwards im sore
like ive been beat up. Doc wants me to
get set up for a eprc. Hope they find
whats happening because the pain is
unbearable. I have had 6 attacks in the
past 2 weeks and there coming on more and
more often. Does this sound like you?
|
HaredresserD
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 36 Location: California
Posted: 05-31-05 12:49pm
Shannon??? Are you on something like
nexium??? Prilosec??? I was having
the same symptoms as you and gastro doc
said gerd... So he put me on nexium
which is the only one that works for me
btw... Have the center pain that goes
through to my back... Been on nexium
since my surgery and it's getting better
and better.... The other gerd meds
didn't work.... Have you tried any???
I wake up inthe morning in terrible pain
in my back... Straight through from my
sternum area... But like I said it's
getting better as time goes by... Have
tried going off the nex and it comes back
bad...
Forgot to mention too that I had gb out 12
weeks ago... So I edited.. :lol:
|
Guest
Anyone Heard of Ercp Posted: 06-03-05 10:09am
Went to gastro doc yesterday, seems I have
sod and he put me on medicine called
librax, so many doctors and to much
different advice. My surgon that took my
gallbladder out said to get ercp and this
doctor is very agaist doing one saying
they are very dangerous, and might not
even help my problem. I dont want to be
on meds for the rest of my life! This
librax is kicking my butt, feel like im in
lala land. The diarreha is unbelievable,
and out of control. Anyone have any
advice out there, right now im on nextum,
librax, and questan light. Help!!!
|
HaredresserD
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 36 Location: California
Ercp Posted: 06-11-05 20:19pm
My gastro doc is against the ercp too...
Said most of the time it causes
pancreatitis... He said the mri one is
better which is similar... ???? I think
my yiggy gb caused pancreatitis in me...
Sure felt yiggy that's for sure... But
don't know if it did actually or not....
I'm over 3 mo post op now from the gb surg
and i'm way better....Am faithfully taking
my nexium... Hope I can stop it in a few
months... Spensive stuff! I'm the
opposite of you I believe... No loose
bowels at all... I'm stopped up! :x
have to take daily fiber capsules....
Hope you get better... How long has it
been since your surg???
Hello, I am new to these posts. I am 29
yrs old. I have been doing some online
researching trying to find if anyone else
is having similiar problems as I am. I
am 3 1/2 mos. Post gb removal and have
started having the pains in the side and
in my back as I did before the surgery.
It also involves nausea and pain in my
abdomen. At first suspecting pregancy I
took many tests including the blood tests.
All negative. These symptoms come and
go and are more prominent in the morning
when I wake and usually after a meal. I
have gotten to where I don't even want to
eat because of the discomfort. I also
have pain in the side when I lift more
then a few pounds or bend too much. I
have missed 3 days so far from work, as my
pcp has tried xrays and ct scan all
showing no problems. He gave me protonix
(for possible gerd or gas) and no help.
Then I developed fever and elevated liver
enzymes which he gave me antibiotics for.
It seems that my pcp and my surgeon have
been going back and forth and I am trying
to get in to see anybody that can help.
Do you think that this is similiar to the
sod that you have all been talking about?
|
HaredresserD
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 36 Location: California
Posted: 09-07-05 12:11pm
Hi onyx...
I'm 6 mo post gb removal tomorrow!! Have
you tried nexium?? My doc gave me
protonix to try and it made me soooo
nauseated and made me feel very strange...
Not sure why but I tried it twice...
Gastro doc told me to try nexium... I had
been on that for a couple of weeks before
the surg then have stayed on it til last
week... I thought I would try going off
of it... Bad idea... I was okay the
first two days... Then started having
indigestion slightly.. Burping alot...
Getting sour taste in my mouth... And
hurting in the morning again... And after
spicey meals... Ughhhh my mysterious side
pain that I had came back yesterday for
the first time since before the surg!!!
It's waist level... And my back hurt all
day yesterday... I started back on the
nexium!!!! Will remain on it til who
knows when... Don't care how much it
costs! Ughhhh... I've had two of the
little purp pills and am doing much
better.... Thought maybe I would be
healed up inside after 6 mo on it.. Guess
not...
So sorry you feel so yucky... I know the
frustration. Do talk to your doc about
nexium... Haha I feel like an
advertisement... ! ;) I know it doesn't
work for everyone but i've tried just
about all of the ppi's and that is the
only one that seemed to work.. And it
took a couple of months to really work
well....
Pm me is you like and we can talk more!
|
Guest
Guest
Having Same Issue Posted: 10-26-05 10:43am
I am 3 years gallbladder free and last
night I started feeling the dull ache in
my upper abdomen going through my back.
It is not as severe as it was when I had
gallstones, though. I have been having
heartburn and indigestion lately, too. Of
course, being me, I immediately jump to I
must have pancreatic cancer. Reading this
is helping me tremendously!! I go see my
doc at 3pm today and I am terrified they
will find cancer. I am only 32. :(
|
Guest
Posted: 10-26-05 15:07pm
I am affraid, because you hear so much
about cancer these days, that the
slightest ache & pain, you always
think the worst. I know I have. Let us
know how you got on at the drs.
|
Guest
Guest
Poor Girl That Had Her Spinctorotomy Posted: 02-08-06 19:24pm
I feel so bad for you,those no namers did
the thereputic ercp on me to and ruined my
life......So sorry...PM me for my thoughts
if ya want...I`am curious how your
doing....
|
morgiejade
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 09 Dec 2007 Posts: 8
Posted: 12-09-07 03:20am
I found out that I had gallstones when I
was 37 weeks pregnant, after having severe
nausea and vomiting from about 12 weeks
gestation and thinking it was just severe
indigestion. Had a scan at 37 week mark
confirming gallstones, then at 39 weeks
got pancreatitis and landed in hospital.
Was induced because pain came back after
being discharged. Had about 20 biliary
colic attacks in a 3 month period then got
pancreatitis again. Had an ERCP done and
Sphincterotomy, then a week later had gb
removed.
That was nearly 2 weeks ago and everything
was going great. Eating was fine and I
recovered quickly. BUT 3 nights ago I woke
with the same biliary colic pain in my
breastbone and vomiting and nausea. Took
some painkillers and went to sleep, hoping
the pain to go away. It didnt and it still
hasnt. The painkillers kill my appetite
and when I do eat they make me sick
anyways, but I cant NOT have the
painkillers because its too sore.
The pain is mainly in my breastbone,
radiating thru to my back. Exactly what it
felt like BEFORE the op.
I wasnt given any information on what i
can and cant eat when i left the hospital,
but everyone said "just think, no more
pain".
So is this from what Im eating (or trying
to eat) or is there something else going
on??
BTW sorry its such a long rant.
|
dtwesa
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 4
Post Gb Surgery Diet Posted: 12-09-07 13:56pm
I don't know what you have been eating for
sure since your gb surgery or what type of
diet you had prior. I just had surgery
this passed Tuesday (Dec 4). Prior to
surgery I was having terrible painful
attacks. I went on a very strict low-fat,
high-fiber organic diet that really helped
reduce the number of attacks and the
amount of pain. When I was discharged
from my surgery I was told the first day
to only have a liquid diet (broth, ginger
aile, etc), second day eat very light, and
then continue with the low-fat diet. Your
body needs time to adjust to not having a
gb as now your liver is taking over the
role that the gb had, so you can't just go
eat whatever even weeks after your
surgery. I am sticking with my diet and
have been pain free since my surgery.
Maybe in about 6-8 weeks I will try a few
things that I wasn't eating before.
Your problem could be what you are eating,
however I would get to your dr to confirm
diet and also rule out any other
problems.
But above is the diet instruction I was
given at time of discharge from when I had
my gb removal surgery less than a week
ago.
Good luck, hope you feel better.
|
morgiejade
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 09 Dec 2007 Posts: 8
Posted: 12-09-07 22:34pm
I havent really eaten anything high in fat
since my gb surgery, but beforehand i was
on a strict no-fat/low fat diet but it
didnt seem to help at all. I would still
have the attacks and they were rather
severe.
Im going to give it a few weeks keeping a
low fat diet and then slowly introduce new
foods and see how i go. But im keeping
clear of takeaways, i really enjoyed
'detoxing' from all the 'bad' food.
|
dditto1952
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 01 Jan 2008 Posts: 1
Problems After Gall Bladder Surgery Posted: 01-01-08 19:57pm
I had my gall bladder removed
approximately 10 years ago. The day after
my surgery, I had the first "spasm", as I
call them, and have had these attacks many
times in the last 10 years. I am so
tender in the upper right quadrant area of
my abdomen. The symptoms are, first I
have this severe pain in my upper abdomen,
like something is squeezing and twisting
and then I get nauseous and almost pass
out. It takes all the energy out of me.
I told the doctor it was my idea of having
a "heart attack" only on the other side
and in my abdomen.
I was referred to a gastroentologist after
an attack a few months ago which landed me
in the ER. He says I have an irritable
bowel and have me the generic for levsin
(anti-spasmodic) which you place under
your tongue like nitro. It does seem to
relieve the pain after a few minutes. I
just feel like there is something really
more to it than irritable bowel. I guess
if I complain long enough, maybe a doctor
will listen to me. I will suggest a test
to check my bile ducts. What is ercp?
I'm new to this forum.
|
brianNks
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 06 Jan 2008 Posts: 1
Male 24 Same Problem Posted: 01-06-08 19:20pm
I am a 24 year old male. I don't have a
weight problem and I eat well. A year ago
doctors found sludge in my gallbladder and
I had it removed. When they were in there,
they said that the Bile Duct was twisted.
After surgery I found out that they cut my
bile duct. A stent was placed to fix the
leak, I got Pancreatitis, and pain
continued for months. Fast forward 9
months, I get pancreatitis and my enzymes
are elevated above 2100, I have had
reoccurant pancreatitis three times since
then. They just cut my sphincter of Oddi.
I am still having problems. ARE THERE ANY
MALES OUT THERE WITH THIS PROBLEM?
|
checker
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 03 Feb 2008 Posts: 1
Posted: 02-03-08 18:18pm
I've had my galbladder removed a little
over a year ago. Afterwards, I also kept
having pain in the upper right abdomen
where the gallbladder used to be. the pain
goes around my back too. It only last for
10-15 minutes but it was severe enough for
me to walk out of meetings a few times. I
had the pains daily. the docs put me on a
variety of heart-burn relievers but they
didn't help at all stop the pain. then,
I've read an article about bile reflux
disease and that heartburns meds like
prilosec, tagamet, etc can actually make
the problem worse. I stopped taking those
and indeed the pains decreased in
frequency...now I only have them once or
twice week. I still get heartburn once in
a while and if I end up taking heartburn
meds, I;m sure to have the pain a few
hours later but overall I've not been able
to find a definite cause/aggregators for
the pains.
I also had really bad diarreah after every
meal I ate but am now on Cholestrymine
which seems to put a stop to that
immediately.
|
Perishable
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 06 Feb 2008 Posts: 3 Location: California,
Well... Posted: 02-06-08 14:33pm
I'm 17 years old. I had my gallbladder
removed when I was 16, I have headaches,
nasuea, bloating, cramping, pains,
insomnia, hard to concentrate...
Now, I've been researching the factors of
symptoms after the surgery. I am aware
that 40% of patients who go through the
procedure experience difficulties.
I am also aware that there is nothing to
be done, that this is the lifetime
effect.
I have an incredibly healthy diet...now.
After surgery.
From my research. It seems we should be
taking enzymes to help us digest fat and
possibly Cholacol, or bile salts. Since,
the gallbladder creates bile.
I just want to be normal. Healthy. and
well.
I fear I cannot be.
I know what's wrong, I know the side
effects of surgery. I do not want to take
silly placebos or pain killers. I want to
be better.
Is this non-repairable. Is there no
turning back?
Can we only ease the pain? ... Some one
enlighten me. Is there a way to fix it?
What have the doctors told you?
|
Sassykat1
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 31 Location: ,
Posted: 02-06-08 15:19pm
My heart goes out to you dear. I am so
sorry for what you are going through.
(site removed by tinkinpink84, we do not
advertise other forums on ehealth)
It is a thread where others with problems
like yours have talked about it.
The body needs fat to function properly
and lacking that might be causing some of
the problems, like the headaches. You
could try the enzymes or bile salts, like
you mentioned and also some lecithin will
help the body to digest the fats. That
might help brain function and a over all
feeling of energy.
Have you tried taking melatonin to help
you sleep? It has done wonders for me!
And as far as the cramping...There are
supplements that help relax muscles such
as magnesium and taurine.
I am trying very hard to not lose my
gallbladder. I can see why people have
the surgery, but if so many people are
having problems afterward, these doctors
need to get something figured out.
I hope you get more responses from others.
I hope things get better for you. Let us
know if you find something that helps.
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