Hi have posted about this before.
Had my gall bladder removed in august since then have had 3 attacks similar to when I had gall stones. Had the 3rd atttack on friday and it was awful. Nearly phoned NHS24 but after taking both cocodamol and diclofenac got it under control. Anyway will be visiting G.P tomorrow but wondered if any onw else has experienced this.
I googled (bad idea i know)and there is a condition called Post Cholecystectomy Syndrome.
Has anyone had this?
I seem to remember someone mentioning this on a previous post, may be wrong though.

I had my gallbladder taken out almost a year ago and within a week experienced a dreadful "attack" as if was still there, pain in exactly the same spot, inability to breathe (though this could have been a panic attack!) and vomiting. I ended up going back to hospital in an ambulance and had loads of morphine because it was so excrutiatintg.

It turned out .... after much dithering about for 3 days ... that I had a "collection" of fluid (no explanation given) which had built up around the removal site and this was responsible for my symptoms. There was talk of draining it etc but it was apparently reasonably inaccessible and I ended up instead with various drugs to shrink it (literally came home with a carrier bag full). I had dull pain thereafter for about a month, especially when I inhaled but it did go.

I'm not sure if that's what you mean but that was my experience of post-op problems.

Funny you should say that, babyramone. I had my gall bladder removed about 6 years ago, but this year on Christmas Eve I had an attack that felt exactly like the ones I used to get. Only lasted for half an hour or so, but was excruciating while it lasted. Probably won't do anything about it unless I get more, but would be interested to hear what your GP says.

Thanks not sure what this is but will let you know tomorrow.

I have Post Choelsystectomy Syndrome, attacks are managed by buscopan and cocodomol. The good news is that they have gotten less frequent and now happen rarely but I always carry the drugs with me if i travel.

I had mine removed 2 months ago and had an attack about 2 weeks later, but nothing since. My doctor did explain you can still get gall stones even if gall bladder tremoved but they form some other way!! Odd huh?

Hope your ok. Did anyone else lose loads of weight after op? I dont mind but wish my clothes fitted

Alsowhat advice were you given about diet? One doc said low fat forever, the other said normal??

Thanks

I was told I could eat a normal diet !

Lisad123 - no, I didn't lose any weight after the op - I was told I could eat a normal diet too.

Just back from appointment. Had bloods taken (have traumatised DS 4yrs in process)and getting sent for scan to see if anything there. May be irritation, inflammation or some sludge left behind. Niiice.
I don't think was given any dietry advice re removal. Was on low fat before though.
08 Take it it's just got better on own.

Thanks for the update - what a lovely thought about the possible sludge left behind. Hope you don't have any more attacks.

I know I keep imagining that dark green slerry stuff you sometimes see. BLEURGH!!!

Hi. I'm so glad I found this.... Had my gallbladder removed 2 weeks ago, and had another attack New Years Eve. Nice! Thought I was going mad.
Phoned dr's this morning. I've to go for an ultrasound too, but there doesn't seem any urgency about it.
I'll be really interested to hear how you get on.

I had the same thing, gall bladder out august 06, dreadful attack august 07 - exactly the same as with gall bladder - v.painful, passing out etc - had all blood tests and dr says it was infection / inflammation don't know why but could be stone left behind . If it happens again am to go back to consultant. Will watch this thread .

Had my gallbladder out 18th Oct 2007, was still having the same crushing pain in the upper rib area, even before leaving hospital. This is still happening every day in varying degrees, from just uncomfortable to agony, it doesn't seem to matter what I eat. Even if I go without food, eventually the pain still comes.
Off the shelf pain killers are useless, a lot of the time even prescription pain killers don't help. Still seeing the consultant surgeon, waiting for an MRI Scan at the moment, suspected stone in pancreatic duct. All my blood tests have come back normal so far, and no change in bowel movements, also not turning yellow, so no jaundice. Anyone had the same symtoms.

catsmother, it sounds like they spilt some bile, it does tend to be reabsorbed. The nice young man who removed mine came and told me that was why i was screaming for morphine when i came round, as i moved, so the bile swished around - nice!

I sometimes get a nagging pain there too, went back to doc, she said do a blood test in case stone in bile duct, i never went back as it seemed to clear. Do get a twinge from time to time, especially if i eat high fat content foods. Doctor still told me i shouldt get any post op problems

Doc sent me up hospital today just to check everything was ok.
Bloods came back fine, and they really can't understand why I would get the same pain.
They'd be really surprised if there was a stone left because this was checked when I was having surgery.
The only other explanation they can give is that there was a little bit of debris left from one of the stones, that I passed.
Will be getting an ultrasound done to check for stones (yep, still waiting.....), so going to try not to worry about it anymore, and have been told to eat normally. (Chocolate - mmmmmmm )
Will watch this thread to see how everybody else gets.....
Good luck!

Just come across this, I had my gallbladder removed a couple of weeks ago as well but nobody said anything about possible problems afterwards , according to them everything would be sorted!

Oh well, hope it gets sorted for you though.

Thank you. I'm feeling positive and I'm sure it's all going to be fine.
I believe the vast majority of people don't get any further problems, so don't let it worry you - just enjoy eating normally again!

Check out Sphincter of Oddi, seems to cover all the syptoms

Hi everyone. Got my blood results back and they're clear.
G.P kep asking if I get heart burn (I do)and seems to think it's what's causing the bilary colic attacks. I've been prescribed Lansoprazole for 1 month to see if this helps.
Unsure but worth a try.
Googled that Oddi thing and will maybe mention at next visit.

Rosemerta don't worry I know a few girls who had their gall bladders removed and none have had problems. You'll prob be fine.

Hstockers your symptons sound so siimlar to me. Keep me posted on how you get on.

Hi Babyramone. I've had lansoprazole. Absolutely fantastic, if that's what the problem is, so fingers crossed.

My blood results came back clear too. Have been in hospital since with another attack, and bloods were all over the place. It would seem that they calm down quite quickly, so best to get them done when you're not at your best (which hopefully won't happen again).

Anyway, ultrasound didn't show any stones/debris, so they've done a sphincterotomy on me (basically cut the bile duct to allow any sludge/stones to pass through easily).

That was done Wednesday. Home the same day and feeling ok since, so fingers crossed.

Keep me posted on how you get on - I'll do the same. Here's hoping....

I'm feeling relieved to read that others have had the same problems as me. I had my gall bladder out last August and last week had, what I could only describe to Doctors as, a gall bladder pain type attack. I was in absolute agony and had to phone for an ambulance. It was only after taking a double dose of co-codemol that the pain subsided (typically when the ambulance arrived!). Anyway the doctors checked my heart and did a blood test and since everything was fine said I must have been suffering from heartburn. They prescribed Gaviscon which doesn't really seem to help much as I still have mild to moderate discomfort especially between the shoulder blades. I'm having a scan next week and in the meantime I'm making sure I have co-codemol with me all the time.

Just read all your comments. Had gallbladder removed 27th dec 07 just had very painful attack of what I can only describe as gallstones pain. Admitted to hospital for 3 days then told 80% of ops are successful but 20% of people continue to get pain. Told me to take painkillers feel very depressed now.

By Janetald

Very dispirited reading this thread

I finally had an ultrasound done yesterday, after suffering years of painful attacks, which confirmed my gall bladder contained loads of small stones. I have now decided to go ahead and have it out and assumed it would be the end of my periodic painful attacks.

Now, after reading your stories here, I'm not so sure about getting it done anymore

My GP told me that if the scan showed up stones that I would be able to "consider my options", i.e. get it done or continue to live with it and manage the pain when it came in the knowledge that I would at least know what was causing it.

I have read about post-op "pooling of bile in the gut" which is supposed to last for 2 or 3 days until things settle but wasn't aware that symptoms similar to an attack could continue even after the wretched thing had been taken out

I was so happy today too, thinking that after a fairly routine op and a short recovery I would be pain free. I've even got a scan picture of my gall bladder complete with all its stones that the radiographer kindly gave me, which I've been proudly showing all and sundry today. Oh well, I'll just have to hope that I'm in the 80% who are lucky enough to be problem free after the op!

This thread makes very interesting reading though and I hope that all of you ladies manage to get your problems solved at some point in the very near future. I know how hideous these attacks can be - I've spent more sleepless nights than I care to remember over the years doubled up in agony with my GB!

Get well soon all.

Hiya

I had my gallbladder taken out on 9 Jan. Was rushed back in on 15 Jan, had all the tests which showed nothing, but I was in intense pain. I ended up having an ERCP and they found 4 stones in my common bile duct. They said they checked me out on the operating table first time round and there wasn't anything???? YEAH RIGHT! The doctor who did the ERCP(camera down your throat) reckons the stones had been there a good while. Don't be convinced that all is ok, if you have a clear U/S(as did I) as it was obviously wrong. They aren't as conclusive as other tests. I have been having the same side and back pain though - which is strange. I spoke to an out of hours doctor today(about my daughter initially) and he said that ironically a third of people who have their gallbladder taken out suffer with this pain>
?????

Hi all

Just to update you...
Am eating EVERYTHING!!! Have put on half a stone (needed to), and, touch wood, all seems ok now.
I do gets aches in the same places I had the pains, but a breeze compared to what they were before - maybe would help if I wasn't eating half the rubbish I do, but need to prove to myself that I can at the moment.
Keep perservering with the docs if it doesn't succeed first time, it's worth it.
I wish everyone all the luck in the world.

hi, just read all the posts re gallbladder and having just experienced another attack , it seems i need to return to docs, had gallbladder out feb 2007,, was fine after no probs at all, which was a relief after four years of the pain.

three nights ago, i had what i can only say was another attack, well four actually in one night!, took pethedin which i still had , but it didnt even touch the pain of the second attack, was far worse than i had expereicned before, since then ive eaten very little as im very scared it may happen again, the other thing is i notcied in themorning i had some blood in my pants, had only finished period two days prev so dismissed it, but im not sure, trying to get appt at docs, but they are like gold dust here lol. Things can only get better, and on a plus, with not eating, my clothes are getting looser! kate x

These posts are so familiar!
I had my gallbladder out in Nov 2007. The pains were intense and caused 9 admissions to A&E b4 surgery. Apparently it is over production of bile and cholestrol during pg that can start this off - my attacks started 2 weeks after the birth of my son. Anyway, i am suffering again lately with backpain and coliky pain too. I saw the surgeon last week who said I need to wait a few motnhs b4 they'll see me again to see if i am still recovering from the op. if not, she said in very rare cases the sludge could be reforming! i have been so feeling so down since. the delay in the surgery, as i was diagnosed quickly, was down to finding a problem with the electrics in my natural heart pacemaker and junction box - seems this delay may hhave caused slow recovery as the gb was stuck to the liver bed. thought this was over and done with but at least i don't have to deal with that awful gb pain again! i reckon its worse than a contraction!!

I had mine out 5 years ago but have had 2 attacks since as a result of taking codeine for something else. So maybe those of you getting attacks afterwards should ensure you record what food you ate/ drugs you took beforehand? I now know that there is no way I can ever take codeine without it setting off an attack and perhaps there's something which is the trigger for an attack for some of you guys which you could avoid.

It's a bummer, I was told that the attacks would totally end. They tell patients f*king nothing, do they? I mean, I know there's nothing they can do about it, but I would have appreciated being given correct information.

Just back from 3 days in hospital with my 4th post op attack of gall bladder pain. Interesting that someone has said codeine triggered it as my first attack pre the op did follow on only an hour after taking Codeine. Op was Sept 06, one attack later that year, 2 early last year and then nothing until Monday which was the worst of the lot. Bile duct dilated, liver function tests abnormal, amalyze levels up too (sign of panreatitis) and now awaiting a private MRI scan as I was so fed up at the inefficiency of the NHS (it took 2 days just to get the ultrasound done after my emergency admission and I had to fight for every little piece of information which was different from one doctor to another). Hope to have final diagnosis next week and reading this thread has given me plenty of questions to ask the consultant!

wish I had not read this.... waiting to have mine removed

"seems this delay may have caused slow recovery as the gb was stuck to the liver bed".

The gall bladder is attached to the liver bed - not just in you, in everyone. It's an anatomical fact.

Hi everyone I've been having problems with my gallbladder and was scheduled for surgery on 5/13/08 at the VA hospital in Wash DC. I was so nervous needless to say i got all the down the operating table hooked up to everything and i couldn't go through with it. I did not want to be put to sleep and i freaked out when they restrained my arms it felt as though i was being put to death. It wasn't until I told them to stop did they tell me I could have been sedated first by that time the psychological damage was already done.Now i have been having panic attacks worst then gallbladder attacks. Strangely enough i would rather be awake.Does anyone know if this has been done before thanks.

I found a lot of these comments very interesting. I had my gallbladder removed 4 years ago and have suffered a handful of similar attacks since. Initially I went back to the doctor who sent me for another scan to check if any stones were stuck in the bile duct. Everything came back clear but the doctor told me that the brain can sometimes take a while to realise the gallbladder is no longer there and some symtoms can re-appear. Sounded logical at the time but after reading the comment littlebella posted that sounded more realistic. I too have had some issues with taking medication containing codine which I always compared to the same pain as the gallbladder problems. I know realise it was probably due to finishing off the pain killers they gave me for period pain etc. I do find if I eat when taking codine it doesn't affect me in the same way.

I would say to anyone waiting to have their gallbladder removed that it's the best thing to do as I'd rather have attacks 6 times in 4 years than 6 times in one week. I did lose a lot of weight afterwards but unfortunately it did creep back on when my body got used to not having the gallbladder!

quick update i just had my gallbladder surgery yesterday at the Southern Maryland hospital in Clinton,Md. My experience was much better than the nightmare at the VA hospital in Wash.,DC. The staff at Southern,MD was professional friendly,understanding and very organized.After my bad mishap at the VA Hosp. I sought out a civilian doc that was great. He still recommended surgery but he gave me avelox (antibiotic) and prescribed xanax for axiety which worked very well. My biggest fear was being put to sleep. I remember moving to the OR table and the anestiaologist saying your going to feel a little sting in your Iv i thought he was putting more medicine to sedate me but it was the real deal the next thing i woke up in the recovery room it was beutiful. The surgeon said it was a good thing i had it done my gallbladder was full of stones. I haven't had any diariah all in all it was ok i recommend anyone in the area to have it done at Southern Md Hosp thanks

I was so glad to find out that others had experienced similar problems to me although very sorry for you all as I know how awful it is!!!
I was suffering gall bladder attacks during the end of my pregnancy and they continued after having my baby. Within 7 weeks of having him I had been in hospital twice and to the doctors more times than I care to remember - I then had my gall bladder removed under the impression that it would take away that awful pain that was a million times worse than labour - it didn't ! You can imagine my shock when just 4 days later I wake up in the middle of the night with that exact same pain! I went to the doctors the next day and they said it could just be after pains from the op! 3 weeks later I had another attack and ended up calling an ambulance - by this time they must have got sick of seeing me in the hospital - I was sick of seeing them! I've had it 4 times since. It just seems to come on from no where the only saving grace is so far it hasn't lasted in as long bursts as before the op so easier to look after a new baby!!!
Get no answers from the doctors they have no idea - all they can come up with is that my liver function tests are still down and need doing to check - again!!!
Hopefully it will ease off in time but you don't know how much better I feel knowing it has happened to others because I was starting to think I was going crazy and it was in my mind as the doctors have no idea what it can be!
Good luck to all about to have the op and hope you have a speedy recovery without any pain!!!!!