To ask if you were itchy after gall bladder removal?

[BogoffPikachu]

Hi
Posting for traffic.
Had gall bladder out Monday. Tuesday was very sore, yesterday started itching, all over and it won't stop. I don't have a rash, went to out of hours last night and they suggested I take piriton or similar which I have. I'm still itching today. Anyone else have this? Not just my wounds but my arms, legs and face are driving me nuts!

[BeautyGoesToBenidorm]

This could be due to elevated bilirubin in the blood following the gallbladder removal - this can cause really intense itching. I'd speak to your consultant or GP, Piriton won't help this sort of itching, but they may take blood so they can prescribe something more appropriate.

[Heirhelp]

No, I did not have that. Maybe it is a reaction to medication?

[notsmartenough]

No, but I did have morphine with earlier surgery that caused itching.
When I mentioned it to the anaesthetist before having my gallbladder out she prescribed different pain relief.

[ILoveMyCaravan]

I had that after a csection. Nurses told me to expect it and gave me an injection to get rid of the all over itching, which it did very quickly. It was something to do with the morphine and the epidural. I also have had my gall bladder removed but don't remember itching but that was a GA not an epidural.

[Waltwhitefan]

I had my gallbladder out about 15 months ago by keyhole surgery, and yes I had that terrible itching all over. It lasted 24 to 48 hours (can't remember exactly how long) and then disappeared. I put it down to the anaesthetic, but I don't remember the hospital giving me anything for it.

[alphabettyspaghetty]

I had this when a stone was stuck and I got jaundice very quickly after. If you see any signs of yellowing go back to hospital it could be that they missed a stone.

[timeandtide]

I had it when pregnant and it was related to bilirubin and liver function - obstetric cholestasis. Get to docs and get checked out

[queenMab99]

I had this, it was due to the antibiotic they usually give after small ops like this, Ciprofloxacin, I was allergic to it, so took anti histamines for a couple of days. I was told to avoid it in the future as the allergy could escalate.

[SouperSal]

it could be that they missed a stone.

Where? They removed the gallbladder!

[yumscrumfatbum]

SuperSal stones can be in bile ducts as well as gallbladder. It's really dangerous if any are left behind as it can cause a blockage

[RB68]

yes stone could be stuck near liver and causing liver to be ineffective and this can cause itching - I had stones release and cause kidney and liver failure and itched like bugger - v uncomfortable - I would go get checked out

[anotherBadAvatar]

What meds are you on? I'd be looking at any morphine like drugs first (oramorph, codeine etc)

[tiffany2018]

Hi every one .my name is donna ,i had my gull bladder and my gull stone.and were the plaster have been on they have left a red mark on my tummy and they are very itchy help,

[tiffany2018]

i am washing around my tummy

[goose1964]

I found the glue on the dressings made me itches, and I have only just removed the one covering my belly button scar, a mo the after surgery and the itching has stopped. I'm not sure what they us but it's like superglue

[Rachierou1206]

Yes I had my gallbladder removed in March and for the last three days I am itching more on my feet at the Palms and my hands. I think it's due to the bile and the body not breaking it down, I have horrific back ache and I'm sick of telling my consultant and GP cause all I get back from them is yes you have had this before it's not new! Viscous circle. I'd book an appointment with a good doctor so you don't waste your time tbh and out of hours are dreadful they often send you up the A and E department where you are sat hours for nothing! I've spoken to people who have had gallbladder removal and a lot of them took ages to recover apparently it gets easier as time goes by.

[dollydaydream114]

I had a reaction to the codeine they gave me after I had my gallbladder out, which made me very itchy indeed. If it's all over and you don't have a rash, though, you should probably speak to your GP or call 111 for advice. Explain that it started after gallbladder removal and that you've tried Piriton and it hasn't helped.

[rmroz]

@SouperSal

it could be that they missed a stone.

Where? They removed the gallbladder!

In one of the exterior bile ducts or even within an intrahepatic duct. It does happen.

[rmroz]

I realize that this is is an old post but having some accurate information here may be of assistance to others in future. Generalized, full body itch (pruritis) with no rash can occur after gallbladder removal and for a number of reasons. It is very important when raising this with your GP or another healthcare professionals to note that these sorts of itch can be present with NO SUPPORTING EVIDENCE for it in your biochemistry. Many GPs are still under the mistaken impression that bilirubin is responsible for these sorts of biliary/hepatic related types of pruritus. This is NOT true. Bilirubin has NOTHING to do with the itch and so when you report this to your GP there very first thing which they will do is to check your chemistry by way of a liver panel, or liver function test (LFT). Now while it is often the case that elevated bilirubin will be detected in a patient with this type of general, full body itch, it is not a necessary condition for its presence. This is an important point here because patients will be dismissed on this lack of correlation in the chemistry. It is very important that you make your GP aware of this fact otherwise your complaint could be dismissed or mistakenly attributed to some other cause.

So, if you have just had your gallbladder removed and you are experiencing a full body, generalized itch with no supporting chemistey to explain it (normal LFT, bilirubin), it is important that you do not allow your complaints to be dismissed on that basis alone, i.e., blood chemistry. When it comes to your health must be your own best advocate and the more informed that you are in this regard, the better.