Urgent question re gallbladder recovery and whether this is normal...:(

[Badvocatyuletide]

Hi
Had my gb out 4 weeks ago.
I then got a chest infection 2 weeks ago.
Since then I have had the most horrendous pain in my ribs, under my breast and my back.
I went to the gp on Xmas eve and she said she thinks it's musculoskeletal but reading google (I know, I know...) it could be a bile duct injury :(
I don't have a fever or jaundice but do feel nauseous.
The pain isn't all the time, it comes and goes, but when it hits it's bad.
Am taking paracetamol and ibuprofen.
Help!
Wwyd?
Any point going back to gp tomorrow?
Don't want to end up in a and e on a Sunday - they won't do anything anyway (bitter experience from prior to my op :()

[lougle]

What is your breathing like?

[AliceinWinterWonderland]

When you say "since then" do you mean since the gb was out? Or since the chest infection?

If since the chest infection, is there a possibility of pneumonia or pleurisy? Jot down when the pain is occurring to see if there's a pattern - is it when you move? when you breathe? not related to either? Worse in any position?

Be careful when googling - it's always a bad thing! But if any concern, the best bet is always to get it checked out. After hours or A&E today or GP tomorrow again.

[Badvocatyuletide]

It's ok Lougle.
Just can't get in a comfy position.
Pain was really bad fri night :( I stayed in bed all day yesterday!
Gp checked my sats and listened to my chest on Xmas eve and felt my back and abdo.
Am living in painkiller ATM!
I was just wondering about pluerisy....:(

[Badvocatyuletide]

Tbh I have had pain in and off since I had the op.

[Badvocatyuletide]

If I ring 111 they will want us to go in. Sigh.
Supposed to be going to mils soon!
If they send me for a cxr it won't be done today anyway, will it?

[Badvocatyuletide]

Doesn't hurt when I breath in or cough.
But when It hits it's awful...

[lougle]

Do you have any sign of jaundice?

Tbh, if your sats were good, you don't have trouble breathing, no pain on coughing and it's intermittent, then it doesn't sound like pleurisy.

[Badvocatyuletide]

I don't think so, no. I don't look yellow, nor the whites of my eyes.
No fever.
I am trying to be logical and sensible but Its hard when you are in pain :(

[Badvocatyuletide]

I am mostly worried about a PE (although I am not short of breath) or bile duct injury.
The way things have been going lately, neither would surprise me :(

[lougle]

Well the symptoms of a PE are shortness of breath, pain when breathing in, coughing, fainting, dizziness, or feeling light headed. Similar to the symptoms of pleurisy.

It doesn't sound as though you have those symptoms, apart from the periodic pains.

If the pain relief you have been given isn't managing your symptoms, you need to ask for some stronger stuff. If you feel that you need to be seen today, then phone 111.

You're obviously worried about your symptoms, and it wouldn't be wise for anyone on MN to say that you shouldn't be - they can't see you! If the pain is so severe that you are worried, get yourself seen!

[TapirsCaperWithReindeers]

Just a wee thought here - when you are in pain, if you lean forwards, whether standing or sitting, does the pain ease at all? Also, have you taken any painkillers containing codeine?

If yes to the first, then I'd ring out of hours and ask to be seen, as it's a sign that there could be a problem with the bile duct/pancreas.

If it's the second, then as someone with a bile duct injury, I recently found out that taking a product containing codeine is a bad thing, as it makes the duct contract and become more painful.

And, in case you didn't know, stones can still be produced without a gall bladder, they slowly form in the bile duct and can be very painful as they travel through your system.

Hope it all eases for you.

[AliceinWinterWonderland]

If I ring 111 they will want us to go in.

Think about that for a minute. If you think it needs to be checked, get it checked. Better safe than sorry. Medical professionals would much rather see something nonurgent than have you come in later by ambulance with a serious problem that could have been treated sooner if you'd come in.

[Badvocatyuletide]

Hi all.
Just back from a and e.
Rang 111 and they sent a Bloody ambulance!
Anyway....had bloods and a cxr and all clear.
Which is good.
But I am still in such pain :(
Basically dr said its muscular pain from my chest infection - which seems mad to me. Can't believe I am in so much pain from a cough!
Said to leave it a week and if it's no better go back to gp.
Thanks for the advice earlier x

[Badvocatyuletide]

Tapir..gosh I'm sorry to hear you had a bd injury. How did it present?
My bloods were ok so I am guessing that means my liver tests were ok which they wouldn't be if I had a bile duct injury?
Go back to see the consultant a week on weds.
Not a good idea to get a chest infection post op is it!? :(

[lougle]

Badvoc, sorry you're still feeling rough, but glad your bloods etc., came back ok.

Can I ask, gently, if you have ever suffered from health anxiety? You seem quite anxious still, despite having been checked out by A&E and a GP.

[AliceinWinterWonderland]

Badvoc glad you've been checked out. Always better if there's any concern in these situations. Hope you recover quickly.

[GoingToBedfordshire]

Just to add, not surprised that you are in a lot of pain with a muscular strain post op. Had my gallbladder out in the summer and was v tender for weeks. Currently have muscular strain from coughing for last 6 weeks and it is v sore. Would have been agony to have the two together! Don't be too hard on yourself, hope you feel better soon.

[grumpyoldbookworm]

It could be that you have a gall stone that was not removed with the gall bladder and is causing a blockage. This could be seen by ultrasound. I had my gall bladder removed (and now have a little pot of about 30 souvenir gall stones!) and I was warned that because the stones were small ones it was possible that one or two could have escaped. If the pain is similar to gall stone pain from before the op this could be why. Good luck

[Iluffschocolate]

I had my gb out last summer. All was well... then I had the pain AGAIN 5 days later. I was re-admitted to hospital and scanned again (ultrasound and MRI). This happened again about 2 weeks later. It turned out that I had passed some tiny stones (micro calculi?) that had escaped when they removed my gb. Could something like this be causing your pain? Hope you start to feel better soon, good luck!

[Badvocatyuletide]

Thank you.
Lougle...after the year I have had...yes. That's a distinct possibility. But the pain is real I assure you.

[Badvocatyuletide]

Going...really? I am quite shocked at how much pain I am in and prior to this I would have said I had a pretty high pain threshold...evidently not!

[Badvocatyuletide]

Iluff...the dr was quite dismissive when I said I was worried about more stones. Said I wouldn't have the pain where it is...
My liver function tests must have been ok. And the cxr is clear. So no infection, although my temp is slightly raised.
Am so fed up of having to much pain killers all day :(

[lougle]

I totally believe you,badvoc. I just thought that if HA was applicable then it's worth mentioning because lots of very benign problems can cause a very high level of pain, which may be a little reassuring.

[Badvocatyuletide]

Benign problems...they are the sort I like :)

[lougle]