Horrendous gallbladder pain, no gallbladder

[CrankyPoet]

It’s been 48 hours and it’s one long agonising gallbladder stones attack with little let up but mine was removed 3 years ago.

GP is sending me for urgent bloods tomorrow to test for things like full blood count, lipase, urea etc.

However, he says it’s unlikely liver related because I am young and a non smoker and drinker. He said he can’t explain why the pain is the same as gallbladder attacks because I don’t have one

I said to him that I had read you can get a stone stuck in the bile duct. He said no because I don’t have a gallbladder, and they don’t do that type of surgery where anything would be left behind. So it can’t be a stone

I have been sick four times in the last 48 hours, like my stomach is being squeezed. I feel awful, it’s just so bloody sore.

A CT has been requested but he said that’ll take a few weeks.

The actual type of pain feels ‘worrying’ and very unsettling, if that makes sense. Again though, exactly like a gallbladder attack oain

I have heard of spinster of Odi? Basically where you don’t have a gallbladder anymore but get muscle related pains - but I am in absolute agony with these attacks and I vomit if I eat a small meal

I’ve been given buscopan and omoprazole. Told to keep my fluids up. And that’s it for now :(

I am a carer and live a very stressful life. He asked if it could be psychologically linked. I said I don’t think so - I can do the care. But I can’t if I’m in agony. It makes my life impossible.

I've had those. And your GP might be misinformed. I've had my common bile duct act as a quasi Gallbladder. You need to see a gastroenterologist. Quickly.

Severe abdominal pain warrants a&e op - take yourself there and I hope you improve soon.

Hi op.
I have Sphincter of Oddi. Diagnosed about 7 years ago, after gallbladder removal didn’t solve the pain.
The only way I can describe the pain is what I’d imagine a heart attack to feel like. The pain generally starts in my shoulder blades and then moves to my chest (epi gastric really) and it’s like someone’s sitting on my chest whilst tightening a rope under my boobs! It’s horrific.
So far I’ve had Botox injected in to my oesophagus countless times and I’m off to have my bile duct cut again in the next few weeks.
I take 75mg of amitriptyline every evening. 10 mg of diazepam and just re-started nifedipine again. When the pain is really bad (every 4/5 weeks, I take oramorph and cyclizine (the oramorph makes me SO sick)
So far nothing has really helped. I end up in A&E every few months when the pain becomes uncontrollable at home. I have a very low HR and BP so quite often faint with the pain.
I find sitting with my knees up against my chest with a hot water bottle between my chest and knees helps a little bit.
It really is horrible….and what makes it worse is hardly anyone has ever heard of it so it’s very difficult to explain the pain it causes.

I hope you get sorted asap 💐

Hi Op, I registered for MN just to respond to you. I think you need A&E. I had this problem last year. Previous keyhole gallbladder removal, all went textbook according to the surgeon. However started to experience pain like you describe and severe vomiting. Attended GP and was given omeprazole for 'heartburn'. A&E visit same day resulted in the same diagnosis.
Went again to A&E the next day because I knew something wasn't right and by that point my liver bloods showed liver was starting to fail and a few hours later I became severely jaundiced. I'm mid 30's, non smoker/drinker and BMI perfect. The cause was 'sludge' or stones that were blocking the bile duct and if left, can cause sepsis. It's a condition not to be left or played down. The pain I had can only be compared to that of a gallbladder attack but I was constantly dismissed too because I didn't have a gallbladder! I ended up having a 3 week hospital stay and emergency ercp to unblock the duct. The risk of leaving this (if you have the same) is sepsis or pancreatitis. You need to be seen asap and I'd push for full liver function tests. Best of luck.

@CrankyPoet read @Dilbertian post and totally agree with @OhcantthInkofaname

Please push for an urgent referral, even see another Dr. within the practice. DO NOT let them fob you off, all doctors are not equal.

You know your body and something is definitely not right.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gallbladder-removal/risks/

Bile leakage
When the gallbladder is removed, special clips are used to seal the tube that connects the gallbladder to the main bile duct.

But bile fluid can occasionally leak out into the tummy (abdomen) after the gallbladder is removed.

Symptoms of a bile leak include tummy pain, feeling sick, a fever and a swollen tummy.

eta; also note post by @ThatNavyFish and extra sentence added

I forgot to say….I usually have the pain in my shoulder blades and centre of my back for a few days before it gets really bad. It almost feels like a pulled muscle to start with.

Happened to me (and my sister) too. Was baffling to medics but was very real

I get this too. Running hypothesis is that it's pancreatitis but I have to treat at home with fluids and painkillers I've had very little luck getting a diagnosis or treatment.

I have noticed a link with my migraines though, and also read that there could be a similar pathway involved- I've found my migraine tablets (sumatriptan) can help a little during an attack.
Was also interested in previous poster who mentioned a reaction to codeine...
I'll follow this thread and hope you feel better soon OP!

I have had exactly this. I thought I was about to die, and it took days for the pancreatitis to calm down.

If you get a feeling like that, don't ignore it.

@mazylou did it go away on its own?

Nope. I spent several days in hospital, I'm also in the amitriptyline group.

Your GP not very clued up OP. You absolutely can get issues with bile duct blockages without a gallbladder. Definitely go to A&E though, it might be something minor, like an inflamed bile duct or it could be something that needs urgent treatment like acute pancreatitis, or liver issue, but you won’t know until it’s checked out, and always better to be safe than sorry.
My daughter had a sphincter of oddi attack after having codeine, she thought she was having a heart attack.

@CrankyPoet I'd also agree with @CockSpadget and your GP sounds misinformed. As above, I had two A&E consultants and the GP dismiss me over a 48hr period before things were actually picked up. Worth noting mine was also missed on an abdominal ultrasound AND mri. It was only after the MRI was reviewed by a specialist that they saw the blockage, sometimes it's not so obvious to see on the scan despite the impact it has on us and how rotten it can make you feel.

I’m so sorry you went through that but that is really interesting as I had a reaction to first time I had codeine post op. I mentioned it to the anaesthetist before another op recently and said I think I am allergic to codeine and he looked at me like I had 2 heads!

I had this two weeks after my gallbladder surgery. Ambulance to A&E, gas and air then morphine. The same type of pain as my gallbladder attacks but worse. The consultant thought a stone had been left behind in the duct and made a bid for freedom.

Very interesting that people are saying they can’t take Codeine - I took it 6 months after my gallbladder removal for something completely unrelated and called an ambulance… I was convinced it was a heart attack

I Remember mentioning it to my GP and he said he’d never heard of that link to having no gallbladder, but I remember finding loads of women in agreement, including my own dear nan!

I am going into hospital tomorrow. I cannot tonight without complete disruption to a commitment I have to someone. Harsh but true.

Buscopan and a drug similar to Omoprazole that starts with a P hasn’t helped yet :(

Overall, I am managing the pain but it’s exhausting. My blood pressure is very slightly low but otherwise I am fine

No temp etc

Hope it goes well @CrankyPoet be firm about seeing the gastro team. 🌻

Please be aware that gallstones or duct blockage after gall bladder removal can very quickly lead to sepsis. As I said, my relative gets very ill and has been on the verge of sepsis. Every occurrence, no matter how quickly it was treated, has ended up with them on IV antibiotics.

I'm sorry to appear a scare-mongerer, and I sincerely hope that you are OK, but please make sure those around you are aware that red flags for sepsis include confusion and drowsiness - which may result in you being unable to recognise if you are dangerously ill. And prioritise yourself.

I'm booked in for Thursday to have mine out 🤕

@PrincessofWells Amazing, bet you can't wait! X

How are you @CrankyPoet ?

Did you manage to get to A&E? I hope you're feeling better

I had my gallbladder removed because of gallstones and a year later was back in a&e because I had a suspected stone stuck. Severe pain and my blood tests indicated a stone might be stuck. According to 3 gastro doctors I saw it is possible to still make stones after gallbladder removal. You need a MRCP which is a special type of mri that shows the bile ducts etc in detail. Then if there is a stone they can work out how to remove it. I’ve been told that if I get the same pain again to go back to a&e and ask for an mrcp. Good luck 💐

Haven't read through but this is me.
I woke up with the same pain no gallbladder
Turns out it's something called sphincter of oddi dysfunction