still having problems after gall bladder removal

[Babyramone]

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.