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Original poster

Pain after gallbladder removal

41 replies

Spotthedog91 · 28/02/2022 18:20

So my surgery to remove my gallbladder was a week ago now.

Since then I've been getting a mild bruised/achey feeling in my back, right side and right rib cage. I'm hoping this is just bruising from the surgery, but I've got a horrible feeling my problems haven't gone away. The pain doesn't seem to be food related, so hoping it's not yet more digestive problems.

Has anyone else experienced this after gallbladder surgery?

OP posts:
Fredstheteds · 28/02/2022 18:22

It’s big surgery and you’ve had a organ removed- things will be sore and swollen

Einszwei · 28/02/2022 18:24

I had mine out a few years ago now. I have heard some people recover very quickly, but for me it took quite a few weeks until the pain went away.

I still sometimes do get gallbladder like pain but it so much better than it was before the surgery.

Original poster
Spotthedog91 · 28/02/2022 18:59

@einszwei what sort of pain did you have afterwards? Mine doesn't seem to be food related like before, so I'm hoping it's just where I'm maybe doing a bit more the last few days (I have a 5 month old).

Is the pain you get more bearable?

Thank you for responding xx

OP posts:
Original poster
Spotthedog91 · 28/02/2022 19:07

@fredstheteds I know. I keep telling myself this. I think I'm paranoid I've had surgery, but my problems haven't been solved :-( xx

OP posts:
Einszwei · 28/02/2022 20:38

@Spotthedog91 The weeks after surgery it was 'soreness' ... very different to the intense gallbladder attack pain.

Try and rest as much as possible in order to give your body time to heal.

tintodeverano2 · 01/03/2022 00:02

Ah it took me a good couple of months to recover fully! It was much worse than any other op I've had.
OP, you're a week in with a little baby. Get people to help out as your really need to rest to recover. Don't push yourself.

Rose789 · 01/03/2022 00:13

I was convinced they had taken my gallbladder out for no reason and that whatever was wrong was still going on after my surgery.
It’ll just be bruising from the op. Especially with a small baby and carrying and lifting it’ll be sore for a few more days.
It will get better don’t panic
Bless you

Original poster
Spotthedog91 · 01/03/2022 06:45

@tintodeverano2 @rose789 I'm so pleased you guys had similar experience (although of course not pleased you were also in pain). I'm so worried my problems are something other than gallbladder. I'm going to go and spend a few days with my parents to get us much help as I can
Xx

OP posts:
Original poster
Spotthedog91 · 01/03/2022 12:14

@rose789 do you remember how long it took for your pain that mimmicked gallbladder pain went away? X

OP posts:
Rose789 · 01/03/2022 13:23

It took around 3 weeks. For 2 weeks I took constant painkillers the last week was more manageable but I was still aware of it IYKWIM

Original poster
Spotthedog91 · 01/03/2022 13:33

OK thank you Rose. I've been so worried and upset today. Absolutely terrified I've just had an organ removed for no reason as it wasn't the cause of my problems. I'm on say 8 now xx

OP posts:
Rose789 · 01/03/2022 13:59

Bless you man. Honestly I was exactly the same and drove myself demented googling.
Once you get through this bit you will feel a million times better. My op was 3 months ago and Im like a brand new person after the recovery

Original poster
Spotthedog91 · 01/03/2022 14:06

Yeah I've spent hours and hours googling. I'm so pleased you're feeling better.

I didn't have intense attacks as such before removal. More a daily grumbling pain that was in my rib, shoulder blade and occasionally radiated into my chest. The pain im getting now is the rib/shoulder/back aching/throbbing pain. It doesn't seem to be food related, which is what is making me hopeful lol x

OP posts:
tintodeverano2 · 01/03/2022 16:30

It's just your body healing, so don't worry. Keep up with the pain medication, I found that helped a lot.

I had mine out 6 years ago, but was having weekly attacks where I passed out or threw up with the pain. The aching you describe was how it started and over time it just got worse (I should've gone to the GP much sooner!). Since having it removed I get the odd occasional twinge. But it's few and far between now.

Original poster
Spotthedog91 · 01/03/2022 17:38

@tintodeverano2 thank you so much for your response. I'm glad you're feeling better now.

I'll update in a few days/weeks to say how I'm doing just in case anybody looks at this post in the future looking for the same answers I've been searching for the past 24hrs lol x

OP posts:
CovidCurious · 01/03/2022 17:47

[quote Spotthedog91]@tintodeverano2 thank you so much for your response. I'm glad you're feeling better now.

I'll update in a few days/weeks to say how I'm doing just in case anybody looks at this post in the future looking for the same answers I've been searching for the past 24hrs lol x[/quote]
Please do update. I'm due to have mine out in May.

Original poster
Spotthedog91 · 01/03/2022 17:57

@covidCurious aww good luck! The op itself was absolutely fine. I think I'm really worrying as I've been misdiagnosed for around 3 years now. Don't want to be without answers again.

How come your waiting until May? I was told a year wait in January but ended up in A&E with pain and they then operated within the week x

OP posts:
CovidCurious · 01/03/2022 18:26

@Spotthedog91 thank you. Mine has been grumbling on and off for 10 years (I thought it was trapped wind and it only happened every couple of years) but then I came under more sustained attack recently. Still not enough to drive me to A&E, just to the GP. Ultrasound revealed the stones and thickening. It doesn't warrant emergency surgery and if I can keep it quiet until May it just suits everyone better to do it in a managed way. I hope your pain clears up soon. Bear in mind when you have gallbladder pain it can be referred to your back/shoulder along the phrenic nerve. I expect the whole area is still a bit sensitive after the removal surgery so maybe you are getting referred pain from that.

Original poster
Spotthedog91 · 01/03/2022 19:25

I thought mine was trapped wind in the beginning as well @covidcurious. A low fat diet really did help keep mine at bay. Take it easy xx

OP posts:
Singsing · 04/03/2022 20:20

Hi Spotthedog91 - how are you doing today? I'm due to have my gallbladder removed in about 10 days and I've gone down the google rabbithole while trying to prepare myself. I hope you're feeling a bit better now. It must be hard to rest with a young baby.

gamerchick · 04/03/2022 20:26

@Einszwei

I had mine out a few years ago now. I have heard some people recover very quickly, but for me it took quite a few weeks until the pain went away.

I still sometimes do get gallbladder like pain but it so much better than it was before the surgery.

This.

I still can't eat a lot of fat but the pain is nowhere near as bad as it was before the bugger was out. The surgeon came to see me when I woke up and I remember him saying I'd still get pain, but was too out of it to take in the whys. Still it's no big deal.

I took weeks to feel right after the op though. A whole organ has been removed.

Original poster
Spotthedog91 · 04/03/2022 21:34

@singsing thank you for checking in on me :-) I'm feeling a lot better now. I'm still getting the aching in my rib/side/shoulder blade but it's a lot milder now than it was when I posted this, so hoping it's just bruising. It's definitely not food related which is a good sign. I enjoyed a chicken burger and chips followed by sticky toffee pudding and custard at a pub tonight lol. Beautiful.

I'm on day 11 now and my stitches are falling off now and the post surgery pain has almost gone now.

I hope your op goes well. Try not to worry! I got myself very stressed out beforehand and just afterwards and it all went better than I thought x

OP posts:
MrsMillhouse · 04/03/2022 21:36

Op. What colour is your pee?

Original poster
Spotthedog91 · 04/03/2022 21:46

Quite dark. I actually have a uti at the moment though. On antibiotics

OP posts:
Heronatemygoldfish · 04/03/2022 21:56

I'm 9 months past keyhole surgery now. OP was yours keyhole or open?

The first few weeks I ached. I think that the gas they use to blow you up and separate all your insides has got to cause some internal bruising/tearing, and this is why you feel so sore to begin with. After all, a normal bruise takes a while to go away.

I then felt fine for a few months then it all started grumbling again! They have no idea why - had scan recently to check for retained stones - all looks fine. Seems to be better again now and I can finally eat anything.

The trouble with gallbladder surgery is that everyone's experience is different. Hope you feel much better soon - you aren't likely to have healed yet.