I'm in agony. Calling anyone who has had their gall-bladder removed!

[Caligulights]

Last year I had my gall bladder removed, successful keyhole surgery, no problems.

Then this weekend, both my children and me went down with a nasty gastro virus - the usual things, vomiting, diarrhoea, belly ache.

At just before 3 O'Clock this morning I woke up with a horrific pain which hasn't gone away even though I've taken paracetemol, codeine phosphate and voltarol. The level of pain is exactly the same as with a gall bladder attack - I feel exactly as ill as I felt then.

Is this just because of the stomach upset? Can I expect every stomach upset to be this bad because of the cholecystectomy? Or should I be worried? I was going to go to A&E, but as I've been typing this, the pain is at last beginning to subside. (And I'm feeling really spaced out!) Has anyone else experienced this?

ring up nhs direct NOW
my sis had her gall bladderr removed and has not had this happen to her. but it does sound as though it may be your appendix. dont take the risk. get it checked

I agree with Stitch. Had my gall bladder out and never had this, although I do remember her saying something might happen (I forget what) and if it did I needed to get it checked immediately. Also, my husband has had appendicitis and from what he's seen (of my gb attacks) the pain is on a similar level.

Hope you're ok and it turns out to be nothing.

Hi there,

I had my gallbaldder removed 18 months ago and like the other people who've replied I've not experienced any probs since. However, my sister-in-law did. (six months ago) She was told that , although it's unusual, you can still get the odd stone going through the bile duct (no I don't understand why either). However, it turned out to be complications from the food poisening/gastro-enteritis she'd got on holiday. All her liver results were abnormal and she really foxed them. She's now completely recovered though. Wonder if you've got a bug from the children. Get it checked out though. My SIL was in hospital for three days with hers.

Hope you feel better soon

Mandy

Thanks all. I've just been to my GP's and he's come up with the explanation that it's acid, I've got to avoid citrus fruit and take these tablets called omeprazole every day for 28 days. If it happens again, I just have to get some more of these tablets.

I'm not very happy with this response - does it sound credible? Do people suddenly start to get agonising pains, which last longer than a gb attack, because of acid? I really don't know what to do - I think I should be referred to the original consultant who did my gb operation as the pain is so exactly the same, but lasts even longer (attacks before I had my op lasted about an hour). Am I being an hysterical patient? The thought of going through another of these attacks (it lasted about four and a half hours minimum and I was in terrible pain) and it being deemed OK and I've just got to get lots of tablets without getting a proper diagnosis just makes me want to weep. What should I do?

My dad's wife and I had our gallbladders removed within a month of each other - hers was a waiting list job and mine was a 24 hours notice emergency.
After the recovery period I felt fine and life is normal. She had 12 to 15 months of occasional agonising attacks which eventually just went away. She saw her consultant again, had a scan, everything appeared to be fine except for the mystery attacks. If I get a sicky bug then I get unbelieveable, being cut apart with a cheesewire sort of pain if I throw up, which goes as soon as I am better.

I'm sorry - none of this is very helpful. If you have another attack after avoiding acid (never heard of this) then ask to be refered back to your consultant.

Nome, that's very helpful. At least I know it's normal. So it looks as though the usual symptoms of a stomach bug are exacerbated by having had a cholecystectomy, at least for a few months afterwards. It's not necessarily a sign that the op wasn't 100% successful. Phew!

Caligulights, I think your G.P. might be right. I had my gall-bladder removed 7 years ago with no subsequent problems. I, like you, had severe epigastric pain. I was under a lot of stress and I reckon the upper part of my stomach was inflammed. I was advised to keep to a bland diet, avoid spicy food, avoid acidic food, alcohol and coffee, etc. It took about 2 weeks to settle. I had to remember to sit for a while after eating meals to prevent heartburn. I was prescrbed omeprazole but didn't need to take it. I had an abdominal ultrasound and blood tests but everything was fine.
I hope this is encouraging to you. Obviously, go back and see your doctor if you are worried.

caligulights - I have had stomach surgery - not gall bladder mine was intestinal. I don't know what gall bladder removal entails but I have had attacks of pain which my GP and the surgeon whom I was later referred to put down to adhesions - bits of scar tissue that can stick together. They seem to come and go with no particular pattern but I have been hospitalised 3 times now as the pain was so bad (worse than childbirth!)

Hope it settles with the meds otherwise I'd go back to your GP, although there isn't much they can actually do if its adhesions.

If you are not happy with your GP's diagnosis then go and see a good iridologist to determine the cause of this pain and how to prevent it happening again with herbal support etc - you can find one in your area on www.gni-international.org. This can really help long term.