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any direct connection between GallBladder and acid/bile reflux problems after removing GallBladder ?

Posted , 8 users are following.

DWoods
DWoods

Hi all,

My wife has been diagnosed with 2 Gallbladder Stones which are 10 mm in size and they are giving her pain in the upper part of stomach .

doctor have suggsted that we should get Gallbladder removed ASAP.

but i have heard from various patients who have undergone Gallbladder removal surgery , that after removing GallBladder they are facing/experiencing acid/bile reflux.

So i would like to know whether is there direct connection between removing GallBladder and acid/bile reflux after surgery ?

Currently my Wife does not have acid/bile reflux issue at all.

So i am afraid that, may be after removing GallBladder she will face acid/bile reflux issues,

am i correct or i am worrying too much ?

Thanks for your input.

 

0 likes, 23 replies

23 Replies

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  • debbie89808
    debbie89808 DWoods

    Posted

    Hi DWoods

    I had my gallbladder removed in April this year due my gallbladder malfunctioning and causing a lot of pain over several months.  I was also diagnosed with mild gastritis at the same time and was taking a small dose of omeprazole.  The gallbladder operation went without any complications and I was pain free almost immediately.  About three days after the op I started having the most awful reflux which continued reducing my appetite to almost nothing and creating a lot of pain in my stomach through to my back. I was afraid that it was bile reflux as I had heard that this could happen after gallbladder surgery and I prayed it was acid as it is easier to treat.   I was admitted to hospital for 8 days two weeks after my operation and bombarded with very high doses of Omeprazole and Zantac and it took 3 days for it to start taking effect.  I had an endoscopy whilst in hospital and was again diagnosed with gastritis and I also tested positive for the Helicobacter Pylori but which was found in my stomach via an endoscopy.  

    Most people seem to come out of the gallbladder operation with no problems at all whilst others have problems with certain foods and have to modify their diet and others have more problematic issues  I think the main reason why I had problems with reflux was because it was largely overlooked prior to the operation which I waited seven months for and which went largely untreated as all symptoms were blamed on the gallbladder - so your wife will not necessarily suffer any reflux at all.  If she is otherwise healthy particularly her digestive tract then she probably has nothing to worry about - I certainly don't regret in any way having my gallbladder removed as I no longer suffer gallbladder type colics which can be excrutiating.   I am still receiving a lot of meds for my gastritis which still hasn't completely disappeared but it has been made worse by the treatments that I have had to endure in order to rid myself of the bug H Pylori

     

    Wishing your wife every success with her operation

    • Acejohnston
      Acejohnston debbie89808

      Posted

      Sorry about that. Sorry to hear your suffering. I had gastritis too and indigestion and have been taking milk thistle the last few weeks and it's gone! I recommend it. It's natural and great for your liver which has to work harder now the gallbladder is gone. A lot of people who've had their gallbladder removed take it and find it great. Take care xx
    • debbie89808
      debbie89808 Acejohnston

      Posted

      Thanks for that, I'l definitely give it ago. I've just bought some of that for my elderly dog who has colitis in order to support her liver - never thought of trying it myself though, but it certain makes sense - just read whilst researching it for my dog that beside the liver it also support the bowels and pancreas.

       

    • travelsinbc
      travelsinbc debbie89808

      Posted

      I have had bariatric surgery where I had a sleeve gastrectomy.  I was one of the lucky 20-25% of the patients who developed severe GERDS as a result.  I have had constant burning in the chest, I have had the constant and familiar taste of acid in my throat.  I have had a couple of episodes where I have been vomiting from excessive acid making it into the lungs, and I have hardly been able to have any water due to the severe burning.  They did an endoscopy on me, and couldn't find anything to answer for the reflux.  I am scheduled to have surgery for the gastric bypass as well as gallbladder removal and a hernia fixing soon.  He mentioned that he didn't really want to take out the gallbladder, but since I have developed severe GERDS and will be having the bypass, he knew that I would have to be called in another 5 or 10 months to get this removed, so he thought that he would be proactive.  Good luck with your healing etc.  Hope that things go well for you!

  • Leni75
    Leni75 DWoods

    Posted

    Hi Dwoods 

    Like your wife I've never had any issues whatsoever with acid/bile reflux. Not until I had my GB taken out. For me there was no option. Just had a baby and the pain of a GB infected was so bad I developed an inflammation in the pancreas while waiting to have surgery I ended up having it as an emergency. I thought what a relief because it is. No more gallstones no more biliary colic type pain. If your wife has a lot of pain, surgery is the only option at the moment. The consequences of an infected GB can became life threatning like it happen to me. But Unfortunately for me, I developed bile reflux after the surgery and it has been the most scary time of my life. I've been trying to find a solution for this problem for over 9 months now with no success. 

    I think anyone can face this problem after this type of surgery, there's no way of knowing . The doctors keep telling me the body adapts but I feel the burning inside me more and the pain is now daily and getting worse. 

    My life seems at the moment not worth living but I would had died anyway if I hadn't GB taken out so is it worth the risk? I guess yes. 

    I wish all the luck x

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