Complications after Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy - not warned by doctors

Reading this discussion has made my night.

I am only a week post gall bladder removal and I've never felt so ill: constant bloated feeling, constant nausea, occasional diarrhoea, light headedness, shortness of breath, panic attacks. I was driving myself mad googling all my symptoms and convincing myself I had hours to live.

I am usually mildly asthmatic, usually brought on during hay fever weather but the breathlessness I've been encountering since the operation is never ending and was really beginning to freak me out. I am going to my GP next week as it's not being controlled with my usual blue inhaler at all.

I was diagnosed with gall stones on 24th May 2017 (4 weeks ago) when I had severe pain and was sent home from work. I went straight to my GP and she had me admitted by phone to the local hospital who after numerous tests, scans and X-rays diagnosed me with several gall stones. My operation followed quickly after.

What I can't understand though is, the minute I was diagnosed I basically barely ate and what I did eat was very low/no fat foods (I'm very slightly overweight). As recommended I've kept this diet up following the operation yet I feel bigger than ever with all the bloating.

I suppose it's all just something I'm going to have to live with until the symptoms decide to disappear by themselves though reading some of your posts where you're years post op I'm not holding out much hope at all.

Once again thanks all of you for putting my mind at ease a little.

Please help!! Had gallbladder removed 2 1/2 months ago. Had 3cm done blocking duct and it was gangrene. Surgery went great, sore for a while and tired easily for about a week or so. 3 weeks out seemed to be back to some normalcy. Went out to eat and almost passed out! Happened agai a few days later after finishing my meal. Faint, woozy, heart racing and blood pressure high. Continued to wake up with racing heart. I don't, not have, had diarrhea, if anything, slightly constipated. I get this feeling too when I do have to poo. Ended up in er and was told I was dehydrated. Have been sucking down the water, still not better. Please, someone tell me that it's just my body adjusting and it will get better! This is frightening!

Hello. I had my gallbladder removed 7 days ago because of stones, and am having the exact symptoms that you all have and are experiencing! Severe nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, anxiety, crying spells, fear, terrible bloating and pressure in my upper abdomen, severe acid reflux, no energy, etc. I had to go to the emergency room 2 days after my surgery from vomiting, nausea, chest pain and shortness of breath. They did every test under the sun and concluded it was a reaction to the anesthesia and gave me ativan. It helped for a day and a half and then everything came back. I've hardly eaten anything in 7 days because I've been so sick. There's no telling how much weight I've lost. Nothing helps the nausea. The only thing that helps the reflux is pure baking soda and water with it. I've tried protonix (I've been taking that for years with success), zantac, tums by the mouthful, alkaline foods, tagamet, etc. I don't even eat foods that can cause this over-the-top reflux! It's crazy! Since the surgery it's been this terrible. So bad i i think I'm having a heart attack and vomit out about a gallon of pure burning acid. I hadn't had a bowel movement since 2 days before my surgery, so i ended up taking laxative yesterday and started cramping so intensely that i had to cry out to God to help me make it through the pain. That lasted 4 or 5 hours until my bowels finally moved. I was terrified i would either die from pain or have a heart attack from anxiety or racing heart. Today, I'm fighting nausea, bloating, tears from fear and frustration, and on top of that, one of the steristrips got hung on my shirt and was ripped off and took the glue plug along with it. Now i have a gaping hole there. I put several bandaids on it and holding my breath that it doesn't get infected. I go see the surgeon tomorrow for follow-up. Boy is he getting an ear full!!! I was never told about any of these side effects or told what to eat, drink, what to expect, or ANYTHING !!! After reading all the posts on this forum, I'm glad I'm not alone, but now I'm worried these issues will never go away. I'm trying to stay positive and going to start praying about it everyday. I have to have hope or I'll go insane with anxiety and dread. If anyone from this forum finds any help, relief, or answers, PLEASE comment and share with the rest of us. Also, has anyone else been suffering from a "burnt feeling tongue" and metallic taste in your mouth? Some days it's worse than others. Thank you all and I'll be praying for all of the people from this forum also. It HAS to get better for us.

Hello. I had my gallbladder removed 7 days ago because of stones, and am having the exact symptoms that you all have and are experiencing! Severe nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, anxiety, crying spells, fear, terrible bloating and pressure in my upper abdomen, severe acid reflux, no energy, etc. I had to go to the emergency room 2 days after my surgery from vomiting, nausea, chest pain and shortness of breath. They did every test under the sun and concluded it was a reaction to the anesthesia and gave me ativan. It helped for a day and a half and then everything came back. I've hardly eaten anything in 7 days because I've been so sick. There's no telling how much weight I've lost. Nothing helps the nausea. The only thing that helps the reflux is pure baking soda and water with it. I've tried protonix (I've been taking that for years with success), zantac, tums by the mouthful, alkaline foods, tagamet, etc. I don't even eat foods that can cause this over-the-top reflux! It's crazy! Since the surgery it's been this terrible. So bad i i think I'm having a heart attack and vomit out about a gallon of pure burning acid. I hadn't had a bowel movement since 2 days before my surgery, so i ended up taking laxative yesterday and started cramping so intensely that i had to cry out to God to help me make it through the pain. That lasted 4 or 5 hours until my bowels finally moved. I was terrified i would either die from pain or have a heart attack from anxiety or racing heart. Today, I'm fighting nausea, bloating, tears from fear and frustration, and on top of that, one of the steristrips got hung on my shirt and was ripped off and took the glue plug along with it. Now i have a gaping hole there. I put several bandaids on it and holding my breath that it doesn't get infected. I go see the surgeon tomorrow for follow-up. Boy is he getting an ear full!!! I was never told about any of these side effects or told what to eat, drink, what to expect, or ANYTHING !!! After reading all the posts on this forum, I'm glad I'm not alone, but now I'm worried these issues will never go away. I'm trying to stay positive and going to start praying about it everyday. I have to have hope or I'll go insane with anxiety and dread. If anyone from this forum finds any help, relief, or answers, PLEASE comment and share with the rest of us. Also, has anyone else been suffering from a "burnt feeling tongue" and metallic taste in your mouth? Some days it's worse than others. Thank you all and I'll be praying for all of the people from this forum also. It HAS to get better for us.

I am 2 weeks post op and a bit annoyed that I wasn't told what after surgery would be like. I feel worse now than I did before. My main issue is EXTREME dizziness. Has anyone else has this issue? I can't get anything done because my whole world is spinning. 

hi everyone! 

I know there has been a while since someone wrote here, but desperate people like me still get directed here. 

I decided to join because I just could not mange on my own. I'm 3 week po after a gb lp removal. I'm 29 yo, before this gb issue I was always a healthy person with tons of energy and a normal social life, and as everyone around me told me, I would be brand spanking new po. Well, this is so not true. I am not a miracle case. Pain from the gb is gone (thanks God!) and my digestion is also running just fine. I had no diarrhea or constipation since the 2nd week after the surgery. 

Only issues I deal with: getting tired really fast (which is to be expected and I listen to my body and rest when needed), and something very annoying which I did not have before the surgery namely a lump/thing/swelling in my throat.

I feel it like it's there all the time besides in my sleep. Also I feel pain on the right side of my throat on the exterior and there is a small swelling there. I asked my GP and she put me on omeprazole as I was on it like a year ago due to some gastritis issue (nothing serious) and she thinks I have some reflux issues. I'm not sure if this will do the trick. I have no idea why I have this. Is it because of the breathing tube from the surgery? Is it something more serious? I am very afraid of a HH or some other stomach issues and endoscopy is giving me nightmares because I have a really sensitive gag reflex... I have zero other symptoms or issues other than this... Anyhow, thanks a lot for having me here! I am feeling very alone and depressed in this fight. All I want is to be myself again, to have energy life, to be happy and to leave my bedroom which now is my working and living base. How long is this going to last? I hope not forever  

Hi. Wow. This post is about two years old, but I’m so glad I found it and there’s still people following it and posting.

First, I’m glad to find you guys and read about your experiences and not feeling all alone. Second, I’m sorry that we all have to go through so much after the surgery. Lastly, I’ve read all the comments and have found some relief, to at least know that I’m not going crazy feeling all these other symptoms post surgery.

I had my gallbladder removal surgery on my birthday in 2013. It’s been four years and though some symptoms did get better others continue and new ones have flared up.

I found myself tonight googling “long term consequences after gallbladder removal surgery”. I’m now in a whole lot of pain — abdominal and back pain, and some nausea. It feels a lot like the pain I used to get when I had the stones and it scared me. I have been told I have a fatty liver and after reading your symptoms I think it may be my liver acting up. The culprit, I think, was guacamole today. I think I’m not able to digest some fats and this was the onset of pain in my liver today. I already took pain medicine, Mylanta, a probiotic, tea, etc.

As I was reading other people’s symptoms I’d say I’ve experienced IBS, especially after eating — diarrhea; bloating; belching, hot flashes after certain foods, hives (I’ve experienced since I was about 21 and I’ve taken antihistamine for it. I wonder if it could be related), I did also experience the residual scar tissue pain even after 2 years, and that’s what the doctor called it to. It was mostly on the incision right about under the bra line. 

I think was diagnosed with gallstones when I was around 26-27. They do run in my family but with no surgery necessary. I was afraid to have surgery and had heard a couple horror stories of people having complications after surgery from friends. It wasn’t until I had to endure debilitating pain that would flare up late at night into the morning for like a year that started out in periods of every two to three months and progressed into almost every other day with visits to the ER. That was the final point that made undergo the surgery. I have no regrets about having had the surgery, but like most of you, I wish doctors would tell you more about life after surgery. They pretty much leave you out blank. I suppose most people have a happy life afterwards, but I guess we’re the few that do not.

I have a very basic insurance that has a deductible of $1500 ( which is high for me) and I’m afraid to go see a doctor and end up with a lot of bills.