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Gallbladder is gone so where is this pain from?

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happyalien
happyalien

HI

Had the dreaded gallbladder removed last June after only 7 months of pain (so I'm pretty lucky).

Everything went well, home the same day - took a good 4 weeks to feel totally better after the op but eating was ok and I don't seem to be affected by bowel issues like some people.

Only problem is I have dull ache in exactly the same place I used to get the gallbladder pain. It's not intense pain but it's in the front RUQ under my ribs and moves round the side and to my back.

It doesn't seem to appear after anything in particular and most of the time it's there constantly. Suppose it's more of an annoyance than anything else because I'm always aware of this ache. I'm quite reluctant to go to my GP because after spending about 7 months constantly in the surgery last year updating painkillers and nausea pills I don't want them to think I'm addicted to medical attention.

Just wondered if anyone had anything similar or if it's just a by-product of surgery that I'll have to get on with?

Thanks

34 likes, 1357 replies

1357 Replies

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  • wendy70167
    wendy70167 happyalien

    Posted

    For those of you still suffering pain after gall bladder removal I am wondering if you have heard of CRPS? I already have CRPS which occurred from a fall two years ago and then I had my gall bladder removed a few weeks ago. I am still having burning pain and my clothes hurt the area under my ribs where my gall bladder was. I think my CRPS may have spread to this location because the surgeon and anesthesiologist did not know about CRPS. Some of you sound like you might have CRPS in the surgery site. I would suggest looking it up.
  • Swisher_Hill
    Swisher_Hill happyalien

    Posted

    hello,

    I came on here due to pain post gallbladder surgery March 2013. I have had three painful attacks with in the last two months. They last about 15 to 20 minutes. My first one, I woke up from a sound sleep and Wow! I thought I was having a cardiac event. So I stubbled to the kitchen and crunched two asprins and placed under my tongue and WALLA, pain was gone instantly.  I remember the pain before my GB was removed and it was the same...except now I have no GB!!!!! The second time it happen I was on my way out to dinner and came near having my husband pull over so i could throw up. I had no asprin and had to ride it out. Then the pain was gone after tears and fears and went on to dinner.  Last night I went to the ER, my husband insisted..It woke me from a beautiful dream and I laid there thinking..is this different pain, i had a knot in the lower part of my sternum, it radiated around to T8(in line with GB) and continued to to cause me excruciating PAIN.  I finally woke my husband to get me two asprins and water, I took them and instantly pain was gone and I was as if nothing happened.  Now my thoughts are this...Gall Stones are actually made in the liver and pile up in the GB, that is why they are green.  After GB surgery, the bile drips like a leaky faucet, not gushes of bile, but constant dripping.  I can eat jalapeno's Hot wings, horse radish sauce and it doesn't phase me, but give me iceberg lettuce, green mango peppers or course salt on pretzels and I am in trouble with diarreha. I don't seem to have irritable bowel.  Just putting this out there setting up my question.  In addition, I have done scar therapy on my incisions and there is no fascia connection, no adhesions.  Fred Flintstone ask about possible stones still in the liver, I was wondering that myself...any feed back? As far as prilosec, omeprazole, Nexium...I already take Nexium. I don't eat a whole lot of fatty foods, I am active, walking, zumba and drink lots of water/lemon(alkaline in the body) and very little soda's, when i have a soda i drink Zevia.  Any input about the possibility of stones still in the liver? Thank You.

    • angela72602
      angela72602 Swisher_Hill

      Posted

      I have never heard of stones in the liver. I have pain like you described and at times think I have a heart attack. But all is well with my heart. Now I have pain in my right side and goes to my stomach down to my liver. So, I do not know what this is.Mt dr. said probably adhesions. I have not gotten to see him  because of Insurance and then he retired. I am going to have to find me another doctor. I had my gb out in 2004 and this pain and nausea just began last year. SO, I do not have an answer for you. But, if you find an answer please share!
  • tenusneone
    tenusneone happyalien

    Posted

    I have had the same problems and I finally got a diagnosis.  SOD- Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction.  Good luck, I hope everyone gets some relief from your chronic, excruciating, debilitating pain.  I just wish I had been diagnosed sooner as I suffered needlessly for years.  
    • chinyere41698
      chinyere41698 tenusneone

      Posted

      Hi. how was ur SOD diagnosed and what type of SOD. did you undergo ERCP and did that help. your urgent reply would be appreciated Thanks.
    • smoo21
      smoo21 tenusneone

      Posted

      Hey there,

      Just a question for you.

      How did they manage to pick up on that you had SOD? Only reason was because they done a nuclear dye test on me and my results came back normal.

      I read into it and told them I wanted to be tested for it but its only people who have had their gallbladders out and I had all the symptoms.

      Im just confused and want my pain sorted sad

      Hope to hear something back smile

  • amk1988
    amk1988 happyalien

    Posted

    since I had my gallbladder removed 2.5 years ago I cannot drink any alcohol on an empty tummy or I will have pain in gallbladder area- eating takes the pain away. also I am now severely intolerant to codeine if I take co-codamol I am rolling about in pain for several hours. nothing else affects me - other than I have gained some weight!

    Hope this helps someone else smile

  • michelle30953
    michelle30953 happyalien

    Posted

    I had my gallbladder out in December of 14, and after coming home from the hospital the same day I still felt that nagging pain in my side. Was still very lethargic and in extreme pain. I went back to my Dr. Before my post op schedule because I hurt so bad. It was 3 days before Christmas. Henever-looked   at my stomach or felt anywhere , he gave me some pain pills and sent me on my way. Needless to say it was a miserable Christmas for me. It was 4 days after the holiday I could not take the pain anymore and my husband drove me to emergency. My liver enzymes were soring , I had a temperature,  and a rash. Come to find out I still had many gallstones left in the bile tract ,so they did an Ercp to get the rest out. I ended up with an infection as well and was in the hospital for 8 days. When I did get out I still experience the pain everyone is complaining about, the pressure under my right breast. Feels like a constant poke. I went back to Dr. thinking there still might be stones, they did an MRI and found nothing. So I don,t get it, why am I still hurting there? It's not so much a hurt as it is a pressure, an annoying pressure. I can't eat half of what I use to with out it feeling worse. I have diarrhea everyday and I cannot sleep at all because I cannot find a comfortable position. I am sick of Dr.s and tired of their stupid answers. I am hoping that I do not have to live with this for the rest if my years I am 52. 

    I cut out most dairy products and spicy food, even onions which I adore Rarely drink alcohol, red meat once a month. I am trying to do everything right and still to no avail. What is this nagging pain?

    • phil97225
      phil97225 michelle30953

      Posted

      Good luck and keep us posted.  I am only 5.5 weeks out, but still have the pressure, gas and nagging pain.  Let us know if you find a good solution.
  • irving_pichay
    irving_pichay happyalien

    Posted

    Guys..... thats the effect on our Body after the Galbladder removal..

    lets just accept it... notice that all of the person here has the same and same problem..

    guys the pain that we feel is somewhat, air inside our body....

    thats why, we have to be sensitive, mostly on our environment, food, and

    lifestyle...

    go a  bit back to your lifestyle when you have your stone..

    eating healthy foods, Lowfat foods..

    not eating too much..

    and Praying...

    i have that pain too, when I also streching my abs

    i feel my keyhole is streching too and i feel a small pain on that keyhole

    the one on the liver part, its normal for us to feel pain because our internal

    body is not anymore complete..

    i was operated for gallbladder removal "LAPCO" last April 6, 2015..

     

    • fay80328
      fay80328 irving_pichay

      Posted

      I understand what you're saying Irving. I think most of us are just so desperate (including me) to hear that someone with this awful pain found some miracle cure so that we can have some hope that we willl stop hurting one day.
    • phil97225
      phil97225 fay80328

      Posted

      Reading about, understanding, and comparing other people's experiences with your own is very comforting and provides support. This list serve makes you feel less alone and puts you in contact with those who have had similar experiences.  Good from both directions.

       

  • casey11435
    casey11435 happyalien

    Posted

    Hi I know this is from last year but did the tablets work as I'm suffering and my doctors advised me to go on these 
  • lisa05192
    lisa05192 happyalien

    Posted

    Hi I had my gallbladder out in 1999 I suffered 2 long years going in and out of hospital my liver panel would be all crazy I would get jaundiced had pain so bad I had to concentrate on just my breathing it scared me badly. Then one day an older surgeon that my regular m.d. sent met too suggested this test called the Nardi test it was horrible but they recreated the pain and took blood every so many minutes then gave me pain eds to stop it which didn't work because I had been in pain so long but that test was the. Answer my sphincter of oddi was closing and spasms were causing the pain I had a big surgery which has made me a lot better but still get the pain sometimes morphine does not make the pain go away it increases it I take demerol. I only take it when I need it and can gladly say I've only Bern in the hospital for this one time since.That surgeon gave me a life back I watch how much I do it stresses that side out I have to be careful about colds and such because they can cause infection in the tubes. I'm sorry you hurt but it sounds the same. Goodluck
  • Gillypoo
    Gillypoo happyalien

    Posted

    Just going through site to see if anyone has this problem and found your post ! I'm exactly the same ! Thought I was going mad . 

    I know it's not as bad as the GB pain but I thought I would be pain free !! Hope you have improved x

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