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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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  • elizabeth2015
    elizabeth2015 happyalien

    Posted

    I have found that crackers or something small to eat will help the pain. and yes stay away from fatty foods and coke. Not all soda does it to me, but coke does. I was just drinking a glass and had an attack. I go to the dr next week. This has ben going on for almost 20 years since i had my gallbladder out. I hope there is an answer. No one else has ever found anything. Im tired of hurting.
    • deb16017
      deb16017 elizabeth2015

      Posted

      Hi Elizabeth,

      Did you went to the doctor? Any news about the pain? I'm having the same pains since my gallbladder surgery (February)

      Doctors can not find the cause of my pain. This is drive me crazy. 

       

  • deb16017
    deb16017 happyalien

    Posted

    Hello,

    You have described EXACTLY the problem I have. Have you find any answer, please?

    This pain is drive me unsane. I had a liver biopsy about a month ago looking for answers. However, doctors can not tell me what's wrong.

     

  • nicole_0563
    nicole_0563 happyalien

    Posted

     I was having a sharp pain below my breast in the middle. It seems to only come at night time. It can become so painful I have went to the ER. They have done mutiple test on me and decided it was my gallbladder. I had that removed about a year ago, but that pain still comes back. I don't know what else to do and I don't feel like having a lot of more test done. Has anybody had this same pain and figured out what it was? The doctors also tell me their is nothing wrong but this pain is pretty bad so something has to be going on.

     

    • deb16017
      deb16017 nicole_0563

      Posted

      I have the same problem. Doctor's can not find the cause of my pain. All my blood works were negative exept AMA M2 and liver enzyme little elevated. They though I had PBC but I need to have some other test positive to confirm it. 
    • nicole_0563
      nicole_0563 deb16017

      Posted

      It is just frustrating I don't know why they can't find out what is wrong. Apparently I'm not the only one with this problem.
  • hillary92061
    hillary92061 happyalien

    Posted

    Hi there! I had my gallbladder removed in September 2015 and I am still having problems. I am having the same pain the radiates into my back almost on a daily basis. I may have a good week here and there. I'm currently going through some blood work, but it is a waiting game.

    One thing that my surgeon did say to me is that my symptoms sounded like it was my sphincter of odi. Strange name, I know! He said the symptoms mimic each other and there are not many surgeons who specialize in this. A surgeon will not even look at you until your gallbladder is removed.

    I can't wait to find out what is causing my pain. It puts me down sometimes and I have always been an active person.

    • fung999
      fung999 hillary92061

      Posted

      I am curious how can you work while your feeling pain ? I am doing waiting game also
    • hillary92061
      hillary92061 fung999

      Posted

      I just make myself go. Today was not a good day and I did come home from work. I just have to make myself go.
    • Marketa
      Marketa fung999

      Posted

      I worked 2 months with pain attacks. Some weekends I went straight to emerg for pain relief. I remember surviving on cucumbers and tomatoes and feeling so tired. I slept in my car at lunch. It was a very hard time in my life, but I had to do it. Lost 30 pounds.
  • johnBern
    johnBern happyalien

    Posted

    Hi. I was wondering if anyone who has suffered from gallbladder attacks, experienced shortness of breath and dizziness as well?
    • robert57384
      robert57384 johnBern

      Posted

      When I did have my gallbladder (before removal 4 years ago) I did indeed have shortness of breath during the attacks.  It felt like an elphant was sitting on my upper back.  No dizziness that I could recalled though.
  • gerryc
    gerryc happyalien

    Posted

    It strikes me that removal of the GB in some cases is done in error when the real problem is SOD................surgeons are reluctant to admit to it for legal reasons. A test for SOD is to consume a very fatty meal and if you experience very intense pain get blood tests done immediately for AMA M2 and liver enzyme elevations. I stress that the tests must be done during the pain period.
    • cathy_94688
      cathy_94688 gerryc

      Posted

      Hi gerryc

      Does everyone get the SOD after gallbladder removal even years after surgery? Beacuse I still have pain after four years but it's not after consuming fatty food. I tested this on purpose to see what triggers the pain. Still couldn't find out. Recently I think it might be a nerve that was damaged during the surgery.

      But this SOD freaks me out. Beacuse I hear that many gets it even years after surgery. So that's why I want to know if you don't have it at the first or second year of the surgery then is it possible to not to get it at all?

      By the way, I went to many GI doctors due to the pain how come none mentioned about those two tests that you talked about. I just don't understand how did they get their degrees.

    • robert57384
      robert57384 gerryc

      Posted

      SOD is very rare on those who still have their gallbladders but not so for those of us who have had ours removed.  After 4 years of felling great (after my gallbladder removed), the pains came back.  After a myriad of tests and nothing to point the finger to, my doctor mentioned SOD.  I haven't had any tests for it though being that I'm currently dealing with a kidney stone issue but, to be honest, ever since I've gone back to a low-fat diet I haven't had any issues.
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