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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

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  • ChattyC
    ChattyC happyalien

    Posted

    Hello

    so grateful to find this site. I just had my gallbladder removed one week ago laparoscopic. I went back to work today and have found myself to be quite sore. My acid reflux has been terrible and the pain in my abdomen at the incision is sore too. I realize it's only been a week, but when I talk to some people they are so pleased with the results, yet I feel rather let down. Is it too early to judge?

    thanks in advance for your help.

    cathy 

    • debbie75601
      debbie75601 ChattyC

      Posted

      I think so. Should have been off from work at least two weeks. I had mine out in January, and I still have reflux and am still sick. You at least sound better than me, so that's encouraging! Try to take it as easy as you can! Surgery is a big deal, contrary to what people tell you about gallbladder surgery. 
  • mark31690
    mark31690 happyalien

    Posted

    It's 2 a.m. and Im up agan with awful pain.  I had my gallbladder removed about 9 days ago.  it is so good to read that others have the same problem Im having.People told me I'd be good as new after surgery. Im have exactly the same symptoms you all are having. Yesterday I thought I was finally feeling better then all of a sudden Im having this pain.  I can't sleep because of the nagging pain.  a few days ago my right side hurt so bad with STABBIN SHARP pain I about lost my mind ! I hurt in the same places you all do and with the same sensations.  I put ice on the areas that hurt and thought it felt better but now that doesnt take away the constant burning pain. I go tomarrow for followup withe thge surgeion.  I so much want to feel better and that this pain will go away, I can't do the things I enjoyed because I hurt so much.  has anyone found RELIEF !?  I sure dont want to live feeling bad like this.  Im so glad I googled this problem, I thought I was the only one , but see Im NOT
    • lisa15321
      lisa15321 mark31690

      Posted

      Hi mark , have you changed your diet? My doctor told me we can eat normally but that is not the case, I had surgery in Jan and if I eat anything fatty or greasy I have the same pain , try and stick to a low fat diet and see if that helps.It does take a while to get back to normal but I think Im on the mend and dont get much pain  now . It has taken until now to be able to do anything like I was able to before like lifting etc . Take it easy as It is a big op through small holes.
    • mark31690
      mark31690 lisa15321

      Posted

      Hi Lisa, no I havn't changed my diet. But its been hours since I ate. I know its only been about 10 days, but I eel something is wrong. Im having a burning sensation along with achey pain in my lower right bottom back area,  I cant figure out why I hurt in an unusual spot like this.  Kinda worries me
    • heepee
      heepee mark31690

      Posted

      Hi Mark , I had my gb out about a year ago . I also had huge pain post surgery , which was not from the incisions . I was readmitted about a week post surgery due to the terrible pain , for about 3 days , as I needed morphine . Despite scans , X-rays etc they couldn't find a definitive cause . My surgeon felt it was a collection of blood and gunge. 

      The burning pain sounds very familiar . The good news is that from what I've read is that this is quite common . Also it does improve . I was not good for a couple of weeks , then I'd get these attacks about once a month . After 6months it stopped . With me , diet made no difference at all . 

      You have had major surgery and it does take the body a good few months to recover , in my experiance . 

      Hopefully your doctor will be able to help so reassure you , but if the pain gets really really bad then you must go to a&e . Good luck and I hope you recover soon . 

    • mark31690
      mark31690 heepee

      Posted

      Thankyou for your reasurance. I sure would hate to think I had to live like this every day for the rest of my life
    • lisa15321
      lisa15321 mark31690

      Posted

      Hi mark I had similar pains too it was like where they had removed the gallbladder and all the way to my groin and  back I have read on other posts that it could be nerve pain , I dont get that  so much anymore, why dont you try low fat diet, from the other posts Ive read it does seem that  people have developed intollerances to some foods like dairy and wheat so it cant hurt to try , Its made a massive difference to me and some multivitamins have helped with fatigue . They do say after op that you can eat what you want I dont think thats true
    • mark31690
      mark31690 lisa15321

      Posted

      Im probably rushing things, but I've heard ppl say "Laporoscopic surgery your back on your feet right way ".  I go to my Doc. tomarrow and I'l see what he says
    • Ezeh51
      Ezeh51 lisa15321

      Posted

      I was told that I could go do anything I wanted, as long as I didn't climb stairs or do any heavy lifting, right after surgury by the nurse. Wow that was absolutely false and put me in a world of hurt. I almost went back to the hospital when I was about an hour in to drive 3.5 hours to my family. The bumby road was brutally tearing me up where I had the surgury. I was in agonizing pain. I drove with one arm and held my stomach for the final 2.5 hours of the drive. I then found that I couldn't eat any red meat or pork for about 6 mos to a yr after before I finally got back to somewhat normal.

  • The_last_of_one
    The_last_of_one happyalien

    Posted

    I am a 19-year-old kid studying medicine, my mother has the exact same problem as you, when my mother took her ultrasound, all the doctors told her everything was normal. No later than a week, the doctor called and told her that they found something, i don't know much of the details but all i know is that the kidney is enlarged (which isn't a huge deal i guess) and they are afraid some bile may have entered the kidney. My point is don't just settle with the pain, go out and find a real doctor because I'm online for my mom trying to find a solution, but all i find is more problems, the things you have in common are removal of gall bladder, and back pain (if not pain almost from everywhere)
  • lesley17210
    lesley17210 happyalien

    Posted

    Hello, I wanted to share with you another possibility that no one shared with me before I was suffering badly. I had my gallbladder removed in 2014 after having a baby. Over the next few years I had a dull ache in the same place as my former gallbladder. Sometimes when I ate too much fat it would feel worse. I went to the doctor and ER multiple times because it got worse and literally brought me to my knees. I was told I have an issue called Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction. It's when the muscle that opens to allow bile into the bile duct isnt functioning correctly and it spasms and you feel pain. The pain feels exactly the same as gallstones. Upper right quadrant of your abdomin under your ribs and it can be mild or severe. It's quite common with people that have had a gallbladder removal. There are antispasmotic medications to help stop the spasms but sometimes for intervention is need. See a GI specialist if you still suffer it with Omeprezole. Good luck!
    • Marketa
      Marketa lesley17210

      Posted

      Hi

      Thank you for this info. I suffer with this pain frequently and I am really losing hope.

  • chelsea50570
    chelsea50570 happyalien

    Posted

    Had my gallbladder removed 40 years ago.  In the past year I have been to the ER 6 times with pain.  Even after scads of tests, still there is no answer.  The pain is the same as though I were having an attack!  The the soreness just lingers around he area under my breastplate, often times radiating around to my back.  Nausea, dizziness, fatique, all the miserable symptoms of a gall bladder attack.  Any answers, help..........????????????????
    • Marketa
      Marketa chelsea50570

      Posted

      Hi

      I have the same pain. Gallbladder removed 6yrs ago and the same pain is back with a vengeance! I feel imbarassed asking for pain meds but if I dont have them I just wanna die.

    • terry35628
      terry35628 Marketa

      Posted

      First off let me say I feel badly when you say the pain is so bad you want to die because it reminds me of my pain when I get it I've been lucky and have been about 4 to 5 weeks of minimal pain and I consider that very lucky I have had a couple small painful flare-ups I have not been to a doctor in months and kind of lost confidence in the doctors so I think I'm just sitting around and waiting for it to send me to an emergency room one day but I don't use pain meds they stopped giving them to me my primary doctor felt that there was no reason even though I was referred to specialist after specialist for pain problems associated with this I found lots of people in this poem dealing with the same or very very similar situations that's nice too beautiful to have an idea on what to talk about when I do go to the doctor next I hope that you find some answers for your own situation I wish you the best
    • Marketa
      Marketa terry35628

      Posted

      I went to the er in an ambulance a couple of weeks back. My tests dont show anything ubnormal. The doctors all have this look on their face as if I am a drug addict! Makes me feel horrible. Thank you and I wish you the best as well.
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