Gallbladder is gone so where is this pain from?
Posted , 555 users are following.
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
margaret60653 happyalien
Posted
Hi,
After having a gallbladder out, it can take up to 1 1/2 years to fully heal. I myself experienced "phantom" pain for over a year where my gallbladder used to be. If the pain is persistent, then it is best to have it checked out by your doctor. Just to put your mind at ease.
rebecca57685 happyalien
Posted
mary14373 rebecca57685
Posted
margaret60653 happyalien
Posted
Hi,
I know it's been seven months, but your body is still healing. It can take up to a year and a half to heal completely. You have to remember your body is getting used to not having a gallbladder, and it may still be sore inside. Another thing is that there may be a tiny bit of scar tissue that tugs a bit. I had what I called"phantom" pains for almost two years after having my gallbladder out in Late September of 2014. It took me five weeks until I was feeling better, but I still needed extra rest for at least three months after. Surgery takes a lot out of a person.
You are lucky you do not have any problems with digestion and some of it's negative effects. Still, if you are having a dull pain all the time, perhaps it would be a good idea to get it checked out. I doubt if you will need additional surgery, but it will set your mind at ease to have your doctor take a look. Take care.
joan57786 happyalien
Posted
I have read where several say they had surgery within a year or year and a half and for us to give time to heal. It's been 10yrs and I know I am healed from the surgery. Hope all you new combers do heal and do not experience the aftermath like many of us are. To respond to the nausea, acid reflex and stomach issues, besides the nausea I had right after surgery that took 6 months to go away after surgery of a stint in my pancreas I started the nausea feeling about 6months ago that has gotten worse. Nausea all the time which is a horrible feeling, but did notice mostly if stomach is empty like middle of the night or early morning. I live on saltine crackers that I munch on to keep something in my stomach. The loose BM that happened more frequently after the first 2 yrs after surgery, since then and now happens off and on which I have related to something I ate. Funny I can eat something and I am fine, few weeks later eat the same thing and barely finished eating and have to run to the nearest restroom to explode. So unpredictable. So sorry to say that this symptoms may be with me the rest of my life. Over the 10 years watched what I eat, exercise, even positive attitude and it did not make a difference on the aftermath effects of my GB surgery. For digestive problems can take it that my evening desert is Tums, just need to do something about this nausea, it is a horrible feeling to have all the time.
mary14373 joan57786
Posted
Oil of oregano has solved most of my various problems. I mix 2-3 drops in a drink and shake vigorously up to 3x per day. I had duodenum burn for a year before I found out that activated charcoal can get rid of it. It only took 3 doses and the burning was gone. It’s been several months now and has not even come back a little. I have to be careful of not endulging on a donut and eating too much of any meat on the same day or signs show for liver congestion. Milk thistle helps clear the liver for good bile flow. That’s what we have to work for, a healthy liver and pancreas. You may need to take support for both. Oil of oregano helps with both bad bugs and inflammation. I use it externally diluted with a carrier oil for pains that work their way out to my ribcage. Arnica cream externally also helps. You might try DGL powder for GI issues. Quercetin and selenium are other recommendations, but I haven’t experimented with them. Wishing you the best!
LittleMissDolly joan57786
Posted
Mikenan2 happyalien
Posted
I am so glad I found this website and I'm not alone with this "phantom" pain. Had my GB removed almost two months ago and my pain is still pretty bad. I have to take pain meds and use Icy/Hot, Tiger Balm patches to tolerate the pain. I do have the digestive issues, but it has improved slightly in the last month. I called my surgeon today because my pain level can go up to a 8-9 and I have a high tolerance for pain. Not sure if the fact I have lupus may contribute to the "phantom" pain, but I am uncomfortable. Pretty much the pain at times is at the same level as when I had the gallstones. I am waiting for his return call and see what he suggests.
Fred_Flintstone Mikenan2
Posted
Where exactly are you feeling the pain now?
johnette_68826 Mikenan2
Posted
Hi, I know its been weeks since you posted but how are you doing now? I'm having similar issues. Hope you are better.
Mikenan2 Fred_Flintstone
Posted
Sorry for not responding sooner. I'm new to this site and still navigating.
My pain is in my right shoulder blade region the whole area around it the same pain I had prior to the gallbladder removal. I'm still having to take Advil and using Tiger balm patches
Mikenan2 johnette_68826
Posted
I went to the doctor a few weeks ago and gave me steroids because she believed it was due to swelling. Now, I am having pain in my right breast too.
sal79893 happyalien
Posted
The bottom line is you eat bad you will get a attacks I been eating real healthy and haven't had attacked over 2 years. no fat,fried,sweets and drinks plenty of water. Small meals and no eating
outside.
jodi_55527 happyalien
Posted
i had a blocked bile duct in addition to the gallbladder issue. i also have a cyst. i think some pain is stress related. i still have the same pain after surgeries but not as often. i eat less. doctors dont know.
rebecca57685 happyalien
Posted
I had my gallbladder removed February 5th 2018. After months of pain I had an endoscopy done. The conclusion was horrible GERD, weak bile valve, I also had a ton of bile and acid on my stomach they couldn't explain. I was diagnosed with Functional Dyspepsia and put on a muscle relaxer for the weak valve, and amitriptyline to help with the other symtpoms. So far I am 4 months on this meds and have only had roughly 4 episodes of pain and nausea vs. it being a daily occurrence.
johnette_68826 rebecca57685
Posted
Hi Rebbeca,
I'm glad you were are better and were able to find an answer to what was causing your pain. If you don't mind me asking, where was your pain and did you feel the pain all day? Also, did you have any nausea or loss of appetite? I had my gallbladder removed 4 months ago and have been sick since and about 5 weeks ago developed a constant pain on my right side where gallbladder used to be and it also goes in my upper abdomen and to the left side sometimes. I've lost 25 lbs.
sarah1216 johnette_68826
Posted
Look up Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction. It took 1 year, 13 doctors and 80 pounds lost before I was diagnosed. I have type 2. Had to have the surgery. Unfortunately there isn't a cure but the surgery reduced my symptoms from 4 to 6 attacks a day to only 2 or 3 every couple of months. I could finally go back to work and love a semi normal life again. Hope all is well for you and finally get an answer!https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=134&ContentID=181
rebecca57685 johnette_68826
Posted
Hey! I had horrible loss of appetite and was sick every day anytime of day. I lived on Zofran the last few months until I got put on new meds. I lost roughly 40lbs. My pain was still pretty constant on my right side where my gallbladder was. I still have some pain every so often just not as bad.
everything has slowly gotten better but I am tempted to call and see if another test can be done to see if I have a stone blocking the duct.
johnette_68826 sarah1216
Posted
Hi. Glad they finally found what was causing your pain and things have gotten better. I am seeing a doctor who specializes in SOD today. If you don't mind me asking, what were your symptoms before the surgery for SOD? Did it happen after gallbladder removal?
johnette_68826 rebecca57685
Posted
Glad you've gotten better! How many months have you been sick? Did your right side pain start right after gallbladder removal or later? How long did the constant pain last and what new meds have helped you? Sorry for so many questions, I'm just trying to get this figured out. Thanks for your responding!
sal79893 rebecca57685
Posted
did you check your liver, I lost 30lbs and one of my liver ducts had a tumor on it. they resected my liver and now I'm good.
sal79893 sarah1216
Posted
diet,diet,diet.
no fats, eating outside, no nuts,no fried and no sweets. it took me 10 years to figure it out the hard way. small meals and plenty of water. dont suffer like it did for 10 years. When I follow the diet I have no pain for months when I start eating bag I'm back to pain.
Mikenan2 sal79893
Posted
When I had my ultrasound and the gallstones were detected, they did mention they found a mass in my liver that was benign and just blood vessels clumped together that should not effect me at all
johnette_68826 sal79893
Posted
How did they find the tumor on your liver duct?
johnette_68826 sarah1216
Posted
Hi Sarah, what were your symptoms? I met with a doctor who specializes in SOD today and he said since I have pain every day and feel sick after eating and have lost weight they are not symptoms of SOD. He said people with SOD, have attacks and don't feels pain all the time and don't loose weight. I'm not convinced that I don't have it. I have the right side pain where the gallbladder is and it goes into my back and side. I've read where others have my same symptoms who have SOD.
sal79893 johnette_68826
Posted
cat scan
sarah1216 johnette_68826
Posted
Yes it happened about two weeks after getting my gallbladder out. I always felt like I was having a heart attack. It lasted anywhere from 10 minutes to 3 hours several times a day.. I was nauseous all the time. No appetite. Rapid weight loss. My liver enzymes were three times higher than normal. Every doctor said it anxiety because I had my son within the month of everything. Good luck with your appt!
sarah1216 johnette_68826
Posted
Thats exactly the symptoms I had. I had every test done also. CT scan, MRI, ultrasound, endoscopy, colonoscopy, every blood test. The only abnormal thing that came back was my liver enzymes which they said could be a fatty liver. The last doctor I went to told me to get my blood drawn during an attack. Ended up being crazy high. So they sent me to Indianapolis to get an ERCP and an EUS. They said that was the only way to know exactly if SOD was the case. I wouldnt give up though. It took me a year. Even if its not that, theres a reason for your symptoms because thats not normal
johnette_68826 sarah1216
Posted
where was your pain at and did you feel a constant ache that could be mild but get severe several times a day?
johnette_68826 sarah1216
Posted
when you had an attack, did you go to the ER for then to do bloodwork?
sarah1216 johnette_68826
Posted
I did have a constant ache but when the attacks hit, It was severe. But the aches were always there though, never went away. Yes they did bloodwork but said everything looked fine. I went to the hospital at least 30 times also and they never did anything besides refer me to a counselor
sal79893 Mikenan2
Posted
Unless the blood vessels are blocking a duct liver. If not you shouldn't have a problem the bile should flow normally if is no Obstruction
sal79893 johnette_68826
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No because a blood work never shows anything and then they send you home I just have to be on a diet and drink a lot of water from now on for the rest your life Makes the bile flow easier
sal79893 sarah1216
Posted
Check yourself for hepatitis C for some weird reason Your enzymes should not be elevated I have never had elevated I'm signs that I've had this problem for 15 years You might have pancreatitis.
Mikenan2 johnette_68826
Posted
When i had the ultrasound for check my gallbladder, they checked my liver and found the mass
Mikenan2 sal79893
Posted
I'm calling my PCP today. The pain is getting worse and is constant on my shoulder blade and my right breast pain is increasing as well. I believe i need an ERCP or CAT scan as the pain is horrible and my blood work is good.
sal79893 Mikenan2
Posted
Man I feel For you get it done ASAP and go to the special a stick at the scans you problaby have to have you gallbladder taken out.
johnette_68826 sarah1216
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when you were having an attack and needed to get your blood drawn, where did you go? to your doctor's office, the ER??
sal79893 johnette_68826
Posted
ER fast and quick