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My life is a nightmare since GB surgery

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Leni75
Leni75

Hi. I had my gallbladder surgery 15 months ago and it has been the most frighten time of my life. I live day to day in pain, fear, anxiety, hopeless, down. If it wasn't for my 16 month old baby I wouldn't want to live no more I think.

It started with painful  esophageal spasms ,chest / stomach burning for over a year.  All this time I was constantly worried and saw lots of doctors. Finally when I thought I was getting better I start having weird abdominal pain with lots of nausea, which  has been diagnosed as inflammation in the stomach area. Taking PPI at the moment. I'm so worried again because I read it can be bile gastritis which is chronic sad and very painful. I forgot to say I had a MRI two weeks prior before pain started and it was normal?!

Has anyone got gastritis a year or so after cholecystectomy and found out bile was the cause? If so, how is it treated and does it work? I read it's hard to treat it, and diet doesn't help either. I can't sleep I'm so nauseated and worried. It seems I am not going to be normal ever again. I only wish that this is only a nightmare I'm about to wake up from.. Thank you.

 

4 likes, 76 replies

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  • elizabeth0612
    elizabeth0612 Leni75

    Edited

    Wow, I am sorry you are feeling so badly. I just had gb surgery 1 week ago. so far, I am feeling pretty good. Did you start feeling symptoms 15 months after or right away?  Just wonder if its something unrelated to ur first surgery?

     

    • Leni75
      Leni75 elizabeth0612

      Edited

      Right away. Globe sensation ( lump on throat), acidic taste in the mouth, spasms in the gullet. Also diarrhoea for 6 weeks, nausea, loss of appetite. Same things improved others keep coming back, nausea and now abdominal pain. We're all different and all people I know that had this surgery are fine. But everyone gets time to time few symptoms even years after surgery. 
  • Breezybev
    Breezybev Leni75

    Posted

    Leni75, I'm so sorry to hear that you are having such bad problems. Has anyone told you to eat an almost completely fat-free diet? We are supposed to keep it until 3% fat. No chips, ice cream, etc. etc. Doctors don't train in nutrition. Mine knew nothing about problems after the gallbladder was out. I have had to learn on my own. I would not jump to conclusions about bile problems. We can think we have anything by reading the internet too much. But there is some great info out there too. *Look up diet after gallbladder surgery on the Mayo Clinic site. It really gives you lots of info. Even certain types of veggies can give us problems. I had my GB out in June and I'm finally getting better by following this diet as closely as I can. I can sure tell if I slip back... Try not to worry so much. 
    • Leni75
      Leni75 Breezybev

      Posted

      Hi  Breezybev yes just after surgery I was told about eating low fat. I've lost so much weight even my family that only see once a year said how thin I was. 

      I agree absolutely with you. People don't know what to eat, I also try to look for a diet online and it was more helpful than doctors. I had to give up so many foods but I'm glad, we don't need fried and processed foods anyway. I started to drink coffee a year after surgery again, and that's when my stomach started to hurt more. I stopped drinking again, due to the inflammation. I think my stomach was so massacrated for so long with all the bile and acids I have now gastritis. Coffe irritated even further not to mention all the stress I feel for so long. 

      Im seeing a specialist next week, follow up app after MRI scan, and see what he's says about this abdominal pain and If I can do other tests to show what's causing it. 

      thank you and good recovery.

       

  • OrangePoppy
    OrangePoppy Leni75

    Posted

    Hi Leni,

    I had my gallbladder removed 7 years ago. I have bile reflux and it's pretty constant. You might want to check it out. Bile binders can help a lot. 

    • Leni75
      Leni75 OrangePoppy

      Posted

      Hi OrangePoppy. I've read about bile binders like cholestyramine and welchol but When a gastro doctor  suggested I took that over a year ago, he also admitted it was more for people with the bile salt diarrhea. It also very constipating. 

      Do you have abdominal pain ( inflammation) with the bile reflux? And how have you been diagnosed ?

      I know sucralfate is the chosen  drug by doctors for that problem. I still don't know exactly what I have but I always thought bile because of not having a gb anymore. This gastritis is really hurting and not getting better.

       

    • OrangePoppy
      OrangePoppy Leni75

      Posted

      Have you had an upper endoscopy? (I can't remember if you mentioned) This could help determine if you have bile gastritis. Are you on FB? There is a group for Bile Reflux that is helpful.
  • Maxdex35
    Maxdex35 Leni75

    Edited

    So sorry to hear of your illness leni75 and hope you will soon find a solution to your pain and discomfort. I haven't had my gall bladder removed as yet and hope I don't have to. Although constantly bloated and feeling unwell I can't eat, can't sleep so I do sympathise with you. I'm going in for a procedure to remove a stone from my pancreatic duct next week so hoping this will ease my symptoms. Take care dear and look after yourself. X
    • Leni75
      Leni75 Maxdex35

      Posted

      Thank you Maxdex35. I hope so too. Just before my surgery, I had pancreatitis ( stone stuck on my pancreas) the pain was 10/10 that's when in the hospital, in one of my many A&E visits, they told me I had to have an emergency GB surgery because pancreas was now dissolving itself.

      My baby was only a month at the time, and when they said I could die I thought the surgery was going to save my life so I could live to see my daughter grow. But I'm still so sick I wonder if I was supposed to have died after all. My life has been nothing but pain since end of my pregnancy ( gb attacks started) but I m still trying to be strong and enjoy every moment with my only child. 

      I think it might help you that procedure you're doing. Best of luck. Hope you get better soon.

    • OrangePoppy
      OrangePoppy Leni75

      Posted

      Do you still get the right sided pain? I have that constant now, with burning. Have you looked into SOD? (Spchintor of Oddi) I hope that you can find what's wrong and get better quickly so you can enjoy your beautiful baby.
    • Leni75
      Leni75 OrangePoppy

      Posted

      Yes I get sometimes some weird pain on my right side that is more uncomfortable than painful. What's hurting is the upper stomach because it's now inflammed. I'm really concerned Is due to bile backing up there. 

      I've heard about SOD that is when the spchinter between bile duct and intestine is in spasms or too close for bile/ pancreatic juices to pass down.

      Have you ever had gastritis because of the bile refluxing? and do you take anything for BR? How do you control your symptoms?

       

    • OrangePoppy
      OrangePoppy Leni75

      Posted

      For bile reflux gastritis, Carafate could help. Bile binders might help some, especially if you have diarrhea. Some say if will help soak up some bile and make things less irratating. Do you get any reflux up your throat? or hearburn? They can do an endoscopy to check for bile reflux gastritis. Some use Slippery elm to help coat and soothe.
    • Maxdex35
      Maxdex35 Leni75

      Posted

      I feel for you leni75 especially so as you have such a young baby, I do hope and pray that the GB op will solve your problem, my friend had her GB out and she swears by it as she has been back to normal since the op. I shall pray for you and your beautiful child. God bless you xxx
    • Leni75
      Leni75 Maxdex35

      Posted

      Thank you so much. I need to keep thinking I'll be better in the future otherwise I can't go on so worried and anxious as I am for over a year now. Your words mean a lot. Hope you find a solution for you as well and feel much better soon.
    • OrangePoppy
      OrangePoppy Leni75

      Posted

      Hang in there. Have you had your liver and pancreas enzymes checked again to make sure all is ok there? Keep us posted on what the dr says. I would insist on that upper endoscopy. That will tell you if you have bile gastritis. 
    • Leni75
      Leni75 OrangePoppy

      Posted

      Hi I'm taking a PPI that helps but I still get stomach pain and nausea. It improves a little after I eat. I don't get heartburn or reflux up my throat. I had after my op but it settled down It took many months for the burning to cease. I think that might be the cause of my abdominal pain now. It weakened the stomach so much I got inflammation. 

      I'll have to wait and see what doctor wants to do next, he already sent me for a MRI scan which came back normal. No stones stuck in bile duct. I'm not sure what else could have showed. 

      Do you have/ had bile gastritis because of your reflux. I've read about many natural things that can help but I only drink chamomile tea. I'm not sure about the other things  I think if it's bile gastritis the only effective treatment  is another surgery for what I searched.

    • mimi60226
      mimi60226 Leni75

      Posted

      Hi did you get better? I am going through so much pain and nausea after 7 months gallbladder surgery please did things improve?
    • Jenn54561
      Jenn54561 mimi60226

      Posted

      Hi....just joined this group and saw your comment. I sympathise with you 🙁 I had my gall bladder removed 7 months ago as well and have felt terrible ever since. Do you mind me asking how you are feeling? Do you suffer from heartburn and pain. It doesn't matter what I eat I end up with burning in my upper stomach and heartburn. Also pain across my upper stomach and under my rib cage on both sides and sometimeib my back. Also feel so bloated...like I've eaten a 5 course meal...in the upper stomach and get stomach palpitations. It's  all so depressing  🙁 They said " get your gall out... you will feel so much better!!!! Sorry for all the whinging 🙁

    • johnette_68826
      johnette_68826 OrangePoppy

      Posted

      Hi, I know its been quite awhile since you posted on here but was wondering if your right sided pain ever went away and if you found out what was causing it. I'm having constant right side pain and upper abdomen pain for weeks now that just started and I'm four months post op. I hope you are better!

    • margaret_53580
      margaret_53580 OrangePoppy

      Posted

      hi orangepoppy i get a lot of bile in my stomache and throat i live on gaviston double action tablets or liqiud does the trick for me good luck

    • audrey32349
      audrey32349 Jenn54561

      Edited

      You are describing my symptoms exactly Jenn. I bloat constantly unless I eat every two hours. Sometimes that doesn't even help. I had gb surgery Jan. 2018 and have had what I think is gastritis. The pain, nausea and not being able to eat is horrible. Ribs feel like they are broken. I get that palpatations feeling too which has just started. That is a nerve which runs in digestive system to heart. I lost so much weight and am so weak. I can only eat 4 things now and even they are beginning to turn on me. Will be getting endoscopy end of this month. I am so depressed from fear and sickness that I wish I wouldn't wake up anymore. Prayers for all of us suffering from that 'Miracle Operation" which is supposed to make you feel so much better.

    • david70519
      david70519 Leni75

      Posted

      did you know PPI's cause anxiety. I have been on Pantoprazole for a month know and have terrible anxiety and panic attacks. i am stopping it right now.

    • CrooksXO
      CrooksXO david70519

      Posted

      i experienced that. I was taking Lansoprazole and i had the worst anxiety and panic attacks before surgery and then after my surgeon told me to take it still. but one day it made me feel like i had heart burn. so i stopped taking it.

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