Over 6 months post GB surgery and not well

Hi Acejohnston. At the moment I'm only taking metoclopramide for the nausea but I still get it specially when I'm sleeping. If my baby doesn't wakes me up nausea will. The burning is in upper stomach and lower chest. I used to have it in the middle but I feel since my chest spasms went down completly now is just burning. I am feeling it today practically all day and is driving me mad! I'm seeing my surgeon soon not sure what will he say about this symptoms. I know is not acid reflux because I've done exams in January to check that and they weren't very pleasant but conclusive. The Surgeon told me last time I saw him ( March) that wasn't acid and that the chest spasms were very rare to happen too. I took sucralfate before and it caused me a lot of nausea. I'll consider anything if it helps. I've tried digestive things and made me very Sick with diarrhea. Also tried probiotics and I still take them. I like them but the burning seems worse now. I know now there's more people in this situation. Hope That we don't lose hope to still fell better .Take care x

Hi Leni make sure to ask about sphincter of oddi just in case that's what it is. I have been getting a soreness in my throat the last few days but I had this before the op in fact that's how this all started. I had the burning pain in my tummy and soreness in my throat and I even found I felt sick after brushing my teeth. I had a scope then and was told the lining of my stomach was eroded from gastritis. I started on zoton and within a few weeks got the pain from the stone. Have you had a scope of your tummy? That will show if you have any bile in your tummy. I had one in March and had a small amount of bile in my tummy but my surgeon wasn't concerned at all. Thankfully the pain under my ribs were the gallbladder was seems to be going and the nausea hasn't been too bad the last 2 days but I did wake with it this morning. Do you take Manuka honey at all? I take it for my tummy and bowel. It's good for inflammation. I really hope this all settles for you soon. Thinking of you. Take care xx

I had a scope few weeks after the surgery and doc told me at that time that there was bile in stomach but in normal levels, it's expected some bile in the stomach. So some of this symptoms you had before and after. How weird isn't it? It's all associated. I get sharp pains also sometimes in my Liver side but they go quickly so don't care so much. Thank you so much for the support. Hope you feel better too very soon x

I'm so sorry you are going through this, and most likely this very minute too. I can't think of worse symptoms to have to struggle with daily than these kinds. You stated "I'll consider anything if it helps." Please try Omeprazole (14 day treatment bottle avail OTC) to see if it provides relief. Your descriptions are identical to mine after my surgery. Omeprazole stopped ALL of it for me and so long as I take it each morning, I am symptom free. It all comes back if I miss a dose. There are both success and failure stories using Omeprazole, but it's worth a try. If it helps, then you can ask for a prescription to save on the cost, but at least you can try it quickly in the meantime since the same dosage is avail OTC. I'd be curious to hear if it worked or not. I had full relief in less than 1-2 days when I started taking it. Good luck and you certainly are NOT alone in your suffering.

Hi Jujubee I've tried several PPIs in the beginning prescribed my GP to treat a gastritis. While I no longer felt nauseated after taking them, the heartburn in the chest seemed worse. My theory is if it's bile refluxing, PPIS won't help because acids in the stomach help to neutralise the bile, and they're used to reduce stomach acids to heal inflammation and acid reflux if it's the case. 

But thank you for your suggestion. I hope I'll find a suitable treatment very soon when I speak with my surgeon again.

Hi Acejohnston How are you feeling?

I want it to ask you if you've tried the pysillum husks (  Metamucil) and If it feels like it's absorbing any bile in the tummy? I'm getting desperate now. The burning in my chest is frequent and my nausea kept me from sleeping last night. I've been feeling more nausea during the day too, so the other day I took a pill ( metoclopramide) but noticed that gave me side effect of tiredness so I'm avoiding taking it too frequently.

I'm really tired and worried of all this symptoms that don't go away ever. x

Hi Leni am sorry to hear your still feeling unwell. My nausea is a lot better the last week and the pain under my ribs has gone. I've had some heartburn the last few days but I haven't changed my diet. I saw my gp on Thursday and she told me that it will all settle down but that unfortunately it's a gradual process and will take months!! I am taking the psyllium husk powder and find it great for soaking up the bile. It's well worth a try and natural. The one I'm taking has digestive enzymes in it and I'm thinking that could be causing the heartburn so I'm going to switch back to the normal one as I read the hcl betaine which is in the digestive enzyme one should only be taken when eating protein. I take 1 heaped teaspoon 3 times a day before food. I've also found the acupuncture brilliant and feel that's really helped me overall especially with the nausea. We have to keep telling ourselves that we will get better. I told my gp I totally regretted the operation and she told me not too that it was better to get it out now before I ended up in more trouble with an inflamed liver or pancreas. It's funny my cousin had it done a year ago and she had exactly the same as me 1 large stone bouncing around and she is the only person I've spoken to (and I've spoken to many) that had absolutely no side effects whatsoever and can eat and drink what she wants. I'm also going to get some dgl licorice today as I heard its good for heartburn. I'll let you know how I get on with it. I really hope you feel better soon. It's terrible that you and so many others are still suffering. Take care xx

Thank you for your reply. I'm going to try the pysillium husks in powder maybe it will help me. I don't understand why over a month and half ago I was feeling much better, I was actually eating much more from everything and suddenly the nausea striked. And now I'm feeling constant heartburn again like before. I wonder if there's anything inflamed eg pyloric valve between stomach and biliary ducts and made the reflux worse. I really need some answers or I can't live like this in constant worry.

Some people are luckier after the surgery than others I guess. I don't know anyone that is having this symtoms like me after the op. But I've read so much in the internet about others that suffered and still do. I'm just worried if it's not something that can change and I'll need something tragic like surgery again. I think over 7 months is long for symptoms like this still going on but if your doctor is telling you that can take many months let's hope it's true. I'm losing my hope though. I hope my surgeon sends me to do more tests and something can be found!

I'm glad you're feeling better. And thank u so much for the reply.x

Hi Leni I can totally understand how you feel but it can take longer in others to adjust to life without a gallbladder. There are so many people who have terrible side effects for 6-12 months before it settles down. I've spoken to so many who went through similar with vomiting nausea and diarrhea which dos eventually settle down. Try not to loose hope although I know how you feel. There are a lot of us going through similar experiences. The sad thing is so many develop anxiety too because of the horrendous side effects their dealing with. It's sad to think no one is told of these side effects prior to surgery. I really hope the psyllium husk helps you. It's really helped me and thankfully hadn't much heartburn today. Do you find the heartburn is not linked to anything your eating? My gp told me its all part of the adjustment period. Also if you can get dgl licorice root. I got them today and they are supposed to be great for heartburn. Let me know how your getting on the next few days. Remember your not alone. Big hugs. Take care. Xxx

Hi Acejohnston I'm getting frequent burning in the chest ( mainly) and stomach whatever I eat. Since started with nausea last month, I'm eating even less and very low fat diet. It feels like something is burning me 24 /7 even when I don't eat. Do you get heartburn in the morning before you have breakfast ? I felt better in past but now it seems worse. It's really annoying because I can't forget about it. Did your Gp told you about bile reflux is what causing this symptoms of frequent heartburn? and she didn't think is a permanent side effect because we no longer have a Gbladder? That's what confuses me, because some people never get over bile reflux years afterwards. Do you know anyone that got my symptoms after surgery and got better in time? It's getting hard now to believe that I'll get better. Almost forgot, I've been referred to a dietitian by someone that was doing my baby's monthly review. She said she met a lot of mums that had issues after GB surgery but not as severe as I do. I know it's going to time for the app. But I'll try anything if it can help. Please Keep in touch xx

Hi Leni,

I get the heartburn sometimes during the night. What I've found the last few days is that I get it in the afternoon and not in the morning which is very strange. Have you tried sleeping on propped up pillows and propping up your headboard? My gp has seen bile Reflux clear up. I have the heartburn now and can feel it in my throat and my tummy is a bit sore too. My gp keeps telling me she has seen this all before and it will all settle down in time. I do feel a lot better now the nausea has eased and haven't vomited in weeks. I haven't had pains in my chest but sometimes I get a few stabbing pains in my liver!! What's that about I do not know. It's hard to be positive isn't it when it's going on so long. I don't feel ill ever be the same again to be honest. How can I be with my digestive system being altered. I can just hope that settles down enough that I can live a normal life without the fear of eating. Just remember your not alone going through this. There are many of us going through similar. Let's just hope there's light at the end of the tunnel for us. Take care xx

Hi Acejohnston

i finally saw my surgeon yesterday and I must say it didn't help at all. First I think he wasn't expecting that I still don't feel well and then he had no plan of action at all about what to do next. I feel worse than ever. I woke up with lots of nausea today and Burning in my chest. I'm totally in despair. No doctor helps me. He said that's no much he can do if it's bile refluxing. He explained that a bit of bile ( that the GB used to store) must be now going into my stomach and cause symptoms. He also said again I am the first of his patients to have such severe symptoms! 

he prescribed sulcrafate and domperidone to take for 2 weeks only and that's it. He also asked me if I wanted to do another ph test but for many more hours  than the last one I did in January, to measure if it's really bile. I know it is but he needs to get a proof I guess. But then he said there's no much he can do about bile reflux anyway. Only a very drastic surgery can correct.  Oh my god I don't know what else to do except be hopeful that it will get better but it's really really hard. I wish I could talk to another doctor like your Gp about the bile problem and get some advice or even hope that can improve. I can't see how. Please keep me posted about how you're doing. x

Hi Leni I'm so sorry your surgeon wasn't helpful. Unfortunately once they've done their job they don't want to know about any problems people might have. I emailed my surgeon a few weeks ago and heard nothing back. Have you tried the psyllium husk yet? It's worth a try. I'm feeling quite good today and yesterday. Had bad heartburn on Sunday and Monday morning and went to acupuncture and it seems to have helped. The acupuncturist said she is confident she can alleviate the heartburn and is giving me a free session tomorrow to clear it. Hopefully that will help. Have you started the meds the consultant prescribed for you yet? I hope they help you. This is terrible that no one will give you any answers. Did you ask the consultant about sphincter of odi? Thinking of you. Take care xx

Hi thank you for replying so quickly. I already went to health shop this morning. I hope it can bring me some relief with no unpleasant side effects.

the surgeon didn't seem sympathetic at all and I am starting to think I'm on my own now trying to figure it out what I'm doing next.i am not sure  If it's worth or not doing the ph test again.  I think am seeing someone else to get another opinion about what to do.

i know there isn't a lot to be done to bile because it suppose to go to the stomach to help with digestion so Metamucil is my last chance. 

I hope the session will help you to get rid of the heartburn. Mine was once again awful this morning. My chest is tender and I had nausea too. I'm desperate but I have to carry on somehow for the sake of my family. I didn't ask about the oddi sorry I totally forgot. If I see someone else meantime, I'll definitely ask about it. Take care xx

 

Hi Acejohnston just to know how you're been feeling. Is your heartburn gone? Did the acupuncture helped? 

I've tried Metamucil but I didn't feel it helped with my reflux symptoms. I started taking sulcrafalte ( pills) again because I m in a lot of pain in my chest , lots of burning and nerve pain all over. I'm not eating much at all and still get the burning. This is a nightmare and I don't know what else to do. I feel my esophagus hurting and the nerves surrounding it. I think if it carries on much longer I'll get something else  more serious. Why I don't seem to get better ever? I want to ask for more tests but don't know what doctor could help. I heard about a test called ERCP to check things in bile ducts in the hope of finding something wrong. 

Hope you're better x

Hi Leni,

Am sorry to hear you are still unwell. I haven't been great eur

sorry about that Leni. I had stopped all the medication as I was feeling better and within a week the nausea and vomiting returned. I went back to my doctor who gave out to me for stopping the medication. She's told me that she has seen this before and that it will settle down but it's going to take time. She told me to expect another 6 months of this. She had a patient who had vomiting and diarrhea pouring out of them for 9 months and then at 9 months it began to slowly get better and took another 3-4 months. She has assured me it will all settle down. I asked her had she any patients with long term side effects and she said just 1 patient who got the bile diarrhea and is on questran. I've also heard of other people who had vomiting and diarrhea for over a year and then it suddenly stopped. Also know people who had bad heartburn and dry wretching and it did go away after a very long time. My gp thinks my body is in terrible distress because of the operation and is in shock. My husband came with me to see her and he believes what she has said. I'm back in the meds but still doing the acupuncture. The funny thing is I went to the acupuncturist the day before I saw my gp and she told me she felt she was trying to treat the symptoms but instead she felt she should be treating the shock and trauma to my body. She has given me milk thistle drops to take too to help my liver as she feels it's in distress from the operation and also to balance my hormones as they have been all over the place since the op. Anyway the hearburn hasn't been too bad except for today! Have you asked about sphincter of oddi yet? I wonder if that's what's causing your problems. I really hope things start to settle down for us soon Leni. It's hard to remain positive when you don't feel well. Take care and keep in touch xx

How do you know if it's bile refluxing. I believe that is what I might be having too. I don't feel the gerd pain in my chest after gallbladder removal 5 months ago but I have pain in that area & stomach area & cant figure out why. Feels very uncomfortable & has caused me to have difficulty with meals & weight loss. Having a endoscopy in a few days hopefully will get some answers. Thank you