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Pain after Gallbladder Surgery? Should I be worried?

Posted , 22 users are following.

eanders5
eanders5

Newby here. I am about 5 weeks post lap chole and I have been having a hard time healing. Everytime I think I've healed, I get sharp muscle pains (I hope it's just the muscle), these pains also started to shoot over to the left side. My doctor said I just have inflammation of those muscles d/t too much activity or that I strained something, but how come there is nothing about that anywhere you read? I know not to trust "Dr. Google" but I just don't know how to determine if the pain is normal, I'm 28 years old and have a hard time remaining sedentary.

Today the pain came back again, with a vengeance. I was shooting pool last night and it didn't hurt then but when I awoke this morning, the muscles around my right side incisions were on fire. I'm just tired of the pain all the time, between that and the GI distress I am losing my mind! I was prescribed Colestid (bile acid binders) to help stop the frequent runs to the bathroom, might I add I haven't even been eating more than 10% of calories from fat (recommendation is 30%), but this has been to no avail. I almost wish I never had this surgery! I didn't have gallstones but had inflammation and severe pain, now that the pain is back it makes me worry I had a Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction but I really hope it's just the muscles telling me to stop straining them. Any thoughts? Do I just need to give it more time? Everyone else I talk to seems to have been just fine after their surgeries. 

0 likes, 25 replies

25 Replies

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  • kacey338
    kacey338 eanders5

    Posted

    Ugh! I'm so glad I'm not alone! I've been in pain all day, most left side. I'm so scared it's my pancreas even though all tests don't lead to that and every time I bring it up it's just laughed off by drs. I told my husband if I'm still in pain after dinner we are going to ER, this will be there third time in one week. I'm so miserable!!!! To top it off its my 32nd bday today. 😢
  • paula89710
    paula89710 eanders5

    Posted

    Hi, I am 3 1/2 weeks post op.  Last week I was taking the garbage out and I almost twisted my ankle but because of it, I felt I "stretched" something where the incision was.  Since then I have been extra careful.  Vacuuming puts stress on those incision points and playing pool can definetly do it also.  Also my doctor told me to watch the fat AND the spicy food.  You need to take it easy, it is hard because you are young but you really need to go slow I would imagine for the first three months.
  • lisette_26939
    lisette_26939 eanders5

    Posted

    I can tell you from my experience I had my surgery in June open gallbladder.And honestly I still feel weird but doc told me stomach is very sensitive area and it takes time to heal.I still feel aches soreness sometimes pressure if I over exert myself. But not too painful. LISTEN to you body.Don't expect too go right back to normal routine. What did work for me was light exercise walking and keeping active.
    • mariyah888
      mariyah888 lisette_26939

      Posted

      Hi..i am a post chole patient too..my gallbladder was removed last july..youre a month ahead..and i still have pains.as i was observed,when i eat fatty,oily,fried foods or even chocolates,salads with dairy dressings,coffee or choco drinks..pains are present at my back...right side and lower right side of my tummy...so maybe post chole people must avoid eating those kinds of foods...hope it will help you too...
  • sarah87162
    sarah87162 eanders5

    Posted

    Not sure what you mean by lap chole. Do you mean you have had your gallbladder removed?

    Did you have keyhole surgery or the bigger operation?

    Recovery time for keyhole is 3 weeks and 6 weeks for bigger op?

    Did they give you a recovery time?

    I had gallbladder removed 6 moths ago. I am better than I was but still having to be careful what I eat and not quite right.

    Waiting for an endoscopy.

    Possible that I have IBS. Apparently that is not uncommon when you have had your gallbladder removed.

    Quite a few people on these posts are saying they wish doctors had been more honest with them about the recovery period because it does often take longer than they say.

    At 5 weeks I certianly would not be worrying, just be patient.

    Hope this settles down

    Take care and keep in touch

    Love Sarah xxx

    • eanders5
      eanders5 sarah87162

      Posted

      Lap chole means laparoscopic cholecystectomy also known as a gall bladder removal surgery via 4 incisions
    • stan.realz
      stan.realz sarah87162

      Posted

      Sarah thank you, i had been having sharp pains just near my ribs on left side next to sternum. Dr did a physical exam and blood work. After the phys exam the dr tells me she is certain its my gall bladder. Callee me back the same evening about the lab work, saying the lavs showed an infection in intestines. They,put me on 2 antibiotics, biaxin and flagyl. Scheduling for me to have an ultra sound done. I have a pretty,high pain tolerance, but this is killing me.
  • LittleMissDolly
    LittleMissDolly eanders5

    Posted

    You should be much better by now?  It does take longer to heal than you would like.  It's frustrating.  Also, the insides reacts badly to being pushed to one side in the operation and some of the pains are that trying to get back to the normal place.  These may never go. Something they only tell you after the operation and when you have the pains!  Good luck to everyone
  • mariyah888
    mariyah888 eanders5

    Posted

    Maybe you should avoid eating fatty..oily foods..even fried foods and salads with dairy dressings..also avoid drinking coffee and alcoholic beverages..avoid chocolates too..i am a post chole patient too..my GB was removed last july through open surgery..and i noticed that if i eat those kinds of foods,i suffer severe pains..but if i avoid eating those foods that i mentioned above..i am pain free...
  • jacqueline75486
    jacqueline75486 eanders5

    Posted

    Hi

    New here.

    Had gallbladder removed 3 weeks ago. Supposedly keyhole but I doubt anyone has a key large enough to fit the cut they made from my belly button down

    I've noticed something weird.my pain reduces when I'm lying down. If I sit upright for more than 30 minutes I get swollen tummy , pains on lower right side and chronic diarrhoea which feels like acid coming out and burning me and is mostly water. Is this normal? Will it settle on its own? ConcernEd how I'll manage at work with an 8 hour day if this is happening after 30 minutes.

    Any advice gratefully received

  • sherry55198
    sherry55198 eanders5

    Edited

    Eanders5. You are going to think this response is just plain DUMB but please consider what I am going to suggest.

    My surgery is only one month out but it has been long enough that I should not be suffering from suture pain. But the pain over, under and around right rib cage area has been crazy.

    I was reading on a doctor's site some of the problems people have, both short and long-term, after this surgery. One of the biggies is GAS. Since I have never had experience with that, I decided to treat it. What do I have to lose. I ordered some Gas-X off Amazon. There are several good products out there for Gas. I just chose first one with good reviews.

    I am taking two capsules in the morning and two before bed. This is third day WITH NO PAIN. The pain began to leave two hours after having taking first dose of Gas-X. It has not returned.

    I figure even if I have to take this for rest of my life it is sure better than suffering daily pain or putting myself through endless tests and lab work. And they WILL FIND something wrong with you if you complain long enough.

    This is why some folks are saying that this pain moves around OR that it even occurs on the LEFT side of their body (gallbladder is on the right side).

    Those not familiar with Gas pain do not realize how much it can HURT.

    If only one person is helped by this it will have been worth embarrassing myself in this forum.

    • mark72907
      mark72907 sherry55198

      Posted

      Hi I had Gallbladder  removed 4 days ago keyhole... I have been okay up til now but this evening I had a massive attack of pain some in left shoulder and the rest around the abdomen I too think this may be the gas they use during surgery it came on very fast and I felt very bloated as well it has subsided lucky enough for me I have oral morphine to help with pain so I can fully appreciate what everyone else is going through! I also had a stone removed from bile duct a few months back and the problems that was causing we're unreal!  Hope everyone gets the answers they need also the pain relief!!

    • samantha16879
      samantha16879 mark72907

      Posted

      Hi mark I had gallbladder removed five days ago. I was wondering if anyone has had upper back pain,neck and shoulder. I also have pain in chest and stomach is this normal. It comes n goes. I'm in agony. Do I need to phn doc or could I have an infection. The surgery went well and wounds are perfect. Sam

    • stan.realz
      stan.realz samantha16879

      Posted

      Hello Sam, I have had 2 friends,that recently had their gallbladders removed. The one friends was 3 weeks ago, he informed me that for the first few days his pain was not that bad, then couple days later it was intense, from his head to his toes. In his words it was as if someine had stuffed him inside a car crasher while standing up. Then within a few more days it eased. His Dr told him that the reason it happened was because of were, all the numbing meds and gas used during the surgery had just left his body.

      Hooe you're feeling better. Stan

  • amanda15026
    amanda15026 eanders5

    Posted

    Hi, my husband had his gallbladder removed 2 years and 5 months ago and my heart breaks every day for him. He was fine the first 15 days and has been in extreme constant pain on his right side where one of the surgical scars are. He had it remove via liproscopy and he describes it like he has been shot or stabbed there constantly. The pain never goes away and food or lack there of has no affect. He has had so many tests and non can explain it he problem. I don't know what to do. I wish we never had the surgery

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