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Pain in "gallbladder" area

Posted , 9 users are following.

donna2377
donna2377

Hi

i had my gallbladder removed in May this year after a very brief period between diagnosis and op. I went to hospital in january with suspected apendicitis had an ultrasound and was told i had gallstones, up this point id had no pain in thengallbladder area at all. 

Anyway, had the op, everything went ok and was home same day. However, eve since ive had pain in the same area ever since with indegestion and nausea to the point where i went to see an emergency doctor and was prescribed antisickness tablets. Ive been back to my own doctor 3 more times and all i keep getting is blood tests, even though theres no sign of infection (though the last results were slightly raised).. When the doc touches the area i practically hit the ceiling, then spend the next couple of hours in agony. 

All i keep being told is its post operative but how can it still be THIS painful after 3 months?ive googled the symptoms (as you do) but i dont want to be influneced by anything, id just like my doc to consider something else other than take blood tests. 

Anyone else had this kind of problem? 

 

1 like, 28 replies

28 Replies

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  • Ginagirl
    Ginagirl donna2377

    Posted

    If there is pain it is symptom of a problem! They should investigate further..
  • b68419
    b68419 donna2377

    Posted

    Did they damage you Vagus Nerve during the op.  THis happens alot.  Which causes nausea/vomiting, pain.  A major diet change. low food map, google it. When the vagus nerve gets damaged, you can have gastroparesis, which I now have.  Is your liver inflammed??? Just make sure you dont get pancreatitis. Very important to keep tabs on labs.... Take a B12, digestive enzyme, a good probiotic also.  We need this to help us digest, break down our carbs, protein, fats because as we get older this is hard for our bodiy to do, cuz  we are LOW in stomach acid.  Be careful with the meds docs push... Drink alot, ALOT  of water to keep things flowing also... Do you have costochondritis?  Many people do  encounter that  pain even after the surgery.    good luck...
    • donna2377
      donna2377 b68419

      Posted

      Hi thanks for your reply, lots of info for me to look into. 

      To be honest ive not had a lot of info about my surgery, i dont even know how many stones there were for example. All the docs keep insisting on is blood tests, not sure what theyre looking for when the last one was raised but they werent concerend. 

      Ive made changes to my diet but havent considered supplements, i'll look into that. 

      Im going for the last round of bloods tomorrow and have made an appointment to see a different doctor hopefully i can get a different opinion and more help. 

      Thanks for your reply xx

    • j70540
      j70540 b68419

      Posted

      I had surgery months ago and still feel slight discomfort under the last right rib. I just found out that my vocal cord is paralyzed. Is it possible that a surgery I had months ago caused this? Has anyone else heard of this?
  • deborah10863
    deborah10863 donna2377

    Posted

    I had gallbladder surgery March 13th, after being sick for three months.  I felt better for two weeks and then got sick all over again.  I thought it would probably just take a while for my body to adjust, since I was sick for so long before surgery and had lost 20 pounds.  But my docs said I shouldn't still be sick, so for the last four months I've had every test under the sun.  Finally, after nothing else was found, and I finally started feeling better a few weeks ago, they agreed it probably was just taking longer for me than some people to recover and feel normal again. Also, I've talked to other people that had it, and a couple of them said it took them up to a year to feel better again.  I still have to take the anti nausea med sometimes, but I am feeling better with each week that passes.  My advice is to just give your body time to heal.  It just takes some people longer to feel better.  Good luck to you, I hope you are feeling better soon.  Hopefully, that's all it is, but 
    • flowersgirl72
      flowersgirl72 deborah10863

      Posted

      Hi deborah,

      it was 'funny' reading your post as it described my situation exactly! I also lost a significant amount of weight when having gb problems snd luved on toast and rice for the duration. I feel that I'm having to re-learn how to eat and tolerate many foods. It'not been easy as I'm sure you'd agree! Good to hear you're on the way to recovery.

    • deborah10863
      deborah10863 flowersgirl72

      Posted

      Thanks, flower girl, sounds like we're in the same boat.  It's so weird, I still can't stand to even smell certain things, like bacon or coffee. Like you said, it's like learning a whole new way to eat and live.  But I am just happy and thankful to be alive and not sick.  Good luck to you too on your recovery.
  • deborah10863
    deborah10863 donna2377

    Posted

    Sorry, I didn't get to finish,  I was just going to say to stay in touch with your doctor until you start feeling better, and insist on more tests if that's not soon.  Good luck.
  • kaylesc
    kaylesc donna2377

    Posted

    Hi Donna, I had my gallbladder removed in of Feb and everbsince I have been suffering! I have been diagnosed with Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction. Like you it feels like the same area as the gallbladder I have been in so much pain with it, constant Nausea and feeling so unwell. It maybe worth having a look in to it... Its a fairly rare disease/complication of the surgery but it may explain your symptoms! Unfortunately there are a few things they can do but there is not a cure this is something I now have to deal with for the rest of my life... If I knew what I know now I would have waited to have the surgery! Hope you feel better x 
    • donna2377
      donna2377 kaylesc

      Posted

      Hiya

      Sorry to hear youve got further problems, i thought this surgery was supposed to be straight forward keyhole! Docs never make it clear about the problems that can happen after, i think i rememebr a paragrph about the wound site in a pamphlet i was given nothing like the ream of problems ive discovered since. 

      ive seen the sphyincter of odi mentioned in most of the searches. Must admit i was wondering if it could be this or maybe stray stone in a duct somewhere but with the docs just insisting on blood tests im not going to get anything confirmed anytime soon !

      Hope you're ok and they're managing your pain xx

       

  • flowersgirl72
    flowersgirl72 donna2377

    Posted

    Hi there,

    I had my gb removed in may and have had ongoing problems since. I also had nausea particularly in the morning and pain which was often triggered by eating. I seem to be improving slowly but it's not been an easy recovery. As Deborah said, many people take longer to get back to normal. Have you had a follow up with your surgeon yet?

  • donna2377
    donna2377

    Posted

    Quick up date to my post and the replies i recieved, which were very much appreciated. 

    After my last post i went for my second round of bloods which came back normal again! But i also weng back to see a different gp as ghe pain is getting worse, i have nausea evreyday and the indegestions come back with a vengance. Hes agreed that theres something not right, he doesnt think  that its an infection but maybe a collection of fluid my ankles are also swollen. Hes arranged for an urgent scan which ive got on Wednesday.

    When i was discharged from the hospital though i was told i didn't need a follow up appointment with my surgeon, my stitches were dissolvable inside and outside was glued. Wondering now if that was wrong? Should i have been given a follow up? Did anyone else have a follow up? 

    • flowersgirl72
      flowersgirl72 donna2377

      Posted

      Hi there,

      I had a follow up and have remained under the consultants care due to ongoing problems. Sounds like you have a sympathetic gp which is half the battle! Hope things start to improve soon.

    • donna2377
      donna2377 flowersgirl72

      Posted

      Hiya thanks for the reply 

      I've finally got to see the sympathetic doc this is the one who always listens and doesn't just fob you off with tests and tablets. It's gone past the 3 month mark and getting worse so there's something deffo wrong even if the tests keep coming back clear. Not that i WANT something to be wrong if you know what i mean just an explanation for the pain. 

      How have you been? X

    • flowersgirl72
      flowersgirl72 donna2377

      Posted

      I know exactly how you feel! I've had so many pills over the past 3 months that I could open my own pharmacy! All my bloods kept coming back normal too and that's why i don't think the docs treated seriously. U/sound and mri have both come back normal but I may have coeliac's. Consultant now thinks that is the cause of all my problems- I think they just don't want to admit they havent got an answer. Things seem to be getting better and i can eat more without too much pain. Still having some problems at night though.
    • donna2377
      donna2377 flowersgirl72

      Posted

      Hiya

      scan was ok very painful when he was pressing down woth the probe but yet again its come back clear. Liver pancreas aorta kidneys, everything the right shape..went to the doc for my results and he pressed the area and yet again it was so painful i nearly hit the ceiling. So hes sending me off for yet more blood tests. Apparently my last lot of bloods showed some slight inflammation (funny how they kept telling me they were clear last time i went)  so he wants to double check that. He thinks there could possibly be some nerve damage so if these bloods come back clear hes referring me to a pain clinic. This isnt the good doc i like (it was a rare chance i had getting in to see him last time lol) 

      im getting very frustrated, the pains horrible and the indigestions bloody annoying!! Ive dug my paperwork out from the clinic so im going to try and contact my surgeoen. And ask for an appointment.

      how are you doing? Are you able to eat anymore? I have to be honest my eating hasnt changed much, i expected some changes to happen but nothing. Really fatty food (like kfc) affect me about half an hour after eating (not that i eat them regular, i had one for the frist time in about a year last week, never again!!) 

      Sorry i didnt reply to your last comment by the way my notifcations werent coming through! 

      Thanks for asking, hope you're ok xx

    • flowersgirl72
      flowersgirl72 donna2377

      Posted

      Its all very annoying isnt it! I'm not too bad most daysbut having occasional bouts of nausea and indigestion also. Having repeat bloods done for coeliac's because the last one indicated one of the enzymes were high. The pain is being controlled with amitriptyline. Hate taking pills but have to so I can get some normality back, still not returned to work yet for fear i'd have further probs and have to take more time off. Stil sticking to low fat, small meals because of the digestion probs.

      Sorry your scan hasnt solved the mystery. Just find it strange theres not a clear care pathway for cases like this. We all seem to have such different treatment. All s bit like fumbling around in the dark smile

    • donna2377
      donna2377 flowersgirl72

      Posted

      It certainly is annoying!! I'm the same as you, I've got indigestion but not every day and the nauseas bad in the morning, i have to work up to eating breakfast then stop after two spoonfuls as it feels like I'm going to throw up before i can carry on after about 5 minutes. My docs not considering me for anything else but i think i'll have to have a look at things like coeliacs.

      i really dont want to go to the pain clinic its just treating a symptom and not the problem. The pains got quite bad this weekend but all the docs tell me to take is paracetamol avoid ibups because it can irritate the upper stomach. 

      How long have you been off work for now? I went back after two weeks (my boss sort of forced me to go back a day early, was in a position where i couldn't  prove i was right) and they're starting to get a bit miffed about the blood tests etc. even though i always make the appointments outside of work hours ( might come in 10 mins late nothing major) 

      it is very strange that they treat this as a "routine" op but never investigate any problems. I'm not giving up though!!! They wont like me when I'm angry! Lol xx

    • flowersgirl72
      flowersgirl72 donna2377

      Posted

      I haven't gone back since the op, I had constant pain for the first month and was barely eating. I'm lucky that my employers have been very supportive and don't want me back till I'm fixed. (Its better to have one longer period of sickness than lots of shorter ones. I'm hoping to go back in a couple of weeks tho. It infuriates me when docs tell you to take paracetamol. Do they think you'd be complaining if those painkillers would get rid of it! I'm waiting for my second lot of bloods to come back then gp is going to refer me to a gastro specialist. I think my pain etc is due to a build up of bile overnight. I've started taking milk thistle to help with liver function. We have to keep on at them till there's some answers! X
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