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Please help- Gallbladder removal/out of work/no one can help

Posted , 5 users are following.

georgina52260
georgina52260

I am at my two weeks of post op laparoscopic cholecystectomy and I have been having awful trouble. 

My wounds are healing perfectly, the trapped gas (that caused unexpected inflamed humps of air on my neck and shoulder) has finally started to dissipate and I'm starting to get my energy back. I however am totally floored by some unusual symptoms that my surgeon nor my general GP warned me about. 

#1 Red, Hot, unbearably Itchy bottoms of my feet and palms of hands 

#2 Horrible lower back pain when bending/getting up that leads to my legs giving way and me falling over- does not radiate down legs.

#3 Pains where my Gallbladder used to be that take my breath away &

#4 Horrible trouble digesting food / bloating / diarrhoea sad

I don't know what to do, I go to my doctor and she says it's all due to the surgery and to speak to the surgeon / rest, t

So then I go to my surgeon and she tells me that what i'm experiencing isn't to do with my gallbladder removal and to go back to my doctor.

The only sure thing that I know so far is that my liver function test came back strange, so I had some more bloods done and  I am waiting on the results. Can someone please shed some light on what's going on? 

I'm going crazy

I Have-

Visited GP/Surgeon/osteopath

For back- Voltaren Emugel, Tigerbalm, massage, cold/hot therapy.

For Feet/hands- Calamine lotion, Coconut oil

For Phantom Gallstone pain- Oxycodon 5 ml, Massage, heat pack.

For diarrhoea/gas- Gingerale, heat pack, de-gas, Probiotics, Diet changes (less fat/fried food)

sad Nothing works. 

4 likes, 28 replies

28 Replies

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  • Jennifer28269
    Jennifer28269 georgina52260

    Posted

    I feel your pain times 100. I never had # 1,2 but a year later still have #3,4. Like you I have been to too many doctors, no one knows. Tons of tests as well, no one knows. So frustrating. Like you I am also on a modified diet, taking digestive enzymes containing ox bile, probiotics, etc. Those seem to help me a great deal. As for the pain, I take nothing. I live on 2 heating pads used at the same time. Considering you are a recent post-op maybe some of your issues will change soon? My surgeon said it takes about a year to "get back to normal" (yet I never did) but hopefully you will. Ask your Gastro or Surgeon about Welchol. It stops the diarrhea and allows you to eat real food. Or take digestive enzymes like I do. I learned most of this on Google sadly, no doctor told me any of this. Wishing you well soon smile
    • georgina52260
      georgina52260 Jennifer28269

      Posted

      I'm s sorry to hear you're experiencing trouble, I really wish someone had have said something about the possible side effects before taking it out!

      It's such a stressful thing to be in pain, out of work, and not know what is happening and if it is normal. Especially when everyone just reffers you. I will ask my surgeon about [ Welchol ] for sure, although I do live in AUS. I hope you start getting some answers soon! 

      May I ask, was your surgery laparoscopic? x Georgina

    • angela72602
      angela72602 georgina52260

      Posted

      I agree! I was under the impression after my gallbladder was out I would have some relief from diarrhea but I was so wrong! I still have pain where the gb was. doctor says possibly adhesions which is scar tissue like a spider web. I have the tendency to grow scar tissue with any surgery. I did with my knee replacement and whoa! 2 months later they had to go back and get that out for me to continue therapy. Talk about pain trying to bend what I could not bend withour excruciating pain!! I am so glad we have this forum to do all our complaining and ask questions! lol
    • Jennifer28269
      Jennifer28269 angela72602

      Posted

      Ditto Angela. I also assumed the surgery would "fit it all". Boy was I wrong & mislead. As I type I have pain where GB used to be and like you, I think it is scar tissue. I am seeing my Hematologist today and going to ask for them to review my CT scan again for scar tissue in that area. Other than surgery to remove the tissue, is there anything else we can do?
    • angela72602
      angela72602 Jennifer28269

      Posted

      I go on Feb. 12 to my doctor and I am going to ask him to do a CT so I will know what this is for sure and then we will go from there. The pain takes my breath and nearly knocks me to the floor! Is yours this bad? Certain ways I move,etc.I cannot think of anything except laser to undo the adhesions. I just don't want that to keep growing.
    • Jennifer28269
      Jennifer28269 angela72602

      Posted

      I fear surgery, PERIOD. GB was my first surgery and as you can see it has been a nightmare. I was hoping there were other options. My pain is not that bad! Bless your heart (I'm southern too ha) mine is like a hockey puck shoved up in that area and is a constant pain, also radiates to my right side. I live on 2 heating pads lol.
    • angela72602
      angela72602 Jennifer28269

      Posted

      if this is adhesions for sure I will let you know. heat helps? I just rub and hold my side until the pain goes away. Good luck to you and stay on this forum. Iam learning so much from others and it is great!  lol
  • angela72602
    angela72602 georgina52260

    Posted

    Well, my feet do that because I have diabetes neuropathy. Yews, the diarrhea is bad after gb surgery. Back pain also. In time some of this will get better. Liver test? That is a doctor issu he will take up with you. Let me know if anything changes within a month. Good luck to you.wink
    • lori73442
      lori73442 angela72602

      Posted

      If you have diabetes that can be a cause for some of your issues. Do you see a doctor for that separate from your other doctor or do you see the same doctor for everything.
    • angela72602
      angela72602 lori73442

      Posted

      I have a family doctor for my diabetes and other things. My gb problems, stomach, colon I see a specialists, gastroentologists that has done a colonoscopy, etc.
    • lori73442
      lori73442 angela72602

      Posted

      Good. I only saw my doctor about my gall stone attack. He knew that was one thing I worried about since my mom lost hers when I was a kid. Gallbladder issues run in families to if you have it others in your family did or will have it too. Runs in both side of my family, hurfay for me. Hoping my daughter doesn't get it.

      Good luck.

    • angela72602
      angela72602 lori73442

      Posted

      I have 4 sistesr and in fact, I have a twin. I am the only one that could not bear children and the only one with all the gb, stomach issues! Our Mother did have rectal cancer over 12 years ago and that is why all of us have to have a colonoscopy every 3-5 years. Mama is doing good. My twin had a heart attack 2 yrs. ago. She had been on premarin (hormone) and they think this is what caused her blood clot. Heart trouble is prevelant in my family. Had mine checked and it is good. All of our troubles! rolleyes
    • lori73442
      lori73442 angela72602

      Posted

      Good you had yours checked. Make sure when you have kids that they eat right. I wonder why it was only you so far. I guess there is always an exceptions for everything.

      I seem to get everything my mom gets. Feet issues, gallbladder.

      . Lucky me.

    • georgina52260
      georgina52260 lori73442

      Posted

      Oh gosh, Ladies! I'm sorry to hear that for both of you. It's lovely there is a space we can all come to like this though! 

      Angela, what do you take/use for your foot troubles? Is there anything that helps? I am a twin also, and she has had chronic health issues from birth (Heart disease, scoliosis, loss of hearing, no sense of smell.. the list goes on) But she has never had issues with her digestive track. I however, have always had troubles with it. I was "diagnosed" with IBS when I was 10 years old but when in hospital for my cholecystectomy I was told by a surgeon that it was not diagnosed correctly (no colonoscopy) and that the symptoms were a little off? So I'm supposed to ask my doctor about that next time I go in as apparently it's a 6 month wait minimum at the hospital. :o gah

    • angela72602
      angela72602 georgina52260

      Posted

      I take Gabapentin for my neuropathy nerve pain.I have a pedicure about every two months and I also soak my feet in epsom salt and apple cider vinegar. I was diagnosed with Crohns when I was 25. At 60 last year, with a colonoscopy, the doctor said there was no sign of crohns and I was shocked. it had been IBS all these years. You never know, do you?
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