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problems following gall bladder removal

Posted , 6 users are following.

brenda22164
brenda22164

I had my gallbladder removed two weeks ago  - and to my horror yesterday I had another attack just like the ones I had before. I rang my consultant and he told me I have to go to his clinic for some tests but he thought there may be some stones in the duct  (assume he means bile duct) Has anyone else had this problem ?  Don't know what to expect now.

0 likes, 17 replies

17 Replies

  • alistair95425
    alistair95425 brenda22164

    Posted

    Hello Brenda,

    sorry to hear of your returning pain. Yes there could be some stones left behind, There will be others on the site who can give you better advice, I have been fortunate no stones just a bad GB.

    Hope your man sorts you out quickly.

    • brenda22164
      brenda22164 alistair95425

      Posted

      thanks Alistair    yes I guess there must be some stones left - just not sure how they deal with them -    Looking forward to hearing from anyone else with same problem.
  • sarah87162
    sarah87162 brenda22164

    Posted

    Not sure why my replies have been moderated.

    I had my gallbladder removed 6 months ago. Still have a bit of pain. GP thinks either I have IBS or a stone stuck in bile duct.

    Have endoscopy on 4th December so hopefully that will show up anything.

    Keep off fatty food.

    It's my Birthday today so I am treating myself to a Gurka meal and a couple of my favourite chocolates. Hope I don't suffer too much tomorrow!!

    Hope this settles down for you.

    Take care and keep in touch

    Love Sarah xxx

    • brenda22164
      brenda22164 sarah87162

      Posted

      Thanks for your story Sarah  - hope my endoscopy is not too far off as I have really bad pain when I had my attack yesterday :-(

      Happy Birthday and hope you enjoy your meal with no pain :-)

  • sandynan
    sandynan brenda22164

    Posted

    Hi Brenda I had an endoscopy a few weeks ago because of the same thing but they found nothing I did have 7 stones removed from my bile duct before my gall bladder was removed nearly four years ago. The pain I had was gastritis after taking folic acid tablets
    • brenda22164
      brenda22164 sandynan

      Posted

      thanks Sandynan   - I do hope they find something with the endoscopy - I just want an end to this nuisance :-)
  • olwen09733
    olwen09733 brenda22164

    Posted

    Hi Brenda, This is more common than you think.  Doctors do not explain that gallstones can reoccur as they can form in the billiary system and the liver.  I have researched/studied gallstones/illnessess for over three and a half years.  I kept my gallbladder through the changes I made despite my docs warnings of impending death as I refused op.  Check out Quebra Piedra also known as Chanca Piedra, a herb  (i use tea bags)known as stonebreaker. this can help dissolve stones and prevent them forming, best of luck Olwen
    • brenda22164
      brenda22164 olwen09733

      Posted

      Hi Olwen     thanks for your advice   - don't think my problem could be more stones elsewhere as it's only two weeks since I had GB removed but going on Tuesday for tests to see if there are any left in the bile duct or somewhere   - fingers crossed that It can be solved.     Brenda
    • olwen09733
      olwen09733 brenda22164

      Posted

      Best of luck.  Look up intrahepatic stones, they occur in the liver and billiary system. Olwen
  • Mrs.Nicks
    Mrs.Nicks brenda22164

    Posted

    Hi brenda22164,

    I went through the exact same experience you described. So a lot of sympathy for you as I know the frustration and pain! Firstly, don't let them tell you it's just surgical pain and to ride it out. I was continually not taken seriously and basically told to stop being a wimp and let it all heal. After several attacks post-surgery I finally got to see the gastro specialist at my hospital and he was pretty convinced I had "Sphincter of Oddi Disfunction". Quite rare, some Doctors haven't even heard of it, but it is apparently very common in patients after a Cholysectomy. A good description of SOD can be found on Wiki - so I won't go into all that detail on here.

    There is a specific test for SOD which is a ERCP. However, this test does carry a risk of getting pancreatitis, so it's worth weighing up your options and deciding if the flare ups are bad enough to take that small risk to move forward. I felt it was!

    Medical treatment would be antispasmodics and analgesics. Surgical treatment is Botox in the Sphincter, or in some cases a splint can be inserted to decrease the spasms.

    I hope this can help you in some way. I always think it is worth sharing my experience just incase it can benefit someone else and save them a lot of time!

    Best of luck smile

    Hannah

  • Mrs.Nicks
    Mrs.Nicks brenda22164

    Posted

    Also just to add to the conversation on remaining gallstones stuck in the bile duct -

    I was also checked for this several times and while that was happening, was put on a medication called Ursofalk. It is supposed to help break down any small stones/grit.

    Again, I like to share just incase it can help someone else!

    • brenda22164
      brenda22164 Mrs.Nicks

      Posted

      Hi Hannah  Many thanks for your advice  - I am going on Tuesday for tests to see if there are any stones left anywhere :-(        Hope it isn't SOD but I suppose there is a possibility - wouldn't be very keen to go for more surgery.   Just in case it is  - how did you have to regulate your diet to ease symptoms ?  or what did you have to cut out completely ?   Thanks again for your help     ....   Brenda
    • Mrs.Nicks
      Mrs.Nicks brenda22164

      Posted

      Sorry for late reply, only just seen your response!

      My diet hasn't really had to change much luckily. I know this isn't the case for some people. I just have to be careful I don't over do it on the takeaways as I know I would suffer from it! The only things I would say I can't eat is cheese, only in very very small amounts, and pastry is a big no. I tend to stay away from very fatty meats too like duck and pork (sausages/bacon) Luckily I am ok with wine. I know others that really struggle if they drink it.

      I always know, if I decide to give in to something fatty, I will pay for it with pains in my right upper quadrant and nausea. As we have no gallbladder to moderate the amount of bile used to break down fat, the bile duct goes into overdrive trying to deal with a lot of it and those pains are from the sphincter going into a spasm from over working. That is basically what SOD is and why it is so common on patients who have had their gallbladder removed.

    • brenda22164
      brenda22164 Mrs.Nicks

      Posted

      Hi Mrs Nicks     Many thanks for your advice   - I have now been back to hospital and had the endoscopy to remove stones in the bile duct.  Feel much better and relieved after that. (1 week gone by and avoiding cheeses and fats as you suggest, so just a case of trial and error now I think.

      thanks again

    • sarah87162
      sarah87162 brenda22164

      Posted

      I am booked for an endoscopy on Friday next week.

      Had my gallbladder removed at end of April.

      Better than I was but still not completely settled down.

      GP thinks it is either IBS or a stone may be stuck in my bile duct, though she thought that was unlikely.

      How common is it?

      Hope yu continue to feel better

      Sarah

    • brenda22164
      brenda22164 sarah87162

      Posted

      Hi Sarah  Regarding the endoscopy to remove stones from bile duct -  I'm not sure how common it is but my symptoms were actually worse than symptoms with the gall bladder.  I was fine after the gall bladder removal for two weeks then I started having attacks of acute pain and sickness after food - so painful even to breath.  so doctor thought it would be stones in the bile duct. He said when he removed the gall bladder it was stuck to something (inside of the cavity I expect) so perhaps when they removed it it leaked some stones.  Consequently when they did the endoscopy they found one stone which was stuck in the bile duct which they had to cut out but they said there was evidence that I had already passed some as there was damage to the sphincter.  I can tell you I have never been so relieved in my lift to be rid of it. Don't be too worried about the endoscopy though it's really nothing too bad at all (I wasn't aware of any of it as they sedate you). Hope it sorts your problem anyway.   regards   Brenda
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