1. Community
  2. Liver and gallbladder
  3. Gallbladder Problems

Reflux and heartburn after gallbladder surgery

Posted , 59 users are following.

Leni75
Leni75

Has anyone  suffer or has suffered from  bad chest pain with heartburn after gallbladder removal? Iam eating a very low fat diet, in fact no fat at all, and I still get most times pain in chest with burning. I would like to hear from anybody that has the same and if anything helped to treat it beside PPIs.they don't work for me. I am really worried because it might be damaging my esophagus and throat is sore from the reflux.

has anyone was told by doctors that it might be just a symptom until the body adjusts to not having gallbladder and that's why medication doesn't work? Please share your thoughts and experiences. I am worried and confused why my body started having reflux issues after this surgery. 

8 likes, 151 replies

151 Replies

Prev Next
  • lori73442
    lori73442 Leni75

    Posted

    Hi Leni! How are you doing? Did you get any answers?

    Lori

    • Leni75
      Leni75 lori73442

      Posted

      Hi Lori. Not yet. I am going to do some tests next week one is a manometry test to check if my valve is not working properly, I think is not because my reflux got worse and I've been having really bad sore throat, and the other test is a ph test. I am scared about both tests but my surgeon suggested I should do this, it's the only way to have a proper diagnostic of what's happening inside my body! I am starting to think is never going to get better, because I am taking another kind of meds now that my surgeon told me and my symptoms are still very bad. At least my Christmas Day was ok, I didn't notice much pain in my chest and throat. Take care
    • lori73442
      lori73442 Leni75

      Posted

      Leni glad you had a good Christmas.

      I hope the test show something so they can fix what is wrong.  Are they just blood test or scans?

      I will be thinking about you and hoping they find the answers finally.

      Lori

  • robin23223
    robin23223 Leni75

    Posted

    Hi there, so thats what it is, i had my gallbladder removed a couple of years ago and have the same symptoms you describe ever since the opp. Never went back to ask what it might be in case they want to take something else out, honestly i am a bit of a coward when it comes to things like surgery, i have  liver problem so have been putting the pain and burning sensation down to that........
    • Leni75
      Leni75 robin23223

      Posted

      Hi. May I ask what kind of liver problem? 

      The hearburn and chest pain never got better after the surgery?! And 

      You haven't  ever checked what Could be causing?

    • robin23223
      robin23223 Leni75

      Posted

      Hi Leni, yeah I have Cirhossis of the Liver caused by becoming infected with Hepatitus C over 20 years ago, for quite a few years the virus lay dormant then became active eventually causing fibrosis in the Liver followed by Cirrhosis. Been treated with Interferon and Ribavirin together on two seperate treatments which are designed to kill the hep C virus but for me it did not work. I am hoping to have one more try this year to beat it. Keeping my fingers crossed...............
    • Leni75
      Leni75 robin23223

      Posted

      Robin

      All the best luck in treating your problem. I guess everyone is different and your symptoms could be or not related to the removal of gallbladder. But if there are going on for a while don't ignore them, because it could cause other serious problems. I am in the course of finding out if it is a valve problem that's causing all my discomfort in the throat and chest. This is going on since my GB surgery in October 14. 

    • robin23223
      robin23223 Leni75

      Posted

      Yes your probably right Leni I will keep an eye on it. Hope you get sorted soon ....good luck. Robin
    • cheeky87
      cheeky87 robin23223

      Posted

      HI ROBIN I HAD HEP C AND HEP B. THE HEP B WHEN I WAS 21 AND THE HEP C MUST HAVE LAY DORMANT FOR OVER 25 YEARS. IV BEEN THROUGH THAT INTERFERON AND RIBAVARIN I ALSO GOT CRYOGLOBULINEMIA AND VASCULLITIS SO WAS SO GLAD TO CLEAR AS ALL THE OTHER SECONDARY ILLNESS HAS GONE, DO YOU EVER WONDER IF THATS WHATS CAUSED THE GALLBLADDER PROBLEM. THEY SAY MY LIVER LOOKS GREAT NICE AND SHINY AND NO LESIONS ALTHOUGH AT ONE TIME THE DOCTOR THOUGHT I MIGHT HAVE THE START OF FIBROSIS. IV NEVER DRANK FOR 27 YEARS SO THATS HELPED MY LIVER. GOOD LUCK. I HEAR THERE IS NEW TREATMENT FOR HEP C NOW. ALL THE VERY BEST TO YOU. ❤️
  • lori73442
    lori73442 Leni75

    Posted

    Hi Leni! How are you doing?

    I hope the found the sollution by now.

    Lori

  • laura33758
    laura33758 Leni75

    Posted

    Hello there,

    I have Barretts oesophagus due to excessive reflux, i don't drink alcohol,smoke,eat fatty or spicy foods. I'm a very healthy eater and never been overweight. Ive always been very active until I became a living kidney doner in 2009, since then I've had more visits to hospital than I care to think about. I've had chest pains due to heartburn and bile reflux, had my gallbladder removed in 2012 and an incisional hernia fixed at the same time, (hernia was caused by having the nephrectomy ).

    The chest pain is due to heartburn and the pain has increased to the point of my blood pressure falling so low I faint.

    The tablets I'm prescribed are hit and miss,because i can have a week or so with out a big pain attack and then I get one that literally knocks me out and it takes a few days to recover from it, I feel as tho I've been thumped in the chest by a heavyweight boxer, I can't lift my arms without hurting. The specialist is very good and has offered me an operation, however I'm also aware it could make my symptoms worse, as I asked him if it was a 100% fix, no it isnt.

    I never have much notice when the excruciating pain is going to happen, i worry it may happen when I'm driving, so i rarely drive these days.

    I do all the things I'm supposed to do and don't do what I shouldn't,

    Its becoming a nightmare, I feel like its never going to stop.

    I'm quite a tough cookie but feel like there's nothing can be done now and I'm so fed up with it. Sorry to sound negative, Im usually a cup half full person.So Leni75 don't be fobbed off keep at it until you get sorted.

    • Leni75
      Leni75 laura33758

      Posted

      Hello thank you for sharing your story. I feel so sorry for all the pain you have to go through on a daily basis. It is not easy, I know now.

      hope we can find a solution for our health problems in the near future. 

    • lori73442
      lori73442 Leni75

      Posted

      HiLeni! They haven't found out what's going on yet? I'm sorry to hear that your still not feeling well.

      Lori

    • Leni75
      Leni75 lori73442

      Posted

      Hi Lori. No I haven't heard yet  anything from the hospital. Thanks for asking. 
    • lori73442
      lori73442 Leni75

      Posted

      Leni I'm sorry they haven't gave you any answers yet. I hope you get the answers real soon. Are you feeling better or worse?

      Lori

    • Leni75
      Leni75 lori73442

      Posted

      About the same. I am not taking any meds so I guess that's good.
    • lori73442
      lori73442 Leni75

      Posted

      I hope you get answers real soon and start to feel better real soon.
    • Acejohnston
      Acejohnston Leni75

      Posted

      Hi Leni,

      I had my gallbladder removed 9 weeks ago due to one big gallstone. I haven't been the same since. It's horrendous. Had the diarrhea for weeks on end and then started getting terrible nausea and vomiting a few weeks ago. I can totally relate to how your feeling. I feel I'm never going to be better. My doctor and surgeon are telling me it takes time to settle down in a small percentage of people. I'm on zoton for my stomach as I had gastritis before surgery but that's not helping at all. I know of 2 people that the same thing happened to and they said it eventually went away after a good few months (6-8). Anyway I hope you have improved and are on the road to recovery. Take care.

    • Leni75
      Leni75 Acejohnston

      Posted

      Hi Acejohnston. Thank you for your post. For many weeks I felt nauseated too and the diarrhoea lasted  for many weeks. Can't remembered now how long it took to settle but it did with me. I also had gastritis which I was prescribed pantoprazole. It got better but the heartburn and chest pain I still have 4 months after surgery. I hope it will get better but at the moment the symptoms are the same with the extra pain in my back now 😩

      Are we ever going to feel normal again?. I really hope so. G luck for u

    • Acejohnston
      Acejohnston Leni75

      Posted

      Hi Leni

      Thanks for your reply. Thankfully my diarrhea has settled down but still have this nausea and have vomited some mornings too. It's like extreme morning sickness. I wake at 445 every morning with the nausea and bile taste in my mouth and it lasts until lunchtime. I am on zoton as I had Gastritis prior to the surgery but it's not helping. I know 2 people who also had the same thing happen to them and one of them had the same pains as you and the heartburn and it eventually stopped after about 6 months. There consultant told them that this can happen to some people and it just takes time to settle. Like you I feel I will never be the same again but know that it's just going to take time to settle down. Unfortunately I read so many horror stories on the internet I got myself into a right state thinking I had bile salt but thankfully the diarrhea has stopped. Also my consultant told me that most people who have issues are better within 6-12 months. Please God we will be one of those people. Take care

    • Leni75
      Leni75 Acejohnston

      Posted

      Hi Acejohnston

      I really hope you're right that it can get better with time.

      Thank you so much for your words they gave me a bit of hope which I was losing lately. I was very down today, with pains in my chest all day long and burning.  I start having issues with my GB because of pregnancy. A wonderful thing happen in my life but another less good thing is also worrying me a lot  and reading posts like yours give us positivity. Hope you'll feel better very soon. U take care too.

    • Acejohnston
      Acejohnston Leni75

      Posted

      Hi Leni

      I hope your doing ok. I know how you feel getting down over this. It's terrible to think that a simple gallbladder operation can cause so many problems in some people. It's hard to have hope when you don't feel well but remember that most people do recover and things settle down within 6-12 months. I sometimes feel I will never get better but have to try to be positive. Am 10 weeks post op now and still have horrendous nausea and vomit bile some mornings. All the doctors are telling me is that it will settle down. I wish there was a magic pill we could all take to get our lives back. Take care

    • marie66624
      marie66624 Leni75

      Posted

      Hi Leni75 I am now struggling with reflux gerd and I also had haital hania. But the worry is driving me insane I don't think about any thing now and I think I have developed health anxiety with all this. I hope and pray that all will be well in Jesus name.
    • ffmffm7
      ffmffm7 laura33758

      Posted

      Hi Laura. I wanted to ask you how long it took you to develop Barret's since your reflux started.

      I need to know that. Thanks.

    • heatherc70
      heatherc70 laura33758

      Posted

      Hi Laura, I sure hope you get notice of this. I just had my left kidney auto transplanted, which is a nephrectomy and it put back in my own body. Since the surgery, my esophagus feels like it's on fire. I'm having an endoscopy next week, are you any better now? Lucky me, I just found out that my gallbladder is only functioning at 19%, now I have to have that surgery done and that surgeon has offered the surgery for the esophagus for acid reflux.

      The G.I. I saw today feels that I should not rush into that surgery. I am six weeks out from my Autotransplant. And looking at surgery for the gallbladder soon. Sure hope I hear back from you !!! And I really hope you're doing OK

Back to top
Prev Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.