Cholecystitus symptoms after gallbladder removal

[Mistee]

Hey Guys,

After a truly horrific year of attacks (which we have affectionaly nicknamed death pains) occurring 2-3 times a week most weeks, I finally had my gallbladder removed on the 11th November.

Wile it was an unpleasant experience, my surgeon told me the op would end my suffering and I was so excited to be able to start eating normally again and not have to worry throwing up in agony anymore.

I had a few small niggles in the first week but realised I'd gone quite a while between meals and as soon as I ate, the niggles subsided but then 2 weeks post op, bam! Major death pain! That was a week ago and I've had another one tonight!

All symptoms are exactly the same as they were before the op, I really don't understand how or why this is still happening if I haven't got a gall bladder anymore?!

Has a yobe else experienced this? It is normal? Should I be calling my GP on Monday morning?

Any help, advice, pointing in the right direction would be super appreciated!!

Thanks

[Hidden]

Hi

I'm so sorry you are in so much pain. I had mine out in October 85, open surgery. It took about 8 weeks to recover cos it was open. I remember having pain for a while after, I did go back to my GP who said I was ok but sent me for an x-ray just to make sure. Fast forward to 2016 and I now have Nash with fibrosis. The pain I have in the capsule around my liver feels just like my gall bladder pain!! I now have many other conditions causing me pain like many other people. Sorry to go on, I know I do tend to go off on a tangent 😊 please take care of yourself Lynne

[JRHT]

I had my gallbladder removed in May 2017 and felt fine for a couple of months then symptoms returned. My GP sent me for an ultrasound to check for gallstones ( as apparently you can still get stones after gall bladder removal), the scan didn’t reveal any stones but two weeks later I had emergency admission to hospital with acute pancreatitis. An MRI scan revealed a stone stuck in my bile duct! Had to have it removed by a procedure called endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) which was successful. Haven’t had any problems since, my consultant said it is not unusual for gallstones to ‘escape” and cause problems after gallbladder removal.

[Mistee in reply to JRHT]

Thanks for the info, I think I'll go and see my GP on Monday. While 2 attacks in 3 and a half weeks is probably the best run I've had this year, I can't bear the thought of symptoms continuing!

[Amkoffee in reply to JRHT]

ERCP is quite a mouthful! I've never heard of that before.

[Mistee in reply to JRHT]

How did you find the ERCP?

My scan also showed nothing but the MRI showed a stone in my bile duct so I'm on the waiting list for the procedure.

Is it just like having a regular endoscopy? I don't tend to cope well with endoscopies, they give me a double dose of the sedative but it doesn't work and I still have a panic attack while they're doing it 😩

[JRHT in reply to Mistee]

Sorry Mistee just seen this.

I don’t remember the exact details as it was a few years ago now . I was admitted to hospital with pancreatitis and waited about a week until the procedure was done. When I went down to theatre and I was given an injection of some type of sedative, the next thing I knew I was awake and everything was done! I had to stay in hospital for another couple of nights as my liver blood tests were high but otherwise I felt fine. Good luck.

[Batty1]

My poor mother had gallbladder removed and everything she eats goes through her so fast and very gassy...prior to remove did not have these problems and I’m certain that her body wasn’t getting enough nutrients do to the quick release of every food she ate ....Well she had vitamins tested her Magnesium and Calcium didn’t even register on the lab results.

I hope you get better soon!

[izzybusy23]

Hi Mistee. Did you ever get to the bottom of your symptoms? I had my gallbladder removed on 6th January and I've had 8 attacks similar to before in 8 weeks. I thought it might be bile acid gastritis but I'm not sure.

[Mistee in reply to izzybusy23]

Hi! I'm really sorry I've only just seen this!!

Yes, I had ultrasound and MRI with contrast and found a stone lodged in my bile duct. I'm waiting for the procedure that JRHT mentioned above, though no idea when it'll happen now 😩

Have you managed to get any investigations to find out why you're still having problems?

[Jaid123]

Hi, I'm just wondering if you have had the procedure now and how things have been? I'm suffering burn ng pain in liver area similar to what I felt when gallbladder was inflamed. I got it removed 2 years ago and have been suffering this pain now for around 3 months. I have really bad indigestion as well. Appreciate any advice. Thanks