Pain after Gallbladder Removal?

Question

I had my gallbladder removed 1.5 yrs. ago. Just a few months after its removal I began having painful attacks like I suffered w/ my gallbladder. I have had IBS w/ painful gas & extreme bloating since age 16. I’m 39 and still suffer from IBS, but I don’t believe that it is causing these attacks. I believe I have at least 2 separate problems (1 being IBS) & that they may tend to aggravate 1 another. I’ve also been diagnosed with acid reflux. I took Nexium for awhile. I felt it made me experience acid reflux more often. When I have the attacks, no meds really help. I’ll drink a bunch of Maalox or even take a magnesium tablet; helps maybe a bit. The pain is accompanied by what feels like a lot of liquid in my upper abdomen, like I just drank a gallon water. During these attacks,upper abdomen incredibly tender. I’ve scheduled for a colonoscopy, upper GI, & small bowels follow thru. Is it sphincter of oddi (SOD) dysfunction? Stones in bile duct? What tests would I need to have?

Answer 1

They might do a HIDA scan and look for stones in the bile ducts.

Answer 2

Same Pain After Gallbladder Removal

Answer 3

I don't think any of us can tell you what tests you need to have ran. I believe only your doctor can do that.

On a side note, even though docs say that having your gallbladder removed is fine because it isn't really needed, I don't believe. I had my gallbladder removed at the age of 18. I am not 24 and everything inside of me changed as soon as I had it taken out. I had to run to the bathroom as soon as I ate for years because my food ran right through me. Plus, my heartburn has gotten so bad that I have a hard time sleeping because of it. I get extremely bad stomach aches that last for a long time and nothing I do can ease it. The gallbladder seems to have more of a preventative purpose than any doctor ever has made me realize, but I wish I still had mine. I think I will always suffer from extra problems by not having my gallbladder and others I have talked to have the same problems I do.

Answer 4

I had my gall bladder out around 12 years ago. I can still remember the initial first weeks of total pain in my stomach, then noticed gradual changes in my bowel habits. The doctor had always told me to be sure and keep track of everything I eat and drink, and see if I can relate any gastric pains to any particular food I may have eaten. Fortunately for me, I didn't need to change my diet at all, but there are still times, even after all these years, that I get what seems like intestinal cramp pains that will last no more than half an hour or so, and are never as severe as my gall stone pains were. Please let your doctor have a look at you before you start taking a lot of laxatives and ant-acid medicines. You may very well be masking a treatable side effect, or a more severe secondary related problem. Promise yourself that you will check with the doctor that did your surgery, or at least your family doctor, just to be sure of what might be going on.

Answer 5

First of all, if you are having attacks of pain which feel just like gall bladder attacks you had before the surgery, then you may have a stone stuck in the common duct and you should definitely go back to the doctor who did the surgery. After I had my gb out I experienced many of the problems mentioned by others here. I still have to stay away from milk fat or beef fat, and if I eat too much saturated fats, the food runs right through me. I read the labels on foods whenever I go to the grocery store. I also have heartburn often and occasionally another severe esophageal pain which is relieved by sugar wafers (for no known reason). But most important of all, you don't want to go a long time with a stone remaining in your duct and it getting down to the SOD as you could come down with pancreatitis as a result and that is bad news. So go see your doctor.

Answer 6

Wow, you sound just like me. I had mine removed 6.5 years ago, and still have some pain. I did have stones in my bile ducts, but they removed them a couple of days after the gall bladder removal in a separate surgery. If they didn't catch that, it can cause problems, including pain and liver damage. I also have reflux and IBS, which my doc says can cause discomfort in my upper abdomen. She also said that some people experience phantom pain where the gall bladder once was. Gall bladder disease is also linked to Pancreatitis which is very painful. They should probably do an Ultrasound of your abdomen. I hope they can help your pain & mine too! I am scheduled for the same series of tests soon.

Answer 7

I don't have an answer for you, but I know how you feel. I had my gallbladder removed almost 2 years ago. You said it just right! It feels like there is a ton of liquid in my upper abdomen. This always happens at night before bed. What it is, I don't know. But I feel ya!!!! :)

Answer 8

Wow.. I had my Gallbladder removed 2 years ago. I only have trouble if I eat too much grease. I suggest watch what you eat, and be aware of what gives you trouble. Also see your doctor. Get a second opinion if needed. good luck..

Answer 9

I just had mine out over a month ago.... If I eat chocolat or anything that is very strong in fat or sugar...it gets very uncomfortable. Try eating a low fat diet..i dont know if you are on that or have tried it yet, so it is just a suggestion. But other than that I have no idea what tests you could have. Other than the colonoscopy and a gastroscopy.

Answer 10

Approx. 15 yrs. ago I suffered severely with abdominal/lower back pain for a week, thinking that because I worked in a convenience store and we had moved the shelving to buff the floors that I had pulled a muscle. My pastor talked me into going to the hospital because I couldn*t sit, ly down, or stand without hurting, Everything, down to water, that I tried to ingest came back up. At the e.r. they tried saying it was constipation and gave me this awful 7part mixture to drink, and were running test. Doc. had just talked with me and was telling me that they could find Nothing wrong when a Liver test came back...because liver count was off they admitted me...and determined that I had gallstones lodged in my bile duct. Due to this be on a Friday I laid up in that hospital sedated and in pain until Monday..when they ran a tube down my throat to dislodge/break up the stones. Because I was uninsured, although my gb was full of stones(they estimated around 100), they wouldn*t do the surgery to remove gb. Counseled with me about my diet, and stress, and released me. May *06 I was scheduled to go in and work 3d shift at a nursing home..after having eaten lunch with my boyfriend I got severly sick, and hurting in my back...sat. I was still sore, but the vomiting had lessened(it was such a close correlation to the gb symptoms from years ago that I became scared)Sunday the pain was so intense at times that I couldn*t move...I laid on the couch until I told myself I might as well get this over with..so I took myself to the e.r., told them that I thought I had gallstones in my bile duct again.(they couldn*t believe the one hospital refused to do surgery years ago.)Doc comes in and says we are admitting you...you are correct. Tomorrow we will go in and remove the stones, and then the next day we will remove the gb. Since that time I have been attentive to the foods that I eat, and almost everything causes indigestion, but no intolerable pain like before. Have a talk with your doctor..
closely follow his/her advice. Hope that you are feeling better soon.

Answer 11

Keep that meal between 400 and 800 calories. Serve yourself a smaller sized portion, so if you like returning for seconds, you'll just finish up eating a normal-size portion.