Severe pain continues after gall bladder removal !

Posted by hlp123 @hlp123, Oct 23, 2023

After dealing with episodes of severe abdominal pain for years, finally had my gallbladder removed. expecting to have condition resolved, but I continue to have severe, pain, 6 months after surgery. Doctors do not have any answers. My father and my grandmother had this pain and were pain free after removal of their gall bladder. I have a young family and full time job and am very active, but when I get these attacks of pain I am basically paralized. I cannot move. Nothing helps !
I just have to wait it out. Sometimes for hours. Has anyone found an answer to this situation.
Thank you

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General comment...

don't ignore pain, especially severe pain.

Pain is caused by something.

It is important to ascertain what that cause is. Absolutely important!!!!

When the cause of pain is unknown and continuing...

in general, some meditation and breathing exercises may help. By help? Oh, I mean, with serious pain? Looking at maybe 5% or 10% pain reduction. But, also, generally, might also help with a better ability to endure pain.

I have dealt with high levels of pain and am dealing with high levels of pain. One thing I have done...and I have not had this confirmed by anyone...is, oh...in winter, sometimes I will go out with lighter coats. Or if I have to endure some pain hammering away at some woodwork, I will hammer a bit longer. It is my amateurish attempt to get my body ready to endure higher levels of pain.

I know that boxers do this in training. Muhammad Ali had his sparing partners, work his abdomen hard so that he was more accustomed to handling pain levels.

I don't know any professional confirmation of this technique. But from my own experience, it has helped some.

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@hlp123

You need to get to the cause of the pain. The test MRCP with contrast, located why I was still having severe episodes of pain after I had my gall bladder removed. This test located a blocked duct that was missed during my surgery.
The doctor then performed an ERCP and was able to locate the stone blocking the duct and remove it. I always thought that once you had your gall bladder removed that you could no longer have a duct that was blocked. This is not true. There are other ducts that can be blocked. Please be persistent and find a gastroenterologist who will order the correct MRI and help you. Good luck to you !!!!!

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yes, exactly. Persist until you find a specific cause.

because if it is pain, it's not myth, something physical is causing the problem.

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I had stage 4 lung, liver, and bone cancer. Opioids such as Vicodin, codeine was prescribed for pain, but they caused Gall Bladder pain even though the GB was removed.

Neil

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@neilar41

My gall bladder was removed about 10 years ago. If I take an opioid I get a false gall bladder attack. Very painful and lasts about a hour. When I tr to tell this to a doctor I see doubt. Would like to know if anyone else is experiencing this problem. I have taken opioids prior to the removal of the gall bladder with no problems.

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Look up sphincter of Oddi. Hard to diagnose but not uncommon after gall bladder removal. Super painful. Sphincteotomy is treatment

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Thank you, Thank you.

I will discuss this with my PCP. The Bone cancer has left me with a lot of pain, and I cannot find a solution to alleviate the pain. There is metastatic cancer in 5 places in the spine and it would be nice to have a pain free day.

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@neilar41

Thank you, Thank you.

I will discuss this with my PCP. The Bone cancer has left me with a lot of pain, and I cannot find a solution to alleviate the pain. There is metastatic cancer in 5 places in the spine and it would be nice to have a pain free day.

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I hope you can find some relief ! I am so sorry that you are in pain. Is it possible that acupuncture might help.
Bless you

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@neilar41

ThANK YOU.

I know the pain and fortunately it only occurs with certain opioids . Hopefully you will find a solution.

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Tell me more about the opioids causing pain. I have the same problem with only certain ones.
Gall Bladder was removed over 10 years ago and still having problems with opioids.

Neil

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