Post-cholecystectomy or gallbladder removal surgery

Interesting thanks for sharing..

I know this is four and a half years since you asked, but I just saw it because I'm tired of my doctors simply ignoring the cause any more, don't want to go back to the ones who kept doing ERCPs and MRCPs to "solve" the problem, but never did, or constantly being told by my "pain management specialist" that it's my middle back, so thought I'd respond so maybe we can resolve this ourselves.

The back pain was only the day of the surgery. (July 7, 1999.) Overnight, it slid to my front, and is still there. Not as sore anymore, but only because I am on pain meds after a mere 18 months of "maybe it's-ing." Somewhere in those last 24 years, I've seen three GI specialists, have had 4 ERCPs, 4 MRCPs, spent a night in the hospital with a scope up my nose and all the way past my stomach, have had my SOD wiped out, found a singular gallstone left over, told it was a GI problem, told it was my back, have seen three kinds of back doctors, and kicked out the door of four doctors because the only thing that did help was oxycodone, (5 mg.) and after having me for a patient patient for 1-8 years, suddenly they didn't know how to handle someone on "narcotics." aka Yeah. Doctors are more interested in CYA than helping patients anymore.

So now I'm stuck with a "pain management specialist," who keeps telling me it's a pinched nerve in my thoracic region, despite the fact the the spine surgeon he refers people to, (and who refers people to him), has absolutely no idea why anyone bothered imaging my middle back. (After 20 years, my lower back and neck have deteriorated, because I spent years avoiding leaning over to avoid pain.) Worse yet, now that I do have back pain, the only way he gives me any pills that might help that is if I ask him for something specific. And when I do, he gives that to me, and doesn't give me the right instructions to give them a chance to work.

No ideas on what to recommend when it's your back still. I figure you already know how to eat. But two ideas for you.

1. Have you gotten a second opinion? As in, is it possible it is no longer the adhesion?

Asking, because it was supposed to be my SOD (Sphincter of Oddi), until the scrapped it twice so I have none. And it was supposed to be gallstones in my Common Duct, until they found none, (the second time.) And it is now supposed to be my spinal spondylosis, when, nope. My middle back is the only good back I still have left.

2. And, have you been given any better choices besides gabapentin? There's is a real world out here if your not so exhausted and foggy brained from that. (I was sick on that stuff for two months before I simply quit, so they had to try something else. And hubby is on it now for something else, but it zones him out too.) I didn't choose oxy. I tried at least 50 other drugs before giving in to the possibility of narcotics. Constantly constipated, have grown a real fondness for prunes, BUT the world is real now and the pain hit bearable.

(Worst comes to worst, at least we found someone else who has been stuck disabled for a long time over "one simple gallbladder removal."

Hey dear ..I'm going through the same thing

I wish I was more help but I have the exact same issue and so far my doctors are perplexed and have no idea. Maybe I'll ask them this.

Hello, I have bile reflux after GB removal have been bedridden with pain since. Did you have the surgery and if so may I ask where and how you are doing?

Omg! You are my people! I’m a year into daily pain right at the site where my gall bladder was. We have tried everything under the sun- besides going back in and I have had no relief. I am in pain every day. Varying degrees and always worsening in the evening and sometimes it radiate to my back or a little closer to my belly button but all the same spot. I need ideas as we are running out. My next step is a chronic pain clinic run by an anesthesiologist. We will see.

It can take up to 12 weeks to heal. Give it more time.

Hi, I completely understand what you are going through. I an a female and was nauseated as well. I started out being very weak. I used freeze pops at first. I had to start slowly introducing foods and figuring out what worked and what didn't work. Since the gall bladder was removed (mine was badly diseased at age 53), my doctor told me I would not be able to tolerate much food at a time. I was told to eat very small meals and nothing greasy or fatty. Dairy was an issue for me. For instance cheese did not seem to digest well at all. It is like my body could not break it down. I could handy crackers, pretzels, and small meals but not much. Even now years later my body lets me know what I can handle. I purchased baked potatoes that are individually wrapped for in the microwave. I love them for a meal. I like wraps but do not put much in them and that is a meal for me. It is a matter of trial and error. At first I even purchased baby food fruits. I can eat egg salad I make which I add a touch of vinegar, miracle whip and a little mustard and put it on a potato roll. That is enough to make a small meal for me as I still do not eat a lot at one time and I am now 68 years old. It does get better with time, but I do better with smaller meals more often. However sometimes I only eat 2 to 3 meals a day. I seriously can say it is a matter of trial and error and believe that each person is different in what their bodies can handle and tolerate after gall bladder surgery. I was very wiped out for several months and mine was laproscopic surgery. It really knocked me for a loop. I was sick for a year because the doctors believed it was my gall bladder, but the tests were not showing that is what the problem was. Eventually after running every test. They did it as an exploratory and found it was badly diseased and removed it. I was very weak already from only being able to eat hard pretzels before the surgery. I was beyond exhausted before the surgery from the pain and not being able to eat, which wore me down as I was working a lot of overtime which was mandatory as well as I needed to work to keep my medical insurance in order to have the surgery. You are in my thoughts and prayers as it is a take it one day at a time process for sure. Hugs and prayers. God bless!

Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction. GIs are apathetic and don't really delve in.
I had a HIDA scan that finally revealed this may be the issue. All other tests neg. After one year later, I am scheduled for an ERCP procedure and possible SOI sphincterotomy. No fun....