Post-cholecystectomy or gallbladder removal surgery

Posted by msb18 @msb18, Dec 11, 2018

Hi – I had my gallbladder removed 17 years ago and have chronic, sharp back pain behind the port incision. That incision was in my upper left abdominal quadrant; the pain is felt in my back, directly behind the incision. It is thought that I have an adhesion in my upper left quadrant. Is it possible that nerves are trapped and that it causes referred pain in my back? The pain is nauseating and hasn't improved. I have been on anti seizure medication and a pain killer that isn't a percocet-type medication. I am curious if anyone else has persistent pain in their back following gallbladder surgery. If so, how is your pain treated.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

Profile picture for doverspike @doverspike

I have a dietary question. I’ve gone on Google and YouTube and getting conflicting info on fats. Some say to eat olive oil or avocado oil whereas others say those are bad fats and you can eat butter? Some say go back to your original diet and others say low fat diets are best. I’m sooo confused.
Any suggestions for what works and what is best?

Jump to this post

It is confusing, @doverspike as there are lots of different ways of approaching it. My suggestion has always been to keep a journal of foods you eat and any symptoms that you have. In this way, you can find the foods that trigger digestive issues.

Have you tried keeping a journal of foods and symptoms? If not, it might be a good way to track what is best for you to eat as well as what to avoid.

REPLY
Profile picture for golfdope @golfdope

Constant bloating post gallbladder removal.Had my gallbladder removed in December 2023 and have experienced constant bloating since. I have had a CAT scan and ultrasound and endoscopy done all of which turned up negative. I have taken Omeprazole simethicone famotidine.None of them have had any positive impact. thoughts.?

Jump to this post

I think a journal is something I'll have to do because having avocado toast I was fine yet the next day a bagel with avocado gave me great pain. Makes no sense!

REPLY
Profile picture for ashley2000 @ashley2000

I have had right upper quadrant and upper epigastric(upper middle) abdominal pain for years and went all over the country to the best hospitals years ago to try to get it diagnosed with no luck. About three months ago the pain increased becoming constant and unbearable. I had an ultrasound done which showed gallstones, then an MRCP which showed gallstones, and mild pancreatic atrophy and either a developmental cyst or branch ductal ipmn which is 2 mm. I went through laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery (gallbladder removal) almost two weeks ago where it turned out that in addition to gallstones I also had lots of inflammation (so much that he had to remove it to even see my gallbladder and told me I must have been having gallbladder attacks for years and now the chronic inflammation was causing constant terrible pain) and at first I thought it was going to solve my pain if I just waited for post op healing, but now, two weeks of terrible pain throughout my abdomen and most often in the same areas I had pain pre surgery ( now under the left lower rib cage as well as the right and throughout my abdomen and back) is making me concerned that this is not post op pain, but either the same problem I had before surgery or something they did wrong in surgery causing this pain. Not sure if the pain is still related to food or not, since I have been eating a very low fat diet, but pain is still constant. Anyone know what might be going on here, and do you think it is still post op pain this bad, or maybe the surgery didn’t fix the problem or created a new one? Also wondering if there could be some pancreas involvement…anyone out there who may have pancreas issues that might please weigh in on this…
I am taking 100mg to tylenol every eight hours and 600 mg of ibuprofen every eight hours ( alternating each four hours), but the pain is still terrible… Post op appointment with surgeon gave me no answers or direction. Please help if you can. Thank you so much!

Jump to this post

I read in this app that somebody had experienced pain, in his gut, for 6 months after having gallbladder surgery. And doctors can not find what it is. Myboyfriend, same exact situation, gallbladder was removed 1 month a go and he's been suffering insane pain on the other side of his gut. That was the reason he went into the ER to begin with was the pain on his left side. Removing his gallbladder did nothing for that pain.The doctors have no idea what's causing it.Everyday he's living in agony. It really sucks having to watch him suffer so much and not being able to do anything to help him. "It's sad..it really is".I couldn't believe reading somebody's post who's experienced the same issue. I'm unable to locate thatIndividual to find out if he was able to get some answers and, or if they are still struggling with the pain. I

REPLY
Profile picture for zolll01 @zolll01

I read in this app that somebody had experienced pain, in his gut, for 6 months after having gallbladder surgery. And doctors can not find what it is. Myboyfriend, same exact situation, gallbladder was removed 1 month a go and he's been suffering insane pain on the other side of his gut. That was the reason he went into the ER to begin with was the pain on his left side. Removing his gallbladder did nothing for that pain.The doctors have no idea what's causing it.Everyday he's living in agony. It really sucks having to watch him suffer so much and not being able to do anything to help him. "It's sad..it really is".I couldn't believe reading somebody's post who's experienced the same issue. I'm unable to locate thatIndividual to find out if he was able to get some answers and, or if they are still struggling with the pain. I

Jump to this post

I was told to remove gallbladder but I didn't yet, but I have pain on left pain and its my pancreas I got a ultrasound endoscopy to find out ,

REPLY
Profile picture for zolll01 @zolll01

I read in this app that somebody had experienced pain, in his gut, for 6 months after having gallbladder surgery. And doctors can not find what it is. Myboyfriend, same exact situation, gallbladder was removed 1 month a go and he's been suffering insane pain on the other side of his gut. That was the reason he went into the ER to begin with was the pain on his left side. Removing his gallbladder did nothing for that pain.The doctors have no idea what's causing it.Everyday he's living in agony. It really sucks having to watch him suffer so much and not being able to do anything to help him. "It's sad..it really is".I couldn't believe reading somebody's post who's experienced the same issue. I'm unable to locate thatIndividual to find out if he was able to get some answers and, or if they are still struggling with the pain. I

Jump to this post

An interoperative colangiogram should have been done with original surgery

REPLY
Profile picture for zolll01 @zolll01

I read in this app that somebody had experienced pain, in his gut, for 6 months after having gallbladder surgery. And doctors can not find what it is. Myboyfriend, same exact situation, gallbladder was removed 1 month a go and he's been suffering insane pain on the other side of his gut. That was the reason he went into the ER to begin with was the pain on his left side. Removing his gallbladder did nothing for that pain.The doctors have no idea what's causing it.Everyday he's living in agony. It really sucks having to watch him suffer so much and not being able to do anything to help him. "It's sad..it really is".I couldn't believe reading somebody's post who's experienced the same issue. I'm unable to locate thatIndividual to find out if he was able to get some answers and, or if they are still struggling with the pain. I

Jump to this post

Hi @zolll01, I think you may be referring to this existing discussion that @ashley2000, recently started:
- Severe abdominal pain after gallbladder removal
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/severe-gallbladder-pain-after-surgery/
See all related discussions here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/discussions/?search=gallbladder%20removal%20and%20pain

REPLY
Profile picture for ashley2000 @ashley2000

I have had right upper quadrant and upper epigastric(upper middle) abdominal pain for years and went all over the country to the best hospitals years ago to try to get it diagnosed with no luck. About three months ago the pain increased becoming constant and unbearable. I had an ultrasound done which showed gallstones, then an MRCP which showed gallstones, and mild pancreatic atrophy and either a developmental cyst or branch ductal ipmn which is 2 mm. I went through laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery (gallbladder removal) almost two weeks ago where it turned out that in addition to gallstones I also had lots of inflammation (so much that he had to remove it to even see my gallbladder and told me I must have been having gallbladder attacks for years and now the chronic inflammation was causing constant terrible pain) and at first I thought it was going to solve my pain if I just waited for post op healing, but now, two weeks of terrible pain throughout my abdomen and most often in the same areas I had pain pre surgery ( now under the left lower rib cage as well as the right and throughout my abdomen and back) is making me concerned that this is not post op pain, but either the same problem I had before surgery or something they did wrong in surgery causing this pain. Not sure if the pain is still related to food or not, since I have been eating a very low fat diet, but pain is still constant. Anyone know what might be going on here, and do you think it is still post op pain this bad, or maybe the surgery didn’t fix the problem or created a new one? Also wondering if there could be some pancreas involvement…anyone out there who may have pancreas issues that might please weigh in on this…
I am taking 100mg to tylenol every eight hours and 600 mg of ibuprofen every eight hours ( alternating each four hours), but the pain is still terrible… Post op appointment with surgeon gave me no answers or direction. Please help if you can. Thank you so much!

Jump to this post

Hi,

I had mine out five weeks ago. No pain. Took a long time for the glue to fall off. I do have diarrhea which is lousy. I will probably have to live with that for a while.

Definitely find a doctor who can answer your questions.

Cindy

REPLY

I was hoping to hear some other positive recovery journeys
Any advice on adding whole grain back into my diet
I love my grains and am hoping to find meal ideas that worked for others

REPLY
Profile picture for asinlollobrigida @asinlollobrigida

I was hoping to hear some other positive recovery journeys
Any advice on adding whole grain back into my diet
I love my grains and am hoping to find meal ideas that worked for others

Jump to this post

have you tried adding a good quality probiotic pill to increase the number of good bacteria to your bowel and help your digestion return to normal.

REPLY
Profile picture for asinlollobrigida @asinlollobrigida

I was hoping to hear some other positive recovery journeys
Any advice on adding whole grain back into my diet
I love my grains and am hoping to find meal ideas that worked for others

Jump to this post

@asinlollobrigida Good morning -
After my gall bladder was removed, it took several months for my body to adjust to its "new normal" - that is, having to rely on bile from the liver, which releases far more slowly than the gall bladder did. It essentially release "squirts" of bile as your body demanded it to digest food. Now the liver must take over that duty.
When I had my surgery, I was advised to eat very small meals at first - it was about 3 months before I could sit down and eat a small adult portion. I don't remember having a problem with grains, but I did have issues with spices and tomato-based foods for over 6 months.
Now, 3 years later, I eat my normal diet, which consists mainly of vegetables, fruits, low-fat dairy, beans, chicken, fish, lean pork and tiny amounts of beef. I would say I am low-grain because I am gluten-free and must be very careful. If I eat a too-large or fatty meal, I still get pain and diarrhea.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.