Pain in old gallbladder surgery site

Posted by mikehow @mikehow, Jan 22, 2017

I had my gall bladder out 40 years ago, the old major abdominal surgery way, with an 8 inch scar and a 1 week hospital stay. I have had no problems for 40 years,but now, right along the scar line, I get occasional sharp pains, almost stabbing. It feels like it is right under the skin line. Could it be that the internal staples are shifting after all these years?

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@ldavy

LavenderRaven my gall bladder surgery was done 11 years ago and I have exactly the same symptoms as you. I couldn’t have explained the symptoms and remedy any better. I have seen my general doctor and he has no idea what it is. I’ve been dealing with this for the past two years and it is getting progressively worse. I’m afraid to even twist and bend down to put socks on. Once the twisting/cramping feeling starts, I have to almost knead the area like I’m pushing things back in place and stand up and stretch. And then yes, I’m sore for days afterward. I had my surgery done originally at the Mayo by Dr Kendrick who is a fabulous surgeon. My local docs have no other answers for me other than laparoscopic surgery. I did have an ultra sound performed and it was inconclusive. My doc did say it could be adhesions but surgery sometimes makes that worse as more adhesions can grow. I wish I had more answers for you. I find myself in the same quandary.

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Same as my results. It's so frustrating but glad there are others with the same thing. I'm sorry you're hurting too. Mines intermittent and makes my anxiety even worse

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I’ve had multiple abdominal and pelvic surgeries and I’m full of scar tissue and severe adhesions. I had a radical hysterectomy with bowel resection and it took 8 hours because of the severity of scar tissue and adhesions. I have awful excruciating 24/7 abdominal pain, nausea and distention from the adhesions. Adhesions can form anytime after your original surgery so my guess is you’ve developed adhesions from your gallbladder surgery and it’s causing you problems. Unfortunately there’s not really a solution. I’m on a low residue, no fiber diet. Right now I’m on mostly liquids because of horrible pulling/yanking pain on my intestines everytime I eat or drink or exist. I wonder if you switch to a low residue, low fiber diet if that will help. Heating pads are also helpful.

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Seven years ago, I had my gallbladder removed through laparoscopic surgery, and I've never experienced any pain at the surgical site. You might want to consider doing an online search for more information regarding your question.

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Many yrs ago I had my gallbladder removed at 32. Sliced open because of gang green. I always have pain in the initial gallbladder site.

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Hello I had my gallbladder removed 2 summers ago and within the pass year I've been experiencing terrible stomach pains with sharp stabbing pains along with what feels like electric shocks. From reading this I think I'm suffering from scar tissue in my stomach. I'm having trouble moving my bowels lately and I'm constantly in pain. I've been to the ER 3 times, my GP 3 times and my GI still no relief. Any suggestions on what my next move should be with my doctor's? Desperately seeking answers.

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@shahn08 i had a hysterectomy 45y's ago. Dr told me this year that my stomach pain was from scar tissue, from that surgery. They can remove scar tissue, but it grows back, dr said. Why bother. Besides, pain is in my upper right quadrant & epigastric or stomach. After my cholecystectomy i exp diarrhea for 4y's. Dumping syndrome? 2023/2024 constipated & prolapsed. Painful stomach distensions. Appear 10 mo pregnant w/o a due date to know this too shall pass. 66 & wearing maternity clothes. My weight is 77-85 pounds. But I'm w GERD & just learned I've a torturous redundant colon GI didn't tell me w/o asking & gastroparesis in my stomach. Slow or no digestion. My chart reading every diagnose for 5y's. I thought I exhausted labs & tests. There's so much drs do & do not know. If i didn't read on here there's a torturous colon- i would not have known to ask. I've had rectopexy fix prolapse. Umbilical hernia repair. Gall bladder removal surgery. So all these apparent surgeries are going to grow scar tissue. So drs are gonna blame your 2 year old surgery for scar tissue. From mine, wanting same blame, i would not hold that thought. We can't make it up, it is not in out head. Look at our symptoms. & i was diagnosed w diverticulitis, IBS. So many drs too little time

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@ryanrayna1

It has been 7 years since my gall bladder surgery. Right under one of the incisions (lapriscopic) on my side I get horrible cramping when the muscle is strained in a certain position. When in a "crunch" position such as sitting on my office chair and having to bend down to pick up something that fell under my chair. Any kind of strain that would go beyond a regular situp for any sustained amount of time it feels like the muscles on that side, the closest muscle group name I could put a name to is the one in the title of this post, are twisting inside my body. The only relief I have once the flipping and twisting feeling has started (which is accompanied with extreme pain) is to straighten out as far as possible and stretch that muscle to the utmost, and even then, once the cramp has subsided, the muscle remains sore for days afterwards. I have spoken to my nurse practitioner (I am in the Canadian Military, we dont have regular doctors like they do in civi land. We dont have family doctors, we have nurses and then if you are deemed sick enough, you get to see a Medical Officer) about it and she thinks it is just scar tissue that attached to the muscle from the wall of the scar and there is nothing to do about it. I cant imagine living the rest of my life the way I have the last few years, terrified if I have to pick anything up, go to the bathroom, or have an orgasm (Yes, its happened then too, which adds yet another component of fear to it) that I'll be in crippling pain. Any help, or anyone who might be experiencing the same thing who might have some idea's would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for reading.

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I had my gallbladder removed in 2021 & I get this cramping as well. It feels like a muscle cramp. Usually happens when I am laying down and I go to sit up or if I am laying in bed and sit up a little to try to fix my covers or to take my socks off or put socks on, stuff like that. It's like the area where my gallbladder was, will cramp up and I need to either lay back down or stand right up and stretch my abdomen out to relieve the cramp. Any doctor I have mentioned this to has no idea why this happens... 🙄

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I had my gallbladder out one year ago. I have sever pain starting near my breast bone going along my ribs to my right side. I also feel the pain through my back. I have diarrhea twice a week. I have had an endoscopy, CT scan, and MRI. Nothing seen and even my blood work was clear. I need help and my GI suggestion is to eat smaller meals. Can some help me or point me in the right direction. This pain is affecting my daily life and causing me sleepless nights.

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@nickicustode3

I had my gallbladder out one year ago. I have sever pain starting near my breast bone going along my ribs to my right side. I also feel the pain through my back. I have diarrhea twice a week. I have had an endoscopy, CT scan, and MRI. Nothing seen and even my blood work was clear. I need help and my GI suggestion is to eat smaller meals. Can some help me or point me in the right direction. This pain is affecting my daily life and causing me sleepless nights.

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Hi, @nickcustode3, and welcome. The severe pain sounds challenging. Diarrhea twice weekly also is no fun.

I'm guessing your primary care provider set up these tests you underwent? Do they have further suggestions about direction to explore or what might being you more immediate relief?

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The primary set up the blood work but all the scans have been through the GI doctor. GI also had me on an antidepressant and an ulcer medicine. Neither of those medications have helped in any way. They set me up with a urologist but that doctor barely took five minutes. He said my kidneys are fine and culture was clear. The only thing my GI continues to tell me is eat less food and not to eat an hour before bed. I wonder if anyone else feels this kind of pain years after surgery, and if I should still be looking for a reason for my pain.

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