Pain in old gallbladder surgery site

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.

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.

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.

I have your exact symptoms. Have you figured anything out? I have seen my primary care, had ct done and they have no answers. It is so scary when it happens and I'm in so much pain for days after.

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.

Hi Mike, welcome to Connect.
I'm tagging @gman007 @rosemarya @hopeful33250 @bonitav @jimhd on this conversation. They have all mentioned having gall bladder surgery. I wondering if anyone has also experienced delayed pain at a surgical site.

Have you already talked to you doctor about this pain, Mike?

I was just going to start a new post regarding this issue. I had my gallbladder removed April 2024 (laparoscopically) and by November I had a burning pain where the gallbladder was. I have had only a little work up (ultrasound of organs in that area, nothing abnormal found) and had decided to just live with it. I also had 5 ft. of my small intestine removed 5 years ago, which adds to the complexity. The last month my symptoms have escalated significantly (more gas, pain at the area that often radiates, and nausea). I have been reading about something called post cholecystectomy syndrome...everyone who has commented in this post seems to fit the description! I see the pain clinic this Friday and will go from there. I restarted my cholestyramine (I also have suspected bile acid diarrhea, which certainlycan contribute to a lot of these symptoms) with the hope that in time it may help things calm down. Will keep you posted!

@jlstjohn - here is some information from the National Library of Medicine about a StatPearls publication that might be relevant to what you mentioned:

- Postcholecystectomy Syndrome https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539902/

Has it gone okay with restarting the cholestyramine so far?