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Severe abdominal pain pain for 8 years after gallbladder removal

Posted by tammyt1967 @tammyt1967, Aug 2, 2023

I have been in excruciating burning abdominal pain wrapping around my right side to my back. And through my shoulder blades, headaches, Dizziness, disoriented, muscle aches and weakness, numbness, tingling in arms,chills followed by flushing heat and sweating on abdomen, bouts of low grade fever, adrenaline rushes at night waking me up. And at times lasted through the day, for 8 years now after having my gallbladder removed. I have had imagine, blood test, stool test. No answers. Endoscopy showed inflammation of my stomach lining peptic and doudeum ulcers. I have been prescribed several different acid reducers. And taken them off and on for 8 years which cause side effects and don't really help. I have to force myself to function everyday. When I have a bad flare I loss weight rapidly getting down to 90 pounds. Despite eating every 2 hours. I have to pressure cook my food to make it soft so I can digest it. I only eat whole organic fruits and vegetables. Organic chicken and baked salmon. I can not leave my house before noon because I can't get away from the bathroom. This effects my job and has caused financial issues. That pain is so at times my brain tells me the only way out is death. But that is not an option for. I am a single mother and my youngest daughter has multiple sclerosis and needs me. But I feel like this is slowly killing me. And can not get the help that I need from the medical community where I live.

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tammyt1967 | @tammyt1967 | Jun 7 10:43pm
In reply to @sharonlynne "I'm trying. Today I am seeing a psychologist at the suggestion of my primary care physician...." + (show)
Profile picture for sharonlynne @sharonlynne

I'm trying. Today I am seeing a psychologist at the suggestion of my primary care physician. There's just not enough awareness out there about aftercare from gb removal. I've made myself an appt with Gastrenolgy at the hospital that did my surgery. It's at the end of this month.

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@sharonlynne I'm so sorry you are going through this. Unfortunately when doctors can't figure out what is happening to you, or can't cover up the symptoms with medication they blame you. Saying it is some kind of mental health issue. Trust yourself and don't give up! You know your body.

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tammyt1967 | @tammyt1967 | Jun 7 10:48pm

I'm so sorry. Unfortunately you are not alone. Your doctor's will run test and find nothing wrong. Then they will begin to tell you that you need to see a psychologist because it is all in your head. Trust yourself your body is not lying to you.

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tammyt1967 | @tammyt1967 | Jun 7 10:56pm
In reply to @cassie2025 "I'm sorry you are going through this. I have had similar chills, sweats, pain, dizziness, and..." + (show)
Profile picture for cassie2025 @cassie2025

I'm sorry you are going through this. I have had similar chills, sweats, pain, dizziness, and exhaustion in the few months since gallbladder removal. I have had no idea what is causing it. It is so debilitating and effects daily life so much! I wanted to share with you so you don't feel so alone. I wonder if others have this? Have you found any help at all?

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@cassie2025 thank you for responding. It's been 10 years since I had my gallbladder removed. I'm still alive but in absolute misery. I have given up on the medical world as we know it. Multiple tests no answers. I have healed myself as much as I can...and function to the best of my ability. At best I feel like I have the stomach flu every day. But Im Not in excruciating abdominal pain all the time like I was. But it's always lurking if I'm not very careful.

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tammyt1967 | @tammyt1967 | Jun 7 11:05pm
In reply to @bborth "I ended up having bile reflux after having my GB taken out, thus resulting in a..." + (show)
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I ended up having bile reflux after having my GB taken out, thus resulting in a major surgery to reconstruction the duct to avoid this bile build up. I still have issues, and am dealing with a flare up of what could be scar tissue obstructing things from that surgery 3 years ago. But all my GI stuff started about 7 months after GB removal. I wish I would not have had this done and maybe tried some other things before having it removed. Check to see if you have sphincter of oddi dysfunction, I had that as well but then led to bile reflux.

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@bborth sorry to hear you are going through this. I have had many tests nothing has diagnosed what is causing all of the issues that have been caused by having my gallbladder removed.

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tammyt1967 | @tammyt1967 | Jun 7 11:14pm
In reply to @lillyp6526383301 "So sorry to hear what you're going through. I've had very similar symptoms for the last..." + (show)
Profile picture for lillyp6526383301 @lillyp6526383301

So sorry to hear what you're going through. I've had very similar symptoms for the last 4 year, they were mild at first but have progressively got worse, I have constant right pain in rib area runs in to my back and shoulder, a tight pressure feeling some times worse when I eat and eat very low fat and healthy, when I don't eat I get a very painful
Biding pain in my back both on the right and left upper back. I suffer with night sweats broken sleep, extremely tired, I run a small business which is labour intensive I'm just about coping with it as I work from home so I can lay down if I feel ill. I have been to my GP several times each year I have blood test ultra sound scan camera put down my stomach blood test stool tests but all have come back negative, I'm waiting for a specialist scan where they put radioactive dye in to you via a vein to look in to your liver bile
duct and spinkter of oddi but I live in uk and the waiting list are ridiculous, I'm hoping this will help , hope thing get better for you kind regards
Dee

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@lillyp6526383301 I'm sad to hear you are struggling. I understand what you are doing though. Unfortunately you probably will not receive the help that you need. I have had many tests done with no answers. It's been 10 years since I had my gallbladder removed. I have given up on the medical world to . When the test show nothing and the medication they prescribe doesn't cover up your symptoms. They will blame you and suggest that you see a therapist. Trust yourself !

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Jun 27 8:20am
In reply to @rachelk314 "@tammyt1967 I’m going thru this right now! You are not alone. I just had surgery in..." + (show)
Profile picture for rachelk314 @rachelk314

@tammyt1967 I’m going thru this right now! You are not alone. I just had surgery in April and I’m over this craziness going on in my body. I get dizzy and weak (like I am right now at work), either diarrhea or extremely constipated-no in between! I hate this

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Hello @rachelk314

Earlier this month, you posted about some post-surgery issues you were having. How are you feeling now? Has there been any improvement in your symptoms?

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kate42 | @kate42 | Jun 28 11:51am

My gallbladder was removed many years ago. I don't have the symptoms several have posted but I have to take Colestipol for diarrhea. I've gotten where I don't like to eat out, only with certain people.

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cardigan | @cardigan | Jun 29 2:55pm

I am sorry to hear that you have so many medical issues since Gallbladder removel.I had my Gallbladder removed approx.20 yrs ago and seemed to be ok except the odd bloating but for past three years am suffering from diarrhoea.My Gastro.thinks it may be bile malabsorption.Seemily when the gallbladder is removed the bile is not contained and may be all over your system giving out various symptoms.

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Moderator
Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Jun 30 3:17pm

Just a brief reminder of the Community Guideline No. 7, bullet No. 4, which says: Do not post used medical devices or unused medications for sale or to give away. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/about-connect/tab/community-guidelines/

Please do work with your providers especially when considering new medications or supplements.

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