Dealing with symptoms after Gallbladder surgery

Posted by roisemaire @roisemaire, Nov 30, 2017

Hi is there anyone out there that suffers from nausea and pain almost 4 weeks after gallbladder operation. Every time I eat anything i get pain in site of operation. And tired all the time no energy

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Kanaaz Pereira, Connect Moderator | @kanaazpereira | Apr 8, 2018

Thanks for sharing your insights, @lisalucier.

Hi @jamie1004,

You may notice that I moved your discussion and combined it with this existing discussion on gallbladder surgery. I did this as I thought it would be beneficial for you to be introduced to the many members who have discussed much of what you are experiencing.
If you click on VIEW & REPLY in your email notification, you will see the whole discussion and can join in, meet, and participate with other members talking about their or their loved ones' experiences.

I’m also tagging @gman007 @mikehow @guaranlam @mbbarrett @kozlo52 @bonitav @jimhd @dodgerblu818311 @debnjay on this conversation. They have all mentioned having gall bladder surgery, and I'm confident they will join in and share their experiences.

Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Apr 8, 2018

In reply to @jamie1004 "Hi everybody, my name is Jamie and I’ve been diagnosed with gallstones, but this wasn’t my..." + (show)

@jamie1004

Hi everybody, my name is Jamie and I’ve been diagnosed with gallstones, but this wasn’t my first guess. In December, I caught a bad stomach flu and while 3 other of my family members caught it too, I was the only one who had nausea afterwards. Along with this, I had burping. Some reflux, but mainly after I would eat and lay down so I blame it on that.

I went to the doctors a month later in January and she said it was possibility GERD. This wasn’t my normal doctor, since she was out of town. But anyways, I started getting better slowly by taking a Tums every morning as I woke up.

Fast forward to late February, I was eating meals happily and not worrying about a thing. The only thing that caught my attention was after having a big meal of Domino’s, I had major pain and bloating. Thought I was gonna be sick but turns I just had to BM. Nothing happened until ‘that time of the month’ and I was back to not eating again, dealing with nausea and burping.

Finally went back to the doctor’s, got put on Omeprazole 20mg(?) capsules and went on my way home. Slowly built back up to eating without having to take meds. Then March comes around and on the 18th, I have the worst abdominal pain that I can only describe as labor pain. Started at 2 p.m., went to the E.R. finally at 12 a.m. when the heating pad clearly wasn’t working for me and it went away until I went to do a urine test. Immediately pain through my left shoulder, middle of my chest/abdomen, and nausea full force. Thought I was gonna be sick (and I hate to throw up, I do everything to avoid it.) but I wasn’t. We did a blood test after I calmed down, went to ultrasound and came back around 1:30ish. Fell asleep, they woke me up at 3:30 a.m. and turns out I have gallstones at 16! Prior to this hospital visit, I had another ultrasound at another clinic and the results came back as fine. So?? I’m a bit confused but anyways.

They gave me zofran to take as needed for my nausea but since that attack, I’ve had none. I’ve stuck to a low-fat diet, eating before 6 p.m., and not laying down after I eat. I’ve managed to be healthy this way but we’ve decided on surgery (I have consultation this upcoming Friday) and while I want to prevent another attack, I’m scared to death. I’ve read online that gallbladder surgery and gastroparesis are connected often. My mother had gallstones and the same surgery I’m getting and she’s perfectly fine but I know everyone is different.

So my question here is, what were your gallbladder disease signs? Did the gallbladder surgery help you? Has anyone found themselves with gastroparesis or other illnesses? Is there pros and cons to taking it out?

Please help. My anxiety and depression are having more bad days because I’m scared of this chronic illness happening to me. I just want to get better and feel ‘normal’. Is this selfish of me?

My current symptoms are: bloating, burping, brain fog, general feeling of unwellness, some days loss of appetite, burning gurgly stomach, constipation, orange-colored stools, maybe indigestion??? I’m not sure, I don’t feel full after eating and when I feel that, I normally burp and I feel fine. Nausea comes and goes. Get little bits of pain in my GB area. Wake up in the middle of the night randomly.

The only health issues I have are asthma and low vitamin D. I am also (hopefully) getting a lipoma out at the same time of the GB surgery.

I’ve never had prior stomach issues to this. I caught the stomach flu about three times in my life. But I did have bad eating habits. I’ve been through a lot of emotional trauma in my life as well and stress is not good on me either.

Jump to this post

@jamie1004, I want to welcome you to Connect. And I want to emphasize that you are not being selfish because you want to feel better and 'normal' again! Here is what Mayo Clinic has to say about gallstones. I thought that you might find it helpful in answering some of your questions. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gallstones/symptoms-causes/syc-20354214

My husband had his gallbladder removed by laparoscopic surgery and he recovered with no lingering effects. His symptoms came on quickly while we were on a shopping/lunch 'date'. In a matter of hours, he was doubled over in severe abdominal pain. The ER determined that he also had pancreatitis which is (my nonmedical understanding) inflammation/infection caused by a gallstone that had been lodged or difficulty passing. To prevent future episodes, they decided to remove the gallbladder, but had to wait until the infection was gone before they could remove the gallbladder. He never had any episode beforehand. We do not regret that he had the surgery.

I understand your fear of going thru a surgical procedure. My suggestion is to take a list of your fears and concerns to the doctor and to the surgeon who will do the procedure.
Rosemary

Gary, Alumni Mentor | @gman007 | Apr 9, 2018

In reply to @jamie1004 "Hi everybody, my name is Jamie and I’ve been diagnosed with gallstones, but this wasn’t my..." + (show)

@jamie1004

Please help. My anxiety and depression are having more bad days because I’m scared of this chronic illness happening to me. I just want to get better and feel ‘normal’. Is this selfish of me?

The only health issues I have are asthma and low vitamin D. I am also (hopefully) getting a lipoma out at the same time of the GB surgery.

Jump to this post

Hey @Jamie. I had my gall bladder removed when it was thought to be the culprit in my pancreatitis attacks. That did not resolve my problem, but since it really serves no important purpose, I guess I am just as well without it. In my wife's family, nearly every female has had theirs removed and they went through a fair amount of suffering beforehand because it is often difficult to tel it is causing problems and my M-I-L nearly had hers rupture before the Dr. finally agreed to remove it. So, I would say it is a good thing to get rid of. Another issue with gall stones is that they block your bile duct and prevent your pancreas from draining and that is very bad news. Good luck and Godspeed with the surgery!
Gary

Jim, Volunteer Mentor | @jimhd | Apr 9, 2018

I thought that something was going on with my gall bladder and had a bunch of tests. I finally had a function test and found that my gall bladder wasn't working, and had it removed. A year later my wife had the same symptoms of nausea with no let up, and also had very low function, so hers was removed, as well. That was a few years ago, but we don't recall any problems after surgery that was noteworthy. We rarely eat any greasy food, except occasionally at a restaurant. It sounds like we were fortunate in our recovery.

Jim

Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Apr 10, 2018

Hi Jim, @jimhd

What kind of test is the "function test." Is it a blood test or something else?

Teresa

Jim, Volunteer Mentor | @jimhd | Apr 11, 2018

In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hi Jim, @jimhd What kind of test is the "function test." Is it a blood test..." + (show)

@hopeful33250

Teresa, I can't remember what the test was. I'll try to remember to ask my wife about it when she gets home from her knitting group tonight. It showed that there were no stones or other abnormalities, but that it was functioning at only 14%.

Jim

tvashon | @tvashon | May 22, 2018

I had my gall bladder removed almost 2 weeks ago.
I wish I had got a second opinion , or read up on the complications , I seriously am sick of it .
I feel heartburn , severe heartburn that I would guess a heart attack would feel like. No energy , I cannot get out of bed , it's a persistant, burning .
I vomitted once since the surgery, it was horrible
Like acid .I never had issues with my stomach , I have been living with severe pulmonary hypertension, congestive heart failure , diagnosed in 2012 , my pulmonologist, and cardiologist have worked hard finding medications to battle this progressive lung disease, at 46 yrs I didn't think it could get worse.. then this.
I see no hope.

bertbiz | @bertbiz | May 22, 2018

Hi @tvashon. I am sorry you are having so many problems. I had my gall bladder removed last September with almost no issues. I can tell you I was tired for months and now can't eat greasy foods without some problem. Because of all your combined diagnoses, I would suggest you get all of your different doctors together, either in a conference call or in person to talk about it together. I would think there would be someone at the hospital or clinic that could coordinate such a meeting. It is important to tell them all at once what you are experiencing. Maybe together they could come up with some solutions for you.
Wishing you much luck, health and solutions.
@bertbiz

Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | May 22, 2018

In reply to @tvashon "I had my gall bladder removed almost 2 weeks ago. I wish I had got a..." + (show)

@tvashon, I want to welcome you to Mayo Connect. I hope that your doctors are continuing to find a way to bring you some comfort. After my husband's gallbladder surgery, which was uncomplicated, he could keep only small sips of tea or broth down. He did not have any of the pain that you are describing, but he did not have the other health issues that you have mentioned.

At 46 years or at any age, I can understand feelings. Time moves too slowly when we are uncertain and in pain. I want to tag the following members, who might have some thoughts to share. @gman007, @jimhd, @lisalucier. @roisemaire , @hopeful33250 Do you have any information about gall bladder surgery to share with tvashon?
Rosemary