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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I am 8 days post op and have been experiencing severe stomach cramps that have me in a ball crying, the pain medicine they gave me barely works maybe knocks the pain down to an 8 at the lowest which is not enough to allow me to function this happens at least 2 times in a day. On top of that I am also having what I can only explain as stomach discomfort all day long! I have also been getting stabbing pains throughout my abdomen. Has anyone else had this issue? Does it get better over time? This pain is not something I can deal with

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@johnetteg

Hello, I am still having constant pain in my right side where the gallbladder used to be. It will also go into my side and back. The pain will also off and on move into my upper abdomen and to the left side. I’ve been through so many tests and everything is coming back ok. I’m still not able to eat much and have lost so much weight. I am now under weight and feel so weak. The pain makes it hard to eat and just walking much makes it hurt more. I don’t know what to do or how to get better. I’m scared of continuing to get sicker and sicker and dying. Not to be dramatic but I feel this way sometimes. I need help but no one seems to know how to help or why I’m having the pain. I used to be a very active person and always making people laugh and a normal functioning person until I had my gallbladder removed. I am unable to work now. I have two children that I need to be here for.

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I have the same issue the severe pains except mine sort of feel like severe stomach cramps and then stabbing. It's really rough I understand your pain and I have been trying to find answers which is why I came to this board. The fact that so many of us are having these same issues leaves me to believe that there has to be an answer! Have you found any pain reliefe? The medicine that they gave me to go home with barely helps with my pain so I'd like to know if anyone else has found some reliefe????

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@sharonda00

I had my gallbladder removed Jan 11th, 2019 I can’t say I made the right decision to have my gallbladder removed. I had a gallstone that was big so I was told I need surgery. It started with pain in my right side it last 2 1/2 days straight. Went to the ER and was told I needed surgery. Since surgery feel nausea a lot, bad stomach pains where I’m crouch over crying in pain. My incisions was glued together when my boyfriend was taking off my dressings I passed out twice. Then started shaking as if I was freezing. I couldn’t get in and out of bed without help it was very rough. I almost passed out again a week after surgery. Went to the ER because I was passing out and shortness of breath. They keep me overnight ran ever test and everything came back fine. I have been consipated due to pain meds. The laxative is working. I still get sharp shooting pain above my belly button. Where my gallbladder was at I still get the pain in my right side that travels to my back. As far as food goes I can eat almost anything. I tried a cornbeef sandwich and was in the worse of pain. After surgery I only had broth, rice, turkey, jello and fruit. Then I started to slowly introduce other foods. I did buy some wristbands that helps with feeling nausea it amazing I love them only cost $12.00 at Rite Aid Pharmacy. My follow-up appointment is in another week. I’m always tired and feeling so weak. I have pain even when I don’t eat I can feel the difference when I eat something that’s hard to digest. It has been a rough recover for me. Anyone going through what I’m going through I wish you the best of luck with recovery. I’ll admit sometimes a little support goes a long way.

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Sounds a lot like me! I also don't think I made the right decision. I was sufferingbfor a month, they took out my appendix thinking that was the problem but the symptoms just got worse. I ended up in the ER 4 times in 3 weeks before someone started to listen to me. They found sludge in my gallbladder and said that was the cause of all my pain and recommended surgery. Ever since I have been having even worse pains (I can eat without pain at least) but my stomach is always very uncomfortable and I get severe cramps like pains that cause me to ball up and cry. The pain is terrible my post op appointment is Wednesday but so far I have gotten no real answers from the doctor when I send messages just "give it time" or "that can be normal". I'm pretty sure it's not normal. Most people I know that have had their gallbladder out said they felt great after, that's not the case here

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I had gallbladder removed about 4 weeks ago. It went well at first and now 4 weeks into recovery I am having pain where the gallbladder was as well as abdominal pain. This just started and is causing a lot of diarrhea and discomfort. Some burping and very light nausea. I went back to the emergency room and they ran blood tests, urine and another ct. Everything came back normal other than a slightly high bilirubin level. Liver enzymes were fine, white cell count was fine, no kidney damage, no leftover stones. I’m stumped but I sure hope this gets better. Going back to the surgeon for a second follow up next week.

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Get checked for pankritus. What happen to me after i had mine removed and stint put in pankrus. Took 2 to 3 wks and went back in hospital

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@sockwelljames

Get checked for pankritus. What happen to me after i had mine removed and stint put in pankrus. Took 2 to 3 wks and went back in hospital

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But really gabladder should not be a prob removing

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Hi,
My 19yr old daughter had laparoscopic gallbladder removal 4 months ago. She has had severe pain in stomach area ever since. Regardless of healthy seating or not. Anyone else experiencing long last pain post surgery.
Thanks!

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@karenolac

Hi,
My 19yr old daughter had laparoscopic gallbladder removal 4 months ago. She has had severe pain in stomach area ever since. Regardless of healthy seating or not. Anyone else experiencing long last pain post surgery.
Thanks!

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Hi. The most common cause would be an incision site hernia which is fairly common and is usually easy to diagnose. Sometimes it is obvious to see when flexing the abdominal muscles, otherwise an ultrasound will detect it. I had my GB removed in 2004 because they thought it was causing pancreatitis. They sent me home the same day after surgery and I had to go back by ambulance that night as I was blacking out. I was bleeding internally and lost 7 units of blood. I healed after a transfusion and 7 days in the hospital but it didn't stop the pancreatitis. After 7 years of pain and lots of endoscopes a tumor showed up in the tail of my pancreas on an MRI. A different surgeon started a laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy but had to convert to a full open procedure and removed half the pancreas and spleen. The operative report showed I was full of adhesions and fibrosis which caused the doc to convert from lapro to full open. This was probably caused by the blood loss of the GB surgery. The surgery did stop the pancreatitis but about a year after surgery I've had incisional pain but only to the left of the vertical incision. They ruled out hernia and the surgeon won't see me saying there is nothing that can be done. My now third GI doc is an old timer who is somewhat irreverent of the surgeons and said that there can be nerve damage that doesn't show up on an MRI or ultrasound. However I can't find a doctor that treats nerve damage. This link has good info:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5908491/

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Hello @karenolac,

You may notice that I moved your discussion and combined it with this existing discussion on gallbladder surgery as I thought it would be beneficial for you to be introduced to the many members who have discussed much of what your daughter is experiencing.
How is she managing her pain? Has her doctor offered any therapy that would help her find some relief?

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Hello everyone! Just before Christmas I went to the ER with extreme stomach pains, bloating, constant belching, and an inability to eat due to pain. The ER admitted me and said they thought it was my appendix. The day before Christmas eve I had surgery to remove my appendix but after getting off the pain medicine I noticed I was having the same symptoms and they were getting worse. I went to the ER 3 more times before I finally switched hospitals. The new hospital listened to me and did an ultrasound and found sludge in my gallbladder. I was told the sludge could have been causing my pain and they recommended it come out. So they performed the surgery and I went home the next day. I am now 8 days post op and I have been experiencing some really painful symptoms. At least twice a day I get these severe stomach cramps that have me balled up crying the medicine they sent me home with barely helps with the pain, I have been getting very lightheaded (when I stand up my vision goes in and out as does my hearing), I also get these stabbing pains throughout my abdomen and suffer from what I can only explain as constant stomach discomfort. Are these pains normal after surgery? Has anyone else experienced these symptoms? Does it get better? I am still not able to eat much because I get pain anytime I eat even if it's just a cracker. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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