Dealing with symptoms after Gallbladder surgery

I appreciate so much your posts. I had my gallbladder removed March 4 (laparoscopic) and have been battling on and off again nausea and aversion to eating. The only thing that seems to help is a prescription for a PPI to reduce acid in the stomach. Is that what helped you most? I’m intrigued by the anxiety aspect of it bc I too have been very anxious about feeling sick again and for so long. Like this is my new normal. I took stomach meds for acid for 2 weeks, felt great so stopped them and then nausea came back. Would you mind sharing what meds have worked for you and if you are still on them? I still have to wait two weeks to see my gastroenterologist. Surgeon said everything was fine on his end. :-/

@eeklady, Welcome to Mayo Connect. I would like to say that I am happy that your surgery is behind you, but from what I read, I see that you are currently struggling with some unpleasant symptoms.
After my husband's surgery, he mostly sipped liquids, and ate small amounts of soft foods.

Had you been experiencing any of the nausea issues prior to your gall bladder surgery? Do you think that might be part of the current problem? Who prescribed the PPI? and why did you stop taking it?

Thanks for the welcome! I was indeed experiencing nausea before my surgery. My primary care doctor prescribed the PPI for me while we were still trying to figure out the issue. Once gallbladder was identified and removed I stopped taking it thinking my nausea was just because of the gallstones. Unfortunately from the moment I woke up from surgery I continued to be nauseous. On my primary care doctor’s advice I started the PPI again and nausea subsided. She seems to think my stomach is very irritated. After two weeks I stopped PPI because I thought I was recovered but nausea returned. On PPI again and seem to be nausea free. Didn’t know if anyone else had similar experiences. I will be interested to visit with a gastroenterologist but the wait to see him is just so long! Two more weeks to go!

I had laparoscopy surgery mid January 2019. It is now April 2019 and I still have pain in my side, sometimes radiates to my back, but also having some dizziness and blurred vision......just feel off. Had pain lower right abdomen as well. Had colonoscopy, and everything good. Tender of right rib cage. Had CT scan on lower abdomen and dr. says everything looks ok. Now has me taking naprozole (sp) and prednisone (for inflammation under ribcage). Dr. doesn't know what to do. Said next step might be upper CT scan of chest. I'm frustrated and just want to get my life back on track. Thanks for your input.

Hi @bship63 and Welcome. Please excuse my short reply-I’m using my iPhone. Are you feeling any improvement with the meds?
Have you considered getting a 2nd opinion?

Just trying the meds at this time and will revaluate I a couple weeks. Frustrating for sure.

@bship63, I hope that you are feeling some positive result from the medicine by the time you get this. I don't know why there are so many different people struggling after gallbladder surgery. My husband must have been one of the fortunate ones, I guess.
Have you read thru some of what other members have shares (I realize that this is a lengthy discussion, but you will get a feel for what others have experienced and how some of them found their solution. Most likely, patience plays big part, and that is definitely not easy when there is pain.
I had liver and transplant surgery and during the healing process, I felt pains in the region of my new organs that frightened me. I brought this up when I had an appointment 5 months after my surgery, and found out that my pains were a result of adhesions that forming as the tissues were healing. I was advised to keep on doing easy exercises and that they would eventually heal/not hurt. Although this does not sound like what you are experiencing, it might be part of the pain, maybe??
Waiting and wondering is frustrating, but sometimes it is the only way to learn what is going on, and what might be a remedy.
Do you work? Are you able to return to any normal activities yet?

Yes I went back to work after 7 days. Thanks for your input. Keeping faith in God and the healing process.

Hello @bship63 @eeklady @snoel, and members in this discussion,

You might be also be interested in viewing these conversations on Connect, where @msb18 @christina315 @jelmo @woodsiechris @psepski and others are talking about similar symptoms related to the gallbladder:
– Post cholesectomy (gallbladder removal) chronic back pain https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/post-cholesectomy-gallbladder-removal-chronic-back-pain/
– Sphincter of Oddi Dysfuncfion https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/i-have-sphincter-of-oddi-dysfuncfion-it-causes-severe-upper-abdominal-pain/

I am 3 weeks post op and 62 years young. Never had any surgery, always healthy though I was overweight about 30 lbs past my ideal weight. LOST 22 pounds! Laparoscopic and the pain was intense for about 4 days. Stopped the painkillers then began to experience severe reflux. Doctor put me on 40 milligrams of Nexium, that is now helping the reflux. I eat 6 or 7 small mini meals a day. NO fats at all right now, they don't agree with me including good fats. I am eating steamed veggies, such as carrots, beets, asparagus, green beans,some fruits including papaya, apples slices, pears, brown rice, lean chicken breast (ALL FAT TRIMMED OFF), tofu, beet kraut (fermented food are excellent for digestive comebacks), Nonfat organic yogurt for the probiotics, whole wheat (fiber) bread, apple juice. I have never had surgery before of any kind. The recovery is different for all, however I have reached out to many people who have had this procedure and most of them tell me that the recovery is MUCH longer for most folks, especially over 50! The doctors underplay this for some reason, and the lack of nutritional information and education in my area is startling! Be your own advocate with your doctors, insist on information or referrals to sources. I feel it will be about 6 weeks until I am back to normal. Hopefully that will include my body chemistry resolving the reflux and allowing and supporting the processing of good fats such as Salmon, other fish, olive oil, avocados and more! Good luck to all who are in this situation and spend time on the internet educating yourself.