1. < Digestive Health

Complications/symptoms after Gallbladder Surgery

Posted by kalenkerby @kalenkerby, Oct 21, 2018

Hello. I am a Male 32. I had my gall bladder removed 4 days ago. Since I have had strange pains and feelings. Nausea after I eat Everytime. I realized after it's removal my stomach will have swelling, but it feels like there is a Large Knot just right of my Belly button. I also have had severe Hunger type pains. It's the only thing that I can compare it too. Very bad and painful pains that resemble Severe Hunger pains. I have also had headaches since the surgery. Mainly the right back of my head, it feels like there is a Knot under my skull almost. It doesn't hurt severely, but it does hurt sometimes worse than others. And nothing seems to help. Almost a throbbing pain. And of course pain across my entire abdomen. Top to bottom. Side to side. Which is to be expected I guess. But I have have more pain in my right chest and under my left breast off and on. What of these are to be expected and not?

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Ingegerd Enscoe, Alumni Mentor | @astaingegerdm | Dec 5, 2020

@theache- Welcome to Mayo Connect!
As you can see many people who had their gallbladders removed, report a variety of problems after surgery. I have not seen a complaint like yours, with severe headaches. It probably has no connection to the surgery. The right specialist for you now would be the Neurologist. There are very many causes of headaches Let's hope the Neurologist have some answers for you. Please get back to us with any new information, please!
I hope that there are other members that can share experiences.

REPLY
1 reply
theache | @theache | Dec 6, 2020
In reply to @astaingegerdm "@theache- Welcome to Mayo Connect! As you can see many people who had their gallbladders removed,..." + (show)
@astaingegerdm

@theache- Welcome to Mayo Connect!
As you can see many people who had their gallbladders removed, report a variety of problems after surgery. I have not seen a complaint like yours, with severe headaches. It probably has no connection to the surgery. The right specialist for you now would be the Neurologist. There are very many causes of headaches Let's hope the Neurologist have some answers for you. Please get back to us with any new information, please!
I hope that there are other members that can share experiences.

Jump to this post

There is a post from Kalenkerby posted in 2018 that speaks of headaches exactly like mine after gallbladder surgery. I have not received a response from her yet. I am seeing a neurologist, and so far, nothing found. Never had headaches before this surgery.

REPLY
ZeeGee | @fourof5zs | Dec 6, 2020
In reply to @theache "I just joined this site looking for answers and hopefully some help. I too had my..." + (show)
@theache

I just joined this site looking for answers and hopefully some help. I too had my gallbladder removed, (1-month ago), and started getting headaches on top and on the top back of my head. The headaches began two weeks after surgery and have not gone away, ever! Constant dull to severe headache that medicine does not seem to help. I have been back to my surgeon who sent me for a CT-Scan with contrast to make sure that there was not a blood clot, and it came back normal. Then I went to my personal doctor and she sent me for an MRI with contrast, and it came back normal. Then I was sent to an ENT who scoped my sinus cavity and throat looking for an infection, and that came back normal. I am not seeing a neurologist and he is running tests, EEG, Sleep Apnea, etc. Still no relief from these nagging headaches and I feel tired, have trouble sleeping and feel shortness of breath at times. My stomach, and gallbladder pain in gone, and I have no problems eating. Any thoughts?

Jump to this post

@theache

I have had headaches off and on weeks .. sometimes months after any surgery I have had general anesthesia. I think if you tend to have migraine headaches, sinus headaches, or tension headaches as I do you are more likely to have them after general anesthesia. I tend to be nauseous after general anesthesia and therefore will not drink as many fluids as I should. Dehydration can cause headaches.

This article will explain other causes: https://www.healthline.com/health/headache-after-surgery#causes

ZeeGee

REPLY
1 reply
ken82 | @ken82 | Dec 6, 2020

@fourof5zs ... Drinking an electrolyte solution such as Pedialyte .. available OTC at drug stores .. is very helpful to me to be hydrated.. that is really important to good health.. The Pedialyte or the Store brand equivalent is much higher in the electrolytes we need than the Gatoraid drinks found in the Grocery stores.. Ken

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1 reply
theache | @theache | Dec 9, 2020
In reply to @ken82 "@fourof5zs ... Drinking an electrolyte solution such as Pedialyte .. available OTC at drug stores ....." + (show)
@ken82

@fourof5zs ... Drinking an electrolyte solution such as Pedialyte .. available OTC at drug stores .. is very helpful to me to be hydrated.. that is really important to good health.. The Pedialyte or the Store brand equivalent is much higher in the electrolytes we need than the Gatoraid drinks found in the Grocery stores.. Ken

Jump to this post

Thanks Ken, and yes, I have tried that. These darn headaches did not start until after my gallbladder surgery; never had them before then.

REPLY
theache | @theache | Dec 9, 2020
In reply to @fourof5zs "@theache I have had headaches off and on weeks .. sometimes months after any surgery I..." + (show)
@fourof5zs

@theache

I have had headaches off and on weeks .. sometimes months after any surgery I have had general anesthesia. I think if you tend to have migraine headaches, sinus headaches, or tension headaches as I do you are more likely to have them after general anesthesia. I tend to be nauseous after general anesthesia and therefore will not drink as many fluids as I should. Dehydration can cause headaches.

This article will explain other causes: https://www.healthline.com/health/headache-after-surgery#causes

ZeeGee

Jump to this post

Thanks, I am going on three weeks now with the same aching headache. Top of my head and it floats from front to back and does not go away. Sometimes I feel short of breath and that feeling usually lasts several hours. Anemia, diabetes, or something like that? Just want the headache to go away.

REPLY
2 replies
ZeeGee | @fourof5zs | Dec 9, 2020
In reply to @theache "Thanks, I am going on three weeks now with the same aching headache. Top of my..." + (show)
@theache

Thanks, I am going on three weeks now with the same aching headache. Top of my head and it floats from front to back and does not go away. Sometimes I feel short of breath and that feeling usually lasts several hours. Anemia, diabetes, or something like that? Just want the headache to go away.

Jump to this post

@theache Are you taking any new medications? Many drugs can cause a headache and shortness of breath. More than likely it is the anesthesia. Plenty of fluids, and walking as you are able will help get it out your system. Make your doctor is aware of your symptoms... especially since you mentioned shortness of breath. There is a chance it is something else going on with your body other than side effects of the anesthesia.

After one surgery I had my neck hurt and I had a horrible headache.. for several months. It was some way my head had been positioned during surgery. I went through PT and no help. My family doctor back then was a DO. He did not tell me what he was going to do. He had me lay on the exam table with my head hanging over the edge and he was massaging my neck and moving my head about and all of a sudden a quick turn.. I heard a very loud, frightening pop. Immediate relief and was told to never let anyone twist my neck again. I basically had a disc slip out of place.

What I am saying is it could be your neck even if it is not hurting. Mine was hurting, but sometimes the neck doesn't hurt and will cause a headache..not just neck, but other parts of the spine too. It could even be a shoulder out of alignment. We never know what positions our bodies go through during surgery.

Please keep me updated. I care.
ZeeGee

REPLY
2 replies
imatine | @imatine | Dec 9, 2020
In reply to @theache "Thanks, I am going on three weeks now with the same aching headache. Top of my..." + (show)
@theache

Thanks, I am going on three weeks now with the same aching headache. Top of my head and it floats from front to back and does not go away. Sometimes I feel short of breath and that feeling usually lasts several hours. Anemia, diabetes, or something like that? Just want the headache to go away.

Jump to this post

Could be just tension or stress. Did you try to ask your doctor to give you a relaxant or so?

REPLY
2 replies
theache | @theache | Dec 9, 2020
In reply to @fourof5zs "@theache Are you taking any new medications? Many drugs can cause a headache and shortness of..." + (show)
@fourof5zs

@theache Are you taking any new medications? Many drugs can cause a headache and shortness of breath. More than likely it is the anesthesia. Plenty of fluids, and walking as you are able will help get it out your system. Make your doctor is aware of your symptoms... especially since you mentioned shortness of breath. There is a chance it is something else going on with your body other than side effects of the anesthesia.

After one surgery I had my neck hurt and I had a horrible headache.. for several months. It was some way my head had been positioned during surgery. I went through PT and no help. My family doctor back then was a DO. He did not tell me what he was going to do. He had me lay on the exam table with my head hanging over the edge and he was massaging my neck and moving my head about and all of a sudden a quick turn.. I heard a very loud, frightening pop. Immediate relief and was told to never let anyone twist my neck again. I basically had a disc slip out of place.

What I am saying is it could be your neck even if it is not hurting. Mine was hurting, but sometimes the neck doesn't hurt and will cause a headache..not just neck, but other parts of the spine too. It could even be a shoulder out of alignment. We never know what positions our bodies go through during surgery.

Please keep me updated. I care.
ZeeGee

Jump to this post

Thanks ZeeGee, and yes, my neck did hurt for about a week after surgery and I had trouble sleeping. Neck got better, but headaches subsequently started.

REPLY
theache | @theache | Dec 9, 2020
In reply to @imatine "Could be just tension or stress. Did you try to ask your doctor to give you..." + (show)
@imatine

Could be just tension or stress. Did you try to ask your doctor to give you a relaxant or so?

Jump to this post

Yes, the neurologist tried to give me Cymbalta but I declined. My sister took that when she was going through depression following a hysterectomy and it made her "nutts." She was hateful, mean and had no feelings for anyone or anything. Once she finally weened off, she was back to normal. Friend of mine who had back surgery took Cymbalta as well, and he was zoomyish and lethargic.

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