Post-cholecystectomy or gallbladder removal surgery

@lag911 It's possible that you have an adhesion as a result of surgery. It can press on nerves. I'm taking Gabapentin and have since 2003. The pain is nauseating and is felt in my back, directly behind the port incision and behind the former location of my gallbladder. Lyrica is also used to control nerve pain as are certain SSRIs or SNRIs. If you haven't been treated for nerve damage pain, please seek out a doctor who understands that abdominal surgery can result in adhesions, nerve damage and adhesions compressing nerves. I'm incredibly grateful to have a GP who recognized my symptoms. I did have a CT scan, an MRI of my upper abdomen and an ultrasound to rule out anything being left behind from surgery or anything else. I saw the head of the gastroenterology department of a teaching hospital who ordered additional lab work and using that, the results of my scans and his examination of me to confirm that he believes I experience nerve damage pain. The notes to my GP from the specialist also reference him being able to feel something under the port incision which he was certain was an adhesion. Once this was done, my GP started me on Gabapentin (Neurontin) and slowly increased my dose to 1800mg. I was able to commute 2 hours per day and work a demanding job while on Gabapentin - it doesn't make me loopy, it doesn't slow my thinking nor does it make me feel high. It isn't a narcotic. The doctors felt that nerve damage would respond better to an anti seizure medication. I know you're suffering now but it can get better. As for my digestive system - I have irritable bowel. There are times it's worse and times it's much better. I do have Imodium for days that are really bad and that I have to be somewhere. I try to not eat things like seeds or nuts or anything difficult to digest.

In 2004; I started having abdominal pain. After 3 trips to the hospital for morphine, they me to GI doctor. They did a gall bladder test and even though my gall bladder didn’t show non-functioning, they took it out. Two months later, I started going through the same thing. Five months later and every test in the GI spectrum and 25 pounds lighter, nothing worked. I went off gluten and all processed foods. My internist thought it was food related. I took a Medical leave from my job because 4 percosets a day did nothing but make me loopy. They also put me on antidepressants. Every time a test would come back showing I was perfect, I would get more depressed.

My stomach would go into convulsions when I hadn’t eaten for a while and it took weeks to be able to eat. I feel like someone stabbed and punched me in the abdomin continuosly.

I managed for years when my internist finally told me there was nothing more she could do. She sent me to a pain specialist. The pain doctor did a radio-oblation on my splanich nerve which “thank God” gave me relief and l gained back the weight in 3 years and I finally have a life. He told me it would last 6 months to 2 years. This week, I’m going in for another one because the pain, stomach cramping and no eating is back.

Three days ago, I saw an article about MALS and am checking it out.

I ended up retiring early because of this.

@lasirvent I think your doctor oblating the splanchnic nerves was very smart. These nerves are involved with organs. Nerves do regenerate so you could have relief until they regenerate. I'm going to speak to my doctor about resection of intercostal nerves for the pain I feel in the nerves that are the bottom two sets in my back.

Hi my wife had gallbladder removed 4 years ago (2014) by small incession on her lower right bellybutton and she was discharged after 4 days but after 2 days at home pain still there and it getting worse that her sweat is big as corn, and she has difficulty breathing already so we have to go back to emergency, the next day and they found out that there is a leak in bileduck as small as niddle and they put a stent to stop the leak and put a tube and bag to suck the leak and she stay in hospital for 3 weeks. After a couple of days recovering she had endoscopy to remove the stent but the the stent is wasn't there anymore. And that's a couple's of endoscopy and procedures but the good news is no more pain and she doesn't have any maintenance at all. After 3 years she's having once in a while abdominal pain but not like when she have gallbladder remove. On 22 of November 2018 after 4 years on her gallbladder removal pain is back and in the level of 9 so i rushed her to Emergency they do xray, ct scan, sonogram and finally did Mri and they saw a blockages on her bile duck but they can't do on their hospital so my wife ambulance to another hospital to remove a blockage a gallstone on her bileduck after 2 day's she was discharged with minimal pain but while recovering at home she has shooting pain on her abdomen until on December 31 2018 her pain is on level 9 again so we rush again to Emergency and there is again a blockages on her bileduck that's another endoscopy to remove a blockages a gallstone on her bileduck. Wow, imagine we spend Thanksgiving and New Years in Emergency Room. But that's is Okay to me i mean Us, the it's not okay is her pain is not going away until now she can't eat, sleep, very irritating and she lost a lot of her weight maybe 50 lbs in just a year and a half. Her primary Dr. Refer her to GI Dr. which they do an endoscopy ( again )and colonoscopy but the all results are negative. I don't know what's causing her pain
Actually 2 day's ago we rush to ER again for abdominal pain and shortness of breath again xray and blood test is normal and i ask the Dr. What's the causes of her pain? Please and i'm hoping there is an answer, I'm doing also researching online one thing i encounter is maybe possible blockages on her cystic ducts and that's really hard to see .
Danny

Hi @gallbladder2014 and welcome to Connect. You may have noticed I moved your post to this existing discussion on pain post gallbladder removal in order for you to see what others have said. Click VIEW & REPLY in your email notification to see your post.

That must be so heartbreaking to watch your wife be in so much pain. I wanted to introduce you to fellow Connect members @msb18 @ckeys and @lasirvent as they all have had their gallbladder removed and may be able to offer you support while you help your wife.

Back to your wife @gallbladder14, is she on any medication for the pain?

After twice blockages gallstone remove in my common bileduct last 11/22/2018 &12/31/2018 i still have excruciating pain on my abdominal going to my lower back, GI doctor did endoscopy & colonoscopy & get a sample to test but they can not find where's the pain is coming from. I lost a lot of weights since 11/22/2018 and now, 40 lbs. I don't know where to go
Please help
Vanz

Hi @gallbladder2014, I moved your message to the discussion where Danny had already posted part of your story and where you can connect with others with similar experiences of back pain after gallstone blockage. I can imagine how confusing and frustrating, not to mention painful it is to not find a reason for the pain. What has the GI doctor suggested as the next step?

I had laproscopic gallbladder removal 24 years ago. Although I did not not experience pain post surgery, I developed severe GERD after the surgery, whch has not gone away. I've been on medication for all these years to reduce heartburn. I have always wondered how the surgery could have affected my lower esophageal sphincter and made it relax so often, causing multiple episodes of acid reflux every day.

@cici10 Have you been checked for a hiatal hernia?

Ive been suffering for years as well. I started having horrible gallbladder attacks that would last 2-3 weeks at a time. It took years for doctors to listen to me. In 2017 I had my gallbladder removed because it was only functioning at 2%. After the surgery I had two bile leaks one at the pamcreatic duct and one at the liver. I had stents placed to heal the tears. I have been in pain since this has started it use to come in flares but now its constant 8-10 out of 10 pain. No relief and is getting worse. I also have been diagnosed with exorcrine pancreatic insufficiency. All my scans are normal and blood work normal but this pain isnt normal at all. I havent been able to work. I scare my children because Im crying and screaming out in pain. Im in and out of the hospital. I need a doctor who will listen. I can empathize. I hope you find whats going on because If you feel anyway that I do, I know how much you are suffering.