Gallbladder(?) Concerns

Hi- Almost three weeks ago I had gallbladder surgery. I knew I would be in pain. I handled the pain fine until A week ago and I had the worse pain hit me I have ever had in my life!!!! Childbirth was mild compared to the pain I had. I went to the Er, they gave me pain meds, I had a temp, my breathing was compromised from the pain, I had pain in my right arm like never before, I was shaking the pain was so intense. They treated me with morphine, fentinol, dylotid, (please excuse my spelling) then lastly, Torodol. The only one of them that worked for the pain was Torodol. I know none of the pain meds are spelled correctly. Sorry. They sent me home. I got home, had my sister call 911 and went back. I was admitted. My surgeon admitted me. Now I’m on a pain medicine because I had back surgery on L4-L5, 4 years ago. It went fine until about 3 weeks later. Three weeks later, I woke up feeling sick to my stomach, chills , achy, took my temp and had a 102.7 temp. I had my sister come over to look at my incision and she did, there was a almost tennis ball hematoma on the incision and much gross stuff I won’t mention draining from the incision site. Long story short I ended up in the ER, then admitted, to surgery, doc did a debridement. I was treated for 5 days in the hospital, sent home with IV antibiotics for five months. I had a rare bone device infection. One that has haunted me. So I have take pain meds for the rest of my life. The reason I went into great lengthy detail is that’s me-Lol! But most of all because my gallbladder surgeon came to my room the next day after my whole night in ER and has accused me of being a drug seeker, told my son I was just seeking drugs , that I wasn’t in pain I was just seeking drugs. 😥 To shorten this story, I’m not a drug seeking person, if I am then I would have a hx of going to numerous Er’s to get them. Now about 3-4 months prior my family physician had mentioned to me about trying a pain patch in that it would control my pain for the whole day for three days, then I change the patch. Well, my son found out I tried the patch, screams at me, threatening if I didn’t get off so many drugs he would disown me, which he has disowned 😥me since yesterday, because I wouldn’t go back on the patch that the surgeon ordered now while I’m in excruciating pain. Oh I pray you all understand what I’m saying. I just want to know if anyone has had this type of attack after gallbladder surgery? Could it be pancreatic Cancer, pancreatitis, bile duct leak or what? Please help me 😥 I’m not a drug seeker just a excruciating pain relief seeker. Ask any questions you’d like because this story is super lengthy- if you read it- if you don’t, I get it, but I pray for just one persons response. Thank you, God bless you all- I am praying for all of you. 🙏🏻💕

God bless you sweetie you sound like you are having a gallbladder attack, but of course you won’t know until the you get the US results. Sounds like me when mine started acting up. I’m praying for you 😊🙏🏻

There are a few other names it's called like biliary dyskinesia but basically where a person has symptoms of gallbladder problems but ultrasound and labs show normal findings, no gallstones or bile sludge build up.
If I watch what I eat, basically like a person without a gallbladder has to, I don't have any problems. I learned this through trial and error over the past 2 years.
I'm turning 74 this year and I'm hoping my gallbladder won't have to be removed and will last me for the rest of my life.
I'd be interested in hearing from others that might have this problem and any tips you have.

30

female

white

200 pounds

5'0

Ok onto the question

I have had this come up before when having something wrong with me. but when ever a dr or someone presses on my gallbladder, it HURTS.
And I am not exaggerating. I mean gripping onto the side of the bed with tears in my eyes.

The most recent time was Thursday night/Friday morning, I went into the ER for severe pains in my upper stomach, and part of it was they wanted to check for gallstones. They touched my gallbladder and I almost jumped off the bed. it just hurt so badly.

Now if it was just this one time, i would dismiss it, but its not, I have had my gallbladder checked 3 times in recent memory over the years, and every time it is touched even gently its hurts like hell.

I do not have gallstones, per both a ct scan and a ultrasound (the ultrasound had me in tears) , so, what else could this be.

I asked the er Dr but he seemed baffled. (never figured out the cause of those pains either)

Hi, @remmem - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Since you talked about your gallbladder always hurting badly when pressed, I moved it to this existing discussion on gallbladder concerns so you could interact with others discussing this topic. If you click on VIEW & REPLY in your email notification, you will be taken to the site with the whole discussion, which you may find interesting to read.

That sounds very painful with your gallbladder feeling so sensitive. I had my gallbladder out when it nearly burst several years ago, and the pain was far worse than childbirth — knock-you-over type pain.

I'm trusting other members in this conversation will weigh in on what might be causing this type of severe pain in your gallbladder region minus gallstones, like @cndythomp @tennbee @abopp2022 @cndythomp @msb18.

Is your gallbladder fine if not touched, remmem? Are you considering seeing a gastrointestinal specialist for further evaluation?

Definately see a gastro and perhaps ask for an MRCP.

Your gallbladder may be inflamed. You need to figure out what you're eating that causing it.

I do understand your problems and the pain because I'm having the same issues right now. I had my gallbladder remove on 6/9/21 with complications, so they had to open me up. The surgeon cut the bile duct in 3 places, and cut the liver as well. Now, 7 weeks later, I'm still in a lot of pain, and my liver is swollen, hot and hurts. Leaky bile duct affect all organs inside my abdomen, even the bladder, so when I urinate I get some relief from pain. Swollen liver presses against my right lung making breathing hard and short. Just had the blood work done 4 days ago, and 6 out of 13 tests are bad ! showing liver inflammation, disease, etc. My surgeon removed 3 drains from my abdomen 2 weeks ago, and a few days ago pain intensified. Waiting for tomorrow so hopefully I can be seeing by the surgeon while very nervous, panicking, etc. I'm on antibiotic for all 7 weeks now, my fever is from very low to 102 and back to 97. I'm very worried about my liver and all things associated with the botched surgery. Did anybody else have similar case, and how did it end up ? Ver curious, nervous waiting for answers.

Hello @jerzy and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. This has to be very worrisome for you, along with painful. I would be very focused on knowing if you have any fluid (i.e. bile) leaking into your gut causing this pain and inflammation.

As a result of your tests so far, has your doctor confirmed if anything of the sort may be going on? Were all your drains draining clear liquid prior to removal?

To make my initial post more clear let me tell you that I had gallbladder removed, and the surgeon cut the bile in 3 spots, and also scared the liver.During the time of surgery, and forward, my doctors did know about bile leaking into abdomen that's why they placed 4 drains collecting bile into special bags/pouches. It was so bad that I almost died, and they told my wife to say "Goodbye" because there was a small chance that I'll survive next 12-24 hrs. I made it, and first 2-3 weeks one of the drains was collecting 80 ml. every 3-4 hours ! They finally removed the drains after 7 weeks but the liquid was never clear, it was kind of greyish, never clear because of infection. During all that time I was on a strong antibiotic Augmentin, and still continue taking it because there are still 3 small "pools" of bile in the abdomen. Another 4 weeks, and they will do another CT Scan. 2 months since the surgery and I still have a lot of pain but the pain around liver is getting better, I think. Special diet contributed to the improvement, if there's really any progress, not the result of pain meds. Slowly I have less anxiety which is a good sign-it was unbearable !