Post-cholecystectomy or gallbladder removal surgery

I'm sorry to hear what you are going through. When I had my cholecystectomy last October, for some reason I expected immediate relief - similar to having an appendectomy. The slow recovery surprised me. The first time I ate a piece of pizza I was sick for 2 days!

My surgeon was the old school stereotype - operate and go home, let someone else deal with the aftermath. If I hadn't been so miserable before surgery, I would have been looking for a different surgeon. So, I turned to my trusted PCP who explained that chronic gall bladder issues tend your alter your whole digestive system. After surgery your body needs to relearn how to produce, store and release bile to digest food.

She gave me a strategy to try - it took a few weeks, but it got me back on track. I was to eat 1 ounce or less of a low-fat food like 1/4 apple or toast with jelly. Drink a little water . After an hour, if all was well, repeat. It took about 6 weeks, then I slowly increased portions. Now, 10 months later, I can eat nearly anything. Except, some foods like beef, sausage, cheese & ice cream, I must carefully limit the amount. If I have cheese for lunch, no ice cream that day, etc. She also said if I continued to have issues she was going to send me to a dietician who specialized in reintroducing foods.

Have you tried a portion-limited low-fat eating trial?
Sue

Hi everyone. I hope someone can help me with this unusual sitution.
I had my gallbladder out seven months ago - keyhole surgery. My gallbladder had been an issue for two years and I was told I needed to get it out in December, but due to the Covid delays, I had to wait til February. Five days before the surgery, right out of the blue, one afternoon I felt like I had been stabbed in my right side flank, between my lower rib and top of the hip. The sharp, stabbing intense pain proceeded to get worse and I ended up in the ER. I was told I was having a heart attack (I wasn't) and then I was told my pain was due to 'musco-skeletal issues' and to see my chiropractor, who told me to call my surgeon immediately. The surgeon removed the gallbladder out a few days later and I was told the stabbing / electric shock pain in my right side would clear up as I recovered from the surgery. But it persisted, even through high doses of morphine.
Now, seven months later, I still have the sharp, stabbing pain. Not as often as right before and after the surgery, but when it hits, the shock of the pain can make me jump out of a chair. I have so far had more scans than I can count, and been told I have post-infection scarring, scar tissue, kidney issues, slipping rib syndrome, a pinched nerve, neuralgia, nerve pain and today was told I have adhesions. Take your pick!
The frequency is nowhere near as bad as it was, and I can have completely pain-free days, and then it will hit again and it feels like an electric shocks. It is always in the same place - on the right hand side flank.
What has confused many is that this pain started six days before the surgery, although the gall bladder was in bad shape by that stage and the only symptoms I had was nausea but never, ever any pain. But since February, constant debilitating pain.
Can ANYONE tell if they have had anything like this? It has baffled one doctor after another, but the mention earlier today about adhesion seems like it could make sense. Thanks in advance. John

Did you have an MRCP done? It's specific to your liver and bile ducts. Was a stent put In after your gallbladder was removed? Has anyone checked for stones in your bile ducts?

PS have you had blood work done?

I had gallbladder removal surgery August 18th so almost a month ago I thought I was recovering but all of a sudden where my upper Incision is at hurts really bad behind it and I feel the pain in my back as well like the pain goes straight through the pain is so bad it takes my breath does anyone know what this is ?

I had Laproscopic Gallbladder surgery 5 wks ago and I feel worse now then I did before the surgery. Stomach aches, bloating. pain on left side sometimes and gastric issues..My surgeon said hes not sure how long bloating will persist especially with this type of surgery.. As to the other issues he recommends a probiotic..I'm getting really upset as I'm getting tired of the ongoing issues after having meals through the day. Everyone I've talked to about this surgery says its the best thing they ever did..At this point I can"t say this and don"t know if and when I ever will. I'm pretty disheartened at this point. Going to try a probiotic and hoping that works??

I had my cholecystectomy about 4 months ago.....and for first few weeks had similar symptoms. When I called my surgeon about this, he advised me to eat small meals, throughout the day, maintain a low, or non-fat foods diet, avoid greasy, fried foods.....and basically keep as bland, as possible. of a diet.....for several weeks, and slowly return to normal diet as my symptoms improved.
I did follow that.....and am pretty much symptom free, and back to normal now.

Thanks for posting about your experience. This gives me hope for sure. Glad your feeling better.. Hope I will too.

@tweetyeiler -
Have you talked to your doctor about this new pain?
Pain like that could come from pancreatitis.
Bike duct and pancreatic duct empty out in intestine together. If there is swelling/ inflammation from the bile duct it can cause problems with the pancreatic duct opening too.

Will be talking to the Dr. next week if symptoms persist. Staring a probiotic today..Hope that will help..Thank you.