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Gall Bladder removal

Posted by emillie @emillie, Jan 20, 2023

Had cholesytectomy 4 months ago,for past 3 months have intermittent pain,right side under ribs,also travels to left side going up under ribs. I dread wakening up in morning for what lies ahead, usually loud gurgling especially right side of body,then the pain starts,my son picked up on hoarseness in my voice a few months ago when he phones me,were thinking acid reflux during night cause burning in my throat first thing,Had CT Scan on 17th Jan,I have to wait 10 days for result but the technician did say I had quite a bit of scar tissue.Doctor has put me on omoeprasole and peptac liquid ,Now I've hadph call saying my thyroid is very underactive, I've had hypothyroidism for 40 yrs a no d it's checked once a year and hasn't needed much tweeking, but I've just read that this latest medication I'm on interferes with the thyroxine I'm on!!!!!! I'm 76yrs of age and I don't want to spend the yrs I've got left in this pain,,wish I hadn't got my gallbladder out I never had problems with my stomach before that?

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tk1 | @tk1 | Jan 21, 2023

Hi Emile
I am sorry to hear you are having those complications. I too am having horrible complications after GB removal. Never any digestive problems before but now GERD and gastritis, weak voice. Horrible pain in stomach and esophagus, now on omeprazole. I was not apprised of the possibility of these complications and if I was wouldn’t have had the procedure. I am in my late 60’s and feel I am being robbed of my quality of life.
Not sure what to do to stop this cascade of problems…

REPLY
1 reply
bjhamblin | @bjhamblin | Jan 22, 2023

I had problems after my cholecystectomy. I found that I had to adjust my diet. Raw veggies and bread seemed to be upsetting my stomach. I cut them out and slowly reintroduced them back into my diet. I’ve talked to several people and they had to alter their diet as well. I’m much better now.

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total99 | @total99 | Jan 23, 2023

Ouch!

And I thought gall bladder removal was a no risk surgery?

Not so much

REPLY
ZeeGee | @fourof5zs | Jan 24, 2023

@emillie
It seems a lot of people who have had a cholecystectomy have pain such as you. I had it too and had to have more abdominal surgery 15 years later .. very long story … and I asked the surgeon why I was sore on my right rib area and he said he did a little something there too. He never said what, but that pain went away with whatever he did. I only got a synopsis of the surgery so no details Just a guess but think maybe the cholecystectomy was not done correctly .. maybe a stone left in where it connected to other organs .. I do not know organ anatomy.

I also had a nissen fundoplication done at same time and it appears both surgeries have same results with many. Diarrhea for one. What helped me was to keep a journal. If it gave me diarrhea it was off my diet. Of course it meant going back to a very bland diet and slowly adding foods and drinks. Another thing that helped was taking a probiotic. I tried several .. giving them each at least two weeks to see if they helped. After several I took Align and it is the one that helped me. Of course one of the most expensive I get it at Sam's Club when it is on special. I tried the Member's Mark and it did not work. Align seems to have the magic ingredient for me.

With my acid reflux I took a PPI, but still got the hoarseness. I still do sometimes when I go off diet. I take small sips of store brand of Maalox or Mylanta and it helps heal the esophagus, but main thing is to try and have a diet that prevents irritation in the throat .. again the journal comes in handy to omit the culprits. If you still have problems with stomach irritation and hoarseness you need to talk with your doctor. He can prescribe something to help .. like carafate. You might need an endoscopy to investigate what is going on.

I have no medical training .. this is just from my experiences.

ZeeGee

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1 reply
total99 | @total99 | Jan 25, 2023

How does the Nissan surgery impact digestion?constipation? hoarseness?

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jlf2 | @jlf2 | Jan 26, 2023

I had my gallbladder removed December 2022 and have been having these symptoms myself but never thought anything about it because it only been 9 wks but I will keep an eye on them thank you for sharing I hope you can get the care you need

REPLY
1 reply
keona619 | @keona619 | Jan 27, 2023
In reply to @tk1 "Hi Emile I am sorry to hear you are having those complications. I too am having..." + (show)
@tk1

Hi Emile
I am sorry to hear you are having those complications. I too am having horrible complications after GB removal. Never any digestive problems before but now GERD and gastritis, weak voice. Horrible pain in stomach and esophagus, now on omeprazole. I was not apprised of the possibility of these complications and if I was wouldn’t have had the procedure. I am in my late 60’s and feel I am being robbed of my quality of life.
Not sure what to do to stop this cascade of problems…

Jump to this post

Hi. I had my gallbladder out in September. It was not easy. I still get right side pain. I'm still very tender at one of the incisions because it ripped when dr pulled out the GB. May God bless you and keep you 🙏

REPLY
emillie | @emillie | Jan 27, 2023

Thanks for your reply,I really think we should be fully informed of the
pros and cons of GB removal,so as to make an informed choice.
I certainly wasn't warned of any problems I might face. Don't think I would
have went ahead if I'd known, I know a lot of people don't have our
problems,suppose it's the luck of the draw or how good the surgeon is that
does the op.!!!!!!

REPLY
tk1 | @tk1 | Jan 27, 2023
In reply to @fourof5zs "@emillie It seems a lot of people who have had a cholecystectomy have pain such as..." + (show)
@fourof5zs

@emillie
It seems a lot of people who have had a cholecystectomy have pain such as you. I had it too and had to have more abdominal surgery 15 years later .. very long story … and I asked the surgeon why I was sore on my right rib area and he said he did a little something there too. He never said what, but that pain went away with whatever he did. I only got a synopsis of the surgery so no details Just a guess but think maybe the cholecystectomy was not done correctly .. maybe a stone left in where it connected to other organs .. I do not know organ anatomy.

I also had a nissen fundoplication done at same time and it appears both surgeries have same results with many. Diarrhea for one. What helped me was to keep a journal. If it gave me diarrhea it was off my diet. Of course it meant going back to a very bland diet and slowly adding foods and drinks. Another thing that helped was taking a probiotic. I tried several .. giving them each at least two weeks to see if they helped. After several I took Align and it is the one that helped me. Of course one of the most expensive I get it at Sam's Club when it is on special. I tried the Member's Mark and it did not work. Align seems to have the magic ingredient for me.

With my acid reflux I took a PPI, but still got the hoarseness. I still do sometimes when I go off diet. I take small sips of store brand of Maalox or Mylanta and it helps heal the esophagus, but main thing is to try and have a diet that prevents irritation in the throat .. again the journal comes in handy to omit the culprits. If you still have problems with stomach irritation and hoarseness you need to talk with your doctor. He can prescribe something to help .. like carafate. You might need an endoscopy to investigate what is going on.

I have no medical training .. this is just from my experiences.

ZeeGee

Jump to this post

Thank you ZeeZer for taking time to share your experience, much appreciate it!

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