Post-cholecystectomy or gallbladder removal surgery

Posted by msb18 @msb18, Dec 11, 2018

Hi – I had my gallbladder removed 17 years ago and have chronic, sharp back pain behind the port incision. That incision was in my upper left abdominal quadrant; the pain is felt in my back, directly behind the incision. It is thought that I have an adhesion in my upper left quadrant. Is it possible that nerves are trapped and that it causes referred pain in my back? The pain is nauseating and hasn't improved. I have been on anti seizure medication and a pain killer that isn't a percocet-type medication. I am curious if anyone else has persistent pain in their back following gallbladder surgery. If so, how is your pain treated.

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Profile picture for rgb3547 @rgb3547

Hi
In the beginning of September 2022 my ALT Was 116. In October it went down to 103. After that it very gradually decreased to 29, which is barely above the minimum standard. Another liver enzyme, AST, was 52 during my September 2022 blood tests (it should have been between 13 & 39). It too has come down well below the max. to normal 29 in the past 5 months. I still have 2 Liver enzymes coming down to the normal range but not yet there. One is GGT which came down from 660 to 290 (normal max=64!). Another enzyme, ALP, has come down from 255 to 218 (max. normal is 121).
These enzymes fluctuate so much even doctors sometimes have no explanation. I did two liver biopsies & an MRI. Despite the above significant disparities from the standard, all results came back normal. My hepatologist (i.e liver doctor) did some adjustments on the dosage of the medications I was on & added a new one. I believe these adjustments helped very much.
Please do not worry that much. Liver cancer has its own awful & nasty symptoms & from your post nothing indicates that way. For full disclosure, I am not a doctor nor am I related to medicine in any way. Liver enzymes fluctuate for so many reasons & most are just transient & benign. Just faithfully adhere to whatever your doctor instructs you to do. Do not take the liberty of dropping prescribed medication arbitrarily into your own hands. Because it is not yours. After all that - just leave all your anxiety & worries at our Lord's feet (or whoever you believe in) & walk away. You will be surprised God will find a way out for you. If you trust He will not fail you.
I am a liver transplant recipient.

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This is a beautiful post full of hope for any reader.
Thank you!

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Profile picture for woodsiechris @woodsiechris

Hi all. I am scheduled for my ERCP Sphincterotomy in 2 days. My dilemma is that even with the HIDA showing dysfunction of the Sphincter of Oddi, my pain the past 5 days has been subsiding. Surgeon still thinks I should proceed with it but was wondering what people's thoughts are on this. I am worried I am going through this for nothing and my cholesectomy just needed time to heal and my system adapt.

Input is appreciated.

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I am new to Mayo Connect.
Did you ever have the ERCP for SOD?
18 years ago, I had Biliary colic, after 3 ERCP's, 2nd with stent, perforation of the duodenum, ICU 2 weeks, NG tube, perforation sealed, sent home, 2 weeks later back in hospital, 3 rd ERCP stent dislodged, removed stent, 2 weeks later,emergency surgery, removed gall bladder.
Have been suffering with upper abdominal cramping, Sphinter of Oddi , biliary pain.
Now have a hiatal hernia, pancreatitis that comes and goes, statins and bivalent covid vaccine have contributed to aggravated pancreatitis symptoms.
Going for acupuncture next week.
Hope you are feeling better.

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I had my gallbladder removed 8 years ago, 2 or 3 small incisions. I had a bile leak that was fixed about a week after surgery. I'm having horrible pain in my back right around the bra strap..I've had it since the gallbladder issues started and got more severe after surgery. I get nauseated from this pain and can get no diagnosis from a doctor. I take Neurontin and have taken Lyrica and Cymbalta with no help at all. If a doctor could help I would be so grateful. I have chronic pain from other issues as well and to not have this pain would be awesome.

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Hi I’m a 44yr old white female who had my gallbladder removed January 20,2023 laparoscopic. I had a Strawberry gallbladder with 2 comet tails. I woke up in recovery in severe pain. My husband said he could hear me screaming coming down the hall back to my post op room. I was discharged that same day. Due to being heavily sedated I don’t remember anything but I said I screamed and cried in pain all night. He took me to the emergency room on January 21,2023. They administered heavy narcotics, and done a CT with contrast. They said CT didn’t show anything but I was screaming in pain with Dilaudid via Iv and Percocet via mouth. They admitted me and was never able to get my pain under control. I was unable to have a bowel movement even with an enema. I was discharged home taking 3 stool softeners a day. I still can’t have a bowel movement, I’m extremely swollen and in excruciating pain from between my ribs in a circle around my belly back to my center chest. No one can tell me what’s wrong as far as why I can’t go to the bathroom and why I’m having so much pain. I regret having the surgery with all my might. Please help !!

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Profile picture for hines6852 @hines6852

Hi I’m a 44yr old white female who had my gallbladder removed January 20,2023 laparoscopic. I had a Strawberry gallbladder with 2 comet tails. I woke up in recovery in severe pain. My husband said he could hear me screaming coming down the hall back to my post op room. I was discharged that same day. Due to being heavily sedated I don’t remember anything but I said I screamed and cried in pain all night. He took me to the emergency room on January 21,2023. They administered heavy narcotics, and done a CT with contrast. They said CT didn’t show anything but I was screaming in pain with Dilaudid via Iv and Percocet via mouth. They admitted me and was never able to get my pain under control. I was unable to have a bowel movement even with an enema. I was discharged home taking 3 stool softeners a day. I still can’t have a bowel movement, I’m extremely swollen and in excruciating pain from between my ribs in a circle around my belly back to my center chest. No one can tell me what’s wrong as far as why I can’t go to the bathroom and why I’m having so much pain. I regret having the surgery with all my might. Please help !!

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I think you should go back to the emergency room, either the same one or maybe at a different hospital.

Best wishes that you will get some relief soon.

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Profile picture for hines6852 @hines6852

Hi I’m a 44yr old white female who had my gallbladder removed January 20,2023 laparoscopic. I had a Strawberry gallbladder with 2 comet tails. I woke up in recovery in severe pain. My husband said he could hear me screaming coming down the hall back to my post op room. I was discharged that same day. Due to being heavily sedated I don’t remember anything but I said I screamed and cried in pain all night. He took me to the emergency room on January 21,2023. They administered heavy narcotics, and done a CT with contrast. They said CT didn’t show anything but I was screaming in pain with Dilaudid via Iv and Percocet via mouth. They admitted me and was never able to get my pain under control. I was unable to have a bowel movement even with an enema. I was discharged home taking 3 stool softeners a day. I still can’t have a bowel movement, I’m extremely swollen and in excruciating pain from between my ribs in a circle around my belly back to my center chest. No one can tell me what’s wrong as far as why I can’t go to the bathroom and why I’m having so much pain. I regret having the surgery with all my might. Please help !!

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I am so sorry to hear about all your suffering.
I had a botched surgery, perforation of the duodenum from ERCP with stent.
Your pain symptoms, ( very sorry to say, sound like a perforation, or free air in the intestine.) Please go back to the ER immediately, please request to be seen by a different gastro DR and different surgeon. My chest pains mimic ed a heart attack.
God Bless You.
Praying someone gets to the bottom of this.

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Profile picture for hines6852 @hines6852

Hi I’m a 44yr old white female who had my gallbladder removed January 20,2023 laparoscopic. I had a Strawberry gallbladder with 2 comet tails. I woke up in recovery in severe pain. My husband said he could hear me screaming coming down the hall back to my post op room. I was discharged that same day. Due to being heavily sedated I don’t remember anything but I said I screamed and cried in pain all night. He took me to the emergency room on January 21,2023. They administered heavy narcotics, and done a CT with contrast. They said CT didn’t show anything but I was screaming in pain with Dilaudid via Iv and Percocet via mouth. They admitted me and was never able to get my pain under control. I was unable to have a bowel movement even with an enema. I was discharged home taking 3 stool softeners a day. I still can’t have a bowel movement, I’m extremely swollen and in excruciating pain from between my ribs in a circle around my belly back to my center chest. No one can tell me what’s wrong as far as why I can’t go to the bathroom and why I’m having so much pain. I regret having the surgery with all my might. Please help !!

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The surgeon who did your surgery needs to see you . Surely he needs to decide if he has ever seen this before, and what it could possibly be. If you are in that much pain, he either needs to diagnose it or send you to someone he thinks is an expert on post GB surgical pain/or side effects. I think that is his job !!

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Profile picture for hines6852 @hines6852

Hi I’m a 44yr old white female who had my gallbladder removed January 20,2023 laparoscopic. I had a Strawberry gallbladder with 2 comet tails. I woke up in recovery in severe pain. My husband said he could hear me screaming coming down the hall back to my post op room. I was discharged that same day. Due to being heavily sedated I don’t remember anything but I said I screamed and cried in pain all night. He took me to the emergency room on January 21,2023. They administered heavy narcotics, and done a CT with contrast. They said CT didn’t show anything but I was screaming in pain with Dilaudid via Iv and Percocet via mouth. They admitted me and was never able to get my pain under control. I was unable to have a bowel movement even with an enema. I was discharged home taking 3 stool softeners a day. I still can’t have a bowel movement, I’m extremely swollen and in excruciating pain from between my ribs in a circle around my belly back to my center chest. No one can tell me what’s wrong as far as why I can’t go to the bathroom and why I’m having so much pain. I regret having the surgery with all my might. Please help !!

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I had my gallbladder removed in 2008. Two days later, I was in excruciating pain. I went in to the hospital and they said there was nothing wrong, but they did put me in the hospital. I waited four days in extreme pain before they realized I had a bile leak from my liver. Some people have ducts in their liver called ducts of Luske. Sometimes, after removing the gallbladder, it reduces the pressure and bile leaks out from the liver. I am not sure if this is what you have, but I know it was very painful. It definitely is something worth looking into. I know many people now have what is now called Post cholecystectomy syndrome. I would contact the surgeon or go back into the ER. I know there is updated information on this now, but I have not looked into it recently. I hope this gets resolved for you soon!

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Profile picture for hines6852 @hines6852

Hi I’m a 44yr old white female who had my gallbladder removed January 20,2023 laparoscopic. I had a Strawberry gallbladder with 2 comet tails. I woke up in recovery in severe pain. My husband said he could hear me screaming coming down the hall back to my post op room. I was discharged that same day. Due to being heavily sedated I don’t remember anything but I said I screamed and cried in pain all night. He took me to the emergency room on January 21,2023. They administered heavy narcotics, and done a CT with contrast. They said CT didn’t show anything but I was screaming in pain with Dilaudid via Iv and Percocet via mouth. They admitted me and was never able to get my pain under control. I was unable to have a bowel movement even with an enema. I was discharged home taking 3 stool softeners a day. I still can’t have a bowel movement, I’m extremely swollen and in excruciating pain from between my ribs in a circle around my belly back to my center chest. No one can tell me what’s wrong as far as why I can’t go to the bathroom and why I’m having so much pain. I regret having the surgery with all my might. Please help !!

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I don’t know if this has anything to do with my problem but I also have no alcoholic fatty liver disease. They said they seen 2 growths on the outside but it doesn’t look like anything serious from the ultrasound, and CT scan

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Profile picture for hines6852 @hines6852

Hi I’m a 44yr old white female who had my gallbladder removed January 20,2023 laparoscopic. I had a Strawberry gallbladder with 2 comet tails. I woke up in recovery in severe pain. My husband said he could hear me screaming coming down the hall back to my post op room. I was discharged that same day. Due to being heavily sedated I don’t remember anything but I said I screamed and cried in pain all night. He took me to the emergency room on January 21,2023. They administered heavy narcotics, and done a CT with contrast. They said CT didn’t show anything but I was screaming in pain with Dilaudid via Iv and Percocet via mouth. They admitted me and was never able to get my pain under control. I was unable to have a bowel movement even with an enema. I was discharged home taking 3 stool softeners a day. I still can’t have a bowel movement, I’m extremely swollen and in excruciating pain from between my ribs in a circle around my belly back to my center chest. No one can tell me what’s wrong as far as why I can’t go to the bathroom and why I’m having so much pain. I regret having the surgery with all my might. Please help !!

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This is what my stomach looks like at the end of the day. It’s normally pretty flat considering I’ve had 3 kids so it’s not model perfect flat but it definitely doesn’t always make me look pregnant

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