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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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hines6852 | @hines6852 | Feb 14, 2023
In reply to @collenp "This post goes out to Ms Hines. How are you? Did you return to the ER...." + (show)
Profile picture for collenp @collenp

This post goes out to Ms Hines.
How are you?
Did you return to the ER. Did you receive resolvement of your pain? After the perforation I suffered with recurring bouts of pancreatitis for many years. Please take care of yourself.
Sending prayers.
💗🙏

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I seen my surgeon today. Well actually the PA. She never laid a hand on me. She looked through my records and said nothing was wrong with me 😡😭

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hines6852 | @hines6852 | Feb 14, 2023
In reply to @collenp "Are you near Mayo Clinic? Go through the ER. They will call for a gastro consult...." + (show)
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Are you near Mayo Clinic?
Go through the ER.
They will call for a gastro consult.
They will resolve this.
I was a patient in 2019.
Flew to Rochester, Minnesota from NJ.
Had a cancer diagnosis from a NJ physician.
Did not have cancer.
Was at Mayo for 2 weeks.
Mayo is where you need to go.
I have been told if you can't get an appt right away. Go to the ER.
Praying for resolvement of your pain.
🙏

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Mayo in Jacksonville is about an hour and 45 min from me. I’ve been there before and they were amazing! I’m really considering going back. I seen the surgeon’s PA today. She never even touched me just looked through my records and said nothing was wrong

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hines6852 | @hines6852 | Feb 14, 2023
In reply to @mjzd "So a few weeks ago… at this point any bloating should be resolved, suggest you follow..." + (show)
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So a few weeks ago… at this point any bloating should be resolved, suggest you follow up with your surgeon, doesn’t sound or look right.

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I seen my surgeons PA today she never even touched me. Just looked through my chart and said nothing is wrong with you

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2 replies
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mjzd | @mjzd | Feb 15, 2023
In reply to @hines6852 "I seen my surgeons PA today she never even touched me. Just looked through my chart..." + (show)
Profile picture for hines6852 @hines6852

I seen my surgeons PA today she never even touched me. Just looked through my chart and said nothing is wrong with you

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Ask them via your electronic medical record why your stomach is still swollen, tell them that you need to know the answer, that way it is in your record

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collenp | @collenp | Feb 15, 2023
In reply to @hines6852 "Mayo in Jacksonville is about an hour and 45 min from me. I’ve been there before..." + (show)
Profile picture for hines6852 @hines6852

Mayo in Jacksonville is about an hour and 45 min from me. I’ve been there before and they were amazing! I’m really considering going back. I seen the surgeon’s PA today. She never even touched me just looked through my records and said nothing was wrong

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OMG!
Please go to Mayo in Jacksonville.
If you can't get an appointment right away,
Go to the ER as an emergency. DA!
years ago when I went to mayo in minnesota,
I met the husband of a wife, mother of 4 children from the midwest, she was just diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. They lived in Idaho.
When she couldn't get an appointment right away, she went to the emergency department, was seen by a pancreatic specialist. Her husband was so grateful. I think they even had their children with them.
I will keep praying.
Good Luck.

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cookierockwell | @cookierockwell | Feb 15, 2023
In reply to @hines6852 "I seen my surgeons PA today she never even touched me. Just looked through my chart..." + (show)
Profile picture for hines6852 @hines6852

I seen my surgeons PA today she never even touched me. Just looked through my chart and said nothing is wrong with you

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This whole situation is absolutely horrific. I'm so sorry you're going through all this.

The only thing worse than the pain itself is being told that nothing is wrong. Yes! something's wrong!

Best wishes that find relief soon,
Cookie

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tk1 | @tk1 | Feb 16, 2023
In reply to @hines6852 "Mayo in Jacksonville is about an hour and 45 min from me. I’ve been there before..." + (show)
Profile picture for hines6852 @hines6852

Mayo in Jacksonville is about an hour and 45 min from me. I’ve been there before and they were amazing! I’m really considering going back. I seen the surgeon’s PA today. She never even touched me just looked through my records and said nothing was wrong

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Ms. Hines
I am sorry you are unwell, I suggest you make an appointment with a Gastroenterologist for long term follow up, in the interim go to the emergency room, the pain and lack of a bowel movement are reasons enough to seek treatment. Go back to the surgeon as well, they someone should do a HIDA scan, upper GI and possibly a barium enema as well as blood work to check your liver function, electrolytes and a CBC work. Stick to your feelings and tell them you are unwell, and cannot/will not leave until you know what is wrong and how to treat it/feel better. I had my Gallbladder removed in December 2022 and had a rocky go of it as well with 2 Ed visits, a GI visit, a PCP visit and back to the surgeon. Took about 8 weeks for me to start to eat I lost a good amount of weight, and have some normal bowel movements and feel better.

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choosejoy | @choosejoy | Feb 16, 2023
In reply to @hines6852 "Hi I’m a 44yr old white female who had my gallbladder removed January 20,2023 laparoscopic. I..." + (show)
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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Your situation does sound emergent. I’d definitely be seen by someone - even a different GI practice(?)
For future reference has anyone (doctor, dietician) mentioned taking ox bile to help digest fats? I had my gallbladder removed 10 years ago and now have to watch how much fat I eat in a meal. I add a supplement when I eat recommended by my dietician called Cholacol. You can find it on Amazon. I’d check with your doc first but it has made a lot of difference. I guess my liver is not distributing the bile at the right times (which had been the job of our GB’s) so I also have frequent bile reflux which I take an RX for called Colesevelam. Hope this helps.

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deern9 | @deern9 | Feb 17, 2023
In reply to @hines6852 "Hi I’m a 44yr old white female who had my gallbladder removed January 20,2023 laparoscopic. I..." + (show)
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 could possibly have stones stuck in your bile ducts. This can happen even though they removed your gallbladder. I've had them x2. Once 4 days in hospital septic. Doctor had to do ERCP to pull them out in hospital.. At first my liver enzymes were normal finally spiking when I went septic. Please post how you are doing now.

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1 reply
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Ingegerd Enscoe, Alumni Mentor | @astaingegerdm | Feb 18, 2023
In reply to @hines6852 "Hi I’m a 44yr old white female who had my gallbladder removed January 20,2023 laparoscopic. I..." + (show)
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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@hines6852
I don’t know where you live but your local doctors seem unable to get a grip on your still acute illness. The PA should be ashamed- not even examining you.
If you can go to the ER of a major university medical center or the Mayo ER please do so as soon as possible!

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