Post-cholecystectomy or gallbladder removal surgery

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 !!

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.

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.

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.

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

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 !!

hello all, I am now close to 3 months post Op and still having spells of upper abdominal pain similar to pre op pain.The last round ( 3 days ago) was a "lighter version" less painful, but still kept me in bed all day. I just want to get past this and live again! This is crazy!!

I have been having pain on my right side after gall bladder surgery too my back going on 3 months... Nauseated in the morning and generally feeling malaise. I have been also treated for renal cell carcinoma in that time frame.. My doctor found my pancreas has been not functioning properly also... I am not producing Amylase and it might be what is causing the pain and illness in my GI tract... My gallbladder was so bad when the surgeon took it out he remarked about it being very diseased and scarred.. It's possible that it may have damaged my pancreas cuz prior to having the gallbladder removed I had several bouts with pancreatitus... I think many of you might be experiencing this and need to have your pancreas checked out... Taking pain meds and other meds are not a proper solution to the condition.. I am still trying to get treated but my Healthcare system is working at a snails pace... I will update if I can if there is a solution to this...

My gallbladder was removed in Dec 2022, I have had a rough recovery, with horrific paid mid epigastric esophagus and R side, I started taking digestive enzymes with ox bile about a
Month ago, it really helps with the discomfort and indigestion after meals.I take one with meals.
Sorry to hear you are having pain, I do hope it resolves for you.