Dealing with symptoms after Gallbladder surgery

@colleenyoung Thank you for your reply, I appreciate it. It was a Laproscopic Cholecystectomy. My gallbladder was full of stones and I have having some frequent attacks in a short period of time. I was prepared for pain as I have had a couple procedures prior to this (unrelated, Hernia Repairs and Hysterectomy) this particular pain is just different therefor worrisome. Other than this pain, I am healing well. Incisions look good and clean, swelling is minimal and no pain at incision sites, just some pressure when I stand. Which I expected. Thanks again for your reply!

I am angry on your behalf! Your situation does NOT sound normal to me (I am not a doctor).

Get someone to advocate for you, even if they have to take time off from work to do so.

I suggest some phone calls, which is hard to do when you can't breathe! but could be the most direct route to help. Get your "advocate" to make them with you. They talk the most and you confirm what they say and give HIPPA permission for them to talk for you.

Call your surgeon's office and give them an ear-full. Demand some answers! Demand treatment. They are responsible for this situation.

This is really important: Call your primary care doctor or whomever recommended the surgeon, and get them on your side to demand answers.

Call the hospital where you had the surgery done. Hospitals really, really hate when patients have to be readmitted within a certain time period. And you have already had a ER visit.

If you have to go back to an ER, go to the hospital where they did the surgery. Then all of your records will be together, which also might be very helpful at a later date.

On the topic of your "advocate": If you are female, try to have a male relative/spouse make the calls. It helps if he 1) believes you are suffering, and 2) is pretty angry about how you are being treated-- or NOT being treated.

Sadly, it has been my experience that women tend to get dismissed by medical professionals-- even female medical professionals. One phone call from my husband resolved a problem that I (female) had been working on for weeks!

I had a similar, not identical, experience after my gall bladder surgery. And I still regret not having been more forceful in demanding answers and treatment. I had to go on short-term disability and wound up with pneumonia. Almost 20 years later and I still feel it sometimes. I'm not saying that this will happen to you, but I do urge you to try your best to get answers and treatment. Back then, my husband still believed that all doctors were infallible, so he wasn't much help. He has learned better now.

This sounds anti-doctor. I know there are good ones out there, but they aren't all-knowing, just human.

I hope you feel better soon! Good luck!

@annewoodmayo thank you for your reply. Yesterday the pain was not quite as severe but more persistent throughout the day. Not having the breaks in between flare ups has left me with sore back muscles as well. To add to this, I seem to have picked up a cold with that annoying tickle in the throat making me want to cough! (Which I try to avoid if at all possible lol)
It actually just hit me yesterday that the surgeon mentioned having to cut higher than normal (due to previous abdominal mesh being put in to prevent an abdinal hernia return) so I am assuming that since she had to cut higher, I'm dealing with severe muscular rib injury. Either from the trauma of the two incisions right at the rib, or the rib it's self could have been nicked or something during the procedure, but I'm thinking it's just trauma too close to the rib.
The surgeons office just says "if there's pain go to the ER" which is frustrating. I am speaking with my family Dr. Today, see what she advises. She's been wonderful, so I know she'll help me get comfortable.
I worry about Pneumonia, simply because 60% of my day (generally) and I'd say 80% yesterday, I am shallow breathing and immobile to try and keep the pain minimal. I do try to get up and moving whenever possible, but the pain is quite intense.
Fingers crossed that Today I can get help from my GP to get more comfortable. If I can relax, all the muscles can relax (in theory anyways lol)
Thanks again!

You are very welcome!

Don't you love how the surgeons "mention" stuff, especially when you are on heavy-duty painkillers? How are we supposed to remember that stuff?

Anyway, did they give you a tube-thing to breathe into in order to maintain lung function post-op? If so, be sure to use it. Check to make sure you are using it correctly. I didn't know that I was using mine incorrectly. Probably because I was on pain meds when they gave me instructions on how to use it.

If they didn't give you one of those tube things, ask your doc about breathing exercises. I think they are pretty important for avoiding pneumonia when you are breathing shallowly.

If it takes you awhile to get prescriptions filled (rural area, etc.), then you may want to ask your doc about getting an antibiotic filled and in your home just in case.

I strongly suggest that you ask for and get a written report of the surgery. Your primary might be able to wrangle one out of the surgeons, if you can't get one from them yourself. Most of my doctors use electronic records, which I can access through their patient portal or through my health insurance portal.

Sorry to dump more advice on you...Your situation just reminds me so much of what happened to me. I wish that I had had more guidance back then.

Shoot, I thought of something else...You may want to check with your PCP about when it would be appropriate for you to see a pulmonologist or to get some respiratory therapy in order to make sure that the incisions don't turn into adhesions that interfere with your breathing. I think that is what happened to me and that's why I still get significant discomfort sometimes when I need to breathe deeply.

Again, sorry for the advice dump.

Good luck, and keep us posted!

Hi, 26yof 8 week post gallbladder removal and around week 3 started experiencing frequent lighthead and dizziness. Suggestions? Doctors are stumped. Healthy diet, hydrating and otherwise feel great.

I'm 17 weeks post-op and still having these symptoms .I hope yours goes away ..I wish I have an answer for you..

Hello, I have been having really bad diarrhea for about 6 weeks, thinking it would go away. I finally started taking Colestipol the last 3 weeks and the doctor even had me double up to 2 pills, 2X day. That did not help and I called by Gastrointologist, but of course only got her nurse. I call twice in which they did not call back until I called them again that same day and the nurse said she would text and email the doctor. Well 3 days later, still no response, so I called again. They made some excuse as to why I did not get a call back. They wanted to pawn me off on a nurse assistant and I said NO, I wanted to talk to my doctor. The doctor finally called about an hour later and said she was going on vacation, but to continue to take the Colestipol and a immodium if I needed to. The when she gets back a week later we will have a telehealth appointment. Does anyone find this acceptable? Also, does anyone have any experience with Colestipol?

I had my gallbladder surgery in Dec 2022. Have had lots of GI issues since. None before but everything seems to bother me nos. I have been given given an Rx for Colestipol and it does settle things down for me. I also started Bentyl that relieves some of the feelings of intestinal burning.
This has been such a horrible journey for me, and I do hope the Colestipol helps you. I find I only need one a day.

When I first had my gall bladder out many years ago, I only had a few problems,, but now it id much worse for some reason.

Your GI’s lack of responsiveness is totally unacceptable. I suggest that you find another GI. Can your primary care physician recommend someone?