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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edloftus | @edloftus | Sep 7, 2023

In reply to @jfperrone "After a very painful event I had surgery to remove my gall bladder. Surgery took 2.5..." + (show)

Without a GB, while bile is still produced, it’s no “dumped” in adequate amounts when food is digested - especially those with fat content. Check with you Dr, but I’ve heard consistently from several practitioners that the supplement Ox Bile Acids can be VERY helpful. Also, a high % of those who’ve had their GB removed develop SIBO, due to big fat foods sitting in the stomach longer. Find out about SIBO, because it’s a critical issue that can results in several symptoms, including diarrhea. If your western MD is clueless, find a ND or GOOD nutritionist to advise you, including important info about the FODMAP diet.

debra54 | @debra54 | Sep 8, 2023

In reply to @thisisabattle "Hey! I've been struggling with digestive issues for a year. (mucus in stool, pain in epigastric..." + (show)

Get a 2nd opinion

thisisabattle | @thisisabattle | Sep 8, 2023

In reply to @edloftus "Without a GB, while bile is still produced, it’s no “dumped” in adequate amounts when food..." + (show)

Thank you! Yes I have SIBO, to be more specific I have methane overgrowth (IMO). I've tried cure it with xifaxan twice, but without positive result. My doctor told me that we need to find the root of SIBO and after many tests he came to conclusion that my GB is my root cause becuase it's filled with sludges, and poor bile flow might be a cause of SIBO.

cherawgirl | @cherawgirl | Sep 8, 2023

In reply to @thisisabattle "Hey! I've been struggling with digestive issues for a year. (mucus in stool, pain in epigastric..." + (show)

I had similar issues. Took years to get Dr. to do stool test that revealed Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficient (EPI). Digestive Enzymes have changed my life. Good luck, prayers for you to get relief.

thisisabattle | @thisisabattle | Sep 8, 2023

In reply to @cherawgirl "I had similar issues. Took years to get Dr. to do stool test that revealed Exocrine..." + (show)

Thank you! do you mean elastase stool test? I'm so happy that you feel happy and healthy now! that's great!

cherawgirl | @cherawgirl | Sep 8, 2023

In reply to @thisisabattle "Thank you! do you mean elastase stool test? I'm so happy that you feel happy and..." + (show)

Yes, Fecal Elastase.

debra54 | @debra54 | Sep 9, 2023

In reply to @jfperrone "After a very painful event I had surgery to remove my gall bladder. Surgery took 2.5..." + (show)

It gets better in time but there are meds they can give you and a diet to follow..

bellsebub | @bellsebub | Sep 17, 2023

In reply to @ethanmcconkey "Hi @misslisa that must be so frustrating to have these hunger pains. I wanted to share..." + (show)

I had mine out eight days ago and I am so hungry all the time and it's not just hunger pains I'm light-headed and dizzy like I'm hypoglycemic.

I feel like my body is not really digesting the food or getting calories from it or something?

I'm also slightly constipated which is the opposite of what they said would happen.

I feel like my body is not producing enough bile to break down my foods.

But I also want you to know that I used to be on a PPI and I found that it aggravated my stomach pains so that I felt much more hungry than I normally did although it alleviated so many other problems.. and then I switched to famotidine instead which is an H2 blocker instead of a PPI and that greatly helped my symptoms.

So my stomach does hurt a little bit when I'm hungry and I can definitely feel that I'm hungry even though I couldn't tell I was hungry before the gallbladder removal... I can definitely feel hungry now but it's not that my stomach hurts horribly at this point it's that I literally get dizzy and feel like I don't have enough blood sugar.

And eating and eating and eating and I'm not an eater normally. I'm eating so much food and I'm still losing weight. I've lost more than 10 lb in one week.

And it's still going down. Granted I was a chunky monkey and I'm less of a chunky monkey now but this is definitely not how I wanted to lose some weight 😵‍💫

I understand that a lot of people are saying that they have similar experiences but what I want to know is why, what's wrong, and how do I fix it?

I'm literally to the point where every time I eat something I'm following it up with a sweet treat to have the extra calories.

I lost 2 lb since yesterday. My face looks like I'm a cancer patient or like I'm on that diabetic weight loss miracle shot thing that people are taking my skin is just hanging off of my face 😞

Something feels wrong and I don't know how to fix it.

mvalles702 | @mvalles702 | Oct 16, 2023

https://www.mayoclinic.org/medical-professionals/digestive-diseases/news/identifying-diarrhea-caused-by-bile-acid-malabsorption/mac-20430098

imk3 | @imk3 | Nov 3, 2023

In reply to @hnnhsndrsn "I know this is old so I hope you're better. But what you have is bile..." + (show)

Hello, I have bile reflux after GB removal have been bedridden with pain since. Did you have the surgery and if so may I ask where and how you are doing?

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