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Post gallbladder surgery issues
I had gallbladder surgery 2012 and never lost weight but gained. Have trouble eating leafy vegetables, fiber, fruits, etc. it causes diarrhea, gas & bloating. When i do eat a meal other than salads, i have bloating and gas. Does anyone else suffer from these issues? I also had some of the Sigmoid bowel removed. Sometimes I can eat and no issues other times, severe acid reflux. Taking meds for acid reflux. Thank you.
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Thank you ! Yes I have tried to get an earlier appointment for the MRI and Endo, but they refuse to treat this as an emergency and even though I have these episodes of severe pain I am suppose to wait. I am on a wait list.
I hope the Bentyl helps. If anyone has had success with this medicine please share your experience.
Thank you
If I had to guess why the GI doc says he has to wait until April for an MRI and Endo, it’s because of an insurance guideline. But those restrictive guidelines for timelines of repeat imaging typically apply to routine monitoring - not diagnostics. If you have a clinical issue that he needs imaging for, he should be able to do that. If the insurance says they won’t pay, in my experience the imaging center would reach out to you.
That all said, some Docs prioritize getting gold stars for efficiency. If he can’t or won’t explain why the wait, I would consider another doc.
I have had right upper quadrant and upper epigastric(upper middle) abdominal pain for years and went all over the country to the best hospitals years ago to try to get it diagnosed with no luck. About three months ago the pain increased becoming constant and unbearable. I had an ultrasound done which showed gallstones, then an MRCP which showed gallstones, and mild pancreatic atrophy and either a developmental cyst or branch ductal ipmn which is 2 mm. I went through laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery (gallbladder removal) almost two weeks ago where it turned out that in addition to gallstones I also had lots of inflammation (so much that he had to remove it to even see my gallbladder and told me I must have been having gallbladder attacks for years and now the chronic inflammation was causing constant terrible pain) and at first I thought it was going to solve my pain if I just waited for post op healing, but now, two weeks of terrible pain throughout my abdomen and most often in the same areas I had pain pre surgery ( now under the left lower rib cage as well as the right and throughout my abdomen and back) is making me concerned that this is not post op pain, but either the same problem I had before surgery or something they did wrong in surgery causing this pain. Not sure if the pain is still related to food or not, since I have been eating a very low fat diet, but pain is still constant. Anyone know what might be going on here, and do you think it is still post op pain this bad, or maybe the surgery didn’t fix the problem or created a new one? Also wondering if there could be some pancreas involvement…anyone out there who may have pancreas issues that might please weigh in on this…
I am taking 100mg to tylenol every eight hours and 600 mg of ibuprofen every eight hours ( alternating each four hours), but the pain is still terrible… Post op appointment with surgeon gave me no answers or direction. Please help if you can. Thank you so much!
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1 ReactionPS…I meant 1000 mg of Tylenol, not 100 mg and it may help to know that I am 62 ( especially in terms of the pancreatic atrophy, which may be just age related, but not sure). Also, I don’t drink, smoke, or do drugs. Thanks again.
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1 ReactionI had my gallbladder removed over 15 years ago. I have constant belly pain and diarrhea. Have had all test possible have been to four specialists and they keep doing the same thing. I have not lost any weight. I’m gaining weight. I am at my wits end. I really need some advice.
Welcome, @dgorslin. I moved your question regarding late side effects after gallbladder surgery to this existing discussion:
- Post gallbladder surgery issues https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/post-gallbladder-issues/
I did this so you can see previous posts and connect with members @jdc60, @jackielb @kiimashleycarter and others.
You ma also be interested in using the group search to find other relevant discussions: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/digestive-gastrointestinal-problems/?search=gallbladder%20surgery&index=discussions
My daughter had IBS-D for 17 years. She followed the special diet, easily digested food, no fats, not red meat, etc. Then she moved to another state and had a new gastro doctor. He said she did not have IBS - her issues were due to her gallbladder removal 17 years previous. No one had told her that when the gall bladder was removed! Without any bile acid, most foods cannot be digested, especially proteins. She had an infection and no acid. She did the antibiotic regimen (I don't know what it was) and he also prescribed a powder she mixes with liquid or applesauce. She takes it 3 times a day to replace the bile acid. She has had NO issues since then, 2 years ago! Her life is so improved!
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1 ReactionKind advice for you to go back to the same hospital for review and abdominal scanning be done. Otherwise, sorry about the pain. May you heal so soon.