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Post-cholecystectomy or gallbladder removal surgery
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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I had my gallbladder bladder removed (laparoscopic cholecystectomy) 4 weeks ago. I repeated my Liver function tests (ALP and ALT) and they were elevated. Just would like to know if this is normal post gallbladder removal and how long usually does it take for the enzymes to go back to normal or should I be worried?
Thanks
Singular elevated lab tests unless outrageously high may just be an anomaly and should be repeated. It is common for them to be elevated following GB surgery.
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1 ReactionIf you still participate in this discussion, I would appreciate knowing how you are doing.
I am having incisional abdominal hernia repair in a few days. My waist grows 3 inches from morning till evening and I get pain if I eat a big meal. Need to keep my meals small. Did fixing the hernia help?
Omg! You are my people! I’m a year into daily pain right at the site where my gall bladder was. We have tried everything under the sun- besides going back in and I have had no relief. I am in pain every day. Varying degrees and always worsening in the evening and sometimes it radiate to my back or a little closer to my belly button but all the same spot. I need ideas as we are running out. My next step is a chronic pain clinic run by an anesthesiologist. We will see.
It can take up to 12 weeks to heal. Give it more time.
Hello. I had gallbladder removal surgery over two weeks ago. At day 5, I ended up in the hospital with severe pain, internal bleeding, high bilirubin, high liver enzymes, high heart enzymes, and decreased Hemoglobin and RBC. I stayed 3 days. A recheck of my chem panel today shows my Alk Phos still at 462, but other tests were normal. (A CBC was not run). I have pain in my side from my back to under my ribs and get short of breath. I am tired. I am better than before I was hospitalized. I cannot find any information on a case such as this. Most studies say Alk Phos is unchanged or improves with 72 hours. My results were high longer than this. Has anyone else experienced this? Did you have to see a specialist? My surgeon released me without running the labs as the hospital ordered so I had my PCP order them. Thanks!
Wow what was the diagnosis for the Readmission? Was it Peritonitis? Did you have to have an exploratory Lap? You mentioned internal bleeding? Did they find where that was coming from? Was it corrected? Did you ask for details after the Readmission? You didn’t give details. All said, in your case since your gallbladder was removed and now your stable(?), bleeding resolved, blockage resolved etc you would think the Alk Phos would steadily decrease. There may be another stone that was missed in a bile duct causing blockage from your liver?? Watch for signs and symptoms of infection. Hope you don’t have to have a third hospitalization! Lots of reasons to stay high and not go down. You may have to get an abdominal CT and more labs. The Alk phos should trend down if the causative reason was a blockage(may take a while),and if your other problems during the surgery were corrected surgically etc and there is no infection and your liver is healthy and it’s ducts are able to drain into the duct to the small intestine it would be reasonable to think your Alk Phos would gradually come down, but you need to keep a keen eye on it. If Continued abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or you develope jaundice or fever you really need to revisit your surgeon asap and he/she should treat you accordingly.. You have been through a lot. Glad your PCP is aware of this also. Ask questions, be educated on what was done to you and the causes and treatment. Your issues may resolve with time but listen to your body; you are your best advocate.
How is your bile duck doing?
Elevated LBK phos is common following GB surgery but weeks after this long is abnormal. Have you followed up with your PCP yet?
That’s odd I’d get to major medial center rather then local small hospital if still an issue