Post-cholecystectomy or gallbladder removal surgery

Took months to return to almost normal bowel habits. My system seems to have adjusted and I feel fine. BUT!!! There is an important issue with (embarassing) gas. Now this is not regular gas. It does not seem to have odor (??). But it is constant and forceful. It is not painful. I need to take something to control it. People mention metamucil but doesn't that create weight gain? I am very active physically and mentally. I have always had "regular" gas often, but this is different. Such a weird topic. 🙁

I would try Gas-x. I believe the active ingredient is simethicone, so you could probably get the store brand, even at dollar general or somewhere like that. I can't promise it will help, but definitely can't hurt to try it!

@tennisgolf I found this and thought it might be helpful when examining your diet as it relates to excess gas.

Gallbladder removal side effects:
https://www.healthline.com/health/gallbladder-removal-side-effects#side-effects
This is the part of the article I thought may be of interest:
Diarrhea and flatulence
Indigestion can cause diarrhea or flatulence, often made worse by excess fat or too little fiber in the diet. Bile leakage can mean having an insufficient amount of bile in the intestines to digest fat, which loosens stool.

Do you feel like you are eating a diet high in fat or too little fiber that may be contributing?

Thank you so much. Diarrhea was a problem a year ago, but not for a long time. It is all about surprising and powerful flatulence....AND ALL THE TIME. DAILY.

I believe I eat enough fiber - several fruits and/or veggies a day (small portions).
As to a diet high in fat, well I could be overdoing it here I suppose. I will try to reevaluate my diet.

American Patriot (my newer name)

Hello, I am praying that anyone can help. My adult daughter had her gallbladder removed at age 17, she is now 29 years old. She had post cholecystectomy syndrome immediately after her surgery and since then has suffered chronic pain in her belly that is severe enough to cause vomiting. She's been scanned and scoped from here to next century and they can never find a cause for her pain. She has been to UF Shands so many times it's ridiculous. The pain has led to a decline in her mental health. She was hospitalized recently because of the pain and concurrent elevated WBC count and elevated LFTs. Her bile duct was irregular and open at the time so they admitted her and put her on meds for a few days. They finally discharged her and sent her to a GI doctor who gave her trigger point injections in her abdomen. I have asserted for a long time that this is some kind of adhesion or trapped nerve. The pain is right on top of one of her port scars, and upon insertion of the needle, the doctor could FEEL resistance and remarked about it. The issue is, the shots wear off after about 2 weeks, and appointments with this guy are harder to get than hen's teeth, and he's out of the country. My daughter absolutely and categorically is not on narcotic pain meds, nor is she wanting narcotic pain meds. She wants a solution to this pain, so she can get on with her life. Is there anything else anyone can recommend? They're not calling it nerve pain, they're calling it a muscle spasm. I understand spasming muscles can contract around nerves. She's been on muscle relaxers for ages to no effect. The ONLY thing that has even CLOSE to getting her pain down to almost undetectable has been this trigger point injection, of which she has had 2. Is there someone out there that can help? Thank you.

Hello @aurorahmoon and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. First of all, I am really sorry for all your daughter, and you as her mother, have been through. Seeing someone you love have to endure pain is awful.

I'd like to introduce @astaingegerdm and @hopeful33250 who both have shared previously in this discussion and I am hoping they may be able to help you with your more specific question.

Are there other options for where you can seek the trigger point injections if the person you've been going to is difficult to get in with? Also, what is the frequency that you have been told she can receive the injections?

Mine was also on my right side and mine was about a year ago. I’m now experiencing pain that radiates to my top back and middle back height level to where my gallbladder was but on the back. It’s weird and doctor said it was possible nerves and that’s all he said.. did you figure out what yours was?

@aurorahmoon - I’m also very sorry to hear about your daughter’s pain.
Is the pain constant, including night time or there at specific times- such as after eating?

Hi, this might be a long shot, but I am currently in a very similar situation as you were (2 weeks post surgery and experiencing the same pains you described). Wondering if you ever found a cause or a treatment?

Hello. Is your pancreas functioning normally?