Dealing with symptoms after Gallbladder surgery

My daughter had her gall bladder removed 4 weeks ago due to excessive nausea and vomiting. She felt better right after, but now is getting sick to her stomach, and can not keep anything down. Her doctor told her to go to the ER, and they gave her zofran. They sent her home. She is still getting sick, and her doctor is not calling her back. Any help would be appreciated.

So sorry to hear. I had mine out 5 weeks ago, and have problems eating and Epigastric pain since awakening . Lost over 15 pounds and I am not heavy. I am forcing myself to eat bland foods in small amounts. Applesauce seems to be soothing. Going on for an upper GI today that I scheduled.
Camomile tea also seems to help.
If I can think of anything else I will let you know.

Hello virtual buddies. I am still trying to figure out how to get back some normalcy. Getting tired of feeling uncomfortable and unable to function. Anyone get a heavy painful lump of food feeling after a meal? If so, what has helped you?
Anyone get indigestion after a meal? What do you do?
How to introduce fiber and raw vegetables? Any ideas?
Constipation? What helps.

I have been thinking about your daughter’s situation. I am not a Dr but seems like they should do at least a CT of her abdomen and pelvis to make sure no issues.
Try to get in to see her primary care physician or a gastroenterologist. Wishing her the best.

I am aware of this old post - 3 years ago. If you can still read this post if it goes to you.. Why did your Gallbladder surgeon told you not to have a colonoscopy ever?? What are the reason? I like to know. I will have colonoscopy on April 11th 2023. I want to decide whether to continue or not.
Thank you,
Judy

Hi there,
I had my gall bladder removed on March 28th. On March 31st, I was taken to hospital with severe crippling right sided rib pain. They did a CT scan, ruled out any injury to bile duct and any infection (have never been feverish) since the 31st I have been dealing with this rib pain. It is most severe shortly after I wake up to the point of not being able to move, hurts to breath and I feel nauseated. Hydromorphone barely takes the edge off and Robaxin barely takes the edge off. Incusions are healing as they should, I have very minimal pain at incision sites.I have exhausted my Google searches and just want to know if this is normal? Has anyone experienced something similar? How long can I expect this pain to last? Anything else I can try to minimize pain? Thanks!

Hi @tasha00, this must be disconcerting. To help you connect with others who have had a cholecystectomy, I moved your question to this discussion
- Dealing with symptoms after Gallbladder surgery: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/gallbladder-surgery/

Your surgery was very recent and it is a major surgery. Even from laparoscopic cholecystectomy, recovery can take several weeks. Was your surgery laparoscopically done? May I ask what led to your needing 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!