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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projfan | @projfan | May 19 6:38pm

In reply to @lisalucier "A couple of other members who may have input to share about liraglutide I'd like to..." + (show)

I had my gall bladder taken out as part of my bariatric surgery about 15 years ago. More recently, I've tried tirzepatide and semaglutide to get rid of the weight I've gained since, but I have not tried liraglutide.

I just dug into the literature a bit, and it's clear that liraglutide used for your purpose is getting a lot of attention right now. Here is a hot-off-the presses review paper: https://journals.lww.com/ctg/fulltext/2025/03000/treatment_of_bile_acid_diarrhea_with_glucagon_like.1.aspx.

Liraglutide is now only available in the brand form as Victoza, although independently, I've read that it's possible we will see it in a generic form by 2027 in the US. In the meantime, it's worth checking into whether your insurance plan will cover it, since it's otherwise quite expensive. Note that like all these GLP-1RA drugs, some people get side effects, primarily nausea, which is something most people can control by managing dosage level.

On the plus side, Victoza comes as a multi-pen -- that is, unlike single-use pens for Mounjaro or Zepbound intended for weight loss, you can adjust the dosage. In fact, now that I'm down to a low maintenance level dose of Ozempic (also a multi-pen), I'm able to use this technique (you'll see it called click-counting or microdosing) to cut the cost of the drug in half without resorting to sources of the drug that are not FDA-regulated. This is probably not something you want to do until you have some experience with how your body reacts to the drug, because it means using dose levels that were not studied in clinical trials.

donnabe | @donnabe | May 19 5:02pm

In reply to @lisalucier "Tagging a few members who've talked about bile acid malabsorption (BAM) to see if they are..." + (show)

Thank you!

Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | May 19 3:47pm

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

A couple of other members who may have input to share about liraglutide I'd like to invite into this conversation are @mcgrathj @shaylad90 @projfan.

barjar | @barjar | May 19 3:01pm

In reply to @lisalucier "Tagging a few members who've talked about bile acid malabsorption (BAM) to see if they are..." + (show)

No, I am not familiar with liraglutide.

Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | May 19 2:17pm

In reply to @donnabe "Has anyone with BAM had any experience with Laraglutide?" + (show)

Tagging a few members who've talked about bile acid malabsorption (BAM) to see if they are familiar with or taken liraglutide @barjar @sb4ca @yokio @darb @jeepgrl @dlc1953 @blackscarecrow @dbwhitted.

donnabe | @donnabe | May 18 3:07pm

In reply to @donnabe "Has anyone with BAM had any experience with Laraglutide?" + (show)

I guess not….

madje51 | @madje51 | May 17 5:21pm

In reply to @chattycat "Hello. I am 30F, no history of pregnancy, normal BMI. Grandfather and Grandmother on each side..." + (show)

@chattycat

Hello. I am 30F, no history of pregnancy, normal BMI. Grandfather and Grandmother on each side has had their gallbladders removed due to issues.

About 4 years ago I first started having GI pain in the RUQ that was felt more in the back. Lots of burning when I would eat anything remotely acidic, spicy, or fatty. Had a endoscopy done and found mild gastritis and bile in my stomach. Had an ultrasound of my gallbladder and noticed no issues. Had a HIDA scan of my gallbladder that had it at 78% EF. Tested for H. Pylori, which was treated with antibiotics with no change in pain. Took a SIBO test, which I tested positive for, and treated with antibiotics, with no change. History of constipation. Had a colonoscopy done with no issues (other than some benign polyps). Tested negative for Celiacs and other GI related autoimmune diseases.

Tried treating symptoms PPIs with no success, including anti-spasmodics, sulcrafate, various TCA anti depressants (bounced off them due to them causing too much GI burning even when taking them with food).

Lived for years eating the most blandest of foods, such that I was only eating a number of foods you could count on one hand and was barely hovering above underweight. Ate mostly chicken soup and bread every day for every meal.

Went to see a sphincter of oddi expert, who did a ultrasound endoscopy of my bile ducts and found no issues. Over a year ago I also redid a HIDA scan and my EF% was 84. Got on Trulance to address my constipation issues, which did reduce some pain, and was having BMs every other day, pretty much, but did not resolve my GI pain.

After years of suffering I opted to try removal of my gallbladder to see if this would resolve the issues, particularly because I have heard word of hyperkinetic gallbladders above 80 EF% being a potential issue and it felt like I had tried literally everything else.

I felt 100% cured for a few weeks after surgery. I could eat acidic things no problem and wasn't having pain eating other things. Then the slow descent began back to pain, and now the issue of nausea about 3 months in. I could eat like 20g of fat per meal no issues, but now I can barely eat 5g, probably less. My meals consist of chicken breast, rice, and beans for the most part, with a bit of oatmeal mixed with a little brown sugar. I can't eat fruits without nausea, even in small portions, nor can I eat any acidic foods.

I was able to get on mirtazapine (tetracyclic anti depressant), which has helped with the strong onset of depression that has plagued me since the surgery. However, it has not resolved any of my GI issues. I have tried taking colestipol in the evenings to see if the nausea and pain was related to bile but it's a little uncertain if it even helps. I take Zofran on occasion to help with the nausea, but it's not quite the solution I'm looking for.

(Side note, I also take plaquenil for about a year now due to being diagnosed with Sjogrens.)

Wondering if anyone had similar GI issues and had found relief or answers for their nausea and GI pain.

Thanks!

Jump to this post

My 40 yo son had gallbladder removal 6 weeks ago. He had GI issues for a couple of years prior and then a week before surgert started with chest pain at a 10/10. Was sent home by ER twice after they decided it wasn't heart related. 3rd time in ER we asked them to check his gallbladder and they found stones. Sent him home and told him to call a surgeon when their office opened on Monday, 36 hours later. Finally had surgery. Now 6 weeks later and still has significant pain most days. Don't know what to do now. Apparently there is a percentage of people who can continue with pain for the rest of their life.

dia45 | @dia45 | May 16 6:44pm

In reply to @lisalucier "Hi, @dia45 - the back pain directly after eating sounds intense. It makes sense, but I'm..." + (show)

So far I went to my gp who unfortunately discounted and said ...probably muscle strain or arthritis.

I did not eat today... to test out things... no back pain all day... hmmm

May have to see a specialist...

Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | May 16 2:15pm

In reply to @dia45 "I also am having back pain directly after eating any food, in addition to back pain..." + (show)

Hi, @dia45 - the back pain directly after eating sounds intense. It makes sense, but I'm sorry that you have gained weight because of inactivity due to the pain.

Glad you got the gallbladder removed and that is no longer an issue.

What does your doctor think is causing your back pain, dia45?

dia45 | @dia45 | May 16 9:36am

I also am having back pain directly after eating any food, in addition to back pain when I am pretty much abstaining for almost a whole day. The pain is unusual as it's not from a sprain or injury, and radiates all across the upper back around my waist. On some nights, my back pain is worse. I have, no whole life been a very healthy person. In 1974 I was rendered unconscious and jaundiced, doctors had thought it was acid reflux and prescribed antacids - for weeks. I was found on the floor by a family member.
With emergency surgery, the gallbladder had literally rotted when they found it.

in 2025 now, I have been experiencing the pain daily. I try several things to ease it, not much success. Drinking alot of water, abstaining from food (of course no fatty foods) hot compresses, rubbing the area a bit. This condition did not appear until a few years ago I have since gained 20 lbs because of inactivity due to the pain, although I still eat lightly.

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