Pain after gall bladder removal

[vettechick99]

I know I'm not the only one because there are many comments about it on the Internet. But I haven't found a clear answer.

I had my GB out about 3 years ago. Now occasionally I will have a mild gall bladder attack. It's not enough to send me to the ER or even the doctor. It only happens occasionally when I have an empty stomach and I eat something. Doesn't matter if it's high fat or low fat (although high fat will always do it and so I avoid that). But today I had low-fat oatmeal with fresh fruit and it happened. The only common thread is that my stomach was empty before. I had coffee earlier, but this was 2 hours later.

It must be related to my liver. I just wonder if I have some stones somewhere or it's something else. Maybe I pissed off my liver by waking it up. Or maybe it's my GB haunting me from beyond.

Weird.

 

[Goofyluver]

It can be set off by high-fat and hard-to-digest items, at least for me.

Oatmeal would be one of those hard-to-digest items.

And I had my gallbladder out 15 years ago.

 

[Boston Tea Party]

I have had this as well. I discussed it with my doctor and she said that there is "silt" that will act like the stones did thereby causing the problem.

I call it "phantom organ" - akin to phantom limb. (It sounds better than phantom bladder, though...)

 

[JaneBanks]

When I had my gall bladder out, my doctor told me I may have "phantom" gall bladder attacks.

 

[vettechick99]

It can be set off by high-fat and hard-to-digest items, at least for me.

Oatmeal would be one of those hard-to-digest items.

And I had my gallbladder out 15 years ago.

That makes sense. The two times I can recall off-hand were today (oatmeal) and last year (sausage biscuit). Both hard to digest, but different in nutrition. It's happened since then, but I can't remember specifically what I ate. Funny thing is that I ate this same oatmeal dish yesterday and did not have any pains. I guess maybe it was because I had a smoothie beforehand? But will a drink make something more digestible? Or maybe it thins it out? I wonder if a glass of water would help digestion.

I have had this as well. I discussed it with my doctor and she said that there is "silt" that will act like the stones did thereby causing the problem.

I call it "phantom organ" - akin to phantom limb. (It sounds better than phantom bladder, though...)

So it is my GB haunting me from beyond!

 

[vettechick99]

When I had my gall bladder out, my doctor told me I may have "phantom" gall bladder attacks.

My surgeon said absolutely nothing to me. Not "be careful with the fatty foods", not "let me tell you about this wonderful thing called dumping", not "your life will never be the same and you'll have to take this medicine every night for 70 years". He said "you are as good as new!" and sent me on my way. Right before he cashed his check.

Anyway, did your doctor explain why you would have these pains and how to prevent or treat them?

 

[JaneBanks]

My surgeon said absolutely nothing to me. Not "be careful with the fatty foods", not "let me tell you about this wonderful thing called dumping", not "your life will never be the same and you'll have to take this medicine every night for 70 years". He said "you are as good as new!" and sent me on my way. Right before he cashed his check.

Anyway, did your doctor explain why you would have these pains and how to prevent or treat them?

No, just to be careful with greasy, fatty foods. I wasn't told about "dumping" either. I only know about it because I looked it up on the internet. lol I wasn't put on any type of medicine but that may just be a separate issue for you.

 

[Goofyluver]

That makes sense. The two times I can recall off-hand were today (oatmeal) and last year (sausage biscuit). Both hard to digest, but different in nutrition. It's happened since then, but I can't remember specifically what I ate. Funny thing is that I ate this same oatmeal dish yesterday and did not have any pains. I guess maybe it was because I had a smoothie beforehand? But will a drink make something more digestible? Or maybe it thins it out? I wonder if a glass of water would help digestion.

Seriously, I've learned sometimes there's no rhyme or reason. I can eat the same thing two days in a row as well, one time I'm fine, one time I'm not. So, I just eat what I want.

 

[vettechick99]

No, just to be careful with greasy, fatty foods. I wasn't told about "dumping" either. I only know about it because I looked it up on the internet. lol I wasn't put on any type of medicine but that may just be a separate issue for you.

I learned about fatty foods the day of surgery - the hard way. It did get better, then worse, the better because I'm now on Cholestyramine which is a miracle drug. My OB was actually the one who put me on it after my 2nd DD. I can eat anything, and drink any amount of alcohol (woo hoo! ) and not have an upset tummy the next day. Never have the big D anymore. Period.

Regardless, I've just been trying to eat better lately so new interesting issues are coming up. Amazing how foods affect you so differently.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

I had my gallbladder out...oh, maybe 10 years now.

You can STILL get gallstones, but they will go into your intestines. It is something that luckily has not happened to me, but my surgeon did warn about that.

Certain foods can cause other issues. Carrots will give me awful pain in my stomach. Cheese will give me diarrhea. Fruit will make me bloated.

I gave up soda cold turkey after my surgery. High fatty foods and sugary drinks were to blame for the gallstones in the first place.

 

[Zarabear]

I JUST had my gallbladder out. (Dec 28th) Just had the post-op appointment yesterday. I wish I had seen this thread, I might have had a few more questions for my surgeon!

So far, I'm doing really well. But last night, I woke up at 3am and had this odd, sharp pain. I took motrin, (not the narcotic painkiller they had prescribed) and was able to go back to sleep after an hour.

So far, food wise, I'm doing okay. But I found that the 4 months or so of diet modification I went through to try to avoid surgery has really worked wonders. LoL (nothing like the threat of intense pain to deter you from eating junk food!) I thought at first to avoid the surgery, but went through with it so I could stop having these attacks and continue on my road to being healtheir through exercise. The attacks had really put a crimp in my quest!

Now I'm a little worried reading this, but I'm going to do my best. I'm definitely bookmarking this thread though, and subscribing.

~Zara

 

[portocall]

My gallbladder was removed in May and there are times I wonder what they took out because I can be doubled over in no time. I find there is no rhyme or reason for it. I guess I can be expecting this for a long time coming. Hopefully they will get less frequent as time passes.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

I had my gall bladder out 5 years ago. It is hit or miss what I have problems digesting. Some days I can't stomach soda or greasy foods and some days they are no problem.

I have never heard of dumping. What the heck is that??

 

[lilsk8nmac]

Had mine out six years ago. for the first year or so I had "phantom" gb attacks. I would vomit gall/bile, whatever it's called. Yeah fun. It's probably from the duct or whatever they leave there. Sometimes I have issues with fatty foods or highly carbonated foods, ones with alot of caffeine too. Like I can't drink coffee at all now that I've had the GB out. It makes me really really ill.

Best of luck.

 

[bumbershoot]

I've read over and over that having your gallbladder out does NOT guarantee that you won't have pain that's JUST like the pain that caused you to have your gallbladder out in the first place.

Because of this, the people DH and I know in real life that were considering the surgery did NOT end up having the surgery. They changed their diet around and went on with their lives with less pain.

To me, a doubter, calling it phantom pain is just a cutesie way of saying "oh darn, the surgery didn't help you after all".

Sorry it didn't work as expected, and that surgeon sounds awful, vette...

 

[Dax]

I had my gall bladder out 5 years ago this week....

I still have the pains, but as PP's have stated, it is due to diet...I also can eat a food one day, then eat it again the next day, and have a violent attack...I have found that if I go long periods of time with no food, that can definatly cause issues, so small meals often seem to help..

What is "dumping"....The easiest way to describe it...in a DIS way....You eat, then you get horrible horrible "I need to find a bathroom RIGHT NOW!" cramping...mine are usually accompanied by gurgling, sweats and heavy breathing..LOL...Then when you finally do hit the bathroom....well....you get the idea....fast and furious Usually when I eat, I take and Immodium Multi, and that seems to help a LOT.

 

[Shanna-like-Banana]

Did any of ya'll have a Pancreas infection at the same times as the Gall Bladder problems.

I did.

The pain that I fell is exactly the same as many of you are saying, but I was told by my surgeon they are considered Pancreas flares.

He said once you have a Pancreas infection, you are subseptable to having repeat infections through-out life.

 

[nancycg56]

My surgeon told me that a certain percentage of people will still have gall bladder attacks after removal and I am one of the lucky ones. They are not nearly as bad as before but I have one every once in awhile. It doesn't matter what I eat or don't eat, they just happen.

I have all kinds of digestive problems since I had mine out 2 1/2 years ago and it's so annoying.

 

[kissesbykim]

Did any of ya'll have a Pancreas infection at the same times as the Gall Bladder problems.

I did.

The pain that I fell is exactly the same as many of you are saying, but I was told by my surgeon they are considered Pancreas flares.

He said once you have a Pancreas infection, you are subseptable to having repeat infections through-out life.

This.
If I drink too much hard alcohol too quickly I get this. Feels just like pancreatitis but not as bad. So I eliminated the problem by not drinking anymore (once in a while I have a drink but I don't overdue it). I've had mine out for 11 years and the worst side effect is the dumping. Ugh. But it's better than the horrible attacks I used to have!

 

[PrincessKsMom]

I learned about fatty foods the day of surgery - the hard way. It did get better, then worse, the better because I'm now on Cholestyramine which is a miracle drug. My OB was actually the one who put me on it after my 2nd DD. I can eat anything, and drink any amount of alcohol (woo hoo! ) and not have an upset tummy the next day. Never have the big D anymore. Period.

Regardless, I've just been trying to eat better lately so new interesting issues are coming up. Amazing how foods affect you so differently.

I didn't find out about dumping until about 3 weeks after my surgery and after 3 weeks of dumping. I agree about Cholestyramine. It is truly a life saver. My doctor said some people are on it for a little while, some for a lifetime. Looks like I'm a lifetime kinda gal. I occasionally still have issues, but it's usually during that time of the month, and that was an issue before my gall bladder surgery. Now I just take a full pack of med on each of those days and I'm fine. Normally I take 1/2 packet of medicine each day.