Post Gallbladder Surgery Complications – First 150 Testimonies

[DataCurator]

I DID NOT HAVE TYPICAL GALL BLADDER SYMPTOMS. I HAVE HAD PAIN IN MY SHOULDERS THAT RADIATES INTO MY CHEST. THIS PAIN COMES ONCE PER MONTH EVERY MONTH AND LASTS FOR 2-6 DAYS. IT ALL STARTED AFTER INGUINAL HERNIA SURGERY. IT FEELS LIKE AN AIR BUBBLE THAT WON’T BURST. IT HAS CONTINUED FOR ALMOST A YEAR. I HAVE SEEN MANY DOCTORS AND BEEN TESTED FOR MANY THINGS BUTTHE DOCTORS ARE DUMBFOUNDED AT THE SYMPTOMS, MAINLY BECAUSE THEY COME AND GO LIKE CLOCKWORK. THE PAIN IS WORSE WHEN LYING DOWN AND IT IS PAINFUL TO BREATHE OR BEND. IT’S LIKE SOMETHING IS CUTTING OFF MY BREATHING. THEY THOUGHT IT WAS MY GALL BLADDER AND IT WAS REMOVED BUT THE SYMPTOMS HAVE CONTINUED AS BEFORE. PLEASE, ANYBODY WHO HAS HAD THIS HELP……

[DataCurator]

“Have had my gallbladder out for almost a year. Had the Hidascan prior to the surgery & I was one point from “”bad””, so they proceeded. I never had diarrhea problems before like I do now. On top of that I was “”diagnosed”” with IBS last week, which I won’t take for an answer. I was put on Aciphex yesterday for 2 bouts of what I thought was either a gall bladder attack (from the ducts still being in there) or acid reflux, which is what my doc thought it was. I have never ever had any reflux issues before ever in my life. I have terrible abdominal pain that has never faded & the gallbladder removal did nothing for. The actual surgery was a breeze, as was recovery (laproscopic).

Good luck to you!”

[DataCurator]

“Hey!

I had my gall bladder removed 31 years ago and was originally told that all would be well after surgery and I could eat anything I liked. So not true!! Admittedly milk and butter and cream all tasted different, but my gosh I had a cream cake and it was as if i had never had the surgery.

I struggled for years with what seemed to be IBS and repeated attacks of stomach pain that left me drowsy for 12 – 24 hours. So donlt listen to anyone who says there are no affter effects – so untrue”

[DataCurator]

I am hoping that someone can help. I had my gallbladder removed almost two years ago. My experience was great, other than than the occasional bouts of the runs. However, mainly in wee hours of the morning, I experience an intense burning in the area where my gall bladder was removed. This burning is so intense that it causes me to curl into a ball. I have found that it takes about a half an hour and several glasses of water to get rid of the pain. Has anyone else experienced this and does anyone know what causes it? Please help!

[DataCurator]

“I too suffer from what now seems like “”dumping syndrome””.
I had my gallbladder removed back in July of 1999 at the age of 20. And ever since then I have suffered with diarriea, constipation, flatulence, nausea, and killer cramping. For the longest time I thougth that I too had cancer,I have had an ERCP and a colonoscopy performed, but after seeing a GI doctor up in Standford, he concluded that I had Colitis. He gave me medication that has not been working for me. I am really having a bad time. I can’t live my life the way I like too. I’m only 21 years old and I feel my life is over. I am attending college and I have about 3 more months before I will graduate, I’m scard to death about moving on. I don’t know how I will be able to work when I can’t even leave the bathroom. I lost my job because I had my gallbladder surgry. Now ever since then any job I have had I haven’t lasted more that 2 weeks because I quit. I have noticed like many of you, that my mornings often start the same way, I have breakfast and 10-15 minutes later I run off to the bathroom. I hardly leave my house, because I fear that I will have to rush to the bathroom. I have no social life!! I’m engaged to be married, sometimes I wonder if I’ll be able to walk down the isle without having an accident. I can’t take this kind of life style anymore. Its very neverecking and very uncomfortable. I stress over this every day and need some help. If anyone has any other information please E-mail me at ***@**** “

[DataCurator]

I just had my gall bladder out 2 weeks ago. I had no pain at first then a week to the surgery I had the same exact pain I originally had. I have had lots of diarrhea and up until finding this website thought I should just watch my diet more. I have lost 10 lbs in 2 weeks because of nausea, vomitting, and diarrhea. Had they informed me of these side effects, I still would of had the surgery. I just would of been more prepared for the side effects. I am trying to attend college and am very angry right now to find out that the diarrhea may never end. I cannot attend if I have that problem. If your husband’s doctor thinks it should be done at least ask every question you can think of regardless of the way it may sound. I asked no questions before mine was taken out and now I really wish I had. I am unable to eat spicy, greasy, fried, too sweet, caffeinated, dairy, or fruit and vegetable foods. I am unsure what to eat right now but I pray it is more then bread and water. I wish you and your husband the best

[DataCurator]

“I have similar symptoms. I had my GB out in July 2011 (currently Jan 2012). My biggest issue is dull pain in my right side just under rib cage when standing up or walking. When laying down it subsides. If I’m on my feet for more than 10 or 15 minutes I start getting bloated along with the pain. When I sit down the pain gradually leaves but bloating subsides slower. Laying down is best. Bowel movements are normal & Dr. did Liver Enzymes test which came back normal. It feels like maybe scar tissue inside and when I stand up it pulls on the scar tissue. Dr. said that was a possibility. Very uncomfortable and I can’t walk long distances cause pain & bloating gets unbearable.

Larry”

[DataCurator]

“I too have had Upper Right Quadrant pain and many of the symptoms described in these posts. I am at my wits end about this. I had my gall bladder removed March 99. An ERCP to remove some more stones Aug 99. I have had this most recent attack for 2 months….and there seems to be no end in sight. I am taking pain killers mostly at work so I can function there. I am doubled over most days. Extreme pain, the area is sensitive to touch. I also have migraines daily. I am convinced this goes with whatever is bothering me. I had No pain or migraines after March. They came back in July. Went away after the ERCP in August. They came back in November with this current attack. Other symptoms are nausea, extreme fatigue, pain increases when I get hungry, also is there after I eat…sometimes immediately sometimes not for a couple of hours.

This attack has been the worst so far. I went to a GI doc he says there isnt any GI problem and did a Rib series (all was fine) and sent me to a chest specialist. The chest specialist says why are u here this is a GI problem. Consults a Surgeon who also agrees. They get me into another GI doc for an ERCP or surgery or both. The new GI doc says why are u here. This is cronic rib pain because you are female. Grow up and deal with it and that I will have pain alot worse than this. I left his office in tears. I am going back to him Monday to see if I can convince him it is something with my GI tract. If not I really dont know what I will do next. I am down to 5 pain pills. I got 30 of them in August, and I use them very sparingly. Every doc I go to thinks I am addicted to them or could be. I dont use them unless the pain is exteme. Which is becoming more and more often. Any ideas….mostly just wanted to vent. Glad to know I am not alone in this now. “

[DataCurator]

“I have had my galbladder out a little over a year ago. I have the bathroom problem also. I also still have pains where my galbladder was. They have done ultra sounds, x rays , upper GI and now going for a C-t Scan. They have no clue what is going on. They just say it must be IBS. And I have totally disagread with what they think. The pain is the same and I didn’t have the bathroom problem untell about a month after I had my GB removed. There has to be something out there. I was so happy to have found this sight. I thought that I was the only one that had pain and this problem.
thank you
from tired of the test and not knowing ”

[DataCurator]

wow i had my gallbladder out in 1992(lap)way and was never right since.it was same day surgery and the next day i was admitted into icu in critical and was given my last rights twice,but i was there 5 days and with the grace of god i made it.14 years later i am suffering a nightmare and torture almost eveyday of my life. stomache problems ,burning ripping sensations in my ribs,back pain,and i have a horrible throbbing pain in my LEFT side.most of the problems developed shorly after the surgery,but the ribs started 5 years ago and noone can figure it out.they did find out that i have sjrogens,but that couldnt possibly cause me such pain. i cry alot.my family has been worried so i try to cry alone so they wont see the pain.a few years ago a radiologist doing my xrays told me i have quite a bit of staples migrating ,but no doctor will touch it so i am tortured daily.so much more but i could probly wright forever.not sure if they still use staples,but maybe you all should look into it .good luck to you all and god bless

[DataCurator]

I am a 23 yo female with paraplegia from the waist down i had my gall bladder removed on June 18 2007 , finding 10 gall stones, since I have experienced nausea and vomiting every other day. How Strange Yea!! Every other day I feel fine and can get up and function like I “normally” do. My Doctor has said that I may have to deal with the vomiting for the rest of my life but I’m 23 now sureley at this rate I will have dentures in the next 5-10 years and who knows how bad my internal damage will be. ANY HELP!!!!

[DataCurator]

I had gall bladder sugery in 05 but the pain never went away. I had a ct scan and they said came it back clear. The pain in my right side, under my rib cage gets unbearible a times, I often feel bloated. I also have a hard time using the restroom since my surgery. My doctor suggest I see a surgeon for exploratory surgery. He believes it scar tissue. I don’t know what to do, hate to have surgery when their not sure what it is but don’t know how much longer I can take the pain.

[DataCurator]

I had my gallbladder out (laparoscopic) in October 2006. Three weeks later I had an abscess removed from my liver caused by infection from the gallbladder surgery. They used a hepatic drain to remove the abscess. In April 2008 I started having major pain episodes about once a month. Same things as many described (fullness, pain in abdomen, spasms, vomiting, etc). These episodes happen about once a month and last for 1 – 2 days. I went through all the same tests (endoscope, camera, colonoscopy, emptying study, etc). In October 2008 I finally insisted on exploratory laparoscopic surgery. They found adhesions and a “misplaced” suture that had been left behind during the hepatic drain procedure. Even though I was mad I thought the ordeal was over. Well April 200http://lifewithnogallbladder.com/forums/topic/operation-complications/ the episodes were back. I have since had three attacks. Most likely the adhesions are back. It is a vicious cycle. They remove them and most likely come back. I’m looking in to alternative treatments like massage therapy to break up the adhesions and acupuncture. Good luck to all, I’ll post any successful treatments!

[DataCurator]

I have been sick in the same way… where for almost 4 months after my gual blatter was removed. I am only 20 years old and have had a hard time eating or going places due to the fact that i have an uncontrolable urge to throw up or get diarehia. I have it when I dont even eat. I have also had sever lower abdominal cramps muscle spasms and have tried 7 different medications to stop my symptoms I have had ultra sounds and even an endoscopy and a biopsy of my stomach and nothing. no one can figure out what is wrong with me im starting to fear that doctors are leaving the diagnosis at gastritus and I know deep down its something more. I continually have pain on each side of my stomach and a sharp pain that is where my gual blatter use to be and sharp pains that seem to be in my chest. hope fully someone will be able to have some suggestions on what is wrong with me .. my main concern is that im currently an honor student a junior at the university of arizona and i will not be able to return until i can solve my health problems.

[DataCurator]

It has been twenty years since I was diagnosed with gallbladder problems. The pain from this was the worst pain I have ever experienced in my life and this includes having had four children. The pain was so excrutiating, I would end up everytime on the floor. I couldnt even speak, and thrown into bouts of profuse sweats of hot and cold. Each time I thought I would die then ended up passing out. The pain is still imprinted in my mind, it seems like only yesterday. Anyway, after ultra sound tests, it was revealed I had a gall bladder filled with stones. I was told there would be no option but to have the GB removed. This operation happended a month or so later. From being wheeled out of recovery, I thought I would die. In the lift back up to the ward, I remember trying to let the nurse know something was wrong, I was forcing myself to moan in order to be heared, and began tugging at her uniform. I remember this having no effect, and then the porter wheeling my trolley saying, ‘whats up with her? The nurse replied to him. ‘oh she’s only reacting to the aneasthetic’. On the ward, I was in agony. It took me hours of agonising pain, and a game of charades, to get the nursing staff to get me a pen and paper so I could slowly write down how I felt. I was quickly seen by the boss of the young surgeon who did the operation, and he ordered immediate xrays of my abdomon, afterwhich I was phsically drained of pints of bile from the drainage tube they had inserted, and was inserted with a shunt which contained morphine, with intrevenus antibiotics etc. Although, this operation was a long time ago, I remeber vividly the pain and trauma like it was yesterday, so much so I have had many , many nightmares. Since my gallbladder removal, I have been left with an hiatus urnia and have divicular desease. I know this is all as a result of neglect and incompetence in carrying out the operation, but then these situations, seemed to be swept under the carpet and everyone closed ranks. Since the gall bladder operation, everything is wrong with me, I am fit for nothing, suffer from fibromyalgia, have no energy or interest in anything. Does anyone have any idea what could have happened to me and why I have suffer with so many illnesses since. Sometimes, being told by someone who understands where I am coming from, could be an aid to the recovery of at least my mind. It is true what someone said earlier, they dont really know what happens to the rest of your body function when the gallbladder has been removed, all I know is it left from being a physically and mentally strong happy woman – to a weak ailing depressed wreck. Maybe things are different now and more is understood about the operation, however, anyone considering having this operation for whatever the reason, should make their decision based on the very best medical information and a choice of technique which suits the patients ‘needs’.