Ongoing Complications (1000+)

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    “Unfortunately I am in that number of patients that still have digestion problems. My gallbladder was removed 2 years ago. I also had reconstruction of my common bile duct. I can say, however, that the pain and symptoms I experience now are nothing like the gallbladder attacks I had before my gallbladder was removed.

    Although you are still experiencing pain, you are probably slowly improving from the results of the surgery. It does take awhile…my surgeon indicated a good 6 months, although you are able to perform the activities of your daily living. My primary care physician’s nurse told me that there are some patients that have no more pain and can eat any foods without distress and others can not. I can not.

    I do believe I had and still have other underlying digestive problems in addition to the gallbladder.

    I hope some of this helps. I will say, if you are having pains that last more than a few days to contact your surgeon. Also keep a food diary, for your peace of mind, to see just what foods you can and can not tolerate.

    Good luck with your recovery!”

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    This is my first visit to this site. This reply is to Shelly. Your friend is correct. I had gall bladder surgery May 1997. I had excruciating pain immediately after surgery on the right side when I tried to stand up and actually screamed. They said it was gas because I had a broken bed and had laid wrong until I could get up! It felt worse than labor pains! I complained six months after surgery that I still hurt but was told that it was probably adhesions. In November of 1998, I experienced bad pains on my left side from the back to the front and have had periodic reoccurrences since then. I have revisited the specialist who removed my gallbladder with laproscopic surgery. He is considered an expert in his field in this area. He said there may still be gall stones left behind after the surgery or a clamp may have come loose. He explained further and said he didn’t really want to “go back in” unless the pain got too bad and I asked him to. The most current episode (mild) was last week. Today I visited a new general physician who is going to run tests to see if I have a kidney stone. I suggest you visit your physician or the specialist who performed the surgery. I really believe this is more than a pulled muscle and am hoping to find a solution. Good luck!

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    I had my gall bladder removed about two years ago. I had mild diarrhea at first, and then it got worse. I noticed a trend though. I am currently unable to have any sort of caffeine or spicy food without having raging and painful diarrhea very soon after. It’s a pain in the neck. It’s rediculously sensitive to the caffeine too. I had a finger of some chocolate icing once and I was in the bathroom for about two hours after.

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    “HI EVERYONE
    I HAD MY GALLBLADDER REMOVED COUPLE YEARS AGO….ILL SAY THIS SAD TIMES I STILL GO IN M,Y PANTS ,WHEN MY BODY SAYS GOT TO GO ,OMG I HAVE NO CONTROL NUMBER 2…AND ALSO THE DOC SAYS U CAN EAT ANYTHING PLEASE DONT, U HAVE NIO ENZYMES TO BREAK THE FATS DOWN N YES U WILL GAIN WEIGHT ,,AS U WILL FIND U GET STOMACH ACHES TIREDNESS ALSO I GET IT ALL WHEN I DO EAT WRONG FOODS …NO MILK U SHOULD HAVE LOW FAT…RU***E NO GOOD U CANT DIGEST SALADFS REALLY AND I WAS ALWAYS THIN PERSON NOW IT WILL BE VERY HARD TO LOOSE THE WEIGHT…CHEESES NO GOOD SPICY FRIED THE WORSE SO I STICK CHICKEN CHICKEN AVOID WHOLE WHEAT THE BELLY GO GO UP FOR GALLBLADDER REMOVALS WE CANT EAT REALLY WHOLE WHEAT BREAD….I WENT DINNER MY BOYFRIEND ONE NIGHT OMG STUPID ME HAD CREAMY ALFREDO OMG IN THE CHAIR OUT FOR DINNER I DID ALL IN MY7 PANTS NO CONTROL…AND ALSO I ONCE HAD A PINA COLLADA THAT TO OMG RIGHT THROUH ME SO WHEN DOC OR ANYONE SAYS U CAN EAT ANYTHING NO U CANT THAT PART INSIDE U GONE U CAN DIGEST LIKE BEFORE IT ANT THERE SAO HOW COULD U I ALSO AT AGE 8 HAD MY APPENDENCE OUT SO I HAVE WHOLE RIGHT SIDE OUT EVEN WORSE BUT EXCERSIZE EAT NO FATTY STUFF AVCOID DAIRY IF U CAN ALL THAT WILL HAD POUNDS AND DAYS U JUST DONT FELL RIGHT U THINK U R SICK OR TIRED HOPE I HELPED SOME FOLKS FRAN”

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    “I have been ill for a long time. I have gotten several wonderful responses to my posts but so far, nothing is helping the nausea and diarrhea since the gallbladder surgery done 17 days ago. I am getting so weak from being unable to eat without the diarrhea. I see my surgeon on Friday.

    I tried chewing on raw gingeroot but that did not help. I’ve tried anti-sickness meds, (phenegren), and anti-diarrhea meds too. And I still have pains where my gallbladder used to be.

    I don’t have a fever, just nausea. I am not eating fat, drinking alcohol, and I am staying away from dairy.

    Yesterday a friend picked me up to go to her house and I became so nausous I almost got a panic attack, and extreme diarrhea while at her house and she had to bring me home.

    I’ve been sick and unable to eat or work since the beginning of March of this year. What do I need to do to feel better? Thank you for any suggestions. ”

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    After attempting to control gall bladder attacks with diet, acupuncture and homeopathics, I finally caved (severe attacks 3 x a week…) and had it removed. Thankfully, they were able to do it laproscopically. I felt wonderful the day after (all things considered)–and was improving until about a week out. I was in such pain I could not move. The surgeon’s nurse was a royal id**t and all she kept telling me was it was the gas they used during surgery. I could not get her to understand that it was a week out and it was NOT the gas! She wanted me to drive 1 hr. to be seen, typical wait time 2-3 hrs., 1 hr. home. At that point, making it to the local er wasn’t even a plesant thought. I just took everything I had, curled up with heating pad, cried and prayed to pass out! Fast forward to Monday and I see the PA–turns out–there is a nerve that can get irritated when they move things to get to the gall bladder-THAT was the reason for the severe pain. Higher pain meds-nerve settled down. Also ended up with Pepcid to put the fire out that was burning. Then he proceeded to RIP the bandage off one of the incisions. I almost decked him! I did scream and the nurse came running! He apologized but then thought he was going to rip off the other three! I put a stop to that pronto! Fast forward 5 months post surgery and I am having stomach upset and nausea…and I never know if something is going to cause upset/mad dash to bathroom or not. With my other symptoms, I am wondering if a clamp has let go? One PA I saw and trust is telling me ulcer…I am under a good bit of stress–but Nexium not helping… I hate doctors-they “practice” as my late husband said and most don’t listen!!! They told me this (gall bladder surgery) would solve all my problems-yeah, right!

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    “I have some information here that may help so many of you. I did a lot of research to find out that there is potential help!

    I suffered from gall bladder disease for 14 years before a massive stone formed and was finally found. I was schedualed for surgery right from the ER and I thought “”yippe! Life is going to get so much better!”” I was so wrong!

    Like so many of you I endured food intolerance, bloating, diarrhea within 10-20 minutes of eating anything, and intense depression related to feeling ill all of the time. I am uncertain of my own condition but I now know that chronic diarrhea can lead to potassium deficiency which can be a serious problem that can contribute to so many other heath problems. Dehydration is bad enough but when you don’t have the electrolytes you need for your cells to transfer the fluids you do have you can become very ill. Potassium deficiency can cause thyroid and kidney problems too.
    You may benefit from a blood test and supplements if you have low potassium.

    I was reading on another board about these problems people face and someone recommended the drug Welchol. Knowing nothing about it I looked it up. It’s classified as a Bile Acid Sequestrant. The drugs are used to reduce bad cholesterol but can help people who suffer from excess bile salt diarrhea related to gall bladder removal. There are three types of BAS drugs but I’ve read that Welchol has worked the best for many people and doesn’t cause gas like the others. However, if you try it and have problems with gas or constipation you may have to work with your doctor on trying a different dosage or a different kind.

    I will be going to my doctor as soon as possible to try welchol first.

    If you want to know more about Bile Acid Sequestrants go here…

    chemie.de/lexikon/e/Bile_acid_sequestrant

    I hope very much that this information can help anyone who reads or posts here. I wish you all good health and happiness! ”

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    I had my GB removed due to gall stones. I was 18 when I had the surgery. Before having the surgery I was a healthy 120lbs for my 5’3″ frame. Shortly after my surgery I quickly gained 30 lbs, even though my diet did not significantly change. I’m 20 years old and I’m miserable with my body. I’m desperate. Can anyone relate??

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    I had my gallbladder out 6 years ago and I’m still having issues…..over and over and over. I’ve tried everything and am now suffering with my second bout with gastritis. I want a gallbladder replacement as well and I too, had polyps and was rushed into surgery. I take Zegrid everyday to keep the acid at bay and the gnawing burning pain between my ribs that radiates around to my back. I have bloating and lots of gas and when I get the gnawing pain I drink a DanActive and that seems to put out the fire for a while and releases some gas. Still can’t eat certain foods like onions, tomato, anything spicy. I also take Librax for stomach spasms when it’s really bad and my doctor recently added Carafate which coats the lining of your stomach and helps the food you eat not irritate your stomach. Some people just need more time than others to adjust then there are people like me who will never be the same. Good luck to you.

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    I just had my gall bladder removed on Friday. I am doing pretty well and I don’t act like I just had surgery. I have not had a bowl movement yet and I haven’t changed my diet. I ate a pork belly cuban sandwich and a snow cone today and I did not get diarhea. I am a little sore from the surgery and I feel a little bloated but it has only been 2 days since my gall bladder was removed. I am taking pain pills for the discomfort and I can’t lift anything heavy for a while but that is the only problem I have had since the surgery.

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    wow.. all of these stories ring truth for me except that i have not had problems with diarrhea. The weight gain is a biggy for me because this is the heaviest i have ever been. Prior to my surgery two years ago 2007 i was 40lb lighter. I have the spare tire around the mid section, and the weight seems to do what it wants. I had no idea how serious it was to have your gallbladder. It breaks down the foods we eat. I wish someone would have told me that weight would be an issue unless I kept a strict diet. I even exercise almost daily. This is horrible. I feel so fat and bloated all the time with no control in site. Can someone help us who have had this surgery on how to control the weight gain??????

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    what your experiencing could be Spinctor of the Oddi Dyfunction or the syndrome which your body misses the gallbladder (i forget what the syndrome is called).. last summer I spent 4 months going to every doctor imaginable and they couldn’t find nothing wrong and I had every test out there. My gallbladder was removed in 2008. No doctor could help me. Your liver is working overtime. I get tons of gas belching and shoulder pain. Plus at times I get nausea, loose stool, phantom pains, tiredness, pain under right rib area. I did find out that my liver enzymes went up slightly which is a sign of SODS. I have to eat a whole different way and i take Welchol to absorb the bile in my stomach to stop the loose stool. Gas travels everywhere and can be very painful and it even can give you shoulder pain.

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    I have had pain right under my left ribcage for almost three years which also coincides with when my gallbladder came out. I hate doctors and western medicine with a passion and only go in if I feel an extreme reason. I also tend to not trust myself when it comes to pain because I have quite a few hypercondriacs in my family so I always worry that I am exaggerating a pain. Thank you for everyone on this link for making me realize that I may defintely have something real wrong and that I may not have to live with the pain forever. It’s scary to hear about all of the misdiagnosis but I am hopeful for a

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    I’m so glad I’m not the only one with all these issues. I finally went to a gastrologist & she told me I had sensitive intestines due to the bile. The other issue I developed was KIDNEY STONES….why, do to the dehydration from crapping all the time. Now, I’m starting to gain some wait because I’m hungry all the time. I had my gb out in Feb 2008 & it has been pure hell. I was put on Cholestryramine (nasty powder, but is my best friend) a couple of days after the surgery, as some of the “bile” had leaked out during surgery. Gradually, weaned myself off it and life was on the toilet. Finally went to the gastrologist & she told me I might have to be on this for the rest of my life. If you go this route, watch out if they want you to have a colonoscopy to make sure there is nothing else wrong. Not a good thing. If you have a sensitive system to begin with, a colonoscopy doesn’t help it. So, those of you out there, having your gb out it can come with side effects. – See more at: http://www.poopreport.com/Techniques/food_for_toilet.html?page=2#sthash.gcGWorFd.dpuf

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    I”m having pain (not severe); had my gallbladder removed laproscopically 11 years ago with no ill effects. I feel like I don’t know anything. If I’m not watching my diet, could this negatively affect my liver? I’m trying to educate myself online and am a bit freaked out!

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