What life is after gall bladder removal?

Guest · Guest

I had my lap surgery to remove my gallbladder on Aug 16th it was very painful being rolled out of the surgery room and thru the night I was in alot of pain and kept the nurses busy I was in the hospital 48hour. I was able to take a 10hour flight from Houston-Amsterdam 6 days after surgery. I feel horribly bloated and can only eat very small portions of food in one seating. I feel lightheaded alot and feel like Im going to throw up. I would still have the surgery over again because the pain of a swollen gallbladder and stone blockling the bile was horrible !! I spent time in the ER in such pain it was the worst pain I ever had.. I hope this bloating will go away soon and I can ressume a regular diet

Guest · Guest

I am 38 years old and i had my gallbladder removed 8 years ago. I now have what my GI doctor calls bile induced diarrhea. When ever I eat , about 15-30 minutes later I am running to the bathroom. I lived with this for years because I thought I had to. But, last year i started some medication to control the diarrhea and it seems to be working great. However, after years of chronic diarrhea I now how diverticulosis and I have had several attacks. I know that this does not happen to everyone, but the risk is there.

Guest · Guest

So its about 1:00 am over here in Jersey...my husband and kids are sleeping an Im in pain!!!! Rolling Eyes

I had my gall bladder taken out after going through the worse pain ever about 6 months ago. Everything was fine until a few weeks ago when I started getting this pain on my right side underneath my rib cage. It was pretty bad an hour ago but now its gotten better. I feel like maybe this is what it is. Maybe the pain is from the removal of the G.B.? Im not sure. I hate hospitals so Im killing time right now till it goes away and I can sleep Confused

I have to see my doc in about 2 weeks so hopefully he'll give me something for the pain. I really that anyone out there that has pain right now feels better soon! night night!

adclose2003 · Newbie Joined: 16 Sep 2007 Posts: 1

I've been reading through the last few pages of posts and I can say that for some people, there truly are problems post gall bladder removal. Up to 40% of people who have their gall bladders out will experience side effects (for some, they last months, for others, a lifetime).

So for those of you who are lucky to not experience any problems, go ahead and post comments about your own experiences but I would urge you not to make blanket statements telling people that nothing will happen and that everything will be fine. For 2/10 people, that will not be the case. And those people need to be forewarned so they can make an educated decision about whether to have the surgery.

Like those who have previously posted issues, I too have had issues post surgery. I had always been very slim but since the surgery I have steadily gained weight in my stomach area (10 lbs/year), despite no changes to my diet.

It has been 10 years since I had my gall bladder surgery and I am still experiencing digestion problems (alternating between constipation and chronic, painful diahrreah). I seldom have a regular BM. When diarreah occurs, I have hot flashes lasting 15 minutes until the BM is over, and severe abdominal pain. There is also a visible grease line in the toilet bowl and I can see where the fat is NOT breaking down. When I have constipation, I experience bloating, exhaustion, and blurred vision.

I have been told these reason this occurs is because the bile is no longer being regulated when released into my intestines. The gallbladder facilitates and regulates the flow of bile in your body. So when that facilitator is taken away, quite often that the flow will be not as efficient, ie. too much at one time, or not enough.

Without the gallbladder, the bile is not as readily secreted in the body, and the liver can become overwhelmed when faced with large amounts of any fats, especially saturated fats and hydrogenated fats. For some people even small amounts of fats can cause discomfort.

One of the side effects of gallbladder removal can be the dumping of bile which can send someone running to the bathroom immediately after eating. On the flip side, your body can also sometimes experience a decrease in the secretion of bile which results in weight gain as fat is not broken down.

If you think of your problem as a biliary (bile) problem as opposed to a "gallbladder" problem you are more on the right track to understanding how to take care of it.

IS GALLBLADDER SURGERY EFFECTIVE?

The answer to all of the above is "sometimes".

Abdominal pain, nausea, gas, bloating, and diarrhea are common following surgery. Postcholecystectomy syndrome (after gallbladder removal syndrome) may include all of the above symptoms plus indigestion, nausea, vomiting and constant pain in the upper right abdomen.

Sound familiar? You're right -- gallbladder attack symptoms. Up to 40% of people who undergo gallbladder surgery will experience these symptoms for months or years after surgery. How is this possible? You no longer have a gallbladder and that was the problem, right?

Look to the whole biliary tract. Now that the gallbladder is no longer present to act as a reservoir for bile, the common bile duct may expand as the bile backs up in the bile duct between the sphincter or muscular opening at the small intestine and the liver from which it flows. If it drips constantly into the small intestine this can cause problems of a different kind. However, this syndrome with accompanying pain appears to have the flow of bile obstructed by either a narrowing of the sphincter or a malfunction of the sphincter.

"Functional biliary pain in the absence of gallstone disease is a definite entity and a challenge for clinicians." which is to say that at this point in time, they don't really know what to do with gallbladder problems that aren't related to gallstones (2) and "Often, following cholecystectomy, biliary pain does not resolve..." (2) which means after gallbladder surgery you may just be stuck with the pain.

So in conclusion, your best bet may be to try and fix what is wrong if that is possible, before taking it out. Sometimes, that is just not possible.

Guest · Guest

Well i had my gall bladder removed about a month ago. I had a horrible attack that sent me to the er. However the surgery itself, i was home the next day. Went back to work on monday, still a little soreness from the incisions, nothing major. But i am constantly bloated, gassy, diareah, the whole nine yards. Even first thing in the morning i feel totally stuffed. I have had a little heartburn that brought on bile reflex. Beleive it or not what casued the 3 am heartburn and bile reflux was i had a glass of milk before i went to bed (2%). It doesnt really matter what i eat, i feel horrible. the doc claims it will pass.

Sickofit · Newbie Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 1

I am so happy to find this site, I am a female at the age of 47. I removed my GB about 6 years ago and believe me things have not gotten any better throughout the years after the removal. I was told that life would be just as before but boy was I in for a surprise. I was fine for the first year then things started happening. I have found out that I have gotten lactose intollerant, ... any kinds of diary product. Additionally my stomack will react to minced meat, steaks, vegetables, some fruits, chocolate, nuts, flour and what not.
I did see a doctor a few years back where they did an kolonoskophy ...(spelling....) as I complained about gas, not being able to "hold it" and I cannot tell you how many times I have to run to the restroom, let alone how many times I will ball my eyes out because it is JUST SO embarassing - I have absolutely no control.....not over gas or the diarrhea
I cannot remember the last time it was firm
I dont have any stomack pain at all, My largest problem is that I am not in control - latest today I had a major accident , diarrhea everywhere..... I just stand in the shower balling....
I work as well and I usually do not eat the days I work due to the fact of never knowing when it can happen........
If anyone have any suggestions of what can be done or if anyone else experience the same I would love to know. I have heard there is some natural herbs that can help????

Guest · Guest

I had my gallbladder out 10-24-07. I don't recommend those surgical centers. I had my surgery at 8 am and by 10 am they sent me home. I was in the ER 3 times since then with a pain they can't figure out. I've had an angio gram and my heart is fine. I had an endoscopic procedure because they thought my esophogus was spasming. It came back fine. I've had 2 cat scans. They came back fine. Finally my family doctor said I could be having phantom pain. He said not everyone bounces back after losing an organ. I lost 22 lbs. was afraid to eat because of the pain and full feeling. I also wasn't sleeping more than 3 hrs. a night. My family dr. gave me a drug called Klonopin(in the valium family) I'm eating again and sleeping 8 hrs. If I have any pain I take a half one and a whole one at night to sleep. I'm starting to feel like my old self. You do feel alone when drs. run tests and tell you there's nothing wrong, but you still have pain.

Guest · Guest

Hello,

I had my gall bladder removed in July 2007, 4 weeks after giving birth to my wonderful daughter.
I was on a diet three months after the lap. surgery (the doctors told me so). I still don't eat a lot of beef, fried food, eggs, but i eat everything. I don't eat spicy because I still breastfeed. I experienced diarrhea after meals first month after surgery, but it is ok now.
I must say I don't have particular problems, but I know I will always watch what and how much I eat.

Guest · Guest

Hello,
I am a 36yo male who had my gall bladder removed 8 yrs ago. I had severe adomnial pains from a series of passing gall stones. Having it removed relieved me of all of my pain. Life after surgery has been pretty normal. You do need to watch your diet though afterwards. I found if I eat alot of greasy foods it passes right through me and have diareha. So eat a more healthier diet with lots of fiber.

What life is after gall bladder removal?

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