Sincerely Bev
I had my gallbladder removed in 1980. Anything containing codeine will immediately give me “phantom” gall bladder attacks. The chest pain going through to my back. Vicodin makes me sick in other ways, nausea and vomiting so I won’t take that. But Percocet seems to be what the dentists prescribe me. I’ve had major dental work done in the past five years, bone grafts, implants, extractions, root canals, etc. Last night I had to take a Percocet after dental surgery. My “attack” was particularly bad this time. For 37 years I have been trying to figure out a connection between gallbladder removal surgery and codeine. About 10 years ago I discovered a way to relieve the chest pain. Upon feeling the “attack” coming on, I fill a mug with the hottest water I can stand. Almost as if you were making tea. When you drink this very hot water the pain feels like it’s melting away. It’s the most non-scientific answer but no medical doctors have ever had an answer for me as to the gallbladder/ codeine connection. But hot, hot water works.
I will relay my tail. In late November of 2018 my gallbladder was removed. It was perforated and white with a 1inch stone. After it was removed, I was still having a dull to sharp stabbing pain behind my sternum and nausea after I ate. One time early after the removal of the gallbladder I went into the E.R... Was given anti-nausea and pain shot and sent home. After calls to the Dr. that removed my gallbladder I was seen and sent in for more X-rays, emptying test X-rays with Iodine. At the next Dr. meeting the surgery was done correctly and sent me off to G.I. to be looked at. More X-rays and a scope of tummy
I was still having issues with nausea and various levels of pain behind the sternum that won't go away. Doing daily tasks would aggravate the pain. The local hospital that I was going to for G.I. visits have washed their hands of the issue and welcome a 2nd opinion.
My current Dr. shared with me there is a name to the issue I/we have and it takes 2 years to be diagnosed with it. This diagnosis name eludes me. I was referred to an out of town hospital / G.I. and another set of X-rays and a C.T. Scan. They don't see anything and am scheduled for another scope of the stomach. The G.I. people say if they don't see anything, I will be referred to the Mayo Clinic.
To me its mind boggling if there are so many of us with this issue why has a study not been done so we don't have to go down their path.
Jeff