Sternum pain Gallbladder attack after removal??

Looking into pain rt. side gallbladder removed 1998 never had a day w/out relief. After MANY test was told gallbladder duct probably causing >Real bad days rt. arm ,jaw eye affected>carpel tunnel worse>also If I drink anything w/ tullene (energy drinks)alcohol ,sulfides,milk ( milk gives whicked gas) makes problem worse etc. sends me through the roof! Drinking lots& lots of water is the only slight relief. What can be done?

Hi there, I also have been having this excruciating pain, what feels like an intense gall bladder attack post-surgery, as others have mentioned here. I had my gall bladder out last Wednesday (09-10-2013) and the pain started exactly 1 week after. The symptoms are nearly identical to others here with the intense pain (almost burning and stabbing) that goes right through to the ribs and right side of back... even radiating to the left and lower portions of the back. It's so intense that I get a massive cold sweat going, really pale, dizzy, very difficult to breathe and feel nauseated, weak and delirious in pain. About the only thing that remotely helps is walking around or sitting with a pillow and heating pad on my back. I had the pain through the back after the surgery the whole time which intensified with these full fledged attacks. I just assumed it was the carbon dioxide they fill you with during surgery and didn't think too much about it, and just dealt with the discomfort... but since the attacks I knew something was wrong. I should mention. ..I'm a fairly healthy 30 year old female... no other problems health wise currently. ..however quite a few years ago I was suspected to have lupus but this wasn't confirmed... no lupus symptoms since then either. I went to the ER twice and ended up staying overnight in the hospital the second time for a bunch of tests and observation. After the first attack i called my surgeons office but they told me it would take 7 days to get in to see him. So after a severe attack about 2.5 hours later I went to the ER. The first visit to the ER was confusing. ... the blood work and xrays were normal and was given an antacid for the burning/stabing pain in the chest/sternum as the doctor thought it might be acid reflux and gave me more T3's which literally do nothing for pain. After returning home I had two more severe attacks that nearly made me pass out and called the doctor that looked at me that day and he finally tracked down my surgeon at another hospital on call so I went there and was admitted into the ER and saw my surgeon. A second set of blood tests revealed changes/raised levels of the pancreas that were concerning (not sure exactly what all was raised as I was in so much pain). This suggested pancreatitis and an ultra sound was done which was horrific because one of the incisions was herniated. There were no visible stones in the bile duct (which was their worry) that could be viewed via ultrasound but they did notice the bile duct was nearly enlarged (5mm ...6mm would be enlarged).... but this may also be normal after the surgery. So long story short I stayed overnight in the ER and stayed most of the next day without suffering an intense attack. The blood work the next day also showed improvement. .. near normal levels. The surgeon concluded that I passed whatever bile stones/surgery gunk and grit that may have been trapped in the bile duct and causing problems for the pancreas. He wasn't 100% sure it was over yet and if it continues he would have to perform another procedure that is quite invasive called ERCP .. another user mentioned having this done (tube/camera down the throat into duct/intestine to view and stretch to let stones through if present ... Yuck!). Anyway, I went home that day based on how I was doing and did very well at home the rest of the day/evening. I actually felt really good - better than I had since the surgery but this morning I had another severe attack right after waking up. I walked it off...pacing around my apartment and kept checking my skin tone and eyes to make sure I wasn't yellow/jaundiced. After about an hour it finally settled down... the pain through the back is lingering now though. This is where I am currently at and really nervous... hoping I don't get more attacks. So that was my experience post-surgery. It really sounds like this type of pain is common and it is so frustrating ... especially because there is likely no one cause. .. I hope others are doing well and stay strong. This is such a horrible pain to have so frequently. .. it is disabling and worrisome. For me, I went months without a gall bladder attack before the surgery...it was planned and I got in for surgery due to a cancelation and now I've been in constant pain :( it's really crappy. Be well!!

im sorry to say i am going through the same thing. had gallbladder out august 2012 and today its as if i still have gallbladder stones and all.. the pain is so intense and ive already had many tests done and theyve found nothing wrong. i will insist on liver function test as in latest ultrasound they said the liver was enlarged some. i wish i had an answer for you but i too suffer and question why????? every day.

I had an episode of chest pain and clamy in the middle of the night, after a bite of yogurt at 1:00am. We called and ambulance and they gave me baby asprin and nitro tabs. They sent me to the ER and did labs EKG,tsh,cardiac enzymes and all normal. The only thing low was my potassium 3.3. I went home and had the exact same feeling, but with more abdominal pain. We went right back to the ER (different hospital) they gave me Zofran and sent me home. The minute I left there I called my gyno and scheduled an ultra sound. This is where they found gallstones. I had my gallbladder removed 3days after. I got rid of the abdominal pain but I'm having extreme leftsided chest been. I recently went back to er twice and was put on protonix and it's not giving any relief. I get my symptoms more at night while I'm laying down. I wake up clamy and feel like I'm having a heart attack. I'm continuing the protonix and going to see my surgeon tomorrow. They said I could switch to Prilosec if the protonix isn't helping. I've lost 10lbs and I'm so over feeling this way. I just don't know whateles they should check

I know your post is over a year old - but I can't take codeine since having my gall bladder out, it makes me feel REALLY sick!

I'm a 27 year old female and I have been suffering with this mess for over 10 years after having my gallbladder removed. The milk does help like Hugh said. I also find that getting in a really hot bath and laying on my side decreases the time the pain will last. Good luck I sure do hope you feel better soon.

for about 2 months now i have had pain in under right breast and going down my right side more towards my spine. I had ultrasound came beack negative had a hida scan showed a ejection fract of 0% i recentlyt was in er for sturnum pain and left shoulder pain. they did a ekg blood work chest x ray and everything is negative i go see a surgeon on monday and im scared to be put to sleep to have gb removed im really confused if i should get a second opionion or go with the 0% ejectile fraction and get it removed no reveal of any gallstones but seem to have the right back pain thing going on non stop

Hi. I was wondering what happened with your situation? I just had my gallbladder out 8 days ago, and like you, my gallbladder was just not functioning correctly ( no stones).

Since the surgery, I have been having awful chest pain ( same chest pain that made me go to dr first and discover gallbladder problem). Had EKG and stress tests and those are all normal.

Thanks

Hi all. I had my gall bladder removed about a month ago and three days ago experienced severe pain and tightness in my chest. It was so bad I thought I may be having a heart attack and I was rushed to A&E. After many tests, x rays etc the doctor has diagnosed neuropathic pain caused by damage to the nerve endings in my chest during the operation. He has prescribed special pain relief to stop the spasams called Gabapentin and says he is pretty sure this will prevent the pain coming back. I know it has only been a few days but so far so good! It may be worth some of you with similar symptoms checking this condition out. Good luck, there is no way I could live with that amount of pain on a regular basis!

Codein is an opilloid or morphine type of drug that triggers the spasms in the body and symptoms can be identical to gallbladder artack . Do not take it.

I had my gall bladder taken out almost a year ago I to get chest pains. I found drinking tonic water or club soda with a dash of salt helps it's almost an instant cure try that and she if it helps you !

I have no gall bladder and codeine and uncoated ASA 81 mg will send me to the hospital.

Thisis old but i wonder if aanyone eever mmentioned that narcotics ssmoothe the biliary tract. The codine comments make less sense tthan yyours. I don't kknowhy that would be but it makes one curious about wwhat would be going on inside to cause that. I have similar symptoms but not correlated with the narcotics

I agree. When you are knowledgeable in explaining your symptoms with some medical terminology, the doctor will take note.

I take prescription Famotidine, 40 mg (Pepcid which is stronger than the OTC), Tums and anxiety medicine. Only temporary relief. I went to emergency and my liver enzymes were elevated too. I was given an antibiotic, but did not help me. Keep trying in dealing with your doctor or get an advocate. The experience is exhausting.

I've had my gallbladder out now but put up with attacks for 10 or so years. im 36 now. just witing because codeine would bring on an attack in me so if you husband is getting them after surgery it could be these painkillers as he is recovering. i would put up with the pain before taking codeine for anything. they switched me to endone.