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Gastroenterology (Expert Forum)
Any connection between certain meds and gallbladder attacks?
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Any connection between certain meds and gallbladder attacks?
by jenni27, Jan 09, 2003 12:00AM
I had my gallbladder removed by Laparoscopy in May of 2002. The sugery went good and recovery was great but I am still having attacks. I had an ultrasound and bloodwork done and everything is ok. I also have loose bowels and have had them ever since surgery. I recently decided to use Imodium for it but the two times I took it I ended up with severe pain that felt just like a gallbladder attack and I ended up in the hospital. Could there have been something in the Imodium that caused maybe a spasm or something? And if so are there other meds I should stay away from? Also, how long should these pains last after the surgery? I have been told that it could last up til a year before my body gets used to not having a gallbladder. The doctor prescribed me demoral and said to take it whenever I felt an attack coming on. Thanks for your time.
This is just my opinion and it MAY NOT apply to you but, I felt the same way after having my gallbladder out. I kept having attacks of gallbladder pain, when in fact I had no gallbladder at all. In fact, I never had a "classic" gallbladder pain at all. It was my pancreas the whole time. Finally after 3 years of pain, time, trouble and ER visits...I was diagnosed with Pancreatitis. I still have "ghost" gallbladder pains but they are really referred pain from my pancreas.
If you do not fit the criteria for pancreatitis the doctors will not look for it or test you for it. I suggest you look up PANCREATITIS on the internet and the symptoms of Acute and Chronic forms of the disease and see if any of the symptoms fit your "pain".
I also suggest to you, that when you next feel these pains coming on ask your doctor for a standing "bloodwork" test to test your amylyse and lipase levels. Have the test done while in pain and BEFORE you take any pain medication. If you possibly have pancreatitis, these will be elevated during an attack. Like me, if the disease becomes chronic, these levels rarely raise at all during an attack.
I suggest this to you only because too many of my friends and of course, myself, have had pancreatic episodes after removal of the gallbladder. In my case, it took 3 years for anyone to believe me or test and treat me. I have luckily saved several other people from going through my life of pain and problems by pointing this out to them in time and their doctors tested them when they were indeed having a pancreatic episode. It was caught, treated in time and hopefully, will never happen again.
AGAIN, this maynot be you at all. I only suggest this to you. It sounds familar to me, but MAYNOT be your trouble.
TazLady
I have heard of people living for YEARS with gall stones never being taken out. If it were me, I would opt for the old fashioned way of taking it out. There seems to be too many problems with the key-hole method.
As for pain, only time will tell. A certain amount of pain is normal after the surgery. BUt it should not continue for any length of time. A few weeks to a month MAX! I have known some people who had theirs out and were back to work and problem free in days. And then you have read my post about the others who have had problems.
Sorry this isn't much help. Make sure the surgeon is a qualified one. Get a second opinion if necessary.
Sandy