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Gastroenterology (Expert Forum)
Gallbladder post op complaints
Answered by
Kevin Pho, MD - Internal Medicine
Kevin Pho, MD
Boston - MA
This forum is for questions regarding Gastroenterology issues such as Acid Reflux (GERD), Barretts Esophagus, Colitis, Colon/Bowel Disorders, Crohn's Disease, Diverticulitis/ Diverticulosis, Digestive Disorders, IBS, Stomach Pain.
Gallbladder post op complaints
by Bobbi339, Apr 29, 2003 12:00AM
I had a routine (?) lap gall bladder removal on March 12, 2003. Five days later I was readmitted to the hospital with considerable pain and jaundice. Tests showed that a surgical clip was blocking the common bile duct. Surgery was performed to correct this by choledocojejunostomy (sp?).
I am now six weeks post op and have noted the following problems:
1) clay colored stools
2) pain under right shoulder blade after eating
3) nausea after eating
4) intense pain under right side rib cage upon deep breath or yawning.
Do you have any comments or suggestions?
I am now six weeks post op and have noted the following problems:
1) clay colored stools
2) pain under right shoulder blade after eating
3) nausea after eating
4) intense pain under right side rib cage upon deep breath or yawning.
Do you have any comments or suggestions?
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Pho, MD, May 01, 2003 12:00AM
, May 01, 2003 12:00AM
Hello - thanks for asking your question.
It is certainly possible that there is a problem with the choledocojejunostomy. A continued blockage can give you the symptoms of jaundice you are experiencing.
I highly recommend going back to your original surgeon for followup and discuss these symptoms.
If everything with the surgery was uncomplicated, post-cholecystectomy syndrome (PCS) is possible - it is reported in 10-15% of cases. This simply means the presence of symptoms despite cholecystectomy. A repeat ultrasound and possible ERCP or MRCP should be considered to further evaluate PCS.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.
It is certainly possible that there is a problem with the choledocojejunostomy. A continued blockage can give you the symptoms of jaundice you are experiencing.
I highly recommend going back to your original surgeon for followup and discuss these symptoms.
If everything with the surgery was uncomplicated, post-cholecystectomy syndrome (PCS) is possible - it is reported in 10-15% of cases. This simply means the presence of symptoms despite cholecystectomy. A repeat ultrasound and possible ERCP or MRCP should be considered to further evaluate PCS.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.
I am being sarcastic because I had my gallbladder out for 1-1/2 yrs. now and STILL get the right shoulder blade pain, all the other things you have, and more stomach problems than I ever had. Do a www.google.com search for digestive problem forums, you will meet thousands of people like us, screwed since the gallbladder came out.
The only positive I can give you is you have to watch your fat intake (keep it minimum), watch your lactose intake (most are lactose intolerant after gallbladder removal), and keep the fiber going through your body.
Good luck
The place to go to find out what's actually going on is your surgeon's office; let him/her know what you are noticing. As to the people on this site screwed up after gallbladder surgery; it's among the most common operations done. If you have several hundred thousand procedures of a certain kind done, you will be able to find many who've had problems. They come in various groups: those who, like you, had a technical error occur during the surgery; those who have an uncommon but known side-effect; and those whose gallbladder in retrospect was not the cause of the symtoms for which the surgery was elected. I don't for a minute want to defend errors or say that gallbladder or any surgery is free of unhappy recipients. But I've done a couple of thousand gallbladder operations over my 30 or so years of being a surgeon, and have literally a handful of patients who wish they'd not had it done. And the same is true for hernia repairs, intestinal surgery, etc, etc.
More people who have gallbladder attacks without stones should be informed by their doctors that removal may not always effect a cure. Don't be afraid to ask questions and do lots of research yourself. I never knew that so many people had problems after the removal of their gallbladder and it isn't just on this site. Just do a search on Post Cholecystectomy Pain Syndrome.
More people should be informed by their doctors that removal of their gallbladder when no stones are present doesn't always effect a cure. Go into this surgery well informed. Ask questions and do the research on the internet. If I had known about all the people who are having difficulties after their surgery, I may not have jumped into it like I did. And it isn't just on this site, just do a search on Post Cholecystectomy Pain Syndrome.
It's easy to get misinformed (and worried) about health issues when you search on the internet bc there is so much information out there from so many different sources. I always stick to reputable sites (like those from nationally known organizations, the NIH or similar) bc those will probably have the most accurate statistics.
Anyway, just wanted to say that there are THOUSANDS of people who don't have problems associated with their gallbladder being removed. You might want to take that into consideration as you ponder whether to have this surgery. Good luck with the decision.
lemonhead