Distended abdomen 2 weeks post gall bladder removal

[AColdwell]

I had my gall bladder removed on May 9th, 2008 and my abdomen is still very distended.  It feels hard to touch.  My digestive system is working perfectly fine.  It feels like there is still gas in there that will just not leave.  I am also experiencing frequent stabbing pains in my right hand side where the gall bladder used to be.  I am a very fit and healthy 35 year old female (prior to the surgery!).  My stomach used to be very flat and my abdominal muscles were defined from my weight training and now I cannot fit into many of my clothes.  I started doing aerobics again this week to see if that would help but it makes no difference.  My weight has remained stable at 121 lbs both pre and post surgery.  Please can you tell me what to do about my distended abdomen and also explain what may be causing my pains?

[lilkarla]

I had my GB removed on April 14 and went home the next day.  I have digestive problems and also chronic constipation so for the next week when I was bloated and having pains my doctor said yes it was gas from the surgery and made me drink mag sulfate to "clean me out".  6 days after surgery I went to the emergency room and I was admitted for four days.  They ran a tube down my nose to drain my intestines and gave me barium enemas until they reached the trapped gas and I suddenly shrunk overnight.  However, I went home and for the next four days I just couldnt get back on track.  I also had severe pains in the right side.  Finally after four days of being home we again went to the ER. They did xrays and another HIDA scan and found out that I had a leaking bile duct that had been leaking since the moment the GB was removed.  That was the reason for the bloating, along with gas but the pain was the leak.  I had a stent put in and remained in the hospital for 7 days.  I will have the stent removed on June 11 and I still feel like ****.  I am back on my digestive medicine so my bloating is not as severe but the pains in the right side and even my back are horrible.  My doctor says I could still have swelling in my liver from the bile that leaked because they did not drain it your body just absorbs it over time.  However, I have done a lot of reading on this site and people that have thad the GB removed over years still feel like we do with the pain.  I will not have more testing until my next ERCP on the 11 but I refuse to accept the fact that you can still just have discomfort on the right side like my doctor says.  If you had a bile leak you would have times where you cant walk because of the pain in your abdomen.  Nothing like the GB pain before it was removed but a simple blood test will show an elevation in your white cell.  If your are leaking you will have a count off the chart.  Also, My doctor said sometimes the bile duct is irritated after surgery and it will spasm for a long time when you eat.  Are your pains worse after you eat anything?  Especially fatty foods?  My GB was working at 9% but i did not have stones.  Did you?  I also read that you can have stones in the duct and if they are not cleaned out when the GB is removed you will continue having pain.  Hope this helps.  

[Punky197]

A related discussion, Air left over from gallbladder surgery was started.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

I would repeat an ultrasound to ensure there is no bile duct leak from the surgery.  

Other considerations would be a biliary duct stone as well as Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction.  An MRCP and Sphincter of Oddi manometry would be tests to consider to exclude these diseases.

They can be discussed with your personal physician.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patients education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
www.kevinmd.com