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GallBladder Removal - Was it worth it?
I am a very frustrated 28 yr old female. I originally went to the doctor almost 2 yrs ago due to excruciating painful attacks, usually after fatty meals and/or alcohol. These attacks were so painful they would cause me to haunch over, hyperventilate and would be at there worst pain just below the breastbone, over to the right. Then the pain would generate into my back, up to my sholders and sometimes down my arms. I would usually have someone take me to the ER. After a ultrasound, the doctors found about 7-8 stones in my gallbladder & I had it removed about 1 1/2 yrs ago. About 3-4 weeks after surgery, I had another attack. Very much like the gallbladder attacks I had before surgery. I am still having them periodically as of today. Just had another on 1/7. Again, precipitated by fatty foods and/or alcohol. In addition, stomach is usally tender & sore.I have had ultrasounds, bloodwork, 2 endoscopies. Test show no signs of gallstones in the ducts. Endoscopies did show that I developed bile gastritis. I was treated w/ sucralfate and Prilosec about a year ago. Months after meds stopped, developed burning pain (almost constant, sometimes worse when hungry) in the pit of stomach below the breastbone. No mention of uclers from doctors and there were no signs during prior endoscopies. Doc now says have acid reflux, although haven't had chestpains or heartburn a day in my life. Doc says LES valve is not closing/relaxed, but nothing comes up my throat. Am now back on sucralfate and prevacid. It's been a pretty painful process since my gallbladder was removed. Not only am I still have attacks, which is why the gallbladder was removed in the 1st place, but because it's gone, the bile that trickles has caused bile gastritis. I was pretty much told that bile gastritis can be treated, but not cured & I will take meds for the rest of my life. How will this affect me when I choose to get pregnant? Why am I still having gallstone attacks w/ no gallbladder? What is the constant burning in the pit? Life on a daily basis consist of pain & discomfort. Some days better than others. What else can I do? All these diagnoses & meds, yet the burning & attacks still exist??? Thank you for your time.
Dear Kimberly,
I can appreciate the frustration that you have because of the persistence of symptoms. I can only surmise that the persistence of symptoms suggests another problem in addition to the gall stones. Abnormal function of the sphincter of Oddi (opening of the bile duct) can sometimes cause pain that mimics gall bladder pain. Whether the bile gastritis is a contributor to the pain is less clear. Although one doe snot like to prescribe medications to pregnant women, the Sulcrafate is safe. When you are considering pregnancy, discuss whether there any medication risks with your obstetrician
I can appreciate the frustration that you have because of the persistence of symptoms. I can only surmise that the persistence of symptoms suggests another problem in addition to the gall stones. Abnormal function of the sphincter of Oddi (opening of the bile duct) can sometimes cause pain that mimics gall bladder pain. Whether the bile gastritis is a contributor to the pain is less clear. Although one doe snot like to prescribe medications to pregnant women, the Sulcrafate is safe. When you are considering pregnancy, discuss whether there any medication risks with your obstetrician
I am 29 years old and 140 lbs/5'8" tall, I had my gallbladder removed February 98 in London, Ontario (where I lived).
I first noticed pain one day in August/97, it came on so fast I fell to the floor...it felt like very bad hunger...just below my breast bone...this continued for about a half hour and then I got another one. The next day I went to the Doctor and she said it was an ulcer...without doing a blood test first! She wanted to start me on medication...but I wanted to wait for the test. It came back negative.
In September/97 I had another 5 attacks, I went back to the Doctor and she said it was stress....hmmm, I thought...ok...it could be. So I took anti-stress seminars...didn't help! Then the attacks started to last several hours at a time. They were very intense, no highs or lows, and it was difficult to breathe, walking made it worse, so I sat at the kitchen table for hours, praying for it to go away. Stress???
So I went back to the Doctor again in October...she said it was stomache acid! ok...I thought. I avoided chocolate, alcohol, tomatoes, citrus etc. still it didn't help. She finally sent me for an ultrasound in November/97. It came back positive for multiple gallstones. She said it's minor surgey and not to worry about it!
So when I went to see the Surgeon in December/97 he asked me how many attacks I have had so far...I said 19 (I didn't think anything of it) he was astonded and ordered surgery asap! That didn't take place until Feb/98!
I did learn finally at the time of seeing the surgeon, that fat causes the pain....I lost 22 lbs before the surgery. I was terrified of eating anything, as everything gave me pain. I was scared to go out anywhere for having the pain in public.
After the surgery, when I was at home...I must say that the incisions (4) were REALLY sore! It took me 2-3 months to be able to sleep slightly comfortable. It was very sore to walk, laugh, reach up, down, turn door knobs, sit on the couch...getting up from the bed or couch was a real chore!
That was nothing, until one day in March when I had my first post-surgery gallbladder attack! Yes it can happen afterwards! The surgeon didn't believe me...come back when you have had 5 attacks....!!! 5 came and went...he did nothing... I was really mad at this point...I'm not waiting months again for someone to do something....
He sent me for an ultrasound...but it was negative.
I ended up visiting the ER MANY times throughout the next 2 months. I had another 16 attacks....these all lasted 4-5 hours each! They finally refered me to a Gastroenterologist, he did an ERCP after many weeks of waiting on the list on May 27/98. It came back negative!
The Gastro Doctor told me that ultrasounds do not pick up objects that are surrounded by liquid. If a stone is stuck with liquid wrapped around it...it doesn't show up. He also said that ultrasounds miss 60% of stones that are stuck in the bile ducts.
Since then it has taken a long time (Aug.99) to be able to eat anything I want to. I have no pain, no attacks, no cramps, and no diarrea. I had several months of heartburn and reflux...but everything seems to be fine now!
Hmmmm.....how delectible brownies are again!!!!
***@****
I first noticed pain one day in August/97, it came on so fast I fell to the floor...it felt like very bad hunger...just below my breast bone...this continued for about a half hour and then I got another one. The next day I went to the Doctor and she said it was an ulcer...without doing a blood test first! She wanted to start me on medication...but I wanted to wait for the test. It came back negative.
In September/97 I had another 5 attacks, I went back to the Doctor and she said it was stress....hmmm, I thought...ok...it could be. So I took anti-stress seminars...didn't help! Then the attacks started to last several hours at a time. They were very intense, no highs or lows, and it was difficult to breathe, walking made it worse, so I sat at the kitchen table for hours, praying for it to go away. Stress???
So I went back to the Doctor again in October...she said it was stomache acid! ok...I thought. I avoided chocolate, alcohol, tomatoes, citrus etc. still it didn't help. She finally sent me for an ultrasound in November/97. It came back positive for multiple gallstones. She said it's minor surgey and not to worry about it!
So when I went to see the Surgeon in December/97 he asked me how many attacks I have had so far...I said 19 (I didn't think anything of it) he was astonded and ordered surgery asap! That didn't take place until Feb/98!
I did learn finally at the time of seeing the surgeon, that fat causes the pain....I lost 22 lbs before the surgery. I was terrified of eating anything, as everything gave me pain. I was scared to go out anywhere for having the pain in public.
After the surgery, when I was at home...I must say that the incisions (4) were REALLY sore! It took me 2-3 months to be able to sleep slightly comfortable. It was very sore to walk, laugh, reach up, down, turn door knobs, sit on the couch...getting up from the bed or couch was a real chore!
That was nothing, until one day in March when I had my first post-surgery gallbladder attack! Yes it can happen afterwards! The surgeon didn't believe me...come back when you have had 5 attacks....!!! 5 came and went...he did nothing... I was really mad at this point...I'm not waiting months again for someone to do something....
He sent me for an ultrasound...but it was negative.
I ended up visiting the ER MANY times throughout the next 2 months. I had another 16 attacks....these all lasted 4-5 hours each! They finally refered me to a Gastroenterologist, he did an ERCP after many weeks of waiting on the list on May 27/98. It came back negative!
The Gastro Doctor told me that ultrasounds do not pick up objects that are surrounded by liquid. If a stone is stuck with liquid wrapped around it...it doesn't show up. He also said that ultrasounds miss 60% of stones that are stuck in the bile ducts.
Since then it has taken a long time (Aug.99) to be able to eat anything I want to. I have no pain, no attacks, no cramps, and no diarrea. I had several months of heartburn and reflux...but everything seems to be fine now!
Hmmmm.....how delectible brownies are again!!!!
***@****
About 18 months ago, I have a liver resection as the result of
massive cysts and liver enlargement (Polycystic liver disorder).
They removed my gall bladder when they removed a 60 lb cyst. I
have not had 1 day of heartburn, acid reflux, or any other stomach disorder since surgery. The cyst has now grown back to the original size; but my freedom from other digestive disorders is still in place. I think the removal of my gall bladder did the trick....sounds like you might have been given an incorrect opinion. Good Luck
massive cysts and liver enlargement (Polycystic liver disorder).
They removed my gall bladder when they removed a 60 lb cyst. I
have not had 1 day of heartburn, acid reflux, or any other stomach disorder since surgery. The cyst has now grown back to the original size; but my freedom from other digestive disorders is still in place. I think the removal of my gall bladder did the trick....sounds like you might have been given an incorrect opinion. Good Luck
Dear Physicians,
I am an American and am on engineering assignment in Canada. My wife had Laproscopic Cholecystectomy in Toronto, Ontario, about 5 weeks ago. The bile tube was accidentally cut at 1cm away from her liver (actually, a different doctor described it as where the bile tube exits the liver in a "Y" formation down to a single tube ... the cut was 1cm away from the "Y" on the single tube). The doctor, unknowing of his mistake, sutured her up and sent her home the same day following surgery.
Two days later, we went to the emergency room because she was in severe pain (which she was complaining about immediately following the surgery also), she had high fever and had not eaten since her surgery. The third day (after surgery), they put her on intravenious fluids, demoral and atibiotics and performed an xray, the fourth day an ultrasound, the fifth another ultrasound and a gastroscopy, the sixth day, emergency surgery by a different surgeon than the one who originally performed the gall bladder removal surgery (she was in very bad shape by this time). By the time she had this second surgery (six days later), she had a steady temperature of 38.5 c / 101.3 F and her abdomen was swollen with appx. 2 liters of fluid (bile).
Following the second surgery, my wife had a pinrose tube draining into a cholestomy bag and a T-tube draining into another following her second surgery. The pinrose tube came out after 30 days. The t-tube started leaking a higher amount of bile into it's cholestomy bag following this. A nurse irrigated the tubing going to the t-tube drain hose with 10ccs of saline solution (per doctor's orders) and suddenly, a high flow of bile stopped and hasn't restarted in 4 days. Since, her temperature has been steadily rising, her pain increasing, however she is able to deficate normally. Tomorrow (January 12th, 2000) we are scheduled to have an xray of the t-tube area where the small intestines were spliced into the bile tube at the liver.
Of course I am distressing over my 28 year old wife who was very fit and healthy and is now 23 lbs. lighter and looks like she just got out of a concentration camp. We have a 3 month old baby that she can not lift or take care of normally.
My Questions:
1. Would most doctors in the states order an MRI (catscan) instead of an xray, since the patient (my wife) is possibly leaking bile fluid internally again. Would this make a big difference in being able to tell what is going on in the area of the T-tube location?
2. What are the long-term consequences and/or worst-case-scenario of complications she could suffer in the future?
3. What would be sound advice on any possible physical restrictions she might have in the future. I mean, can she excercise normally, eat normally, give birth to children normally, drink in moderation, etc.
4. If the Canadian health care system (in Toronto) will not allow my wife to have a catscan (because of limited number of machines in Canada), should I take her to Buffalo and get this done at my own expense? Would this be overkill or would I be doing the safe thing?
5. I really want to know ... how negligent is the doctor who performed the initial Laproscopic Cholecystectomy? Is this something that sometimes just happens to any surgeon on a random basis, or is this a gross error on his part? Shouldn't he have realized his mistake before pulling out and sewing her up? I understand he has had other errors as well, but most of his surgerys are a success (a surgical recovery ward nurse told me this).
Thanks for providing answers to my questions, if possible. I am very worried about my wife's condition and she is very distressed about it.
Scott
***@****
I am an American and am on engineering assignment in Canada. My wife had Laproscopic Cholecystectomy in Toronto, Ontario, about 5 weeks ago. The bile tube was accidentally cut at 1cm away from her liver (actually, a different doctor described it as where the bile tube exits the liver in a "Y" formation down to a single tube ... the cut was 1cm away from the "Y" on the single tube). The doctor, unknowing of his mistake, sutured her up and sent her home the same day following surgery.
Two days later, we went to the emergency room because she was in severe pain (which she was complaining about immediately following the surgery also), she had high fever and had not eaten since her surgery. The third day (after surgery), they put her on intravenious fluids, demoral and atibiotics and performed an xray, the fourth day an ultrasound, the fifth another ultrasound and a gastroscopy, the sixth day, emergency surgery by a different surgeon than the one who originally performed the gall bladder removal surgery (she was in very bad shape by this time). By the time she had this second surgery (six days later), she had a steady temperature of 38.5 c / 101.3 F and her abdomen was swollen with appx. 2 liters of fluid (bile).
Following the second surgery, my wife had a pinrose tube draining into a cholestomy bag and a T-tube draining into another following her second surgery. The pinrose tube came out after 30 days. The t-tube started leaking a higher amount of bile into it's cholestomy bag following this. A nurse irrigated the tubing going to the t-tube drain hose with 10ccs of saline solution (per doctor's orders) and suddenly, a high flow of bile stopped and hasn't restarted in 4 days. Since, her temperature has been steadily rising, her pain increasing, however she is able to deficate normally. Tomorrow (January 12th, 2000) we are scheduled to have an xray of the t-tube area where the small intestines were spliced into the bile tube at the liver.
Of course I am distressing over my 28 year old wife who was very fit and healthy and is now 23 lbs. lighter and looks like she just got out of a concentration camp. We have a 3 month old baby that she can not lift or take care of normally.
My Questions:
1. Would most doctors in the states order an MRI (catscan) instead of an xray, since the patient (my wife) is possibly leaking bile fluid internally again. Would this make a big difference in being able to tell what is going on in the area of the T-tube location?
2. What are the long-term consequences and/or worst-case-scenario of complications she could suffer in the future?
3. What would be sound advice on any possible physical restrictions she might have in the future. I mean, can she excercise normally, eat normally, give birth to children normally, drink in moderation, etc.
4. If the Canadian health care system (in Toronto) will not allow my wife to have a catscan (because of limited number of machines in Canada), should I take her to Buffalo and get this done at my own expense? Would this be overkill or would I be doing the safe thing?
5. I really want to know ... how negligent is the doctor who performed the initial Laproscopic Cholecystectomy? Is this something that sometimes just happens to any surgeon on a random basis, or is this a gross error on his part? Shouldn't he have realized his mistake before pulling out and sewing her up? I understand he has had other errors as well, but most of his surgerys are a success (a surgical recovery ward nurse told me this).
Thanks for providing answers to my questions, if possible. I am very worried about my wife's condition and she is very distressed about it.
Scott
***@****
Dear Kimberly, I am 36 and also had my galbladder removed because of attacks just like yours. after surgery nothing changed,the attacks continued and the docter who did the surgery treated me like garbage. After ultrasounds, X-Rays, blood tests,etc.etc.he told me to stop bothering him,there was nothing else he could do.After several more attacks I spoke to a triage nurse at the emergency room who told me the same thing happened to her but she did'nt have any gallstones. finally she was told by a gastroenterolagist to start taking at least 3tablespoons of whole husk psyllium everyday,I mix mine with vanilla flavered soy milk and a scoop of chocolate flavored protien vitamin powder,like slim fast.the next day after talking to the nurse I also saw my primary care docter who told me I probably had an ulcer along with a spastic asophagus.He started me on prevecid that day and I picked up the psyllium at the health food store on the way home.I went two weeks without an attack and stopped taking the prevecid.about two weeks later I whent 2days without psyllium and had an attack. whole husk psyllium acts like a sponge and absorbs much of the bile and acid thats dumped into your stomoch and then takes it straight out of your body ,thats why it needs to be whole husk because it's non soluable.I made the mistake of discontinuing my use of prevecid before my stomoch had a chance to heal so now Im doing another 4weeks of it.I always keep a can of strawberry or chocolate slim fast with me when Im out and about because I find that it coats my stomach really well and keeps me from getting to hungry and keeps my stomach from being too empty,wich is when acid and bile will hurt it the most.Psyllium also helps with I.B.S (irritable bowel syndrome)wich can cause many of the same symptoms.I hope it works for you.
I too, have an non funtioning gallbladder with no stones. I have been drinking Citrucel. It's made a world of differnce. No more pain.
Kimberly,
I was so happy to find your posting. My experience is similar to your. I had my gallbladder removed a year and a half ago after experiencing severe upper right abdominal pain and nausea for about six months. Although I had no stones, My ejection fraction was only .6% (very little bile being ejected), so it had to come out. A few months after my surgery, I started having pain similar to that before the surgery, and went back to my doctor for more tests. The doctors told me it looked like everything was working just fine and I still must be having pain from the surgery. Now, a year and a half after the surgery, I am having severe upper right abdominal pain and nausea, especially after eating. I have had an abdominal ultrasound, which looked normal, as well as blood tests. Today I had an endoscopy which revealed bile in my stomach. I have been put on aciphex, which doesn't seem to be helping so far. The only way to alleviate my symptoms somewhat is to not eat or eat something very light. I am frustrated and sick of being sick, and am also womdering if it was even necessary or helpful to remove my gallbladder in the first place. Maybe we can share information and help each other.
Michele
I was so happy to find your posting. My experience is similar to your. I had my gallbladder removed a year and a half ago after experiencing severe upper right abdominal pain and nausea for about six months. Although I had no stones, My ejection fraction was only .6% (very little bile being ejected), so it had to come out. A few months after my surgery, I started having pain similar to that before the surgery, and went back to my doctor for more tests. The doctors told me it looked like everything was working just fine and I still must be having pain from the surgery. Now, a year and a half after the surgery, I am having severe upper right abdominal pain and nausea, especially after eating. I have had an abdominal ultrasound, which looked normal, as well as blood tests. Today I had an endoscopy which revealed bile in my stomach. I have been put on aciphex, which doesn't seem to be helping so far. The only way to alleviate my symptoms somewhat is to not eat or eat something very light. I am frustrated and sick of being sick, and am also womdering if it was even necessary or helpful to remove my gallbladder in the first place. Maybe we can share information and help each other.
Michele
My husband has had his gallbladder out also 10 days ago. Has a lot of pain around openings - loss of appetite. More than that has been told they found a 2" tumor. We are wondering is this is self-contained or could it spread - that is my reason for in-
quiring about liver disease symtoms??
ANYTHING YOU CAN TELL US IN REGARDS TO THIS CONDITION WILL BE APPRECIATED.
quiring about liver disease symtoms??
ANYTHING YOU CAN TELL US IN REGARDS TO THIS CONDITION WILL BE APPRECIATED.
Year and half after removal of gall bladder, never have a day without much discomfort. Stomach distended extremely, look 8 months pregnant, can't eat full meal, can't wear clothing with elastic around waist, difficulty breathing after eating, checkups year ago led to nothing but doctors telling me to be patient. Anyone else having tight, extended stomachs and great discomfort?
I had my gallbladder removed last April. After I had it removed I continued having pain...the same as before I had it removed. I have had 2 CT-scans and everything is normal. I have been referred to a gastro and will be going next month. I wish I would have left my gallbladder alone.
suggestion for Ms.Kimberly;
From Ayurveda Herbal system point of view -Your case seems to be of increased Pitta,which is reflected in body by various digestive secretions and heat.This remains uncontrolled if not checked properly.
Do take 300 - 400 ml.of coconut water daily for atleast 40 days.
Don't take any raw vegetable ,even salads.
Reduce the intake of tea and coffee,Never take empty stomach.
Dip 4 figs and 7 currents at night in a cup of water,drink the water and eat it in the morning empty stomach.
From Ayurveda Herbal system point of view -Your case seems to be of increased Pitta,which is reflected in body by various digestive secretions and heat.This remains uncontrolled if not checked properly.
Do take 300 - 400 ml.of coconut water daily for atleast 40 days.
Don't take any raw vegetable ,even salads.
Reduce the intake of tea and coffee,Never take empty stomach.
Dip 4 figs and 7 currents at night in a cup of water,drink the water and eat it in the morning empty stomach.
and I thought I was going Crazy! I'm glad I'm not..
dj.. I had my gallbladder out in Sept.. and I still look pregnant.. my doctor says everything is fine..
I suffered for a year with Reflux and pains and waking up in the middle of the night doubled over followed by hours of diahrea before I finally cut out everything but tuna, parmasan, speggetti sauce and pasta and a little margarine it was the only thing I could eat and not get sick. And sometimes even that made me sick if I put too much margarine or if I ate a brand of sauce that wasn't low fat.. after 9 months worth of tests and specialists .. upper gi.. ultrasound.. ucg.. a scope down my throat they finally checked to see if my gallbladder was functioning properly.. and
bingo it wasn't.. by then my cholesterol had sky rocketed!.. (which my surgeon said was common)
but I still have the problems with the reflux and heart burn and live on prevacid.. I'm going to try the whole husk psyllium like
Cynthyia recommended. my doctor said try citricell but it didn't help..
I wish I was losing weight like some of you are though.. I'm gaining like crazy.. I recently found something at vitamins.com that said prevacid inhibits the absorbtion of Vitamin B, which boosts your matabolism.. so I've tried adding vitamin B to my diet as supplement.
in the mean time I still have to eat a very low fat diet.. or I end up sick again..
dj.. I had my gallbladder out in Sept.. and I still look pregnant.. my doctor says everything is fine..
I suffered for a year with Reflux and pains and waking up in the middle of the night doubled over followed by hours of diahrea before I finally cut out everything but tuna, parmasan, speggetti sauce and pasta and a little margarine it was the only thing I could eat and not get sick. And sometimes even that made me sick if I put too much margarine or if I ate a brand of sauce that wasn't low fat.. after 9 months worth of tests and specialists .. upper gi.. ultrasound.. ucg.. a scope down my throat they finally checked to see if my gallbladder was functioning properly.. and
bingo it wasn't.. by then my cholesterol had sky rocketed!.. (which my surgeon said was common)
but I still have the problems with the reflux and heart burn and live on prevacid.. I'm going to try the whole husk psyllium like
Cynthyia recommended. my doctor said try citricell but it didn't help..
I wish I was losing weight like some of you are though.. I'm gaining like crazy.. I recently found something at vitamins.com that said prevacid inhibits the absorbtion of Vitamin B, which boosts your matabolism.. so I've tried adding vitamin B to my diet as supplement.
in the mean time I still have to eat a very low fat diet.. or I end up sick again..
Terry: Is your stomach very, very hard and extended most of time but worse after meals for about 2 hours? Is their great discomfort in wearing anything restrictive around waist? What have doctors told you. They have told me to "just be patient, your are still healing from operation". Standard operation was April 1998 and have been this way since then with no improvement. Thanks for your response. dj
Good day everyone first time on line. My story is this, I have suffered for 5 years with colon bowel obstruction,s due to severe colitis,Pills, pills and more pills. Well I found a surgeon here in Windsor Ontario that is great, also a carrying doctor, takes time out to listen and just not push you out of the room.
It comes my lover Tommy the Toilet Ha Ha, I go to the washroom for 2 weeks about 14 to 17 bowel movements a daay, severe paain, I wounldn't want aany of my enemies to have this disease, not even x-husband. This colitis is so hard to understand unless you have experience it yourself.
My surgeon gave me a scan that looked at my whole inside organs, my gallbladder was full of pile and lots of toxin, this could have killed me, thaank the Lord that he found out about this, gallbladder was removed. Saw my surgeon yesterday, this is sadness to me, he examined me and still great paain throughout my whole gut;s , even where gallbladder was. He order an emerency ultra sound with blood work, I could feel his vibes that something is not right. I could see it in his eyes.
My surgeon is got me on Demoral for pain, anti-depressants for nerves only cause I'm a great concerner of other human beings. I have a soul of love for all people. I take three different kinds of pills to keep he bowels moving so I don't get obstruction, I can feel one coming on, I know my body to a tea. My surgeon, ordered me something new called Cholestyramine, lots of side effects, I will try it to see if there is a difference, Drank a package last night and this morning of Januaary 21/2000, I feel so sick that I want to throw up, stomach great pain. I live in a home with stress, but stress is reality in our time of day.
I'm afraid now, side affects say, constipation, consist of distention, bloating, flateluence, nausea, vomiting, diarreha, anorexic, heartburn, indigestion, rash, irratation of skin, tongue & perianal pain. Man I'm going to drink some again cause I was in hospital through Xmas holidays, I haate the hospital was living there. Can anyone give a few ssuggestion. Woman who loves the Lord in deep sorrow of health and pain.
Please write to me just for friends to talk and care about each other. Windsor woman. God Bless & may the Lord restore us all to good health. Send a miracle to all suffer's of pain. Liza Known as angel eyes.
It comes my lover Tommy the Toilet Ha Ha, I go to the washroom for 2 weeks about 14 to 17 bowel movements a daay, severe paain, I wounldn't want aany of my enemies to have this disease, not even x-husband. This colitis is so hard to understand unless you have experience it yourself.
My surgeon gave me a scan that looked at my whole inside organs, my gallbladder was full of pile and lots of toxin, this could have killed me, thaank the Lord that he found out about this, gallbladder was removed. Saw my surgeon yesterday, this is sadness to me, he examined me and still great paain throughout my whole gut;s , even where gallbladder was. He order an emerency ultra sound with blood work, I could feel his vibes that something is not right. I could see it in his eyes.
My surgeon is got me on Demoral for pain, anti-depressants for nerves only cause I'm a great concerner of other human beings. I have a soul of love for all people. I take three different kinds of pills to keep he bowels moving so I don't get obstruction, I can feel one coming on, I know my body to a tea. My surgeon, ordered me something new called Cholestyramine, lots of side effects, I will try it to see if there is a difference, Drank a package last night and this morning of Januaary 21/2000, I feel so sick that I want to throw up, stomach great pain. I live in a home with stress, but stress is reality in our time of day.
I'm afraid now, side affects say, constipation, consist of distention, bloating, flateluence, nausea, vomiting, diarreha, anorexic, heartburn, indigestion, rash, irratation of skin, tongue & perianal pain. Man I'm going to drink some again cause I was in hospital through Xmas holidays, I haate the hospital was living there. Can anyone give a few ssuggestion. Woman who loves the Lord in deep sorrow of health and pain.
Please write to me just for friends to talk and care about each other. Windsor woman. God Bless & may the Lord restore us all to good health. Send a miracle to all suffer's of pain. Liza Known as angel eyes.
How safe is a prolong use of prevacid ? Is there a cancer risk with taking this medication for a long time?
I experienced intense abdominal pain, particularly on the right side with sharp shooting pains going up to my shoulder, down by leg, and under the rib cage. This occurred for four straight days. The doctor did an EKG and it showed a possible mild heart attack. I was rushed to the heart unit for two days. After 3 nitros, it didn't even phase the pain. I got a complete workup, and it showed my heart was fine. They checked the gall bladder and nothing appeared in the tests. Next I had my stomach scoped, and three polyps were removed (biopsy was fine). I had a colonoscopy and was told I had irritable bowel syndrome and reflux. It is extremely rare for me to have gas, and I have never felt like my stomach was upset nor experienced heartburn. I was told to increase citrucel to 3 times a day. Instead it causes my constipation to get worse. Finally, they did a HIDA scan and it showed by gall bladder was functionally below normal. A week later, I found my self again waking up in the middle of the night with pains beginning...always on the right side. The pain was so strong and intense I had difficulty walking, was out of breath going up stairs, and had a severe headache. I am tired of living on Prevacid and Darvocet. I find myself terrified to eat for fear of an attack and afraid to go asleep at night for fear of waking up in pain.
I had my gallbladder taken out last April. I was so happy that I would never have to expierence that pain again. Well I dont really have any pain anymore but, ever since my surgery ive had cronic dierrea, so bad that if I even eat crackers I have to run to the bathroom. I have had blood tests that say my liver count is off and my white blood cell count is up. They checked for heppitites and that was negitive. Now I have noticed my eyes are kind of yellow. Everyone seems to be stumped. I cant live like this for the rest of my life. Oh ya I have also gained 20 pounds. How I dont know. I always have to go to the bathroom before anything has time to settle in my system. So it seems I traided my horrible pain for freqient visits to the bathroom with painful stomache aches. I think I would rather have the pain from my gallbladder. If anyone has any ideas please let me know. No meds please ive had enough to last a lifetime.
Has anyone had polyps in gallbladder? What are the consequences.
I too have had Upper Right Quadrant pain and many of the symptoms described in these posts. I am at my wits end about this. I had my gall bladder removed March 99. An ERCP to remove some more stones Aug 99. I have had this most recent attack for 2 months....and there seems to be no end in sight. I am taking pain killers mostly at work so I can function there. I am doubled over most days. Extreme pain, the area is sensitive to touch. I also have migraines daily. I am convinced this goes with whatever is bothering me. I had No pain or migraines after March. They came back in July. Went away after the ERCP in August. They came back in November with this current attack. Other symptoms are nausea, extreme fatigue, pain increases when I get hungry, also is there after I eat...sometimes immediately sometimes not for a couple of hours.
This attack has been the worst so far. I went to a GI doc he says there isnt any GI problem and did a Rib series (all was fine) and sent me to a chest specialist. The chest specialist says why are u here this is a GI problem. Consults a Surgeon who also agrees. They get me into another GI doc for an ERCP or surgery or both. The new GI doc says why are u here. This is cronic rib pain because you are female. Grow up and deal with it and that I will have pain alot worse than this. I left his office in tears. I am going back to him Monday to see if I can convince him it is something with my GI tract. If not I really dont know what I will do next. I am down to 5 pain pills. I got 30 of them in August, and I use them very sparingly. Every doc I go to thinks I am addicted to them or could be. I dont use them unless the pain is exteme. Which is becoming more and more often. Any ideas....mostly just wanted to vent. Glad to know I am not alone in this now. My email address is ***@****. I am on AOL IM as TAMMYDO or ICQ my number is 29965574. I would love to talk to anyone that is going thru this. Just if nothing else as support. Take care. Tammy
This attack has been the worst so far. I went to a GI doc he says there isnt any GI problem and did a Rib series (all was fine) and sent me to a chest specialist. The chest specialist says why are u here this is a GI problem. Consults a Surgeon who also agrees. They get me into another GI doc for an ERCP or surgery or both. The new GI doc says why are u here. This is cronic rib pain because you are female. Grow up and deal with it and that I will have pain alot worse than this. I left his office in tears. I am going back to him Monday to see if I can convince him it is something with my GI tract. If not I really dont know what I will do next. I am down to 5 pain pills. I got 30 of them in August, and I use them very sparingly. Every doc I go to thinks I am addicted to them or could be. I dont use them unless the pain is exteme. Which is becoming more and more often. Any ideas....mostly just wanted to vent. Glad to know I am not alone in this now. My email address is ***@****. I am on AOL IM as TAMMYDO or ICQ my number is 29965574. I would love to talk to anyone that is going thru this. Just if nothing else as support. Take care. Tammy
I had my gall bladder out after many years of pain and misdiagnosis. I have had an irratable bowel for years and could not get rid of it untile 2 months ago. I found a bacillus that cured it 1 week after I started to take it. I was taking psyllium capsuls the whole time and it only helped a little. It is called Latero-Flora (800) 736-1991. I only took it for 3 weeks and only take it occasionally just because I want to. I have a hiatel hernia also all my life and I am so tired of sleeping at an agle and urping a very small meal all the time. I have heard about a new prosedure where they tie 2 pieces of stomach around the esophages. I am concered I will not be able of throw up or parachute jump etc. Any information or a site I could read about it would be appreciated.
Hi everyone...after reading your posts I know that I am not alone. I had my gallbladder out in April, and although I absolutely cannot eat fat or I get an "attack", the main problem is weird. The main problem is that I get bloated, extremely rotten egg/sulphur smelling burps with bad upper stomach cramps. It is awful. Nausea, too. Anyone know what this is? I've had negative CT scans, etc...my UGI showed narrowed pylorus. Emails are fine. Thanks! Kim
I had gallbladder surgery Oct 99, after being told it would alleviate most of my pain (middle of the chest, sometimes on the side). Since surgery my pain has increased. I now have pain in my back, left arm, most anywhere in the upper chest. Anyone else have that happen? How are you dealing with it? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
There are sure a lot of US out there! Read this whole message if you want to know the gory details or skip to the end if you have a comment or info you can give me.
Using 20/20 hindsight, I had many gall bladder attacks oer the last 15 years - just thought they were "gas attacks" and would sit up all night in a recliner chair and take ovol and tylenol. I thought that helped but now realize that the attacks simply ended 5-6 hours after starting. As time went on I developed food intolerances to all fatty foods - ice cream, fried foods, chinese food (peanut oil!) and peanut butter were the worst. Pain started just below breatsbone, went through to my back at right shoulder blade and radiated up right side of my chest and sometimes into my right arm. SOmetimes it was so bad I could hardly breathe. No nausea or vomiting - not everyone has every symptom. I was told I was unusual.
More recently, I had a severe gall bladder attack in March 99, hospitalized 1 week with IV fluids only. Things settled down, had a series of ultrasounds with lap choly done end of March 99. Found out later that the surgery was sceduled so quickly out of necessity - I had a gall bladder full of "sludge" and it no longer functioned at all. The surgery was ok but I was told later that I was a difficult patient. When I asked how that could be since I was unconcious during the procedure, the surgeion said "technically difficult". That means he had a lot of trouble seeeing clearly into the abdominal cavity as I am built very compactly - no extra room for anything.
Thought that was it and began to recover. Approx. 5 weeks after the surgery I returned to the GP and surgeon with symptoms similar to those I'd had during gall bladder attacks but the pain does not radiate to my right shoulder tip. Docotrs investigated with CT scan and ultrasound and tried things like losec to keep food moving through my stomach. Also had food intlerances to fatty foods. At the end of June 99, I went to a banquet, tried to eat the low fat food and had a couple of drinks. 30 minutes after eating I collapsed with extreme pain as described earlier, cold sweat, very low blood pressure, dizziness and was uncouncious for a few minutes. Into ER again where blood tests plus symptoms confirmed acute pancreatities from some of the sludge which had plugged the common bile duct right where the pancreatic duct comes in. Elevated serum amylase was the key test for this one. Off to another city 250 kms away (150 miles) by ambulance for an ERCP which widened the bile duct and pancreatic duct. Another ambulance ride home and a week in hospital. IV fluids only and some other meds to reduce stomach acid, etc. I was told I was atypical.
At this point I was pretty sure all would be well. With the surgery and then the collapse, I'd taken 2 6 week medical leaves from work. Back to more pain as described, more medications invcluding codeine and amyltriptilene for pain managment. Extreme stress at work which got worse due to the fuzziness from the meds, so I would not take the meds so the pain was worse, etc etc. Another ERCP to widen the bile duct further but still no relief. At the end of November 99, my doctors said I needed a lengthy medical leave in order to break the vicious circle of pain and stress. I'm still on leave now in Feb 2000 and no end in sight.
Add in a bout of near pneumonia and a violent reaction to erythromyacin prescribed for the mycoplasmic infection which led to another night in the ER...... ENOUGH ALREADY! Now I am one in a million, according to my GP.
After all of that, I'm told I have postcholysystectomy pain syndrome which is idiopathic in origin. In other words,I hurt, my biliary tree is hypersensitive to anything, stress makes it worse and I need to relax or I'll relapse. I have hunted diligently for info on the net for this syndrome and not found it. But many of the stories at this site sound like me. Anybody out there with more info? I am satisfied that my doctors are doing the best they can - GP, surgeon and GI specialist - but any additional info would be great.
You can reach me at ***@****
Using 20/20 hindsight, I had many gall bladder attacks oer the last 15 years - just thought they were "gas attacks" and would sit up all night in a recliner chair and take ovol and tylenol. I thought that helped but now realize that the attacks simply ended 5-6 hours after starting. As time went on I developed food intolerances to all fatty foods - ice cream, fried foods, chinese food (peanut oil!) and peanut butter were the worst. Pain started just below breatsbone, went through to my back at right shoulder blade and radiated up right side of my chest and sometimes into my right arm. SOmetimes it was so bad I could hardly breathe. No nausea or vomiting - not everyone has every symptom. I was told I was unusual.
More recently, I had a severe gall bladder attack in March 99, hospitalized 1 week with IV fluids only. Things settled down, had a series of ultrasounds with lap choly done end of March 99. Found out later that the surgery was sceduled so quickly out of necessity - I had a gall bladder full of "sludge" and it no longer functioned at all. The surgery was ok but I was told later that I was a difficult patient. When I asked how that could be since I was unconcious during the procedure, the surgeion said "technically difficult". That means he had a lot of trouble seeeing clearly into the abdominal cavity as I am built very compactly - no extra room for anything.
Thought that was it and began to recover. Approx. 5 weeks after the surgery I returned to the GP and surgeon with symptoms similar to those I'd had during gall bladder attacks but the pain does not radiate to my right shoulder tip. Docotrs investigated with CT scan and ultrasound and tried things like losec to keep food moving through my stomach. Also had food intlerances to fatty foods. At the end of June 99, I went to a banquet, tried to eat the low fat food and had a couple of drinks. 30 minutes after eating I collapsed with extreme pain as described earlier, cold sweat, very low blood pressure, dizziness and was uncouncious for a few minutes. Into ER again where blood tests plus symptoms confirmed acute pancreatities from some of the sludge which had plugged the common bile duct right where the pancreatic duct comes in. Elevated serum amylase was the key test for this one. Off to another city 250 kms away (150 miles) by ambulance for an ERCP which widened the bile duct and pancreatic duct. Another ambulance ride home and a week in hospital. IV fluids only and some other meds to reduce stomach acid, etc. I was told I was atypical.
At this point I was pretty sure all would be well. With the surgery and then the collapse, I'd taken 2 6 week medical leaves from work. Back to more pain as described, more medications invcluding codeine and amyltriptilene for pain managment. Extreme stress at work which got worse due to the fuzziness from the meds, so I would not take the meds so the pain was worse, etc etc. Another ERCP to widen the bile duct further but still no relief. At the end of November 99, my doctors said I needed a lengthy medical leave in order to break the vicious circle of pain and stress. I'm still on leave now in Feb 2000 and no end in sight.
Add in a bout of near pneumonia and a violent reaction to erythromyacin prescribed for the mycoplasmic infection which led to another night in the ER...... ENOUGH ALREADY! Now I am one in a million, according to my GP.
After all of that, I'm told I have postcholysystectomy pain syndrome which is idiopathic in origin. In other words,I hurt, my biliary tree is hypersensitive to anything, stress makes it worse and I need to relax or I'll relapse. I have hunted diligently for info on the net for this syndrome and not found it. But many of the stories at this site sound like me. Anybody out there with more info? I am satisfied that my doctors are doing the best they can - GP, surgeon and GI specialist - but any additional info would be great.
You can reach me at ***@****
To All:
See my posting next section down.
Feel free to e-mail me if I can help in any way.
Regards,
Wendell
See my posting next section down.
Feel free to e-mail me if I can help in any way.
Regards,
Wendell
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