Gallbladder removal

[tach1973]

In 1997 I had my gallbladder removed do to stones.  My doctor described my gallbladder as looking like a "sack full of bebes".  Since then I have still had the same symptoms as I had before my gallbladder removal.  Diarrhea, sever abdominal pain, nausea, etc.  Sometimes I even wonder if they really removed it!  The only difference is that I do not vomit like I use to!  Is it possible that there is a stone still stuck somewhere?  Also, Since my gallbladder has been removed I have gained excessive weight and I am unable to lose it.  Could this have something to do with my gallbladder being removed?  I have tried everything from watching what I eat to exercising and nothing seems to work.  My doctor thinks I am nuts and will not do any testing to see what the problem could be.  Please help!  Signed Still in Pain!

[dys]

hey there... i just wanted to note, i had my gallblader removed..2 years ago.  a few days later i also had to go back to emergency.  but i had a blockage caused by the drugs taken during and after the surgery.  the pain was intense and i was throwing up (which isnt a good thing to do right after surgery) the pain did not feel localized, but if you pressed around it definately felt more severe when you were pressing on the area where it was located.  so for those whoeve recently been degallbladderized keep that in mind.  
also, as for natural meathods of dealing with gallstones, i did some reading up on that before.  some recipies contain various amounts of apple juice and olive oil i do believe... if you have an angsty gallbladder, injesting large quantaties of any kind of fat can cause you a lot of problems.  so also keep that in mind.

[LK]

Dani,
I would appreciate any insight you can give me on SOD. My e mail address is ***@****.
Thanks for being willing to share your info,
LK

[Dani]

During surgery a larger instrument is used in the incision at your belly button. Usually that incision and the one directly below your right rib cage give the most discomfort. If it continues, however, you should ask your doctor. Usually by 5 weeks you shouldn't be exxperiencing to much pain.
Your cramping could be related to your body's adjustment to bile regulation now that you don't have a gallbladder to store it in. Some people will experience episodes of diarrhea that do go away. Check with your doctor if it becomes to  bothersome for you. Good luck!

[Zifnab]

I had my gallblader removed about 5 weeks ago. I am having pain around my belly botton. Yes the doctor did go in that way with the scope. But my other ensisions have healed up just fine. And I'm having intense cramping in that area on and off, along with drastic swings in bowel movements. Any ideals?

[confused]

I have gallstones, and I refuse to have mine removed. i am sorry for those of you who are having difficulty. My message is more for those people who haven't made that decision yet. Your M.D.'s are going to say some things are strictly M.D. material, and so they are, I agree but please people check all your options. A good osteopath can give you an all natural method of passing all these stones in your stool. I've done it, it works. It is no more painful than a gall stone attack. See a good alternative  Dr., many of them carry M.D. licensing as well as natural methods that are far less expensive and I say sometimes much wiser remedies.

[Dani]

LK,
Your story sounds so familiar to me. I started with the severe pain 3 days after I had my gallbladder out. I wake up in the middle of the night with the severe "attacks", as I call them. The pain starts in my mid abdomen and goes all the way around to my back, chest, right shoulder and down my arm. I also lost 40 pounds because I couldn't eat, before I got the diagnosis of SOD. I would love to help you more if you want. Please just let me know.

[LK]

I had my gallbladder removed 2 weeks ago and woke up in the  recovery room with severe central  upper  abdominal pain that did not feel like any type of post op pain. I have been on Bentyl for 2 weeks now, and have minimal relief. A friend of mine mentioned spincter of Oddi to me . What does the pain feel like, where is it located ? Surgeon thinks I am having a Irriatable Bowel episode, but I have NEVER been diagnosed with IBS in the past . Can anyone shed some light ? I have lost 10 pounds since surgery, can't eat, and wake up with awful stomach spasms in the middle of the night. I am afraid the Bentyl may be masking  an underlying problem.  What are the symptoms of spincter of Oddi Dysfunction ? Any information would be appreciated .

[Dani]

You need to find a new doctor! There are docs out there who actually care that you are having pain. I went thruogh what you are for years before I could get someone to diagnose me with Sphincter of Oddi disorder. The pain started after my gallbladder was taken out. Please let me know if you want more info on this, but you should demand more from your doctor.

[debzdebz]

You may require an ERCP with a spincterotomy or you may have pancreatitis. Surf the net and check out some of the informations

[jewels2]

I probably won't be much help, but I just had my gall bladder removed on Monday and by Friday I was having another attack just like I had my gall bladder.  As a matter of fact, I am going to call my surgeon after this message to see if he can do further blood work to indicate maybe that there still is a stone in the bile duct.  I know this site will be helpful to you.  Read as much as you can in the forum archives and find people that have had similar problems.  Did you have the ERCP test done at all to see if you have further blockage?  Did you see a GI doc?  I wouldn't settle for what you are going through!  You really need to dig further into this and see someone that can help you.