Has anyone had increased blood pressure with post-cholecystectomy pain?

[nadia]

Hi Everyone,
  I had posted earlier about pain that I am experiencing after having my gallbladder removed.  The pain is constant and it varies from moderate to severe.

  If I become over-tired I have additional symptoms of nausea, weakness and shakiness. It is centered right below the sternum, but radiates into chest and back.  I notice it is at it's worse between 4 and 7 AM. When it is at it's worse my blood pressure also increases significantly,  150/99.

I have not lost any weight, actually gained a few pounds. I am not overweight at 5'8" and 148 lbs.  Prior to the onset of this pain I had excellent BP. It is not caused by anxiety because I have a cuff monitor that measures BP while asleep.

My doctor suspects SOD, however, it seems the pain should not be as constant as it is and is not really affected by food.  
If anyone has experienced similar symptoms, I would appreciate hearing about your experience.

  I have an appt with gastro. on Tuesday, but am trying to learn as much as I can in the meantime.  I should say I have had all tests EKG, Echo, Catscan, US, all show a condition called Hyperdynamic circulation, just a fancy name for an unknown condition. Thanks for any input.  Nadia

[Lor]

I asked my Dr for it a while back. He wouldn't give it to me. He said it wouldn't help in my case. If you get it let us know how it works for you.

[nadia]

Thanks so much for your encouraging words.  I am not going to let this get me down.  I have heard others mention a drug called Actigal that thins the bile, so that if it is SOD it can still get through the Sphincter easily.  I am going to ask about this drug on the 25th, when I see my doctor.  If you have heard or tried it please tell me about your experience with it. Thanks, Nadia

[Lor]

Don't give up on this. I had to go to 5 Drs before I finally found someone who could help me. I had been diagnosed with everything from bile reflux,GERD,IBS, and yes a fibroid. One Dr asked me if it were possible I was bringing the pain on myself. One year before I was finally diagnosed .I asked a Dr about SOD he told me no way that isn't even an illness. I say suck up your tears -hold your head up high and move on. You are the only one who knows how you feel. No one should have to live in pain.

[nadia]

Just wanted to post an update to my situtation with post-cholecystectomy pain.

I seen my gastro. yesterday.  It was my first visit with him.  He told me that nothing can be done about my situation.  Just to live with the pain.  

He said an ERCP is not called for and says my symptoms are not SOD or anything else.  He also said if it is Pancreatitis all they can do is give me Tylenol 3s for pain anyway. He calls my severe chronic pain:  Dysfunctional Abdominal Pain and to just tough it out.

Well talk about letting the wind out of my sails.  I felt so discouraged I couldn't even speak to anyone.

I refuse to let this #@$%&^% get me down, so once I'm up to it I will have to start over.  Talk about discouraging.

[nadia]

Thanks for your responses;
Lor, I appreciate your comments, since you have personal experience with SOD.  I think of your positive results when the prospect of having the ERCP frightens me a little.  
My heartrate is around 80-90bpm.  This rate does occasionally race, but not very often.  
My thoughts on the cause were abdominal aneurysm.  I don't know how difficut this is to detect, since I have had so many tests.
Zoie68; We are similar in that we have both been perscribed BP medication.  I was told to take atenelol if I cannot control it with exercise, but who feels like exercising when you are in constant pain.  You are right in that any kind of pain could cause an increase in BP. That kind of reassurance is encouraging.

[Zoie68]

Hi Nadia

I too have SOD type pain.  Usually starts anywhere between 2:00am and 6:00am and can happen more than once per night.  Sometimes I have pain through the day as well, especially if my stomach gets empty.  I am on blood pressure medicine and I did start this after my gallbladder surgery and the pain.  Although I think everyone's BP is going to go high when the body is in pain or a stressful situation.  I just had a follow-up visit with my doc this week and still nothing is showing abnormal in any of the tests I have had.  I am quite frustrated!!  He has also suggested sending me to the Mayo Clinic.  I will do anything at this point to stop this awful pain.
Good luck to you Nadia!
Zoie

[Lor]

SOD does sound right. I too had the pain between 4 - 7am. After suffering with it for several days my husband noticed that the pain seemed to come on when my stomach was emty.  The pain was also more severe right around my period. People with SOD have inflamation in the lower duodendum. From what I have read that is why the pain is so severe on an empty stomach and wakes you during the night. (duodenititis) Your blood pressure will increase with the pain. How is your heart rate?