GallBladder Removal - Was it worth it?

[Kimberly]

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.

[janet]

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.

[turgut dincer]

Has anyone had polyps in gallbladder? What are the consequences.

[jan]

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.

[Gina]

How safe is a prolong use of prevacid ? Is there a cancer risk with taking this medication for a long time?

[Liza Hall]

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.
                            

[HFHSm.D.-Gastro-rf]

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