Post Gallbladder surgery pain.

[lisa]

I had my gall bladder removed in early December VIA the laproscopy method.  My recovery has been relatively uneventful with the exception to the fact that I cannot lay on my left side. This position causes me to have a burning, crampy  pain in my chest cavity as well and in and around the area of my right shoulder and up  the right side of my neck.   The pain is so intense that it actually causes me to be unable to breathe and I need to change position immediately.

Should I be concerned or is this a common symptom after this type of surgery and if so,  how long until it goes away?    

Thank you very much for any help that you may offer.

Lisa

[judi500]

A related discussion, post gallstone surger pain was started.

[damagedgoods360]

A related discussion, post op cholectomey problems was started.

[les7582]

A related discussion, gallstone was started.

[Karen]

hi everyone.  I had open gallbladder surgery on July 19, 2000.  Its been 5 weeks since my surgery.  I was just wondering if anyone else had the open surgery and can tell me what I should expect in the near future as far as healing and pain management. My doctor tells me I will have pain for at least 2 weeks following surgery, but I am still having trouble laying on either side.  Sometimes I also have a burning sensation in my abdomen area that I cannot seem to pinpoint.  It seems to radiate to different parts of my incision line.  I have a 9 1/2 inch incision on below my last rib and another 5 inch incision starting below my umbilicus and continuing above.  My doctor tried using the scope for my surgery,  but couldn't see,  therefore I had to have open surgery.  I would just like to hear from those that have had the open surgery and give me your thoughts about pain and incisional pain.  Thanks

[k.n.]

I had my gallbladder removed laproscopically in early May this year and have had a horrible time since then. The first 3 weeks following surgery where the worst with extreme pain in the right upper quadrant especially when I would take a deep breath. I even went to the ER 2 weeks post-op due to severe pain, which they did a Cat Scan of the abdomen which revealed a small amount of inflammation around the surgical site which they said was probably expected. My diagnoses pre-op was acalculus choleycystitis(no stones just a dysfunctional gallbladder with ejection fraction of 23%). So my continued pain post-op could not be due to any remaining stones in the duct. I was put on Naprosyn an anti-inflammatory med after my visit to the er which has helped but if I don't take it I get extreme pain in the right abdomen under the right ribs. My doctor order liver function blood tests which where all normal and He did do a sed rate which measures inflammation and mine is almost double what it should be. So, my guess is that I still 11 weeks post-op have inflammation which is not normal. Does any out there have this type of problem? I am wondering if it could be my body's reaction to the titanium clips that where left in to clamp the cysic duct. Any ideas? This is crazy to still be having this much pain. Any insight would be great.

[Pat]

To Jim in Pittsburgh Feb.22,2000
I to went in for a severe gallbladder attack and they had to do old fashioned 8" incision which was performed Jan. 18,2000.  I to have no feeling below my incision but also experiencing pain, burning, itching that I can't scratch because it causes terrible pain. I seem to have more discomfort from where the drainage tube was ripped out and across my stomach inside where the tube was. I also can't were a belt from where they tried to do the scope. I hope you feel better soon.  I have been told by different people I should have recovered in 3 to 6 months, surgeon office said a year wonder what the truth is and if they know.  I also was told to eat anything I want how can that be when you have a part of you that helped digest your fat. I also have bouts of horrible painful diarrea.  
Does the medical profession really know or are we all guinea pigs for their research?
In conclusion my surgeon refuses to see me unless my primary doctor refers me. Who refuses to do a liver enzyme test doesn't feel its necessary.