Help for pain and nausea after laprascopic gallbladder removal

A dear friend of mine (45) had her gallbladder removed about 3 months ago and has had pain and nausea ever since.  She has been in and out of the ER and hospital many times.  She has a stint which is going to be removed next week.  She is depressed because she has lost alot of weight and feels pain and nausea constantly.  She says she feels a little better after she has a BM.  Her pain is dull, aching - stomach, shoulder area, and back.  All tests that have been run come back great.  The doctors don't seem to have any answers.  Any suggestions would be very helpful, as my friend just wants to feel normal again.  She said that she felt like she was dying inside, but throughout the pain and the nausea, she is trying to stay positive.  Please help.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction can be caused atypically by gallbladder removal.  Obtaining an ERCP to evaluate the biliary tree as well as a Sphincter of Oddi manometry can be done if this is suspected.

Other causes of chronic nausea can be delayed gastric emptying as well as other upper GI disorders.  A gastric emptying scan and upper endoscopy would exclude these conditions.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
www.kevinmd.com

[John2155]

My wife has been going through the same thing after gallbladder surgery and lost 75 pounds.  Finally she had a nuclear gastric emptying study which revealed significant delayed gastric emptying or gastroparesis. We strongly suggest that your friend insist on this test. Many Drs do not seem to know about it. She eats only Carnation Instant Breakfast and Ensure and is feeling some better. She is heading to a Gastric Electrical Stimulator in the US BUT we are in Alberta, Canada and the Government will not pay the $75,000 to $1000,00 for it!

Check out www.digestivedistress.com and then go to Home Page for further information on all this.

[sundawn]

Have the docs checked out her pancreatic enzymes regularly?
I had the same problem and after I had the GB removed, I was back in the hospital three days later because they knicked the pancreas when they removed the GB.
They did not want to admit this, of course and, of course, I am responsible for the bill (no insurance).
What I wound up with was a very excruciating case of pancreatitis and I also lost alot of weight then. It took 8 days before I could be released and the enzymes were still not normal. All they want to see when this happens is that you are able to eat a meal and keep it down. Their tx is continuous IV infusion. They messed up all my veins and would not put in a PIC line! So, for two of the 8 days, people would come in and out of the room at various times to poke and prod me to no avail. My veins were gone! Yet, no PIC line! The docs in this town are not the brightest stars in the sky!! They finally put the infusion into my neck.....OUCH!
Good luck.....
They had best check the pancreas NOW as it can go sour FAST if this is what the problem is!
Like I said, you will all have to insist on them doing pancreatic tests and maybe a scan because after my incident, I found out that knicking the pancreas during GB removal is a very COMMON occurrence!! They just will not tell you this could happen and do not want to admit they made a mistake! And yet, due to their error, you are still left having to literally pay for their mistakes!!

[mikcin]

I also had problems and pain post GB removal for 5 years and finally it was discovered that I had stones impacted in my CBD at the pancreatic head.  It took three ERCP's before it finally cleared up.  I spent trips to the ER and hospitalizations before they finally took care of this.  I ended up jaundiced with high bilirubin and liver enzymes before anything was done.  I almost died because they were in there for so long.  I would seek out another doctor, especially one that has a load of experience.  Most gastros are very busy and she will be probably put on a long list.  But do not give up.  Also tell her to make a list of questions before the appt. because they are usually very rushed and if you don't ask, they won't just offer information.  Another thing that I was told was that it can take up to 2 years to feel "normal" after the GB removal.

[kp1600]

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