Life after Gallbladder Surgery

On January 14th I had a key hole gallbladder surgery to remove my gallbladder with one large stone.  During the surgery the surgeon stated that some of the bile leaked and he flushed it and I had a drain tube.  He also stated that my liver is 3x the size it should be due to morbid obesity. After having a hard time with waking up from surgery, I spent the night.  I felt pretty good the next day, not in to much pain and was able to keep pudding, and such down.  The night I come home I had to return to the hospital for breathing difficulties and stayed two days while they ruled out blood clots. I"m still haivng problems with breathing, but doctors think its Asthma which I havint had since I quit smoking 5 years ago. My questions is its been 9 days now, and i'm still having yellowish bile like diearhea 5-6 times a day.  Prior to two days ago my stools where starting to firm up some. Two days ago I  become very nauseated and sick to my stomach most of the day, and finally by evening letting up. Today i feel very unwell.  I haven't thrown up anything, but will have acid like backwash at times. I have not been eating much of anything in 9 days lost 20lbs and still feeling yucky. I have called and talked to my doctors office and they don't seem very concerned.  My concern is that I was doing better days ago than i'm doing now. I'm worse off than I was with my gallbladder is this normal after so many days?

Thanks,
Angie

[Kevin Pho, MD]

I would see your surgeon again to ensure this isn't a complication from the surgery.  

A repeat ultrasound can be done to exclude a bile duct leak, or an MRCP done to further evaluate the biliary tree.

Indeed, breathing difficulties after surgery can be due to blood clots - but this has been excluded already.  Imaging the lungs with a chest x-ray or CT scan can be done, as well as pulmonary function tests to exclude emphysema.  

Regarding the acid backwash, you can consider an upper endoscopy to comprehensively evaluate the upper digestive tract.

These options can be discussed with your personal physician.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

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

Kevin, M.D.
www.kevinmd.com

[ebjb]

If I were you and your doctor is doing nothing about the fact that you are feeling very unwell I'd be going to my accident and emergency at the hospital. You should definitely be feeling better after 9 days and shouldn't be having yellowish bile or nausea or acid like backwash. Go see someone who can help you. Good Luck - let us know how you get on.

[SKYCOP]

A related discussion, AFTER GALLBLADDER SURGERY was started.