Is my Dr. trying to lie to me?

After gallbladder surgery, I ended up in the E.R. with a bile leakage.  The surgeon told me that 2% of people have extra multiple bile ducts.  They aren't seen durring surgery because the cauterizing makes scar tissue that hides the extra bile ducts.  I ended up with a stent to correct the problem.  i still have a lot of pain.  Another Dr. put the stent in.  He is going to have to put another stent in after he removes the 1st one (which takes place in a couple of days).  I read an article that says that 4,000 people every year have their bile ducts nicked.  this causes serious problems.  Their symptoms sound a lot like mine.  Have you ever heard of these extra multiple bile ducts?  Or am I being lied to?

[Tom324]

Jody,

Have not heard of multiple bile ducts. I had my gallbladder removed on 31 Aug. 08.
Mine was inflamed. I still have recurring RUQ pain, generally in the same are where the gallbladder was. So far all subsequent non-invassive tests are negative. I do have some
Liver Function tests that are above normal.

The classification is SOD Type II, at least that is what I believe I have. I am seeing some
specialists at Shands Hospital in Gainsville, FL.

The Stents you refer to, were they installed during an ERCP? or when you had the gallbladder removed?

What kinda pain are you experiencing? How often?

My pains last anywhere between 30 to 60 minutes on average. They very rarely ocurr
back to back, that is day to day. The pain starts off quick, like a stair step, or a switch turning on. It starts off quick, stays at the same pain level, in my case 4 out of 10. Then it goes away as quick as it came.

The only thing I can add about you questioning your surgeon, go to another gastro Dr.
A CT scan maybe able to verify multiple bile ducts (out of the normal number).

Continue, to search the internet as well. But be careful what you read. It should not be
a substitute for the professionals, but provide some general information to hopefully keep
you from going nuts about not knowing.

Good luck..

Tom

[CalGal]

Jody, there is more than one duct in several regions of the bile duct. The doc may be referring to those area as the 'more than one duct' to simplify things. Unfortunately if the surgeon doesn't have a clear field they can get nicked. The thing to find out is exactly 'where' the leak is occuring. Was it at the exit of the liver (extrahepatic) or at the linkage point of the cystic duct to the common bile duct. Ask for specific facts, and get drawings if necessary. Hopefully your leak with spontaneously close, many do. But if it doesn't you need to know where the leak is so that you can make an informed decision about what you're going to do about the problem.

[TaxiMom1999]

I had something simmular happen to me after my gallbladder surgery. I ended up in the hospital for 3 weeks with a bad infection from the bile build up inside me.  I had a stent placed, and then removed about a month later.  I did have to have one more surgury to try and get rid the infection.  The hospital sent me home with 2 drain tubes hanging out of my abdomin (abdomen). I pick line in my arm so I could give myself IV antibodics, and an IV pole. I was soo sick.   Your lucky you didn't get a massive infection.  I don't think your doctor is lying to you if the doctor just "knicked" something it wouldn't cause them to put a stent in. THe stent is just a tube to stop a leak so the duct can close on its own. OR at least I remember it being explaind to me that way.  Good luck with your proceedure it wasnt as bad as I thought it would be.  

TaxiMom