Life after Bile Duct Injury?

[pichlerred]

In April, 2008 I had my gallbladder removed 1 month post pardom.  During that surgery my common bile duct was severed.  Two days after the inital surgery I went back to the hospital because of vomiting and pain.  It was another 5 days before they discovered my bile duct had been severed.  The next three months were spent with drains and bag to empty the bile from my liver and abdomen.  In July, 2008 I had a roux n y repair surgery where they took my intestine and created a new bile duct.  Since that time I have been having bad stomach pain that has not gone away and frequent trips to the bathroom within 1-3 hours after eating anything and lately I've been throwing up everything.  The doctors keep testing my blood and everything looks normal, but I'm experencing alot of discomfort and pain, and am so sick of feeling sick! My daughter is 8 months old now and I often have to leave her at my parents house when I don't feel good.  I just want to feel normal again....any advise?

[CalGal]

During the surgery, did they actually change out the whole of the bile duct with small intestine, or did they use what remained of the bile duct to reconnect to a different place along the length of the intestinal tract? There's a bit of a difference.

If the pain in the stomach, proper, or elsewhere? Was your stomach reduced in size? If so, are you following the portion size and type of food that was suggested?

When you're throwing up, are you bringing up bile? Or?

[Banned1]

My heart aches for you.  At a time when you should be able to enjoy your new daughter, you're suffering.  So many of us are suffering from extreme pain post gallbladder surgery.  My advice would be:

Check out, "The First Principles of Gastroenterology": http://gastroresource.com/GITextbook/en/Default.htm.   Many have received a dignosis of Post-Cholecystectomy Syndrome or Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction but you'll need to do your research and see which area your symptoms fit into.  Many of us still don't have a diagnosis, just pain.

Keep a journal or a blog and your welcome to read mine if you want.  It's a great way to review your situation objectively and identify patterns in your symptoms, medications and pain level.  Hindsight is 20/20 and keeping a log might help you look at things more objectively over the longer term.  Also, if you have to go into Emergency, you can say, this has been the pattern...

Don't let your doctors give up on you or forget about you.  There are so many tests that can be done from Endoscopic Ultrasound, MRCP, etc.  You just need to find the test that will find your problem.

You are not alone!  Try to stay positive and reach out for support when you need it.  Talk to your Doctor, family, friends, co-workers, church or social service volunteers or anyone you feel safe with.  

When you do find answers, it would be wonderful if you could post the cause(s) and how you got rid of your pain.  It gives people on this site hope to hear success stories.

Take care of yourself.  Good luck and Godspeed.  All the best,

Sam

[pichlerred]

Hi, my understanding is that there was basically nothing left of the bile duct.  At one point they had talked about taking part of my liver out to get better access at what remained of my bile duct, so my impression was my intestine was used to create a new bile duct.  From this I do not think I have any bile going into my stomach anymore.  When I throw up there is not the old foamy bile looking stuff anymore.  My stomach was not reduced in size at all by this operation.  The doctors just told me to eat whatever after surgery and if it didn't agree with me then not to eat it.  I've recently been referred to a nutritionist, and another doctor thought maybe I had "dumping syndrome" which is common in weight loss surgeries....but can also happen during any abdominal surgery I guess.  My feeling is my bloodwork has been coming back normal so the doctors do not feel there is anything wrong and have not really taken any of my comments regarding pain seriously beside refering me to a healing clinic where they were trying to teach me relaxation methods which I don't think had anything to do with the pain I've been having.  

[CalGal]

Pichlerred, it's a bit difficult to follow exactly what was done in your case. I understand your saying that they used a piece of small intestine to 'splice' the liver to the duodenum so that the bile can flow from production site (liver) to delivery site (duodenum) where it should be. And for many, that 'splice' works pretty well.

If you're not throwing up bile, that's good. It means that the bile is - hopefully - going where it should be going - into the duodenum to help digest any fat you eat.

What are you bringing up when you throw up? And how soon after eating? Are you eating low fat?

And if a doc mentioned 'dumping,' that sounds like you did have a portion of your stomach removed.........so I'm confused. Is there any way you can get a better description of what was done? Can you get your hands on the reports of your surgery?