Pain after Gallbladder removal.

[TaraDoyle]

I have just recently had my gallbladder removed and am struggling eating without pain afterward in the gallbladder region. I also still have nausea and pain in my right side under my rib cage. It is hard to even lean on or sleep on that side. I don't want to jump the gun, but I have been sick for several years now and thought the surgery would end it. Please let me know if anyone has any advice to offer me as I have four young children and just want to get better. Thank you so much!

[Banned1]

Hi Tara:

I think I see you on the other board so I will stop watching this post.  Feel free to email me here if you do need to get in touch about anything.  I'm really glad you've joined ~ it will help SO much.  Honest.

All the best,

Sam

[TaraDoyle]

Thank you very much. I will look it up! I have not heard of Remeron yet, but I am sure it will come up soon enough. I hope things go well with you and I appreciate your help.
Tara

[Fuzzz]

Here is an excellent article that might help you sort it out.  

http://www.medfriendly.com/postcholecystectomysyndrome.html

To regain my appetite, my MD started me on Remeron.  I'm fortunate because I don't have nausea after eating; I only had nausea from the smell of certain foods or even hearing people talk about certain foods that are smelly or fatty.  Oh, and eating cream cheese DOES make me sick, but it has about 54 gm of fat per slice, so it's no wonder.  With generic Remeron I have put on 5 lb in 2 weeks, and I'm having no nausea.  I'm still not going to eat bacon or be around stinky salmon if I can avoid it.  

[TaraDoyle]

Hello again, I am not usually up at this time; however I am waiting for the gravol to kick in so the nausea will pass and I can sleep. I checked out that forum and am definately interested in joining, I thought maybe I should wait until I get the diagnosis as it may not be Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction or Pancreatitis. So far I've only had the pancreatitis once although after reading my symptoms seem to line up. Do you know off hand if I have to have a Yahoo email account to join as I do not.

Again, having someone to talk to is so comforting as this is all new for me and has happened really quickly.

Take care and thanks again.
Tara

[Banned1]

Hi Tara:

It sounds as though your medical team is thorough, which is wonderful.  From my point of view, the colonoscopy was a breeze and the procedure I was most terrified of.  The ERCP requires not only a skilled surgeon but a practiced one.  In the right hands, you should be just fine but there are risks.  I'm glad you are considering the other forum.  I just joined in November but I'm really enjoying it now.  Feel free to let Michele know that I suggested it.  You can ask any question you want without feeling silly and get information back from people who have actually gone through the experience.  Even reading and searching the archived posts has been a real eye-opener.  

Hang in there and feel free to write me or post at any time.

All the best,

Sam

[TaraDoyle]

Sam,

Thank you so much for responding and sharing your story with me. My life seems to be a series of Unsolved Medical Mysteries as well. It is so frustrating, you question yourself and boy, does it get tiring. I will definately check out the forum you mentioned and I guess keeping a journal is inevitable at this point. I am so busy, that I have skirted the issue, but I want to get better so my options are few. My Surgeon is now sending me for a colonoscopy and scope to investigate my biliary duct and mentioned something about a possible ERCP or something like that. That will be in the next 3-4 weeks.

I am interested in reading your journal entries as maybe it will help me to begin my own. Thank you again for your guidance and support. I will update as things change.

Thank you,
Tara

[Banned1]

Hi TaraDoyle:

I'm so sorry to hear that you are suffering.  I'm a 42-year-old woman who, about two years ago, I developed gallbladder-type pain and other symptoms.  After having my gallbladder removed and another surgery called a sphincterotomy, I've learned that there are many things that can cause these symptoms including Post-Cholecystectomy Syndrome, Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction and Pancreatitis, among other things.

I belong to a Yahoo! group which deals with Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction, Pancreatitis and Undiagnosed Symptoms, among other things.  Michele V. is the most amazine woman who owns and moderates the forum and she is also a Registered Nurse.  Some of the other members are also medical professionals.  This forum is full of people who live with our kind of pain and suffering every day.  They have personal relevant experience that REALLY helps.  To learn more about this group, please visit: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sphincterofoddi_pancreatitis.  

I don't have a diagnosis yet but for vomiting and nausea, I've been prescribed Domperidone (trade names: Motilium or Motillium).  It has been a Godsend.  I'm also on a sustained action pain medication called Oxycodone/Oxycontin HCL which has made a world of difference, too.  I'm still REALLY sick but these things have taken me from being bedridden to being mostly mobile, happier and hopeful.

Here are a couple of things that I've found helpful.  

Research!  Read old posts in this forum.  There is a fantastic research resource that I've found very helpful called "The First Principles of Gastroenterology": http://gastroresource.com/GITextbook/en/Default.htm.  

Log!  Keep a journal.  It helps identify patterns in your symptoms, foods, medications and pain level.  You're welcome to read mine but I write a lot (can you tell?).  :)  http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/12546?personal_page_id=8912

Reach Out!  You are not alone!  Try to stay positive.  

When you do find answers,please post to let everyone know what you found and how you got rid of your symptoms.  It gives people on this site hope to hear success stories.

All the best,

Sam