Pain years after gallbladder removal

[Elizabeth372]

Back in 2003 i had my gallbladder removed due to gallstones...however i still get the same pains as i used to before...it flares up every once in a while... usually after fatty foods..but i got rid of my gall  bladder to relieve this pain and yet it continues...As i sit here i am on day 2 of the pain...usually lasts a few days then goes away til the next time...usually a few months in between episodes...What can this be?

[CalGal]

The pain could be due to problems in digesting fatty foods. Many people find they're unable to process fats the way they did before the surgery. You may have to adopt a low fat diet to try to lessen/take away the pain. If the pain continues after following a low fat diet, you need to check with you doc about the possibility that you could have developed stones/sludge post-surgery or you may be experiencing spasms of the common bile duct or sphincter (muscular opening to the duodenum).

You also need to have your pancreatic and liver enzyme levels checked during an attack of pain - within 12 hours of the pain. It will give the doc some idea of what could be going on. But it can't be done long after the pain ends as the enzyme levels will change quickly.