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Pain years after surgery

I am writing out of concern for my mother (58 years old).  She had her gall bladder removed 12 years ago and insists she is still having significant pain if she eats anything with even a minimal amount of fat in it.  She is 5 ft. 2 in. and now weighs close to 80 lbs. (prior to surgery she had been at about 135 lb.)  I am concerned that she has an eating disorder, but I don't want to discount any real pain she might be having from her gall bladder.  She does not see a primary care physician.  Are there any ways to determine if she really still does have gall bladder problems?  I would think that even if she had gall bladder problems, she would be able to maintain a healthy weight by eating foods that wouldn't upset her stomach.  I don't want to jump the gun about an eating disorder before I know that it's not really her gall bladder or lack thereof that's causing all of this, but I just want her to be healthy.

Thank you very much
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Avatar universal
My daughter had her  gallbladder out at 18 developed high liver enzymes, severe pain just like having a gallbladder attack and cronic diarrhea. Don't know if your mother has all of that but the GI doctor here in Atlanta checked for Spincter OF Oddi disfunction. Very common to get evidently at having gallbladder out. You may want to google it. They go in and messure the pressure and if it is high they cut it. Since it is so small and can cause panceatitis ( very painful ) we were sent to Duke to have it done by a Dr. Branch he was wonderful. The pain is going away and her liver numbers are about normal, it did however take a few months. I hope this helps you. I know we all are on this site to find some answers.
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Avatar universal
Thank you for your information.  I will look into finding a specialist who can help her.
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Avatar universal
Thank you for your information.  I will look into finding a specialist who can help her.
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Try this: http://hopkins-gi.nts.jhu.edu/pages/latin/templates/index.cfm?pg=disease1&organ=3&disease=12&lang_id=1
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Avatar universal
It is VERY possible for her to have pains right after or long after GB surgery. And if that pain is present and if she's also having an added problem with diarrhea and perhaps other things that can go along with the whole problem, it would be no wonder she lost weight.

The problem as I see it is most docs who listen to what's going on are going to brush off the pain and the possibility of the problem (sphincter of Oddi dysfunction; SOD) as non-existent. There are unfortunately numbers of people who have the same problem right after surgery and have to go to great lengths to get any kind of help.

If SOD is what is happening with your mom, you're going to have to find a very skilled doc who knows quite a bit about biliary problems frollowing GB surgery to work with your mom to try to correct things. Finding that type of doc can be difficult, and getting it corrected can be difficult.

I need to go find a link I especially like that discusses the problem - be back.
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