SURGERY UPDATE for gallbladder symptoms *DSTEINITZ*

[DSteinitz]

Just had my gallbladder surgery Monday and it went fine. Woke up with the same shoulder ache but gave it some time before getting too worried. Well the next day after surgery I had no neck and shoulder pain and thought I was cured. It is now 4 days later and my same old pains in the neck and shoulder are still here. Thought maybe it could be the excess co2 gas in my body.
  I am still hoping it is due to the gas but thinking that I probably had a good day post op because of the pain meds given to me in the hospital. The surgeon said my GB was beaten up a bit. Dealing with constipation and some acid reflux. I really hope this ache goes away. Laying down does help but is no long term solution.
  I will seek a pain specialist later if I still have my complaint. By the way the upper GI was negective and the cervical MRI was too. Might ask for a thorasic MRI since the pain may be originating from the center of my back.
  Well that is the update of my surgery experience and I hope my story helps.
Best to all!
Don

[DSteinitz]

Update....

   My back ache is actually better! I found out I have osteoperosis and that is probably causing some of the neck, shoulder & back pain. But maybe Im gettting better since the gallbladder surgery!!!
  My chief complaint now is nausea post surgery. Hoping it passes too. Good luck to all!

[TexasTip]

I have been on Prilosec and now Nexium for years. Last April (2001), I had a severe bout of distress related to the gallbladder and came very close to having it removed. I elected not to, and went online to find relief for the severe gas pains that come with the attacks. You know, belching for hours, gas pains that keep you up for hours at night, etc.

I discovered activated charcoal. It is great! It can absorb gas and toxins in the digestive tract. I haven't used antacid one in over a year. Take 2 to four capsules when eating a "bad" meal or when you have distress occuring. It works for me.

Today, I'm trying to get off nexium. I stopped taking it two days ago. I have a headache, my stomach hurts, and I have additional acid. But the charcoal seems to be keeping the negative symptoms down. I'm going to try this approach for a few more days and see if I can live without it.

By the way, activated charcoal does a number of amazing things to cleaning the body out. It also absorbs drugs, so you should be wary of using it when you are forced to take prescription medications.

[DSteinitz]

Hello again.....

Going to a pain doctor tomorrow. I think I have narrowed it down to a pain around T5 on my spine. I don't fell bad I had my GB removed since it had stones and looked beaten up per the surgeon. This pain is really getting to me. It takes turns either being in my center back or neck & shoulders. I am lucky to work from home. How could someone go through this and have an outside job???
  Anyway, I will post later if/when I find anything else to comment on. I need a thorasic MRI to make me feel like I am doing something towards finding this pain. I don't want to be stuck taking loratabs forever. I do have ultram if I decide to switch to that drug (non addicting). Does anybody feel my pain? I guess we all have our own.

Best!
Don

[Abbey]

I went for a HIDA scan on Tuesday; still waiting for the results. Going tomorrow for a MRI of my spine since I have pain in my right shoulder and down my spine as well. I have herniated disks and bone spurs in my neck so initually they thought my symptoms were due to that but now it looks like it's my gallbladder from what the test showed. I've had the upper G.I. series along with ultrasound, you name it, I've had it. I also have a hiatal hernia and GERD which I NEVER had before until my hernia. I think I'll still have the gallbladder surgery if the tests say that darn thing is bad. I can't eat without getting sick. This is miserable.

Take care,
Abbey