GallBladder Removal - Was it worth it?

[Kimberly]

I am a very frustrated 28 yr old female.  I originally went to the doctor almost 2 yrs ago due to excruciating painful attacks, usually after fatty meals and/or alcohol. These attacks were so painful they would cause me to haunch over, hyperventilate and would be at there worst pain just below the breastbone, over to the right. Then the pain would generate into my back, up to my sholders and sometimes down my arms. I would usually have someone take me to the ER. After a ultrasound, the doctors found about 7-8 stones in my gallbladder & I had it removed about 1 1/2 yrs ago. About 3-4 weeks after surgery, I had another attack. Very much like the gallbladder attacks I had before surgery. I am still having them periodically as of today. Just had another on 1/7. Again, precipitated by fatty foods and/or alcohol. In addition, stomach is usally tender & sore.I have had ultrasounds, bloodwork, 2 endoscopies. Test show no signs of gallstones in the ducts. Endoscopies did show that I developed bile gastritis. I was treated w/ sucralfate and Prilosec about a year ago. Months after meds stopped, developed burning pain (almost constant, sometimes worse when hungry) in the pit of stomach below the breastbone. No mention of uclers from doctors and there were no signs during prior endoscopies. Doc now says have acid reflux, although haven't had chestpains or heartburn a day in my life. Doc says LES valve is not closing/relaxed, but nothing comes up my throat. Am now back on sucralfate and prevacid. It's been a pretty painful process since my gallbladder was removed. Not only am I still have attacks, which is why the gallbladder was removed in the 1st place, but because it's gone, the bile that trickles has caused bile gastritis. I was pretty much told that bile gastritis can be treated, but not cured & I will take meds for the rest of my life. How will this affect me when I choose to get pregnant? Why am I still having gallstone attacks w/ no gallbladder? What is the constant burning in the pit? Life on a daily basis consist of pain & discomfort. Some days better than others. What else can I do? All these diagnoses & meds, yet the burning & attacks still exist???  Thank you for your time.

[Christine]

I am 30 years old and have many of the same symptoms as Kimberly.  I had my gall bladder out two years ago and had terrible attacks for the year following my surgery.  The pain was unbearable. The pain was the worst in my right side under my ribs and eventually spread across my entire abdomen.  During my attacks my stomach became very, very tight.  My attacks often occurred at night  - they woke me from my sleep.  They usually occurred if I was sleeping on my stomach. My attacks aren't so severe now - knock on wood - but my stomach pain still often wakes me up at night.  My right side is always tender and sore.  I am always constipated, but when I take in more fiber, my pain in my right side gets worse.  My doctor thinks my problems are caused from acid reflux and irritable bowel syndrome.  I take Prilosec for the reflux and Levbid as needed.  My attacks seem to get worse if I take Prilosec and Levbid on the same day (4 hours apart) for a few days in a row.  I have trouble handling both of them, I think.  I go to sleep on my back on two or three pillows, and I sleep with blocks under the head of my bed to keep the acid flowing down.  I think this has helped quite a bit, since my attacks are usually more like episodes now than attacks.  I can't lay on my left side.  When I do, my right side under my ribs feels very uncomfortable.  My doctor thinks my bile duct is OK, because I have had blood tests done during attacks and everything was OK.  I am glad my doctor hasn't found a more serious problem with me, but I would like to feel normal again.   If anyone has any advice, I would greatly appreciate it.  I think there is something wrong other than the reflux and irritable bowel syndrome, but I don't know how to figure out what the problem is.  I have had an upper GI, X-Rays, CAT scans, endoscopy,and a colonoscopy.  Everything came back fine except for my throat being inflamed from the reflux.  Thanks again.
Christine  

[Dee]

Does having polyps in your gallbladder affect your weight in anyway?

[Ben]

My anesthesiologist was trying to "find the vein" when I decided not to pursue with my gall bladder removal operation. At first, interns were sent to talk to me and then finally my doctor asked me why I was backing out. I told him that I had a change of mind and that I would like to consider other options. He said that my only option is surgery (removal of my gall bladder).
I decided not to go on with the surgery. I felt victorious but when my doctor told me to find another doctor and that he did not want to deal with me anymore, I felt hurt and insulted. He should have, at least, made another appointment with me, and offer me other alternatives or at least been open minded and discussed things with me.
Do I really have no other option? For about a week now, I have not have any pain. My diet is in control and it seems to be helping. Reading all your mail regarding pains after surgery makes me feel good for not having mine done but where do I go from here? What if I have another attack? Is there any medicine or natural alternatives to break down gall stone? What food can I
eat or avoid?
Please write me at ***@****.

Thank you,

[jules]

In response to distended stomach and discomfort around the waist: I am 27 and had my gallbladder removed by Laparoscopic procedure on 3/3/00.  I have always been healthy, eat healthy,  workout often, and lean!  It has been a bit over a month and I have put on a small amount of weight (for no apparent reason, never ate a fatty diet or poor diet in the first place) and get a sore fattened gut by the end of the day, depressing.  Could it be that the Laproscopic procedure (cutting in the tummy) is the cause for this ?  My family, husband, doctor etc tell me the same thing "just be patient", easy for them to say.  We have to live with the discomfort.  I have this new gut, an ugly purple belly button, burping and gas, can't eat too much or it hurts.  I am so thankful that the ER found out what my pain has been for the past 6 months, but I just want to look and feel back to normal again.  I am somewhat discouraged after reading that many of you have been this way over a year after surgery, but thankful that I am not alone. Please don't get me wrong I am so very thankful to GOD that it was nothing more than the Gallbladder and that I am alive to talk about this, but I also don't understand why this would happen to a young, health conscious, and lean person?  I have turned into a depressed person in one month and should be the opposite! Will my shape/body return to it's previous size ? Anyone else in my boat? Or, want to email to ***@****

[Leslie]

I have had IBS for almost 15 years. Just in the last year things started to change.  I had pain in the upper right side, under the rib cage. After several tests, it showed to be a grossly malfunctioning gallbladder.  We took it out.  Since the surgery I have not experienced the pain on the right side, but must eat a very restrictive diet.  If I have a fatty meal, fried, dairy, oily foods, I have lower abdominal cramping, and diarrhea.  I have been on questran, prevacid, and start started taking lotronex, a new IBS drug.  So far still having attacks . If anyone has any suggestions, Please reply.   Thank you leslie

[Shawn O]

Thank God! I can't believe what I've been reading. And I thought I was going crazy! So many of you seem to have the same experiences that I have had. The most frequent is trying to relate your symptoms and problems to "medical professionals" only to be told they have no idea what you're talking about and that they have never heard about what your going through.
     Unfortunately, I have had stomach problems for quite some time since my early 20's. Mostly irritable bowel, gas and so on. A few years ago I started experiencing unbelievable heartburn,acid indigestion(I know what they mean by "sulpher") and stomach pains. It would go on for days and sometimes cause chest pain and trouble breathing. Everything I ate would result in a mad dash or terrible pain. I went to my Doctor and after a couple of times with the same complaints he sent me for tests. Nothing showed up of course until he sent me for the xray procedure for the gall bladder. As soon as they injected the fat dye into the IV things started happenning. The vibe in the whole room changed and the nurses and technicians whom I had been having a pleasant conversation with started saying gall bladder surgery wasn't that bad. So I arranged with a recommended surgeon to have my gall bladder removed with the hope all this would get under control. The surgery went well and for about a week I started feeling much better but then I started feeling even worse. So lots of tests, consults and medication and things are still shaky. In fact I had so much chest pain recently I ended up getting an ekg (nothing wrong) cause I thought I was having a MI. Since my surgery I have been diagnosed with GERD, Ulcers in the Duodneum, Gastritis and hiatial hernia. I have also been told I have to live with this for the rest of my life... So any advice is welcome. (***@****)
     Three things I have come to understand from all this are:
        1: Although my Doctor and other professionals have
           been understanding and thorough these types of        
           problems are the type that they have a hard time
           getting a handle on. And believe me, a lot of good
           people have tried to help me. What works for the
           majority won't always work for you so have patience
           and try to find people who believe in what your saying
           and will help you find answers.
         2: We are what we eat. I love so many foods but    
            unfortunately they don't love me. What I ate two
            weeks ago with no problem may make me feel terrible
            for a week tommorow. Because this part does not make
            sense I just have to try to work with it and eat as
            sensibly as possible. Also it helps to keep nourished
            and not skip meals or eat junk food.
          3: Stress definitely makes things worse. For the      
             longest time because of the chest pain and feeling
             weak I thought I was having a heart attack or that
             I was going to have one somewhere. It's made me    
             fearful and that sucks! That's why I was glad my
             Doc gave me an EKG. I finally resigned myself to
             that's part of this deal. Work can do a number on
             you too! But life goes on. I think stress causes
             a lot of the problem because of the bodies response
             mechanism and the stress it puts on the digestive
             system on what is already a stressed out system for
             folks like us. So stay calm relaxed and breath      
             deeply!
So lets keep trying to stay informed, share information and keep healthy and hopefully we'll keep this thing at bay!