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4217650 tn?1361135896

Common bike duct dilated post op gall bladder removal severe pain

Please I am desperate for some help!!! I'm in bad pain!!

I am having sharp stabbing pains on  my right side. This started about 1 week after my surgery. 2 and a half weeks post op I had sharp pains on my right side. It would come and go. I started having pains on my left side too. My surgeon said it was not surgery related and referred me to my pcp.  3 weeks post op my pcp took an x-ray and said my bowels were twisted and impacted with hard stool. He said take some milk of magnesia and call me in a few days if I am not better. I started the milk of magnesia that day and spent the entire weekend in severe pain with exploding diarrhea. I  also was  having pain on my right side. Sharp and stabbing.  I could not eat anything other than sprite or crackers all weekend. Sunday night I tried to eat a small meal  of bland food and immediately went into an attack on my right side. Felt like sharp stabbing pains. The pain shot through the front and back of me.

Monday morning I ate 2 small bites of food and went into another attack. I called my surgeon and got no response. I called my pcp and he sent me to ER. He said it sounded like I was passing a stone.   I went to ER waited 3 hours before a DR saw me.   The ER did labs and a ct with contrast on my  abdomen.  After 9 hours in ER I was told my test were all negative.  Diagnosis post op pain.

Tuesday I called my pcp and surgeon as instructed from ER Dr.  My pcp called in some donnatol for pain.  I called back on Wednesday to my pcp and said the meds were not working and I am getting worse. My pcp asked what my CT results were and I said I was told they were negative.  I get a call from my pcp 30 min later saying my CT was positive for common bile duct Dialation. I was shocked because I was told I was fine just having post op pains. I immediately emailed my surgeon and asked if he had read my CT?  I got a call back from my surgeon immediately and was sent to the hospital for an emergency STAT MRI.  

The impression reads - dilated  common bike duct is felt to be related to cholecystectomy. Negative for stones.

My surgeon called in some muscle relaxers and scheduled an appointment  to see me.

Symptoms. Sharp stabbing pain on right side  radiates to back and stomach  area  which comes and goes.  I can't eat without going into an atrack of sharp pain on my side.


My surgeon says this is not surgery related.


My question is , Is this normsl to have a dilated bile duct post op? What does all of this mean??? And how can I get the pain to stop? Do I need more surgery????   What causes these symptoms???  

What should I do next to get the pain to stop and  get well?? I really need some help!!!

If anyone has any ideas I really appreciate all  of your advice you could give me!!!

Thanks

7 Responses
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4217650 tn?1361135896
Helpful - 0
4217650 tn?1361135896
Dr Watters,

I am taking your advice and trying to get in with a gastroenterologist. I am very disappointed with my pre and post op care too. I sure hope a new Dr can help.  My pain is terrible and the constant bowel problems is making meisersble. This was my 3rd surgery in 10 months. I had a hysterectomy in November of  2011 and sinus surgery April of 2012.  My hysterectomy was quite painful but I saw small improvements every week. Other than getting my hooves balanced out  my hysterectomy was a great success. I did suffer from endmetreosis since I was a teenager. I wonder if I have adhesions in my bowels from that. I would think the CT w contrast would have found any blockages if there were any from scar tissue.  

My pcp sent a STAT referral to a gastro Dr today. Hopefully I  can get some help from a new Dr.

Thanks again for your time!! I just want to be normal and healthy again!!:)

Thanks again for your advice.
Helpful - 0
2827584 tn?1340579696
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I am not very impressed by your management pre or post op. It would probably be worth seeing a gastroenterologist for an opinion.
Helpful - 0
4217650 tn?1361135896
Dr Walters,

I did not have a HIDA scam that I know of. My only pre op test was an ultra sound which was negative for stones. The technition did say I had a lot of bile back up and thickened gall bladder lining.

I am able to eat now. Still having sharp stabbing pains after I eat and on and off through out the day. Also I am experiencing days of constipation  where nothing comes out. Then I will have a painful bowel movement and start having exploding diaharea.  I am also having gas pains and bubbling sounds iny abdomen. My episode of diaharea lasted almost 8 hours last night.

Today I have not had a bowel movement but am experiencing  terrible gas and it feels like I am going to have diaharea every time I run to the bathroom.  I'm really miserable right now and do not know what to do from this point.

Do any of my symptoms sound curable??? Should I seek out a gastro Dr??   Does this sound like the sphincter problem.

Quite honestly I feel like I was not tested enough pre op to determine ifs gall bladder needed removed. My labs and ultra sound pre op were all negative for gall bladder symptoms. I was told by three different doctors that my symptoms sounded like gall bladder but there was never any medical evidence of this other than my symptoms.

I am in worse shape now than I was pre op. what should I do??? Help please!!
Helpful - 0
2827584 tn?1340579696
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Nerve pain? It is common to see increased pain after cholecystectomy when sphincter of Oddi dysfunction is present. The dilation of the CBD would argue for this diagnosis, especially if no stones were present pre op. what were your HIDA results pre op? I am underwhelmed by the response of your physicians.
Helpful - 0
4217650 tn?1361135896
Dr Walters,

I was negative for stones pre op., my symptoms were pains in the center of my stomach. I never experienced any of the sharp pains on the right side like most gall bladder patients experience. I had all of the other symptoms except for the sharp side pain.

My Dr told me Friday he honestly did not know what was causing my post op problems. He said medically I was healthy . My MRI was negative for stones, tears or cuts, bile leakage and the clips were all in place. He said the dialation was normal. He felt my pain is nerve damage related and that I should feel better in 30 days or so.

He gave me muscle relaxers and pain pills and said to eat low fat.   Trying to be optimistic about his diagnosis of nerve pain.

Thank you for your opinion. I really appreciate your time.
Helpful - 0
2827584 tn?1340579696
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
First question - What was the indication for the cholecystectomy (stones or dyskinesia). It is very common for the common bile duct to enlarge somewhat over time following a cholecystectomy but this is asymptomatic. I am assuming that your liver function tests were normal in the ER. The possibilities would include a retained CBD stone that subsequently passed or sphincter of Oddi dysfunction which can actually get worse following removal of the gallbladder. I am extremely underwhelmed by the surgeon's response. I would think that he would take he lead on this. You may require consultation with a gastroenterologist with biliary expertise.
Helpful - 0

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