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Severe Decline in health following gall bladder removal
My medical history is quite brief.
I have always been in excellent health, with the single exception of surgery for the removal of my appendix at age 18 (June1968).
I have always been energetic, with a good work ethic and generally had a healthy diet.
I have a natural affinity to healthy eating, although I admit to a burger or pizza once a week or so.
Otherwise, my food intake is generally low fat, consisting of seafood, skinless chicken and fresh vegetables.
My biggest failure was a lifetime of smoking cigarettes. I made several attempts to quit, and overcame the physical cravings easily. However stress always triggers a return to the habit, and as my life has always been filled with stress, I have continually failed. Currently and for the past year, I have managed to limit my intake to three or four per day.
My alcohol intake I would regard as moderate. I drink two glasses of wine (totalling about 350cc) each evening with dinner. About four or five times a year, I have “two inches” of Scotch Whiskey.
My only other difficulty began around 1984 when I began to suffer panic attacks.
They occasionally resulted in fainting followed by vomiting. While the severity and regularity has
diminished, I still suffer from time to time and am reluctant to attend meetings or gatherings unless I am close to a door leading directly outdoors.
In August 2007 I was going about my normal day, when I began to suffer a bad case of heartburn.
Over the course of the day, despite taking doses of Gaviscon, the problem became extremely severe,
and about midnight I collapsed. I was taken to the emergency department of the local hospital and over the next two days, various tests and scans eventually revealed that my gall bladder had ruptured.
I was given various medications and scheduled for surgery to remove the gall bladder. It could not be done by Laparoscopy, and was performed as open surgery. This took place in December 2007.
I appeared to recover until in February 2008, I was readmitted to hospital with a pneumothorax.
I recovered from this in about two weeks.
Since then until now, my health appear to have continually gone “downhill”, the problems seeming to centre on my digestive system, but with significant side effects.
My bowel movements are irregular, and I am often constipated. I use Pu Erh green tea to help this condition. It is not always effective. Even high fibre foods sometimes do not respond.
I feel ‘pressure’ in my bowels and sometimes moderate pain for short periods.
My energy levels are non existent and my breathing is very poor. I can walk only very short distances
without stopping for breath. Both late at night and on rising in the morning, my breathing is very bad.
I use a Ventolin inhaler, but restrict myself to one dose at bedtime, so as not to become dependent on it.
I find it difficult to stand upright without reaching for some supporting structure, a table, chair, wall etc.
I am unable to sleep in any position other than on my left side.
Although I have access to exercise equipment, I am unable to use it due to such low energy levels.
As a result, I get no exercise whatsoever.
I become unable to breathe if I attempt to sit back in an armchair, and must remain leaning forward with my elbows on my knees for support.
Sitting upright at a dining table or desk is uncomfortable without using the table surface for support.
Without that support I feel a “weakness” in the chest muscles.
On rising most mornings, I suffer severe nasal discharge. It is always thin and colourless, but lasts for up to two hours. It also happens before and during a bowel movement.
Breathing also becomes particularly difficult before a bowel movement and is usually (but not always) relieved after.
I intend to seek investigation and treatment here in Ireland, but the state and standards of our health system are so bad, that I am making my enquiry to you, so that I have other opinions that I can discuss, to ensure the best outcome.
Please feel free to ask for any further information you may require.
Very many thanks for your help.
Kindest wishes
Jim
I have always been in excellent health, with the single exception of surgery for the removal of my appendix at age 18 (June1968).
I have always been energetic, with a good work ethic and generally had a healthy diet.
I have a natural affinity to healthy eating, although I admit to a burger or pizza once a week or so.
Otherwise, my food intake is generally low fat, consisting of seafood, skinless chicken and fresh vegetables.
My biggest failure was a lifetime of smoking cigarettes. I made several attempts to quit, and overcame the physical cravings easily. However stress always triggers a return to the habit, and as my life has always been filled with stress, I have continually failed. Currently and for the past year, I have managed to limit my intake to three or four per day.
My alcohol intake I would regard as moderate. I drink two glasses of wine (totalling about 350cc) each evening with dinner. About four or five times a year, I have “two inches” of Scotch Whiskey.
My only other difficulty began around 1984 when I began to suffer panic attacks.
They occasionally resulted in fainting followed by vomiting. While the severity and regularity has
diminished, I still suffer from time to time and am reluctant to attend meetings or gatherings unless I am close to a door leading directly outdoors.
In August 2007 I was going about my normal day, when I began to suffer a bad case of heartburn.
Over the course of the day, despite taking doses of Gaviscon, the problem became extremely severe,
and about midnight I collapsed. I was taken to the emergency department of the local hospital and over the next two days, various tests and scans eventually revealed that my gall bladder had ruptured.
I was given various medications and scheduled for surgery to remove the gall bladder. It could not be done by Laparoscopy, and was performed as open surgery. This took place in December 2007.
I appeared to recover until in February 2008, I was readmitted to hospital with a pneumothorax.
I recovered from this in about two weeks.
Since then until now, my health appear to have continually gone “downhill”, the problems seeming to centre on my digestive system, but with significant side effects.
My bowel movements are irregular, and I am often constipated. I use Pu Erh green tea to help this condition. It is not always effective. Even high fibre foods sometimes do not respond.
I feel ‘pressure’ in my bowels and sometimes moderate pain for short periods.
My energy levels are non existent and my breathing is very poor. I can walk only very short distances
without stopping for breath. Both late at night and on rising in the morning, my breathing is very bad.
I use a Ventolin inhaler, but restrict myself to one dose at bedtime, so as not to become dependent on it.
I find it difficult to stand upright without reaching for some supporting structure, a table, chair, wall etc.
I am unable to sleep in any position other than on my left side.
Although I have access to exercise equipment, I am unable to use it due to such low energy levels.
As a result, I get no exercise whatsoever.
I become unable to breathe if I attempt to sit back in an armchair, and must remain leaning forward with my elbows on my knees for support.
Sitting upright at a dining table or desk is uncomfortable without using the table surface for support.
Without that support I feel a “weakness” in the chest muscles.
On rising most mornings, I suffer severe nasal discharge. It is always thin and colourless, but lasts for up to two hours. It also happens before and during a bowel movement.
Breathing also becomes particularly difficult before a bowel movement and is usually (but not always) relieved after.
I intend to seek investigation and treatment here in Ireland, but the state and standards of our health system are so bad, that I am making my enquiry to you, so that I have other opinions that I can discuss, to ensure the best outcome.
Please feel free to ask for any further information you may require.
Very many thanks for your help.
Kindest wishes
Jim
Hi there!
Many thanks for taking the time to reply to me!
No, I'm not on any meds as yet, except Ventolin.
After my gall bladder surgery, things didn't improve.
It took me about two years to work up the courage to investigate!
When I did, I returned to the hospital and consulted a gastro doctor there.
He dismissed the idea that there was a connecion between my poor breathing and my bowel problems. Strange, given that asthma is a symptom of GERD!
However, he scheduled me for a full blood workup and an MRI scan.
That was 2009 - I'm still waiting f or the MRI!!!
I admit I should have pushed them harder to hurry it along, but I suffer badly from panic attacks and kept putting it off.
However, you're quite right, it's no good leaving things.
I'm going to use the paid service on this site to get an opinion from the Gastric specialists and go to my doctor with a second opinion in my pocket!
I guess any ordeal in the process of getting better, is preferable to sitting around just getting worse!
Hope things get better for you too! Be well my friend!
Thanks again for responding.
Kind wishes
Jim
Many thanks for taking the time to reply to me!
No, I'm not on any meds as yet, except Ventolin.
After my gall bladder surgery, things didn't improve.
It took me about two years to work up the courage to investigate!
When I did, I returned to the hospital and consulted a gastro doctor there.
He dismissed the idea that there was a connecion between my poor breathing and my bowel problems. Strange, given that asthma is a symptom of GERD!
However, he scheduled me for a full blood workup and an MRI scan.
That was 2009 - I'm still waiting f or the MRI!!!
I admit I should have pushed them harder to hurry it along, but I suffer badly from panic attacks and kept putting it off.
However, you're quite right, it's no good leaving things.
I'm going to use the paid service on this site to get an opinion from the Gastric specialists and go to my doctor with a second opinion in my pocket!
I guess any ordeal in the process of getting better, is preferable to sitting around just getting worse!
Hope things get better for you too! Be well my friend!
Thanks again for responding.
Kind wishes
Jim
Hi Jim Im sorry to hear of all your health problems. Ive had my gallbladder out too. I have asthma and only used to be bothered by that and the odd chest infection,now I have gastritis which gives me awful pain and a hiatus hernia. I have acid reflux and am really suffering. Im fed up of all the medication and it doesn't help. Are you on any medications? Anyway you really need to get some help,a thorough assesment with your doctor or hospital. Ive had more than my fair share. I go for a asthma review and blow into a peak flow meter which shows my breathing rate. Its quite low so I need a steroid inhaler. Ive just been put on a pink one which is like Ventolin and a steroid together. What you need to do is to take them regularly each day to control breathing problems otherwise they flare up. Firstly then you need to see a doctor about your breathing,get a peak flow done. Your bowel problems could be IBS so mention that. You may get some tests. Its the only way to know and get some meds. Its no good leaving things is it?
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