Clips left after surgery

[BVIT]

I had gall bladder surgery 13 years ago. Recently I have been experiencing severe pain in my lower right back. After a visit to my internist to check out the problem he noticed I was extremely sensitive in the rib area so  I was sent  for x-rays of my ribs. I was informed that I have surgical clips in my rib area which is most likely the cause of my pain. He immediately asked me if I ever had gall bladder surgery. I find it insane that I was never told about these clips when I had the surgery. Is this normal and do they need to be removed?

[brcancersurvivor]

I had breast cancer and found out there were surgical clips when the X-Ray tech (goofed) and told me there was something there and he didn't know what they were.  (new guy - thankfully).  
My surgeon said they were there to mark where the surgery was (like the scar tissue wouldn't be enough?)  I am having pains - sometimes it really hurts and I have to deep breathe thru it - noticed it hurts when it's cold outside too. Personally I would like to get them out but not sure what they would decide to put in next. ???
9 yr cancer survivor - now I'm dealing with the pain of the surgical clips.

[JennMi2]

Yes, this is totally normal. They shouldn't be causing you any pain.

[Ramseyh]

I JUST HAD AN X RAY DONE DUE TO LOWER BACK PAIN THAT THE CHIROPRACTOR ORDERED. DURING THE X RAYTHE TECH ASKED IF I HAD MY GALLBLADDER OUT & I ANSWERED YES. I WAS A LITTLE PUZZLED WHY THEY WOULD ASK ME THAT. WELL ON THE X RAY REPORT IT WAS NOTED SURGICAL CLIPS IN PELVIS. THIS WAS A SURGERY 13 YEARS AGO AND I WAS UNAWARE OF THIS AND THE SURGEON THAT PERFORMED MY SURGERY NEVER MADE ME AWARE OF THIS. I HAVE HAD PAIN FOR YEARS THAT MY DOCTORS KEEP SAYING IS ADHESIONS. ARE THESE SUPPOSE TO BE THERE? COULD THIS COULD BE CAUSING ALL THE PAIN OVER YEARS? VERY WORRIED AND HOPING TO GET ANSWERS.

[Kitkat9989]

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[Lauriesteve1427]

Thank you for this comment! I have been trying to get my insurance to cover the Melisa test... but they insist on needing a code number to see if they cover it. Do you know of a code number??

[twile]

Yes all the time right where the clip is

[horrigan]

Discovered after several procedures that I have a dropped clip(s) from gallbladder surgery 24 yrs. ago. I was not told that these were used, now I have these clips floating around in my body, furious. What is wrong with the medical community when these foreign objects are being used and the patient is not told, where are our rights to know? Now I'll need another surgery to remove clips,most likely, after extreme pain & other unnecessary procedures to find out what the problem is.

[bythelake]

I just found out after having back xrays that I have several clips left after my gallbladder surgery 33 years ago. I had no idea they were there. My Dr. asked me if they had trouble with my surgery since he stopped counting the clips after 10! I'm furious I didn't know. Does this explain stabbing pains that I've had over the years?

[Heartzones]

I only found out today that I have clips present from gall bladder surgery 14+ years ago. An ex ray from a recent fall revealed them ...I had no idea ..but it does explain why sometimes I have symptoms of gall bladder attacks now and again. I sometimes experience a twisting type of pain as if something inside is starting to knot up like a leg cramp....I slow down my breathing and I can actually feel it release ...weird! Will keep a record of what is happening from now on.

[Kaylasmama1022]

I have the exact same pain! As if I'm still having GB attacks and I got mine taken out this past January. I am mortified that they have to leave the clips in instead of replacing them with something safer. You'd think with today's technology that, that WOULD be possible. I am worried that I have some sort of infection from the clips because I've been feeling really sick and weak since about two months after my surgery. I can't even play with my 9 month old daughter more then 5 minutes before I feel like I am going to pass out or faint. So I'm mentioning it to our family doctor at her 9 month check up.

[Tlheal]

I have had the same pains on & off for years. Recently my Dr thought I might have a rib out of place. X-rays came back saying they found multiple medical clips. I did not know this & was shocked!! I have multiple health issues. Have had MRIs, CT’s, CTA’s, X-rays, & nobody has ever told me I had medical clips left in me.  I can’t even be sure as to which surgery they did this??!!??  I’ve had my gall bladder removed, appendix removed, hysterectomy, Breast cancer Dbl mastectomy. Radiation on that side. Muscle flap surgery.  The pain I have had been excruciating at times. I too feel my rib get caught and breaks loose.  I feel a jabbing pain at times. Pain like I felt with gall bladder.  
I think it’s WAY wrong to leave things in you without letting you know.
I feel I need to go back & get my reports for quite some years to try to figure out which Dr did this to me!!!

[FireWife11]

Did your doctor remove the clips? My mom has clips causing debilitating pain and has been to over 15 doctors who will do nothing.

[Perplexed59]

I don't know that I would want the same surgeon that left the clips in to take them out. I am in a similar situation.  Approximately 2 years ago I had two abdominal surgeries, one to remove my ovaries and another for a colon resection.  I have had pain, weird sensations in my abdomen, and digestional problems since then which have greatly affected my daily living. I just recently found out surgical clips were left in my abdomen.  The strange thing is my internist did not think it was important enough to let me know.  I found out by requesting my hospital records.  Many tests have been done since my surgeries.  My internist tells me he cannot find anything medically that could be causing my problems.  If the clips turn out to be my problem, the news is not going to go over very well, but I will be thrilled to have found the problem, have the clips removed, and be able to go on normally with my life.  Good Luck!

[terriway]

i had my gallbladder removed 13 yrs ago.. ive had pain in my low back on the left side.. an xray showed i have a surgical clip from my surgery that has came loose and is in my pevis area.. i need to have it removed but i have no insurance but im hopeing the doctor that did the surgery would have to take it out.. what do you think?

[Chablis75]

I  jsut found out yesterday by reading my xray report ont he way to another Dept int he hospital for some tests that i have Surgical clips from my Gall Bladder surgery 23 years ago. WTH?? no has ever said this to me. I have had multiple chest xrays etc. i did notice about 6 months ago a twingy pinchy pain  wonder if this could be it?? I will ask my Dr when i go back for results in a few days.  Why did no one ever tell me this?

[Leenancy]

I had Gall Bladder surgery 5 yrs ago and did not not  Metal chips in my body I have X-ray  September 1 and and my  Family doctor did not tell me about this he sent me to a  Doctor in Lexington for a MRI and I got a call from them and ask me about it I said no and she said I do and ask if I had a MRI I said yes  last year  and she said did he catch your stomach I'm  fire  it scared me  I said no  but it may have done something and I just don't know it  what do I do

[canuck512]

Has anyone ever felt a twinge in the area where the gallbladder was removed?  It is similar to touching a filling with aluminum foil.  I get these on a regular basis and wondered if it is normal.  

[hopefull10]

I had my gall bladder removed in May and I believe they leave the titanium clips in with no ill effects. That is my experience anyway.
    Hope you soon feel better.

[CalGal]

If you check the following article that is found in 'Inside Surgery' you'll find that clips are routinely used to seal off the cystic duct and some blood vessels during lap. cholecystectomy. The clips stay in the body after the surgery. Typically, the body will 'wall off' the clips with an overgrowth of connective tissue.

If you're experiencing pain similar to that found in the place the gallbladder formerly was it may be due to the presence of problems within the biliary tract, or to the presence of stones or sludge. They can form even without the GB being present. Many individuals experience continuing 'GB' issues long after the GB was removed.

[TT79]

They are suppose to be removed, I am shocked it took this long to affect you.