So frustrated after gallbladder surgery

[TwEeTyblrDle]

In Sept '04 I was admitted to the hospital for emergency gallbladder surgery (laparoscopic), while there I became congested and started coughing.  The morning of surgery they took an x-ray to make sure I was able to undergo the surgery even though I wasn't feeling well and even gave me extra medicine to dry me up.  I went home the next night and within two weeks my whole life turned 180 degrees for the worst.  I felt like I had the flu, was coughing, was exhausted and slept a lot, on my post-op visit I told the doctor I didn't feel great and had extremely loose stools, he said it was normal and it'd improve over time.  By December '04 my heart was skipping beats and having triple beats, I went to the ER and had to undergo a stress test and 24-hr heart monitor.  I had to be put on a heart medicine to keep my palpitations under control.  By the spring of '05 I was having such horrendous stomach pains that I was throwing up after eating and doubling over in a fetal position that I was sent to a gastroenterologist who put me through gastric emptying scans, small bowel follow throughs, endoscopies, telling me I had gastroparesis.  My weight suddenly dropped and then went back up without explanation, I began having neurological issues and was sent to a neurologist who tested me twice for MS based on reflex tests (I was diagnosed with parasthesia, a bad case of fibromyalgia, migraines).  My blood counts continued to show an infection somewhere but noone could find where it was, my B12 dropped to the point where I had to begin giving myself weekly injections (I'm now on a daily oral supplement), my thyroid count went high and I began showing signs of hypothyroidism, being put on synthroid to combat brain fog, skin and hair problems, fatigue.  I was then sent to a rheumatologist for the pain all over, I was given shots in my knees, hip, put on medication to try to get my fibromyalgia under control.  I am in constant pain, I am tired all the time, my stomach hurts every day, I have not been the same since my surgery.  More than one doctor has wondered if I got some kind of virus around my surgery and it has attacked my immune system, others have no clue and have said they talk about me behind closed doors with other doors to try to figure it out (my surgery was done at another local hospital, I have recently asked for a copy of my emergency room and all medical records).  I can't work, I'm still seeing doctors, my recently white cell count was down to 2.8 and if it's still low in another few weeks they're going to send me to a hematologist (yet ANOTHER specialist).

I guess I'm wondering if anyone else has ever had these kind of problems after gallbladder surgery and if they have, what is the reason?  I never considered the possibility that something went wrong while I was in the hospital until I recently spoke to a disability attorney about filing for back pay from 2004, she was shocked at everything I've been through.  I feel so helpless and alone, any advice or information anyone can pass on would be greatly appreciated.

[shurely]

I too have alot of the symptoms you're describing. Had my GB removed Sept. 07 but continue to have the terrible abdominal pains at times. I never know when I'll have an 'attack' because its not related to food. I have no nausea or diarrhea. It almost always happens in the late evening and lasts from 2 to 6 hrs. Levbid helps but the side effects are terrible. I thought that I was the only one! People do tend to think that after the surgery we should be well and happy. Don't I Wish!

[britt8907]

I am going through similar situations after my surgery; however, I think the only reason I haven't really worried about the pains and everything are because one: my surgery was just a little over a month ago, and because my mother has had her gallbladder removed as well (I'm 18, as was she at the time) and although different ways of removal, the symptoms are the same.

It seemed that soon after I was off of the painkillers, everything started happening at once. My follow up with my surgeon was done before getting off of the painkillers, so of course everything seemed fine, but now, some days, I feel as if it's more trouble with it gone. I cannot go back to my surgeon seeing as I am in college and over 1600 miles away from him, and my insurance doesn't work here. The fact of being in college also makes it hard to see if a certain diet would help relieve some of this pain since, again, college student with little choice of what to eat.

I really cannot offer any advice as to how to get rid of the pains, or how to figure them out, but I can say that I understand completely. I also have people who think that it's "all in my head" but, really...this stuff can't be imagined by so many people and yet have no explanation for it.

~Best wishes and hopefully there's an answer out there somewhere.

[TwEeTyblrDle]

Thanks for the suggestion, unfortunately I've been through all of that testing already.  I've been tested for celiac, diabetes (thinking that's why I had gastroparesis and neuropathy type symptoms), etc.  I've had biopsies, fecal antibody tests, so much bloodwork done that I'm surprised I have blood left.  My last gastric emptying scan even showed improvement although the pain in my stomach hits up to four hours after I eat, it used to hit within an hour.  I used to take the pill that Jaimasand takes but that slows your stomach down, now I'm on Reglan to try to speed it up.  The pain is unbelievable, like nothing I've felt before.  I guess my concern is everything that has cropped up as a result of my surgery, I was never sick beforehand.  I now can't work, I am in constant pain, the list keeps growing as to things going wrong with me, it just doesn't make any sense.

[jaimasand]

Hi ,

I am going through same hell like situation .
I got operated in May 2007 under contradictory circumstances as both my MRCP and HIDA Scan showed normal results , but RUQ pain was always there ,exactly like Gall Bladder .Even the Endoscopy was normal .

So after surgery they said , there was thick Sludge / Adhesions .

But the pain returned .I get spasms at regular intervals which get relieved with Buscopan
then i used a Lanzoprazole Tablet in Morning .There is sudden increase of Heart Beat especially during Bowel Movements .

I have recently done CT Scan 2 times , and MRCP also ,and nothing is coming out .
I already feel overdiagnised and over radiated .

I was told Lap Cholecystomy is a simple surgery , but i think for some the after effects
are like hell .Also there could be some other problem that caused Gall Bladder Dysfunction .

For me , passing each day is like a effort by itself .

My Family thinks i am Crazy .I told them ,one cannot imagine these kind of Pains .

Now even i feel i could have Allergy as i haven't lost much weight and my appetite is still
good , problem starts 30-40 min after food .

Even i am searching for answers .

[CalGal]

Many of your symptoms could be related to gluten problems. Brain fog, MS-like symptoms, fatigue, B12 problems, joint pain, stomach pain, etc. Consider having a fecal antibody test for celiac done along with genetic testing. Enterolab is one place it can be done, but I believe other labs also have the ability to do it now. Docs feel a blood test or biopsy of the duodenum (the gold standard) is the best way to go, but it misses many people with celiac problems.

It's worth a try.

You could also try a gluten-free diet for a period of several weeks to see if it makes a change. You'd have to take wheat, rye and barley out of your diet. Sounds hard to do but if you feel better it will seem like a small price to pay, and there are decent subsitutes on the market for a lot of things you use everyday.

If you don't want to try an exclusion diet, at least get the doc to do the genetic testing to see if you carry the gene or have a genetic propensity for celiac. And if you do carry the gene or have the propensity, no matter what anyone says, go on an exclusion diet and see if it helps.