nausea after cholecystectomy

[ali516]

I am 7 weeks post cholecystectomy and still have pain and nausea.  I take Ambien at night and it stops the nausea, so sometimes I take half a tab in the daytime, but would like to find something else.  Zofram does not help.


This discussion is related to continuing nausea after cholecystectomy?.

[CalGal]

She's certainly got the credentials and she's taken a number of courses including the 'newer' ones, so she's kept up on what's going on. Please let us know if she's able to help. Good luck.

[ali516]

Once again thanks for the info.  I have found that massaging my abdomen right below my ribs and then rubbing all around my abdomen makes the pain decrease.  So this sounds like a good track to follow.      I googled "visceral manipulation" in my area and came up with someone who has taken many courses including advanced vm :

Shoshana Pinto Ringel DDS,M.S.Acup   

Sedona, Arizona 86351-7764 USA
Tel: [phone]

Profile: none


Brain Curriculum

CranioSacral Therapy

Lymph Drainage Therapy

Nervous System

Visceral Manipulation

Classes: LRP (20025) ADV  AVM  AVMII  CACP  CSI  CSI  CSII  CSII  CSP  EXT-C  HCT1  HCT1  HCT2  IAA5  IAB5  LDA1  LDA1  LDB1  LDB2  LDT1  LDT1  LDT2  LDT3  NS4  NVS  PIVM  SERI  SERII  SYMJP  TLDT1  VMIA  VMIB  VMII  VTW  VTW2

I will call her tomorrow and set up a consult to see if this will help.

[CalGal]

Other than the other drugs that have the essentially the same mechanism which I previously mentioned, I'm not sure what to suggest as far as meds - sorry about that. But I hope the company will get back to you with some suggestions.

The only other thought I have is one that some people might consider a bit 'far out,' but it does work for some (intrepid individuals). It's a form of visceral manipulation that can help in those with pre and post GB problems depending upon what's actually going on. And it's like everything else, works for some but may not help others for whatever reason.

I've found from being around people with this condition that when the area of the sphincter of Oddi is gently pressed, it seems to ramp up the nausea 'signal.' In those who are worked on in a face-up lying position, gently pressing will cause them to say that they can 'feel that right up to my throat and I feel like I want to throw up.' Some trained manual therapists can gently stretch that area and it seems to down regulate the feeling and decrease the spasming of the duct.

I've mentioned it in a couple of posts, one with a gentleman who may or may not have GB problems, but to use it to possibly stop the problem before it starts. See: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/542609 if you're interested. But it can also be used after surgery.

[ali516]

Here it is two weeks later and I still have nausea and pain that only reslolves with Ambien and Zofram.  I went to see a gastroenterologist at Mayo Cliniic in Phoenix.  He was puzzled too about why the Ambien works, but told me to go ahead and take it if my pain and nausea was bad.  I am going back next week for an MRI  and have had a test for pancreatic cancer which he said was just a "rule out", not that he thought I had it. I also called the company that makes Ambien and spoke to someone there who deals with side effects.  She took my information and said she would look into it.  Haven't heard.  Any more thoughts or ideas about either what would help with the nause  or why the Ambien works?  Before all this problem I was the 70 year old high functioning mother of six who never got sick and had a pretty high pain threshold and a positive outlook on life.  I weigh 138 and live a good lifestyle--- don't drink, smoke or take other risks.  This has been a real bummer for me because I am usually pretty active and hate to think that this is my way of life from now on.

[ali516]

Thanks for responding.  I have contacted the doctor who is unsure what to do next.  I have tried Librax and Ativan too.  I had an ERCP done before the gallbladder was taken out.  No stones found, but some sludge and crystals.  The nausea is the worst since it seems to never go away.  No one knows why the Ambien stops the nausea, but it does in about 10 minutes.  I don't smoke, never drank alcohol and have never been dependent on any medications, and I sure don't want to be dependent on Ambien, so I hope to find something else that works.  I had a CT scan yesterday and maybe it will tell me something.  Thanks for any ideas you might have.

[CalGal]

You need to contact you doc and talk about the problem. There are some meds you can try for the nausea, but they're prescription.

If the pain is similar to what might be described as a 'gallbladder' attack, make sure the doc knows about it. If you had the presence of any stones or sludge when the GB was removed, make sure to ask if any of the stones/sludge could have escaped and entered the common bile duct. Stones/sludge can irritate the the duct and cause continuing pain, so that may need to be checked out.

In the meantime, you may want to follow a low fat diet. You may not be able to process fats the way you did prior to the surgery and it could take some time to adjust.