what are the chances of having appendicitis after gall bladder surgery?

[Lisa201]

I have had my gallbladder removed lapo 2 weeks ago… I’m NOW expercing this sharp pain on my right lower abdominal area by my belly button, what are my chances of having appendicitis after gall bladder surgery? I want to avoid the ER, doctors and GI’s I went through so many test and so many trips to the ER during the period of 3 months to finally find out my gall bladder was only functioning at 1.3% mean while my liver enzymes were elevated for about 8 months and so I had a liver biopsy done while gall bladder was removed, pathology test results show slight inflammation to liver so I must repeat blood test within 3 weeks. I’m not sure if this pain I now have may be gas or my appendix???

[MikeKl31]

I am doing a little research on gallbladder removal &  appendicitis association.  Except for a couple of articles not much so far.  Both that I did find indicated a fairly high frequency of  appendicitis within 18 months of gallbladder removal.  Hopefully,  they are wrong, I have about 6 months to go.

[grannydi]

You don't say that you've had a post operative checkup since the gallbladder lap.  You should get medical advice.  Could be related to the surgery.  Don't ignore.

[CalGal]

Please call your doc and request to be seen and perhaps to have some liver and pancreatic enzyme level tests done. The location of the pain can be a bit 'tricky' but in some who have had gallbladder issues that resulted in irritation to the common bile duct, postcholecystectomy problems could be related to that irritation.

[Morecambe]

I'm not a doctor but I would have thought that the "misbehaviour" of the appendix (which is attached to the colon) is quite independent of the gall bladder.

If you do have appendicitis (especially acute appendicitis) then if this is untreated there is a chance that the appendix will rupture causing peritonitis which is dangerous and can be life threatening.

I suggest that you go quickly to your Emergency/accident department and ask them either to rule out appendicitis - or else confirm it and carry out the necessary operation.

Good luck
Morecambe