HELP! Many questions after GB surgery and still having pain and lump on right side. - Digestive Disorders Message Board

katkatdd · 05-01-2007, 12:10 PM

Well my story is long and complicated but I will try to condense it here as much as I can.

I had GB removed Dec 21st. Thought it would take all the problems away. NOPE has made nothing better.
My symptoms are many but the main ones that still bother me are as follows:

1. Severe bloating top part of stomach
2. Pain on right side
3. Lump right underneath right side rib cage
4. Body aches ( pain in folds of arms, right leg, and lower back and neck)
5. Chest pain
6. Elevated liver enzymes (only sometimes when they do bloodwork)

What concerns me most is this pain still on my right side with this lump feeling on that side as well. When the surgeon removed GB he also found extensive adhesions that were also removed. Now I am wondering if maybe there are still adhesions as they were located on the transverse colon and omentum. I also get this very strange sensation almost feels like a palpitation coming from middle of chest or sternum/stomach area. Very hard to explain. It comes on really quickly and goes away just as fast. Or it almost feels like something being strangled or tightened for just a split second and it makes my heart speed up a bit and then it is gone?? Strange!

But this lump that is on right side hurts everyday all day. Also when he removed GB he punctured a hole in it with bile leakage. I had TON Of stones also. And it was also noted oin the paperwork that the cystic duct was close to the GB or something like that???

So anyways any info from anyone that has been thru the same thing or close to it would GREATLY be appreciated!!!! I can't take this anymore and am getting no answers from my dr's. My body also aches daily. So wondering if maybe when he punctured hole that stones got loose or if I have more adhesions. Although it says they ran fluid thru me after GB was removed??

THANK YOU!!

deebopalula · 05-01-2007, 08:25 PM

I actually came to this board because I am going through the exact same thing.

I had my gall bladder out 11/05 and for the 1st 3 or 4 months, I felt GREAT! I only had pain/bloating "episodes" when I ate certain foods, and I simply avoided them.

Then came the day where i went back to feeling like i felt before the surgery-and sometimes even worse!!!! The PAIN in unbearable and I can't seem to find a Dr that can figure out why. I've had 3 cat scans, an MRI, an upper endoscopy and a colonoscopy (since February this year) and all the tests they've taken have come back fine...I'm convinced that it has something to do with my gallbladder removal or something around that area. I've been to the ER so many times that they're beginning to think that I should be admitted to the psych ward! lol

I'm in such pain every day-everytime I eat.

I hope you can figure out what is wrong with you...I totally feel for you!

katkatdd · 05-02-2007, 10:53 AM

Geez. U have been thru allot also. Isn't it amazing how so many people can be suffering from basically the same sort of symptoms but no dr can figure out what is going on?? It is VERY FRUSTRATING to say the least. And I totally relate to the ER situation also. Lol. After awhile they just look at u like we are crazy or something. I have had dr's tell me everything from well u will just have to learn to LIVE WITH THE PAIN, to I am depressed, to I have anxiety, etc, etc. Lol.

The last dr I just saw said maybe it is a hernia on that right side and now has referred me to another surgeon. So we shall see what it turns up. But the only time I am not in pain is when I am asleep.

What concerns me also is the chest pain that is constant as well. At times it feels more like pressure and it goes thru to my back. I have had all the cardiac work done. Even had a bubble study test done where they inject fluid into veins and watch it on ultrasound to see how it flows thru veins. They always so no problem with heart. But u know when u have any pain in chest area it is always concerning. I also get numbness thru arms, left, and thru to hand. ANd they say that is sure sign for cardiac. Also very frustrating...

But everytime I have EKG done as well they say no problems. I guess it is probably just stomach related as well.

Well I hope u also get some relief and find some answers soon as well. U have been thru allot of testings also since Feb! Yikes.

cheer up · 05-03-2007, 03:41 PM

Gallbladder removal is not the cake-walk end to all our problems they tell us it will be. Nearly every person I know who's had it removed has had complaints at least on occasion. Even the experts acknowledge that removing the GB in many people does not "cure" them.

I had mine out three years ago due to several attacks and a pile of sludgy stones and for the most part have been pretty good, but there are exceptions to feeling good.

You really need to watch what you eat; if you slip up much, at least in the first years, you may be very sorry (pain, digestive issues, etc.)

Just hope your symptoms ease quickly and you don't need more surgeries like some people who, even years later, are having Sphincter of Oddi surgery and other peculiar sounding procedures.

I've had my share of post-surgical pain and still do but no one is ever sure if it's related to the surgery or not. Ain't we got fun!