cheer up

I'm sorry to hear of your post-gall bladder surgery troubles. It is stories like yours that have kept me from the gall bladder removal I am told I should have although I had only one "major" stone-passing pain attack and it was six months ago. I have certainly had minor pains and upsets since, but nothing like that one hours' long attack.

From what I have read and heard (and I've heard and researched a LOT about this topic), what you experience now post-op is not at all uncommon. In fact, some 15-30% of people who have the GB removed have the "dumping syndrome" which means it takes a very long time and many experiments with various diets and drugs to get the system back to semi-normal and end the diarrhea episodes. Many doctors downplay the number of people who are still suffering after surgery. They try to tell us it is a small minority but I do not believe that, based on what I have heard from patients and learned through research.

Other people may also (or just) have phantom GB pains, other digestive pains, i.e., gas, GERD, etc. I have grilled two gastroenterologists and only one was honest enough to tell me that if people think all their aches and pains in the abdomen/ribs/upper back, and digestive upsets of every variety (most especially IBS) will be cured by gall bladder removal they are sadly disappointed later. Only rarely is a person free of all the above symptoms just from GB removal. This one GI doctor told me the little aches and pains I feel in the right upper quadrant are NOT of surgical significance and are not what doctors are concerned about.

The primary reason to remove the GB is to prevent further horrifying pain attacks from gallstones or sludge trying to pass through the system and getting caught in the various ducts. It is also important to keep inflammation/infection and/or pancreatitis from setting in, situations that would be obvious from extreme pain and fever. Those are the reasons for surgery -- GB removal will not stop all the other garden variety digestive complaints so many of us have during our lifetimes, especially as we age.

A lady named Katie G. frequently writes on this thread of her experiences with gall bladder removal. She may well see your message and respond, which you will no doubt find extremely helpful.

There are a number of things that can be done post-op to help return you to a "normal" life where digestion is concerned, involving diet and supplements. Do not be shy about returning to your gastroenterologist and being persistent in asking for help. If none is offered, find another doctor, don't hesitate. The surgeon is pretty much out of the picture; he has done his surgical job and now it's up to the gastro docs.

I suspect I, too, will eventually have the gall bladder removed, but for the moment I am trying to stave off another attack via low(er) fat diet and weight loss. I'd call it a modified South Beach diet. I have lost over 20 pounds from this exercise, and my internist is all for it. She says "you should probably have the GB removed eventually, but there is no urgency at this time."

The two gastroenterologists and surgeon I consulted wanted to do it NOW. I work with an RN who is also an attorney. This woman is married to a retired physician/surgeon. When I told her I was considering surgery she said "Why?" You're not really sick -- you've had just one attack in six months. She said "of course the GI docs and surgeon recommend surgery now. That's their JOB!"

I am not hard line anti-surgery by any means, but see no need to risk the possibility of the "dumping syndrome" and phantom pains, etc., that so many suffer any sooner than absolutely necessary.

Good luck with your continuing post-op saga. I hope you get the help you need (and get the help soon) so you can return to your previous state of well-being. Best wishes to you -- I believe the answers to your troubles are out there and I hope you hear from Katie G. or others here who have been through what you are going through now.