Gallbladder removed - 3 week mark - Gallbladder Message Board

cindyrose · 07-22-2007, 06:37 PM

Hello everyone!

I had my gallbladder removed on June 29. Everything went well with the surgery. What led to the removal was a severe gallstone attack, they did an ultrasound and found stones, had the surgery about 10 days later. (The waiting was brutal). I'm 31 yrs old, with no really major health problems, I have asthma but it only acts up a few times a year.

Anyway, so far my recovery has been so-so. Been dealing with diarrhea after meals, still have it but it seems to be getting better. I seem to have it more in the mornings though. I still have some pain, more like soreness, and in the evenings after I get home from work my back hurts.

I went to the doctor Friday and although I had been feeling fine, just dealing with the diarrhea, I went to my doc (general physician) because I started having a new thing happen. This weird spasm type thing around my pelvic area, it feels like a slight vibration or buzzing feeling. The feeling is very faint, and if I touch the area when the "buzzing" begins, it goes away. It happens if I'm sitting, standing, etc, but usually doesn't last long. My dr. was perplexed, wasn't sure what it could be, but said we'd keep an eye on it. He think it may be a nerve related thing. But that is the least of my worries, for now.

One thing the doctor did was take more blood work and a urine sample because since my surgery my liver enzymes have been elevated. When I told him about me still having some pain, I thought it was just soreness from my surgery, and bloating after eating, he said I may have some sludge or stones somewhere in my ducts.

That really scared me and I think it made me sick when I left his office. He said they may do a procedure where they put a scope down my throat and see what they find and remove anything if they have to, I forgot what he said it was called. Now I'm worried about that scope thing, will I be awake, what does it feel like?

I'm so nervous now, I was feeling ok before I found this out but now I seem to be nauseous all the time and my food feels like it is stuck in my throat after I eat. I don't even have an appetite anymore, and I was fine just a few days ago.

They did bloodwork on me Friday but never called me back with the results like they said they would, so we'll see what they say when I call them tomorrow.

Appreciate any advice, hopefully it will help me calm down. I dunno, maybe I'm making myself sick with worry.

gooby · 07-22-2007, 07:58 PM

first, relax.

the procedure is called ERCP. The pass a camera through your stomach and up the common duct to look for stones that may have left the gallbladder but not passed clear through the duct and were expelled. If they find stones, they blast them with laser to break them up so they can pass.

They sedate you. As a matter of fact, I fell asleep from the sedation. Woke up and didn;t even know what happened. They gave me pictures of what they found.

It does sound as if you are worrying yourself sick. STOP IT!!

Stones in the duct can block bile from entering the intestine which would cause diahrea since fats would not be digested due to lack of bile and they pass very quickly if this happens.

Even after everything is fixed, you will probably need to entertain a low fat diet for quite awhile. it took me a year or better to get back to normal as far as fat intake. It can cause extreme urgency (need to have a bowel movement) to the point of painful or even not making it to the restroom. Be forewarned. Always know where a restroom is. If you think you might have to have a bowel movement, start heading that direction, it will escalate very quickly.

Anyway, I am only a layperson but from what I understand (and from personal experience of stones in my common duct), the enzyme elevation is typical from a blocked duct. So can be a GREAT deal of pain.

The buzzing sensation sounds like nerves that are damaged and healing. I have had enough surgeries and basic cuts that have caused such damage and that sounds a lot like what I experienced as things healed.

So, relax. Wait for your appointment and just get this thing taken care of. It isn;t that big of a deal to go through. Doesn;t take long and as long as things go well (there is always a possiility of compications with just about ANY med procedure), you will not have any ill effects and should not even notice anything different other than you feel better if they do find stones and get rid of them.

cindyrose · 07-22-2007, 08:29 PM

gooby - Thanks so much for your response!

I think you are right, I am making myself sick.

Today was a better day, I cleaned up around the house to get my mind off of things, went to church, and being around people and not sitting at home and just worrying helped a lot. I was able to have some chicken with rice soup for dinner and didn't get any nausea after. Just felt my stomach churning a little after, but I am not in any pain or anything. Every now and then I get little pain spasms on my left and right side, but they are quick and go away.

I'm sticking to a low-fat diet and just hope the doc gets back to me quick with the results. Your description of the ERCP doesn't sound too scary, I think I can handle it. I'm just hoping that will take care of the problem. Hate to think that stones or sludge is inside of me. And I am even more terrified of having another stone attack, that is a horrible thing.

Thanks again, I am going to calm down and think positive thoughts for now.

marnb77 · 07-22-2007, 09:11 PM

cindyrose-
if you don't mind me asking.. do you get diarrhea ONLY after you eat, or do you have it consistently all day eating or not? The reason I ask is because I am 6 days post op and am getting diarrhea only after i eat. thanks.

cindyrose · 07-22-2007, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marnb77

cindyrose-
if you don't mind me asking.. do you get diarrhea ONLY after you eat, or do you have it consistently all day eating or not? The reason I ask is because I am 6 days post op and am getting diarrhea only after i eat. thanks.

Well my first week after the surgery I would get diarrhea after eating too, like clockwork after every meal.

Now I only get it in the morning and evening it seems.