New pains in chest/stomach 6 weeks post-op gallbladder surgery

[fear of surgery]

Has anyone experienced sharp pains in stomach/chest when belching (sorry!) particularly after their gall bladder was removed? Don't know whether this is "GERD" or just gas or what.

If I didn't know better, I'd say it was cardiac but it is so obviously related to belching. Boy, is it painful!

Does anybody have any advice re what to take for this? Is any old antacid like Tums or Rolaids okay? I was one of the lucky ones who rarely ever had upper indigestion/heartburn before surgery so this is all new. Thanks!

[Katie G]

Hi there - I get severe chest pain when I have to belch and I have great difficulty belching since fundoplication surgery. So if your pains subside after burping, then I would guess they are gas related. Try Gas-X instead which helps neutralize air/gas causing your pain. Tums, etc. are more for actual stomach acid neutralization. See your doctor if the pains continue - you could have GERD which can become serious if left untreated.

Katie G

[fear of surgery]

Hi Katie --

Thank you, I will try the Gas-X as you recommend. It will be good to have it on hand. Gas has always been an annoyance to me but rarely before in the upper tract. I understand, however, that it may be more common now (belching) with the gall bladder gone and so many changes to deal with in that area of the digestive system.

GERD sounds like another party we'd all prefer to miss!

Hope you are feeling good; your post-chole relief (finally) of bowel problems thanks to the additives like Colestid/Questran helped me make the decision to have the surgery after all. I'd heard so many post-chole horror stories and until reading your reports thought there was nothing one could do about the problem. It hasn't happened (yet) but could start up at any time so it's good to know how to handle it and not have life disrupted greatly.

Take care!

[farscape66]

Can you tell us how the day of your actual surgery went? I'm gathering information before I take the plunge myself.

[fear of surgery]

Hey farscape, I answered you (re surgery day) even before you asked for details!

You'll be fine -- and will be laughing at yourself for hesitating so long.

And thanks for the info on the "belching." Gall bladder surgery won't cure that, but two seconds of pains are far better than many HOURS of debilitating agony and ruined plans.