Hello everyone,
I’m new on here and I’m looking for information regarding bile duct injuries. I’ve been diagnosed with a right bile duct injury a few months back. Maybe I’m not the only one in that case and some of you will be able to give me answers.
Last September (2019) I had my gallbladder removed after suffering from it for nearly 2 months and loosing 11kg. Doctors couldn’t find any stones on the scans but due to my symptoms they had no doubt the gallbladder needed to be removed. I had a laparoscopic cholecystectomy the next day and from there my life became hell. I woke up feeling terrible, with extreme pain & nauseas. I was still discharged from the hospital 2 days later despite feeling terrible & resembling a zombie. The day after, I was back to the ER because I couldn’t even stand, walk or sit. I was unable to drink or eat and was in extreme pain. I was hospitalized for over a week after that. The MRI showed that there was something wrong with my right bile duct. They thought I had a stenosis at first. In December of that same year I had an ERCP and they’ve tried putting me a Stent but it was a failure and couldn’t be done. I was then transfered to an hepatologist surgeon in a specialized center for rare and complicated hepatic problems. In January of 2020 I received my final diagnosis. The surgeon who removed my gallbladder back in September had cut open my right bile duct either by actually cutting it with its tools or by clipping it. I have lost a total of 26kg in less than 3 months.
Surgeons have told me that they do not wish to perform any reconstructive surgeries on me and would rather wait and hope for a natural recovery. One surgeon told me that he believes that the hepaticojejunostomy woldn’t work on me because it seems that I have an anatomic variation of my bile ducts. If a surgery was to be performed it would probably be a partial hepatectomy.
For now I am left alone dealing with the numerous and daily symtoms and feeling weak and unable to work and without understanding what that diagnosis truly means. Surgeons tell me that they can’t tell me when will the natural recovery will actually happen because each person is different. It could be months or years. I have CT scans and MRIs done every 3 to 4 months to check on the liver and if the natural healing process has begun or not. It hasn’t yet!
Are any of you in that same situation ? I can’t find any information regarding that healing option?
I am left wondering if my symptoms will ever disappear and if I’ll ever be able to get my old and normal life back ? I also wonder if that diagnosis has an impact on my life span? I wonder if I wouln’t be better with the partial hepatectomy done so that at least, I wouldn’t be bothered by my non-functioning digestive system anymore but then I don’t know. I don’t really have any information on the matter and my surgeons refuse to talk to me about the different surgery options.
If any of you is in the case of natural recovery or partial hepatectomy, I’m interesting in hearing your story. What’s your life like now ? What would be the risks and benefits for both options ?
My symptoms are the following : Nauseas, diarrheas, itching, extreme fatigue, feeling numb & desoriented after even just small efforts, abdominal pain, digestive issues (can’t digest any fats at all), liver spams (cramps), acne, fainting.
My doctors also tell me that the diarrheas, acne and the abdominal pain are not related. But they appeared after the surgery. The abdominal pain is so bad that I can’t even wear a bra. The diarrheas cause me pain and great discomfort. I am afraid of even leaving my house or hitting the road.
Doctors also have no explanation to give me regarding the spams. Those started after the ERCP back in December and no doctor is able to give me an explanation for them.
Thank you in advance for your help & support,
Esther 