HI
Had the dreaded gallbladder removed last June after only 7 months of pain (so I'm pretty lucky).
Everything went well, home the same day - took a good 4 weeks to feel totally better after the op but eating was ok and I don't seem to be affected by bowel issues like some people.
Only problem is I have dull ache in exactly the same place I used to get the gallbladder pain. It's not intense pain but it's in the front RUQ under my ribs and moves round the side and to my back.
It doesn't seem to appear after anything in particular and most of the time it's there constantly. Suppose it's more of an annoyance than anything else because I'm always aware of this ache. I'm quite reluctant to go to my GP because after spending about 7 months constantly in the surgery last year updating painkillers and nausea pills I don't want them to think I'm addicted to medical attention.
Just wondered if anyone had anything similar or if it's just a by-product of surgery that I'll have to get on with?
Thanks
Just thought I'd update this post in case anyone has something similar.
Went to the GP today who is a lovely guy.
He's trying me on Omeprazole to suppress digestive acid but if there's no improvement in two weeks I have to go back.
Hopefully this will solve it (I remain optimistic) otherwise I'll be back on the carousel of blood tests and ultrasound
happyalien,
Hi, I am waiting for my surgeon to tell me if the pain I am suffering is to do with my gall bladder, I want to ask him if he will either do a MRI scan or perhaps just an X-Ray, although he said that they normally do a X-Ray on the day of the operation.
Did you ever have the pain felt at the back right shoulder blade area only, especially in the later days prior to your op?
Hi mr9000
Before I had my gallbladder out my pain always started just below my ribs - like a hollow ache that quickly became intense pain. It usually very quickly spread to my back and right shoulder.
I never had just shoulder blade pain on it's own - sorry but everyone is different. My pain usually lasted upwards of 6 hours and nothing ever relieved it very well.
Hope you get some answers soon :-)
happyalien,
Do you still have that ache you reported experiencing after you had your gall bladder removed?
I have finally been diagnosed with neuropathic pain after 21/2 years. My gall bladder was removed in May 2009 and I have been suffering every since. The discomfort you are describing its one which I suffer with it gets very sort and I have been told this is due to nerve damage. Do not feel awkward about going back to your GP as this is a 'rare' condition I have been told but believe there are many more people like me out their. MRI and X Rays do not show up nerve damage but be persistent.
kaz114 ,
just read your post, but confused as to which post it is pertaining to?
This is the reason why I have asked for a quote/reply function on this forum.
mr9000,
Yes I do still have the ache even after gallbladder removal - after paying a bit of attention to it (I've been trying to ignore it and take my mind off it) it seems to be slightly worse after I've eaten.
When I had my gallbladder, just before I got the intense agonising pain I used to get the same ache, like a pre-pain warning. This current pain is the same and so far the omeprazole isn't helping.
Hopefully it will do something soon though. Good luck with yours :-)
been not too bad today however just within the last 10 minutes the pain at the right hand shoulder blade area is really sore.
Since I had my GB removed the pain I feel at the right hand side shoulder blade only still occurs, but it doesn't last too long as if I move position it eases.
had my GB out 2yrs ago....had bad diahrehha for 6mths and still get the pains on my right side. had ultra sound and x-ray but nothing showed up. seems to be worse when I go to bed. painkillers and a hot wheat bag do help...
I don't experience that shoulder pain now so it must have been gall stones after all.
Very interesting coming across this post since I had my gallbladder removed about 2 years ago and I have had a regular dull ache under my right ribs ever since! Not enough to need painkillers and in fact mostly don't notice it's there.
One thing I do get is an amazingly fast reaction to certain foods, usually just flatulence, but amazes me how quick some foods affect me now.
I will say all this is far better than the 2 years of absolute agony I used to suffer before it was removed!
Dear swifty99,
Thank you for your post.
It's roughly 19 months since I had my GB removed, and I experience the reaction to certain foods too which is normal, I occasionally feel a little tingle around inside where the GB used to be, but this usually goes within minutes, so I can't really complain as it doesn't happen too frequently.
Did your surgeon arrange a follow up?
Hi,
Yes certainly had the 1 month follow up and did have a year one but couldn't make it so missed that one.
As you say, get the odd twinge and certain foods seems to go through very quickly although I saw a gastro specialist recently and he said what happens in a small number of cases is that because there's nothing to regulate the bile anymore, the excess passes straight into the intestines when you eat fatty food particularly and that of course works its way through but aggrevates the intestines on the way down causing wind/cramping etc and even burning in some people at the bottom.
But hey, compared to being in agony towards the end its bliss!
My gallbladder had been ignored by the doctor for months and I ended up in A&E on morphine and being sick due to the worst pain I'd ever want to experience.....the docs in A&E wanted to send me home in the morning but I refused and told them to transfer me to a different hospital and the surgeon said it was the largest GB he'd ever taken out due to all the infection inside....thank goodness it didn't burst!
Happy days!!
I just had my GB out 16 days back and I have a dull ache in almost the same spot my GB used to be although the pain is manifesting in my spine. and just to the right side of there. I white-knuckled my way through a week with no pain meds to insure that it wasn't a psychosomatic pain from being off and on pain meds for almost a month. to no avail. my pain is quite significant and keeping me from sleeping or preforming normal activities has anyone experienced relief from the phantom GB?
I had my gallbladder removed 3yrs ago,it was full of stones. I went through absolute agony passing them,there were hundereds.
After the surgery I was so happy to get back to life,even the frequent diarrhea didn't bother me much!
It is now 3yrs later and I have been getting the same episodes of pain.I have had an ultrasound and than an MRI to rule out a small stone in bile duct,but all clear.
I now have daily pain that has settled in my back high up between my shoulder blades.
I have had massage,chiropractic adjustments and accupuncture. I have spent a small fortune on trying alternative routes,but no relief.
The only thing that helps are strong pain killers I have been prescribed,so far no one has sudgested any other option.
This is making me desperate,as I don't want to be on these forever.
Marketa,
When you had an MRI I take it they have ruled out any stone in the liver and pancreas?
i had my gallbladder removed august 2012, since october 2012 i had the same pain as b4 my gallbladder
removal. recently went to gastrologist and im having a endoscopy and colonoscopy next month. meanwhile she put me on a med, something that help with pancreas and bile removal. it has helped. i also have pain in my right shoulder. im just so sick of all the pain as i suffered with the gallbladder for 2 and a half years before i went to a dr to see what it was all about. i had 6 stones in there!!
fay80328,
Best of luck with that.
Have you found when you lie on your side, particularly the left that the shoulder pain allievates a little?