I am just over a week out from having my gallbladder removed. As soon as I came to from the anesthesia I had excruciating pain in my right flank and rib cage on the right side. I remember the recovery nurse saying this was normal, but the pain is still there 8 days later. I also have pain still in the upper right abdomen as well as into the middle of my back . These symptoms are also very similar to the symptoms I was experiencing prior to my surgery. I’m wondering if anyone else has awoken with terrible rib cage/flank pain or is this just a normal course of natural healing. The pain does not come and go, it is a constant from the time I wake up until I sleep, rinse and repeat. It’s caused me extreme anxiety as I’m worried this might be my new “normal” and the surgery did not work to relieve my symptoms and now I might have new ones. Any advice/info appreciated.
i had my gall bladder surgery 2 years ago, and I hurt like heck for several days afterwards,(and they gave me pain meds. & I also have a high pain tolerance), but only in my gall bladder area and at the actual sights of the laparoscopy. If you’re still having pains that badly I would definately go see your GI Specialist, I’m no authority by any means, yet from what I recall the Doctor & Nurses I’d spoken to said these pains would subside within 3-4 days after surgery and they did. However, I do experience an uncomfortable pain that can be mild to medium in my gall bladder area on & off usually during the night. My GI Doctor said that this could be from scar tissue from the surgery, and if it continues or gets worse that I should come in for an appt. So, in my opinion you pain should be a lot better by now. I wish you the best in your recovery & the challenges of dealing with the after affects of gall bladder surgery.
Thank cchurley. I called the surgeon who has ordered an ultrasound to make sure I don’t have fluid in my abdomen. But again as this pain was felt immediately upon waking from surgery I’m not sure that’s what this is about, but I’m not a doctor. I’m thinking (and hoping I’m wrong) that he is just covering his bases in regard to surgery only without thinking about my symptoms in general.
Prior to my surgery I had a colonoscopy/endoscopy which came back fine, but could call my GI doctor again. After my colonoscopy my GI advised I take two tylenol and forget the pain rather then even having this surgery and I do know it was a risk and there was a possibility this would not help me. I feel like no one is really listening to me, either before or after surgery, and each specialist is dealing with only their specialty without looking at me as a whole.
This is unfortunately how each Specialist is trained, thus we must continue our search. Check out TOP DOCTORS magazine, I use it often when I need answers & that each Specialist Doctor I go to only focuses on their Specialty only, instead of my body as a “whole”, welcome to Western Medicine. Also, search for a new GI Doctor as they are like anything else in life, we must shop for the one that works the best for “us”, without breaking our banks to do so. Best wishes & blessings.