Please help- Gallbladder removal/out of work/no one can help

Digestive health
1

I am at my two weeks of post op laparoscopic cholecystectomy and I have been having awful trouble. 

My wounds are healing perfectly, the trapped gas (that caused unexpected inflamed humps of air on my neck and shoulder) has finally started to dissipate and I'm starting to get my energy back. I however am totally floored by some unusual symptoms that my surgeon nor my general GP warned me about. 

#1 Red, Hot, unbearably Itchy bottoms of my feet and palms of hands 

#2 Horrible lower back pain when bending/getting up that leads to my legs giving way and me falling over- does not radiate down legs.

#3 Pains where my Gallbladder used to be that take my breath away &

#4 Horrible trouble digesting food / bloating / diarrhoea

I don't know what to do, I go to my doctor and she says it's all due to the surgery and to speak to the surgeon / rest, t

So then I go to my surgeon and she tells me that what i'm experiencing isn't to do with my gallbladder removal and to go back to my doctor.

The only sure thing that I know so far is that my liver function test came back strange, so I had some more bloods done and  I am waiting on the results. Can someone please shed some light on what's going on? 

I'm going crazy

I Have-

Visited GP/Surgeon/osteopath

For back- Voltaren Emugel, Tigerbalm, massage, cold/hot therapy.

For Feet/hands- Calamine lotion, Coconut oil

For Phantom Gallstone pain- Oxycodon 5 ml, Massage, heat pack.

For diarrhoea/gas- Gingerale, heat pack, de-gas, Probiotics, Diet changes (less fat/fried food)

Nothing works. 

2

I feel your pain times 100. I never had # 1,2 but a year later still have #3,4. Like you I have been to too many doctors, no one knows. Tons of tests as well, no one knows. So frustrating. Like you I am also on a modified diet, taking digestive enzymes containing ox bile, probiotics, etc. Those seem to help me a great deal. As for the pain, I take nothing. I live on 2 heating pads used at the same time. Considering you are a recent post-op maybe some of your issues will change soon? My surgeon said it takes about a year to "get back to normal" (yet I never did) but hopefully you will. Ask your Gastro or Surgeon about Welchol. It stops the diarrhea and allows you to eat real food. Or take digestive enzymes like I do. I learned most of this on Google sadly, no doctor told me any of this. Wishing you well soon smile

3

Well, my feet do that because I have diabetes neuropathy. Yews, the diarrhea is bad after gb surgery. Back pain also. In time some of this will get better. Liver test? That is a doctor issu he will take up with you. Let me know if anything changes within a month. Good luck to you.

4

Wow! I haven't heard anyone with these problems.

For diahrea drink Gatorade and eat pretzels or bread. No milk. Try yogurt that has propiotics in it.

Ice the gallbladder area. Heat can make it worse.

I felt weak for awhile but didn't have your issues.

Sounds like you need to go to a specialist for gastro issues.

I hope you get answers real soon. Good luck on your test results hopefully they have some answers.

5

If you have diabetes that can be a cause for some of your issues. Do you see a doctor for that separate from your other doctor or do you see the same doctor for everything.

6

I have a family doctor for my diabetes and other things. My gb problems, stomach, colon I see a specialists, gastroentologists that has done a colonoscopy, etc.

7

Also, sweet tea is good for diarrhea. I also drink Cholestomine 3x's a day and take 3-4 immodium tablets that has helped so much!

8

Just be careful with those pills. Some times the diahrrea helps flush out bugs. Make sure its ok with your doctor first.

Never had swash tea, but not really a tea person. Peppermint tea helps my daughter when her stomach is upset.

9

Yes, there are times when I am not going anywhere I just let it happen. I have taken up to 8 pills a day. Yes, I discuss everything with my doctor! let me know what you find out. 

10

Good. I only saw my doctor about my gall stone attack. He knew that was one thing I worried about since my mom lost hers when I was a kid. Gallbladder issues run in families to if you have it others in your family did or will have it too. Runs in both side of my family, hurfay for me. Hoping my daughter doesn't get it.

Good luck.

11

I meant sweetvtea, never had it. Let you know what I found out on what?

Try pretzels. They really helped us when we had the flu.

12

I have 4 sistesr and in fact, I have a twin. I am the only one that could not bear children and the only one with all the gb, stomach issues! Our Mother did have rectal cancer over 12 years ago and that is why all of us have to have a colonoscopy every 3-5 years. Mama is doing good. My twin had a heart attack 2 yrs. ago. She had been on premarin (hormone) and they think this is what caused her blood clot. Heart trouble is prevelant in my family. Had mine checked and it is good. All of our troubles! 

13

I may have mixed you up with someone else going to have test. I reply to so many I forget. Sweet tea is very good and we call it "Southern Wine" since I live in the South. Sorry I mixed you up!  

14

That's ok. I'm in Oregon. But I just don't try the sweet tea they have here. Sister loves her sweet tea in Georgia.

Any questions just ask?

Lori

15

Good you had yours checked. Make sure when you have kids that they eat right. I wonder why it was only you so far. I guess there is always an exceptions for everything.

I seem to get everything my mom gets. Feet issues, gallbladder.

. Lucky me.

16

Thank you so much for replying you guys smile 

It feels amazing having a place to talk about the issues I'm having where I'm not made to feel like a hypercondriac and where there are others who are experiencing similar things. I'm thinking of trying [ ox bile ] if I can find it here in AUS!

As for my foot/hand rash and itches, I have found some sources that suggest that it is actually a side effect of blocked bile ducts? So I'm just going to continue on looking for answers online until I get my liver results back sad I'm visiting a (very exspensive) osteopath and he seems to be helping my back a little bit, so we will see! 

The itching and the back pain is by far the worst of the symptoms at the moment sad

I can't seem to wear any shoes without my feet being incredibly itchy and can't bend over! 

Keeping positive though, Leaving for Thailand In 2 1/2 weeks for my first ever over-sea's vacation so lets hope it all clears up before then!

17

I'm s sorry to hear you're experiencing trouble, I really wish someone had have said something about the possible side effects before taking it out!

It's such a stressful thing to be in pain, out of work, and not know what is happening and if it is normal. Especially when everyone just reffers you. I will ask my surgeon about [ Welchol ] for sure, although I do live in AUS. I hope you start getting some answers soon! 

May I ask, was your surgery laparoscopic? x Georgina

18

Oh gosh, Ladies! I'm sorry to hear that for both of you. It's lovely there is a space we can all come to like this though! 

Angela, what do you take/use for your foot troubles? Is there anything that helps? I am a twin also, and she has had chronic health issues from birth (Heart disease, scoliosis, loss of hearing, no sense of smell.. the list goes on) But she has never had issues with her digestive track. I however, have always had troubles with it. I was "diagnosed" with IBS when I was 10 years old but when in hospital for my cholecystectomy I was told by a surgeon that it was not diagnosed correctly (no colonoscopy) and that the symptoms were a little off? So I'm supposed to ask my doctor about that next time I go in as apparently it's a 6 month wait minimum at the hospital. :o gah

19

Yes it was laproscopic. Thank you smile

20

YAY for your vacation! I hope all goes well. If your liver functions are elevated and you have possible blocked ducts, have you considered SOD? Sphincter of Oddi? Google that smile