

Urgent question re gallbladder recovery and whether this is normal...:(

(89 Posts)

Had my gb out 4 weeks ago.
I then got a chest infection 2 weeks ago.
Since then I have had the most horrendous pain in my ribs, under my breast and my back.
I went to the gp on Xmas eve and she said she thinks it's musculoskeletal but reading google (I know, I know...) it could be a bile duct injury sad
I don't have a fever or jaundice but do feel nauseous.
The pain isn't all the time, it comes and goes, but when it hits it's bad.
Am taking paracetamol and ibuprofen.
Any point going back to gp tomorrow?
Don't want to end up in a and e on a Sunday - they won't do anything anyway (bitter experience from prior to my op sad)

Badvoc Wed 08-Jan-14 21:50:57 consultant doesn't agree with the hospital!
Doesn't think I have gastritis, or that my pain is in any way billiary, and doesn't think I need a gastroscopy!
No idea what to do now.
I shall go and see my go tomorrow and get her opinion.

I'll keep my fingers crossed that you get a scan!

Badvoc Mon 06-Jan-14 20:02:41

Oh how awful sad
I am hoping the consultant refers me for a scan...the dr on Friday said she wanted me to have one but of didn't happen sad

I had a stone wedge itself into the duct - bloody bloody bastard things.

Gallbladder gone many yrs ago, but still making stones <wail>

OTOH I adore the combo of morphine & entonox, gives a vair floaty feel to everything.

Hope all goes well Wednesday.

Badvoc Mon 06-Jan-14 14:52:13

What have you got to apologise for!?
Are you ok!?
Sorry, can't remember, have you had your gb out? Are they duct stones?
So sorry you are still suffering.
Can't wait for my appt on weds. Hopefully my consultant may be able to shed some light on things....
If he has any words of wisdom I shall let you I say he is a GERD/reflux and gasto-oesopageal specialist.

Wanted to come back and apologise - I'm not being rude, I was admitted last Friday evening, and have had very limited access to my phone and laptop.

All's well now thankfully, but these bloody stones are a menace.

Badvoc Mon 06-Jan-14 09:31:36

My appt is Weds evening.
Yes, I am thinking of vicar today.
I just feels I tired all the time....weeks of pain and not much food will do that though I guess.
My consultant is a specialist in the surgery to correct reflux so I am guessing he knows his stuff.

somedayillbesaturdaynite Mon 06-Jan-14 09:16:28

I've just been reading vicar's thread, it's so scary isn't it? even if seen as fairly minor surgery. getting dc back to school today is another hurdle ticked off the mental countdown (it's easier to break it up in small bits- i had a month's notice of op date)
i cheated last night and sucked special k crackers. does rice ever irritate you? it seems such a small thing to get stuck but i guess if it inflames the linings it would make more sense- bread definitely gets stuck
what day do you have your cons appt? will be thinking of you even if not visible smile x

Badvoc Mon 06-Jan-14 07:14:53

Oh some, you poor thing!
I was living on bananas And rice cakes prior to my surgery. Not fun.
Have gone wheat free to try and help my GERD so we shall see...

somedayillbesaturdaynite Mon 06-Jan-14 01:18:00

is that surgery for the GERD/reflux, elastamum? Gb coming out next week but no idea if any impact on overall pain as it's sometimes hard to decide which one is causing it

somedayillbesaturdaynite Mon 06-Jan-14 01:16:00

thanks Sixtiesqueen, i am planning on paracetamol with tramadol. still an opiate but apparently requires less work from the liver to convert into pain relief according to some doctors

Sixtiesqueen Sun 05-Jan-14 22:35:00

I had my gall bladder out last year and had a couple of episode of excruciating pain the following months.

On both occasions I had taken codeine (co-codamol).

Turns out there's quite a lot of anecdotal evidence online of people becoming intolerant of this drug post gall bladder removal. I've avoided it since and been absolutely fine.

Just thought I'd throw it in in case in helps anyone!

elastamum Sun 05-Jan-14 22:29:17

Poor you sad Sounds awful, I have been lucky and managed to avoid the surgery route so far by modifying my lifestyle. My surgeon keeps offering, but I have so far declined. The only benefit is that I have become rather a cheap date!!

somedayillbesaturdaynite Sun 05-Jan-14 22:00:04

I don't envy you, the waiting is the hardest, i am down to counting nights and days to get through (4 & 3 to go now). I broke down when the nurse confirmed that it wasn't all in my head as per most other medical professional in the last 6 years, there was actual visual evidence!

I still have the bed donated to me after a house fire 5 years ago, and it's too fragile to prop up at one end. instead i have to sleep on the sofa. everything else (big purchases) has been replaced and having looked around a sleep-easy is only around 20% more than i would pay for decent solid frame and mattress. tbh it would probably be offset by the electric i save not using my heat pads to relieve the pain.

i was on esomeprazole before ranatidine, it affected the SSRI i take for depression meaning i didn't absorb it properly. I haven't eaten solid food since september and tee-total. I am on day 7 of bovril and fat free/sugar free yogurt atm to prepare for surgery and some days it's so unappetising i haven't even had that (just clear fluids) so i don't think i can control it by diet.

Badvoc Sun 05-Jan-14 21:42:31

Hmmm...may hear by Weds then!
Hope so.
I hate waiting when I know something's wrong sad

elastamum Sun 05-Jan-14 21:40:34

You dont need an ajustable bed, but a couple of housebricks under the feet at the head of your bed to raise it up about 3-4ins will make all the difference if you have gerd. Also, eat early in the evening and take a spoonful of gaviscon just before you go to bed. Stop the NSAIDS immediately, if you have GI problems they will really aggravate it. Dont drink alcohol in the evenings and avoid caffine and very fatty food - all sounds a bit sad, but I have suffered for years and despite meds have only just got it under control.

IMO Nexium (esomeprazole) is brilliant, but a lot of GPs wont prescribe it as it is slightly more expensive that other PPIs

somedayillbesaturdaynite Sun 05-Jan-14 21:36:58

yes it was, though i have heard it called all sorts of names. the nurse was fantastic and told me as she found the hernia rather than any waiting for a result

Badvoc Sun 05-Jan-14 21:32:29

Ooooooh I would love one of those!
Was that an endoscopy appt?

somedayillbesaturdaynite Sun 05-Jan-14 21:28:12

It took 10 days (incl wekends) for my referral from the day i saw my cons until the actual appt but afaik this wasn't urgent.

my gb is pain free as no food for a while now but the reflux is still there, i am contemplating an adjustable bed as my next purchase, am thinking it could be a sound investment if i am to suffer long term

Badvoc Sun 05-Jan-14 21:20:58

Am ok I think.
Nasty headache.
Had a much better night but tbh any sleep is better than none! smile
Current plan is to ask consultant on weds if he will do a endoscopy ASAP.
Perhaps he will have another idea what's wrong?
Who knows?
How are you?

somedayillbesaturdaynite Sun 05-Jan-14 21:16:59

how are you doing today Badvoc?

lougle Sat 04-Jan-14 19:00:39

It can be both.

Yes, urgent means 'when you can see her'. Emergency means 'now'.

Badvoc Sat 04-Jan-14 17:36:57

Pathetic bump...

Badvoc Sat 04-Jan-14 12:33:04

Another really bad night sad
Am going to ask the consultant on weds if he will do the endoscopy - will be quicker than the NHS I think (?) and am also going to ask him to do a biopsy for coeliac whilst he is in there.
Dr said the referral would be urgent but....could still be weeks couldn't it?
Lougle...I thought if you had issues with too much bile after surgery you got really bad diahorrea? I am the opposite!

Badvoc Fri 03-Jan-14 21:54:26

...and the pain has been at all sorts of times...morning, afternoon, night...
Sunday it was 3pm.
Last week it was 4am one morning when it was really bad.
No idea.

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