For people with no Gallbladder (Removal surgery) HELP

I have had gallbladder removal surgery this past year and am trying to get in shape because the pain has yet to stop even after my gallbladder was removed. Has anyone else had this happen to them? Did you find a way to stop it? Will being on a diet help or hurt my situation? I have been to a doctor and he has only given me medicine that makes things worse. I'm trying now to find my own solution while he tries to figure out what else it may be. Please help me.

Replies

  • hudnharsmom
    hudnharsmom Posts: 252 Member
    i had mine removed 6yrs ago i was 7mo prego with my son..... i sometimes have small pains where my gallbladder was but now enough to see the dr for i have several friends that have theirs out too and say they have the same fantom pains ... i think maybe you should go see another/ different dr. ( i have noticed that the pains are fewer as the years go on but again it was a small pain it never stoped me from what i was doing) hope u are able to get Help and maybe this helped some:flowerforyou:
  • hdlb123
    hdlb123 Posts: 112 Member
    How are you eating? Is there slot of fast foods, fatty foods etc in your diet? I get pains if I eat like crap, but otherwise it doesn't bother me.
  • calgarychick2012
    calgarychick2012 Posts: 65 Member
    i had mine out lke 18 yrs ago but experienced pain then looked at what i ate Once i eliminated or seriously reduced rich butter fried i was ok try cutting out butter margarine cream heavy milk dont fry anything see how that works
  • sugarlips76
    sugarlips76 Posts: 1 Member
    I had my gall bladder out 10 years ago, and I still to this day will get pains occasionally. I have looked it up in the past and found that it is still possible to get gallstones, but instead of them forming in the gall bladder (obviously because it isn't there), they form in the bile duct. I guess I just figured that the pain passes when the stone does too. If you are having pain all the time though, I would very much suggest seeing a different doctor. Any pain that is lasting long term is not "nothing".
  • cshevlin
    cshevlin Posts: 26 Member
    It seems like it doesn't matter what I eat though. I've tried frozen dinners, I've tried wheat only, I've tried avoiding all fast food restaurants but it doesn't seem to leave. It's not nearly as bad as it was before the surgery but I will get them where my gallbladder was and all through my stomach. The rest of the medical complications that come with gallbladder disease have not stopped either.
  • Kayla165
    Kayla165 Posts: 118 Member
    I had mine removed 4 yrs ago after the birth of my first child. I still have pain every now and then, but usually only when I eat something i shouldn't. Your gallbladder breaks down greasy foods, since we no longer have one there are certain foods that will trigger pain. Like me I can not eat all beef hot dogs, bologna, certain types of steak, and most fast foods. I have found that if I do not eat these foods my pain is minimal almost non existant. Still you should consult your doctor like sugarlips said you can still get gallstones. Hope everything checks out ok at the doctor and maybe they will be more helpful to figure out why you are still having so much pain. Hope you feel better soon.
  • smbyrd13
    smbyrd13 Posts: 52 Member
    I've had mine out for almost two years and honestly, it hasn't bothered me at all. I can eat what I want (within reason) but I can definitely tell if I've eaten a very fatty meal (hasn't happened in a while :) ) because my stomach will be upset the next day. Sorry, I don't have any real advice besides trying to talk to a nutritionist to see what they suggest. Hope you can get some relief!!
  • chergarr73
    chergarr73 Posts: 59 Member
    Had mine out about 18 months ago...I can eat fried foods, but only if I'm willing to pay! For the most part if it's fried, it's going to rip my guts up! :(
  • Aerohead21
    Aerohead21 Posts: 333 Member
    The only function the gallbladder has is to process fat in your system so when you eat greasy, fatty, spicy food, it will make you feel bad. I had my gallbladder taken out 8 years ago and the only way I can go without all the pain is to eat a healthy diet.

    You might try that and see if it helps :)
  • kdcj17
    kdcj17 Posts: 73 Member
    I've had mine out for almost two years and honestly, it hasn't bothered me at all. I can eat what I want (within reason) but I can definitely tell if I've eaten a very fatty meal (hasn't happened in a while :) ) because my stomach will be upset the next day. Sorry, I don't have any real advice besides trying to talk to a nutritionist to see what they suggest. Hope you can get some relief!!

    Same here. I had complete gallbladder removal in the beginning of 2001. I really have not had any issues with food at all after that, well besides I get heartburn very easily. Hopefully after time it will get better for you!
  • RachelsReboot
    RachelsReboot Posts: 569 Member
    Had mine removed 15 years ago after it actually ruptured, no problems previous to that event and no problems after it's removal.
  • rockerbabyy
    rockerbabyy Posts: 2,258 Member
    i had mine removed when i was 16 - ill be 28 this year and i still get the pain that i got back then..im thinking it wasnt my gall bladder to begin with..the gave me prilosec back when it was Rx only and the strongest stuff you could get - i was taking the max dose and it still didnt help. ive tried different eating times/habits and it just seems to come and go as it pleases. another dr told me it was GERD, and to not eat 3 hours before bed and another told me it was just normal heartburn *shrug*
  • becoming_a_new_me
    becoming_a_new_me Posts: 1,860 Member
    Since mine was removed 9 yrs ago, I have realized that I cannot have red meat (very rarely), milk (too much dairy flares it), and refined fours and sugars. If I am willing to earn myself some pain I will have these things. Try an elimination diet - cut out red meat and pork, diary, grains, and eggs for two weeks. Then add each time of item in one at a time. If you don't have issues, you are fine, if you do then avoid those foods and take them out of your daily diet.
  • fj211
    fj211 Posts: 95
    If you're still in significant pain and have let your doctor know, then I would consider another gastro doctor. I used to work for 6 specialists and , as sad as it is to say, some were better than others.

    As one poster suggested, you may be having issues with your bile ducts.
  • I had mine moved three years ago and the only time that I am bothered by it is when I eat too much fatty foods. So I started to reduce my fat intake and became more aware of what I was eating
  • LethaSue
    LethaSue Posts: 285 Member
    The sound of all of this sure does not make me happy, as I am scheduled for surgery on monday.
  • marekdds
    marekdds Posts: 2,231 Member
    32 years ago for me. Some pain with greasy stuff, not much. Find a new doctor. Have them check for gluten(wheat) intolerance. That was ultimately my problem. Just a thought. Good luck to you.
  • MizAngie
    MizAngie Posts: 113 Member
    I've had mine out for almost two years and honestly, it hasn't bothered me at all. I can eat what I want (within reason) but I can definitely tell if I've eaten a very fatty meal (hasn't happened in a while :) ) because my stomach will be upset the next day. Sorry, I don't have any real advice besides trying to talk to a nutritionist to see what they suggest. Hope you can get some relief!!

    same exactly as I...I know when Ive eaten something bad. Just not worth it.
  • danger_kitteh
    danger_kitteh Posts: 301 Member
    I had mine removed 10 years ago and only really have problems when I eat very rich or fatty foods so I try to avoid them for not only the pain factor but the awful gut rot I get afterwards. If you are still experiencing pain you should seek a second opinion.
  • onewhodiets
    onewhodiets Posts: 67 Member
    The sound of all of this sure does not make me happy, as I am scheduled for surgery on monday.
    . Don't worry! I had mine out about 12 years ago and never had any trouble since and I don't eat only healthy non-fatty foods by any means. I know plenty of people who share my experience, while reading these posts is the first time I've heard of people having pain after the surgery, so it can't be that common and you'll probably be more fortunate and just be very relieved to have it out - as I was!
  • bunnyhawk
    bunnyhawk Posts: 23 Member
    did your surgeon thouroghly check all of your ducts for dislodged gallstones when they removed your gallbladder? I had my gallbladder out two years ago and after the removal they went back in and removed a large stone lodged in the pancreatic duct. I did notice fatty foods upset my tummy for a good 6 months, but Im fine now. The pain I felt from the stone was much more painful then the gallbladder attacks. Morphine didnt even cut the pain. I would get a second opinion if you continue to have issues