nausea after gallbladder surgery Posted: 05-08-08 20:14pm
Last August I started feeling very
nauseated every time I ate. It eventually
progressed to feeling nauseated all the
time, and after having every test in the
world done, it was determined that my
gallbladder was functioning at only 1%. I
was so relieved because I had finally
found the problem and by getting my
gallbladder removed, I was sure this would
fix my nausea. By this time (December), I
was starting to have the pain in my
sternum, right under my chest, and it very
much felt like I was having a heart
attack. I would also feel so much pressure
in that same area, and I was feeling short
of breath. In December, which was five
months ago, I had surgery to remove my
gallbladder. My surgeon said that it was
very diseased, no stones, but it had
adhesions all over it and was stuck to the
outer wall of my stomach. Now it is May
and my nausea and pain has not gotten any
better. I am nauseated almost on a daily
basis and the pain in my sternum is always
there, sometimes it is severe, sometimes
it is mild. My question is, has anyone
else had a similar experience to mine? Is
anyone else suffering from ongoing nausea
months following your surgery? Is this
normal? The doctor says it is not, but
I've talked to a few people who say it is
normal for up to a year or more following
gallbladder surgery. I would love to hear
from anyone. I am desperate and don't know
what to do. I can barely take care of my
kids, I am becoming depressed, and I need
to know if there is a light at the end of
this tunnel. I can handle the pain, but I
cannot handle the nausea. If anyone can
help me out, I would really appreciate it!
Thank you!
|
chawk78
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 27 May 2008 Posts: 2
Posted: 05-28-08 10:12am
Texas Gal,
I, too, developed nausea in August. It got
progressively worse in the following
weeks. Around mid-october I started to get
RUQ pain. I went to see my GP. My CAT scan
and ultrasound were negative. I finally
got a HIDA scan which proved very
positive, no injection. Had my GB removed
24 hours later (1 NOV). The nausea
continued after surgery. Although I am
much better now, I still experience nausea
a few times a week. I am also plagued with
pain, alost daily. Back, hip RUQ, neck,
head and groin. The pain has also slowing
decreased in frequency and level, but
progress is slow. I have had head, neck,
back and hip MRIs plus chest and abdominal
CAT scans, EKGs, abdominal ultrasound and
extensive blood work. All came back
negative. My doctors are at a loss.
However, I did meet in passing one doctor
who said nausea can last up to a year.
Regarding the pain, only time, exercise
and acupuncture seem to help. I do not
think anything is "wrong" with me.
Nonetheless, this effects the quality of
my life. Happy to discuss with you
further. All the best.
|
texas gal
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 08 May 2008 Posts: 4
Posted: 05-29-08 08:46am
It is so comforting to know that someone
else is going through what I am going
through! I am very sorry that you have had
to go through this. I wonder why doctors
seem to always be so stumped when I have
talked to more and more people with this
same problem after removing a dieased gall
bladder? I don't know if you are a man or
a woman, but if you are a woman, do you
happen to notice if the nausea gets worse
around your menstrual cycle? Mine does,
and I didn't know if was correlated with
the change of hormones. The doctors say
that hormones during pregnancy can cause
your gall bladder to go bad, but they say
your menstrual cycle has nothing to do
with it...seems a bit contradictory to me.
Anyway, I am so glad you are feeling
better...maybe there is an end to this for
me, too. I understand what you mean about
quality of life...nothing to me is worse
than feeling nauseated. I, too, have had
every test done imagineable and it seems I
am as healthy as a horse, but I feel worse
than I ever had in my life! Thanks so much
for telling me your story.
|
chawk78
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 27 May 2008 Posts: 2
Posted: 05-29-08 10:11am
Texas Gal,
I am very pleased you read my story and it
provided some comfort to you. I have read
many such storys on the web. The comfort
they provided me were very much supportive
to my mental health. So, I wanted to give
something back through my story. I am a
male, so the homone issue was never a
consideration. I feel for you regarding
the nausea. I never know when my nausea
will hit or how long it will last. It can
stop me dead in my tracks. The good news
is the nausea has been decreasing in
duration and intensity. I am comfident
that the nausea will eventually go away. I
am not so sure about the pain. I have
always have been fit and led a healthy
life style. The silver lining here is that
I have decided to kick it up a notch and
really get fit as well as improve my
nutrition. Let's keep a positive attitude
that things will get better. This has
taught me that health is precious and that
I am not the "super man" I once thought I
was. All the best, John
|
texas gal
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 08 May 2008 Posts: 4
Posted: 05-30-08 13:03pm
It is so comforting to know that you
believe your nausea will eventually go
away. I'm still at the stage where I fear
this is how I will feel for the rest of my
life. It's funny how there is a
preconceived notion that if you have
gallbladder disease, you must be unhealthy
and overweight. I, too, am a very healthy
eater and thin and it drives me crazy
wondering what I did to myself to have
such a diseased organ in my body? Thanks,
John, for your support, and good luck in
the future with feeling great again!
|
texas gal
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 08 May 2008 Posts: 4
Hello Posted: 08-29-08 08:13am
Hi John,
It's been a while since we last talked,
and I was just wondering how you have been
feeling the past couple of months? I know
you said that your nausea was definitely
decreasing in duration and intensity, and
your pain level was also going down. Are
things still good? Things with me
improved for a while (almost two months
with no nausea), then at the end of July I
started feeling pretty sick again. It
hasn't let up since. I've also started
feeling dizzy on top of everything....have
you experienced any of that? I've also
pretty much started from scratch with a
new doctor, one who is much more friendly
and understanding (unlike my old one who
told me what I was feeling was
"nonsense"). Anyway, I just wanted to
check in with you and see if you are
feeling completely better. I hope so!
Talk to you soon, Laura
|
lrose29
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 16 Sep 2008 Posts: 4
Posted: 09-16-08 20:47pm
It's been 4 years almost 5 since I have
had my gall bladder removed and I am still
having problems sometimes I wish I never
had the surgery, it is daily that I have
nausea, mine is to the point that I have
to lay down for at least 30 minutes until
I feel better, my doctor told me it was
all in my head. Maybe one day I will start
to feel like my told self again
|
tawaterk
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Nov 2008 Posts: 1
Texas Gal Posted: 11-21-08 21:17pm
I too had my gallbladder removed last
month and I am now experiencing the nausea
also. It didn't start until a couple of
days ago - I didn't have it this morning
but now I have it again tonight. I don't
feel like eating at all when I get this.
I have also had a lot of trouble with
constipation which most everyone else gets
just the oposite. I don't get it - I have
been back to the dr and she says that
nothing is wrong. Had blood work and all
again and even more utlrasounds. Still
have pain in my abdomen and sometimes my
chest just like I am having the
gallbladder attacks again. I don't think
having this thing removed is what it is
all cracked up to be. I have some people
that told me I would feel 100% better
after it was removed but I have not at
all. I feel terrible and I'm not used to
being down. I am always so active and I
don't have time for this. I too hope this
goes away soon but from what I have been
reading - it seems like a lot of people
constantly have problems that last
forever. This is driving me nuts. So
don't feel alone - I too am experiencing
the same thing. Just wish it would stop!
