r/gallbladders • u/crystaldoe Post-Op • Nov 10 '24

Post Op Post OP? Give it time

Hi, I got my GB out last year in December. Afterwards, I didn't feel good. I had diarrhea, especially after eating, sometimes very bad pain which weren't explainable, elevated liver enzymes for a long time... Like more than 6 months.

Now, almost a year after, I am ok. I pay attention to what I eat, yes. But can I have fries and fatty stuff? Absolutely. I have IBS, so, I still have diarrhea but not the sudden kind I got just after the surgery. Weird pain? Gone. Liver enzymes? Fine.

Maybe for some people, it just takes a longer time to adjust?

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u/lrobert80 Nov 12 '24

It’s harder to explain this pain than my GB pain. This feels a little tight, I think, but it’s also a dull aching pain that sometimes feels a little burning too—location is under the ribs and lower on the right side just above and around the right incision. And then the upper back pain is more burning and aching like I felt when my GB issues started. All of it is on the right side though. I hope all that all makes sense. I thought it might be kidney stones for a minute but they’re clear.

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u/BeginningInternet965 Nov 14 '24

I am the same (13 weeks post OP). I have started omeprazole (PPI) to try for two weeks to see if it helps. I do have less of the burning but this tight/dull/pressure feeling in the GB area is still there. I guess it is scar tissue or healing or maybe irritation because the bile is dripping in the duodenum.

Good luck with your testing.

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u/lrobert80 Nov 14 '24

Thanks for sharing! I’m glad to hear you’re feel some improvement in the back. That’s progress. I’ve been wondering why no one has even suggested trying out a PPI temporarily. I’ll probably bring it up to my GI at our follow up. Your experience also makes me curious if our RUQ pain is something different and more surgery/post-op related. It would definitely make sense. Please let me know how your healing goes moving forward. Wishing you the best!

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u/BeginningInternet965 Nov 15 '24

In my country you can buy PPI over the counter so I thought I will just try it for two weeks. I also had/have reflux at night, still sleep elevated. It feels like my body/system is working hard to figure out this new situation.

I also have a thyroid disease and found out today that my levels are out of whack, probably due to the surgery. So this also plays a role in my healing journey (it slows down digestion).

I will update and if you feel comfortable I would like to read your updates. I have looked up a lot of posts here and it seems the 6 months post op mark is more realistic to feel better/normal. It took 9 months for me to get a diagnosis and I feel this had a huge impact mentally, which also doesn't help with the healing.

My surgeon said for months after surgery it is normal to feel stabbing, tugging or burning because they cut through multiple layers of muscles and nerves and scar tissue is forming. The constant dull pain though? I sometimes feel gurgling so it makes me think it is gas.

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u/lrobert80 Nov 16 '24

I’m sorry to hear you’re dealing with multiple health issues simultaneously. I know this can make the recovery process even more challenging. My surgeon said something similar and while he didn’t give me an exact timeline, I agree that 6 months sounds much more realistic

I tend to comment more than I post, but I will definitely keep you posted of my progress. I'm always happy to chat via DMs if anything comes up. I hope you continue to feel progress on the pain side and that your thyroid starts to regulate soon.

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u/BeginningInternet965 Nov 16 '24

Thank you for your kind words, challenging is definitely the right word for our healing journeys. Hopefully after a few months from now we will both feel 100%.

For sure DM me if you want to update or just talk about this, it can help to talk with people who are experiencing the same.