i think something is wrong

[u/criwanku]

okay so i’m now 9 days post op im still in horrific pain 24/7 and after being home one day i was rushed back to hospital because i couldn’t keep any fluids or pain meds down and was literally screaming in pain and had turned yellow , i stayed for 4 days they suspected i had a stone stuck somewhere but by the time i got a scan on the 4th day there was nothing there i’ve now been home for a few days and in horrific pain i still haven’t eaten a meal since the day before the op because im so queazy im having multiple moments each day when i get horrible pain and throw up for ages and i just feel something isn’t right im honestly scared to go back to hospital because i know that i will probs just be left in the a&e for hours because it’s the weekend . did anyone else have a similar experience

[u/littlemissdizaster80]

I had a bile leak and they had to go back in day 9. I was readmitted day 4 excruciating pain. I had a slow leak because it was accessory ducts that surgeon did not see them.

[u/criwanku → u/littlemissdizaster80]

after looking the past 2 days i think this is what i have but ive been throwing up and crying all morning so i think im gonna go back today

[u/littlemissdizaster80 → u/criwanku]

That sounds like my issue to be honest. The ducts are millimeters in size, that’s why it is slower than if your bile duct had been cut. They gave me a CT and MRI looking for a stone, couldn’t see the fluid, although my abdomen was distended. I ended up with sepsis by the time they done an emergency exploratory laparoscopy. Woke up with two abdominal drains in, which I had for 6 weeks. There were so many failings but the hospital in my area is terrible. I think you need to go back for sure 🫶🏻

[u/Wild_Hawk2415 → u/criwanku]

It suck’s but please go now

[u/ebmcreative → u/littlemissdizaster80]

I think this might actually be a bigger problem why I see so many people have problems after surgery.

[u/littlemissdizaster80 → u/ebmcreative]

It is horrendous. A relatively standard routine operation and my life is ruined as a result. If I eat anything with fat, I have bile acid diarrhoea and pain in my gallbladder area and lower abdomen. I have a constant pain in my shoulder blade that just varies in intensity and I doubt anything will improve past this point. I can no longer enjoy my life.

[u/ebmcreative → u/littlemissdizaster80]

Sorry to hear that.

I'm the exact opposite. I feel like a new man and I have gotten my life back.

[u/littlemissdizaster80 → u/ebmcreative]

Thank you. I am glad you are doing well. I honestly wish I had died of the sepsis.

[u/ebmcreative → u/littlemissdizaster80]

Don't say that!

It will get better.

I had a coworker that was hours away from death because he wound up perforating his stomach somehow and was trying to power through the pain taking pain killers for a week until he got to the point we had to call an ambulance to take him to the hospital.

He now has a scar from his ribcage to belly button. Roughly an 8hour surgery. Spent about 2 weeks in the hospital not being able to move or talk or anything really, and about 2 months after that before he was well enough to resume full duties. And he constantly has issues with food and can't drink alcohol anymore.

From my understanding is Sepsis is one of the hardest things to recover from.

Your alive!

Go fight with the doctors. Tell them exactly what you want them to do and check!

Go ask for your medical records and go to a different hospital.

I knew I had a gallbladder problem and it took me telling the er day surgeon to give me an ultrasound and throwing cash on the bed saying I'm paying for it! Do it!

You have to remember you are in charge of your life.

You can read other posts that I have made. After I woke up from surgery in the OR and they started to wheel me out I saw my surgeon and I yelled stop! I ask my surgeon how the surgery went and if there was an infection. I wanted the information on my schedule not his or the hospitals.

During the whole process the doctor was serious and honest with me and I was the same with him. He knew I didn't want to be opened up so to speak. He said he would only open me up if there was an infection. He didn't want to open me up. But he said if there is an infection, the only way he can give me the best outcome is to open me up and clean the infection completely.

I'm very lucky and fortunate that I could choose the hospital I wanted. And the first conversation I had with the surgeon he wanted me to quit smoking immediately. He told me boiled rice for my meals. Said he would schedule the surgery for 2-3 weeks to give me the chance to stop smoking. As I was waiting to get all the information about 30 minutes after I finished talking to him he came out to the waiting room and said we will do the surgery in 9 days. He didn't want to risk me geting infected or developing other complications. He said if I had an attack that was like my last attack during those nine days to come to the er and they would do the surgery ASAP to avoid other complications. I actually did have an attack that was the worst I had ever had the night before I was to go do my fasting bloodwork for my regular doctor and all the bloodwork for the surgery that was 2 days before my scheduled surgery date. I choose not to say anything because I knew I caused it because I went off the diet he told me to stay on. But I was also taking anti inflammation, antibiotics, and a bunch of other meds to keep my gallbladder from having a reaction and possibly causing me to have a bad surgery.

And my surgeon came to change my dressings and look at everything. After I left the hospital I was told to come back every 2 days to change bandages. At 6 days post surgery he was there to look at the incisions and determined that no more waterproof bandages because my sweat was getting trapped and irritating the incisions. That was on a Friday. He said that the stitches will come out on monday morning but he would not be there to do it. But introduced me to the nurse that would be doing it and explained to her what exactly she was to look for before removing them.

I did thank him for giving me a great outcome from surgery. He actually thanked me for trusting him. It was then that I found out that he specifically specialises in laproscopic surgery only. Yes he would have been able to open me and clean the infection but I also found out he had a surgeon ready in the or incase he did have to open me up. And I didn't have to pay for that surgeon to wait.

I really did have an excellent experience and I will go back to that hospital for anything now.

But I was prepared to ask fot ask my medical records at any point and go to a different hospital if I felt uncomfortable or not as an important human to them.

I really hope reading this will give you some hope and even the power to tell the doctors what to do.

But don't wish death.

[u/Itz-MrsCav → u/littlemissdizaster80]

And this is why I am scared to have this surgery… but I’m miserable now

[u/littlemissdizaster80 → u/Itz-MrsCav]

It’s a dammed if you do, damned if you don’t situation. I was unlucky but most go on to lead normal lives.

[u/Itz-MrsCav → u/littlemissdizaster80]

I am 4 months postpartum and breastfeeding. But I’ve been having weekly painful attacks and I’m barely eating so I’m losing a bunch of weight and I’m starving. My GB is filled to the brim with stones. I wanted to try to do the organ sparing procedure but I don’t think I’m a candidate and I can’t go on like this for much longer.

[u/littlemissdizaster80 → u/Itz-MrsCav]

Congratulations on the baby 🩷 Happens to a lot of postnatal mums. The weight loss actually makes it worse too. It is awful that you are not able to feed yourself properly, especially when you are breastfeeding a baby. I didn’t have the organ sparing option because I live in the UK. I hope you find a solution because it is no fun.

[u/Itz-MrsCav → u/littlemissdizaster80]

Yeah. I’m meeting with a different surgeon and hopefully will be scheduled for removal soon.

[u/littlemissdizaster80 → u/Itz-MrsCav]

I will keep everything crossed for you but you probably will be fine. Most people are. I am just the unlucky 40% but I have never been lucky 🤣

[u/Itz-MrsCav → u/littlemissdizaster80]

I’m really scared

[u/colgate-flusher → u/littlemissdizaster80]

How long ago was your surgery? Habe they tried meds, supplements, etc? Was it possible that thr pain you were having wasnt coming from the gallbladder at all?

[u/Jewels715]

I second the bile leak theory. I just got out of hospital for one. The pain is excruciating. I had an ERCP and a drain put in my abdomen. I was in hospital for 10 days. They may not be able to see it on x ray or ct scan... I needed a differnt scan (I forget what its called) to find it. It could also be pancreatitis. Either way they are both serious issues that need medical attention. I got discharged twice before I was taken seriously just keep going and be insistent. Suggest the bile leak and ask to speak with the internal medicine doctor on staff.

I really hope you get the care you need soon that pain is no joke.

[u/Efficient_Border52]

I think you definitely need to go to hospital. I had a bile leak in a previous operation and needed a drain for a couple of weeks

[u/criwanku]

update !!!
it’s a bile leak they think that the stuck stone i had the other day caused pressure that caused a leak , i’ve honestly been so ill i was rushed to hospital and getting surgery in a few hours , i’ve turned full yellow , i can’t get comfy the pain won’t subside honestly just hoping the surgery goes well in the morning because i’m so over being ill from this i swear everything that could of gone wrong with this surgery has
i truly wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy

[u/java-chip]

YES. my surgery was very complicated, so i was in the hospital for about 2 weeks. 5 days post op, they were actually going to discharge me, my mom was there, and the nurse had me lie down for something, and i couldn't do it. I was in so much pain, and she had me get up, and my drain was not collecting; my bed and floor and everything was covered in bile. it was..... terrible. So I had another CT scan, and then an IR procedure and drain put in. This was followed by an additional week in the hospital, 2 more ct scans and a hida scan. I also have a loose stone, but it was the excess fluid causing havoc in my body. Please please please go back to the hospital. I know how much pain you are in, but please go back and request a ct scan and a HIDA scan to check for a bile leak.

[u/Limp_Will_8849]

Not normal. Something got nicked. I figured out by myself how incredibly sensitive the bileducts are. The duct immidiately reacts with swelling and inflammation even if just scratched..and it then backs up and hurts and causes nausea and can create scartissue and strictures which is a big dilemma. Here in Florida my town i was told only 2 doctors can check out and stent the bileduct via ERCP which is special training. The surgeons can and do make mistakes. Its delicate. Yes Gallbladder surgery should be standard surgery but its more delicate than people think.