Where is Gallstone Pain and after-effects of Gallbladder Removal
If you’re like most people, you probably don’t think about your gallbladder unless you experience pain. And if that happens, it’s usually accompanied by one of the most intense feelings imaginable. Unfortunately, many people suffer from this condition without even knowing it.
So if you’re feeling discomfort in your upper right abdomen and suspect that it might be related to your gallbladder, read on for more information about the symptoms and effects of an attack.
And if it turns out that removal is the best course of action for you, we’ll also give you some tips on making the process as smooth as possible.
My Gallstone Pain Experience
Back in September 2006, I had my gallbladder removed. It all started when I was pregnant with my youngest son and learnt about gallstone pain and its removal effects.
I was about 8 months pregnant, and I had awful indigestion, the type where it is so uncomfortable you can’t keep still.
Something felt wrong (like seriously), so my husband rushed me to the emergency doctor.
On the way there, I had to tell my husband to stop the car as I had to vomit. Finally, we got to the docs, and by this time, I did feel better after a good old belch.
The doc said it was common for pregnant women to have indigestion and heartburn when pregnant and gave me a high-strength bottle of Gaviscon.
So with that in mind, I didn’t think anything of it and carried on as usual.
Symptoms Of A Gallbladder Attack
A week after I gave birth to my son, I had similar symptoms, but far worse, the pain was all around my front and back, and I was short of breath, and I was rocking myself to and fro trying to cope with it.
This time, it wouldn’t go away, so I was rushed to the hospital with our 1-week old baby. They did all sorts of tests, including a full-body scan, as they thought it may be a blood clot in the lungs!
Thankfully, it wasn’t, and in the end, they didn’t find anything, so I returned home a day later.
Exactly a week later, it happened again (I think I must have had the same fatty meal as the previous week) and got rushed to hospital.
I saw a different doctor, and this time he knew straight away what it was..!! So they sent me for an ultrasound scan, which confirmed his diagnosis. So make sure if you have the same symptoms and they don’t give you an ultra-sound scan, ask for one!
It was a relief to know what it was, and I was glad it was nothing too serious as I thought it was with the excruciating pain!
They put me on a waiting list to have my gallbladder removed, and it was finally removed 5 months later (it felt like 5 years), which meant I was in pain for all that time; plus, looking after our baby boy was not the greatest of times.
In those 5 months, I had to be careful what I ate as certain foods used to set the pain off. For example, lamb, beef and chicken (yes, even chicken) were a no-go as they contain a lot of fat.
I had to look at the ingredients for everything I bought to see if there was any fat in it. Did you have the same problem? I’d love to know.
The cheese was off the menu, plus crisps (which I love with a glass of wine), basically all the things I like I couldn’t eat as I couldn’t bear the pain anymore. Talk about shifting my baby weight quick!
What To Eat Whilst Having Gallstone Pain
These are the foods I could deal with whilst having my gallstones.
- Fish (without batter or breadcrumbs)
- Salad (without dressing)
- Ryvita Salad Sandwiches (without butter or margarine)
- Porridge
- Boiled eggs
- Vegetable soups (homemade)
- Vegetable Stir Frys (without oil)
Basically, anything with virtually no fat!! Not great, is it?
Obviously, these things were ok for me, but it may be different for you, and you can tolerate other foods.
Yes, I didn’t eat a lot. In fact, the thought of eating was daunting as you didn’t know if you were going to be in pain after your meal. Have you felt like this?
Gas Pain After Gallbladder Surgery
During surgery, carbon dioxide is pumped into the abdomen to allow the surgeon to better see the gallbladder and other organs.
Most of the gas is removed from the area at the end of the procedure, but some remain and can cause pain.
My pain was in my shoulders, and I found it unbearable, and nobody told me why I had this pain in my shoulders of all places.
I only found out after a bit of research what the heck was going on. Some people get pain in the abdomen too.
Lying on your left side with your right knee bent in front of you can help ease the pain. It usually eases within 24 to 48 hours.
Getting up and walking around helps, and drinking plenty of water encourages bowel function to reduce constipation.
What Happens After Gallbladder Surgery
It was such a relief to have that thing out of me. Before surgery, I was contemplating what I could eat afterwards, basically all the things I couldn’t eat before.. all the fatty tasty things!
One of my favourite things to do at the weekends is going out for breakfast with my family, and I love a cooked breakfast with some lovely fresh black ground coffee.
Gallbladder Removal and Diarrhea
The only downside of having fatty food is this it can make me rush to the toilet, and I mean rush, as I need to get there pronto, so it can be a worry at times.
Yes, this is one of the effects, I would say this happened quite a lot for the first few years of having my gallbladder out, but now it’s not so bad. Anybody else has the same issue? I would love to know.
Studies have found that 20% of people undergoing gallbladder surgery develop diarrhoea. They say the increase in bile acids that enters the large intestine acts as a laxative.
Another side effect is having mild gallstone pain (even though it’s not there anymore), a bit like indigestion. This is usually if I’ve eaten late at night, but it soon goes, and this doesn’t happen often.
My sister had her gallbladder out 6 months before mine was taken out (it must be a genetic thing), and her side effect is that she has terrible acid reflux, especially at night and if she’s eaten fatty food. So she always has her Renee tablets at hand, just in case.
Can you get jaundice after gallbladder removal?
Yes, it is possible to get jaundice after gallbladder removal. Jaundice is a condition where the skin and whites of the eyes become yellowed. This can happen when there is an excess of bilirubin in the body. Bilirubin is a yellow pigment that is produced when the liver breaks down red blood cells.
When the gallbladder is removed, the bile ducts can become blocked, which can cause bilirubin to build up in the body and lead to jaundice.
If you develop jaundice after gallbladder removal, it is important to see your doctor so that they can treat the underlying cause.
What Do I Eat Now After Gallbladder Removal?
I’ve learned that living without a gallbladder means you have to keep on a low-fat diet as you’ve no gallbladder to break down the fat.
Avoid high-fatty foods, fried and greasy foods, and fatty sauces and gravies for at least a week after surgery.
The NHS recommends avoiding caffeine drinks, such as coffee and tea, to avoid foods that worsen the problems, such as spicy or fatty foods. By the way, I have coffee every morning, and I need it!
Gradually increase your fibre intake – good sources of fibre include fresh fruit and vegetables, wholegrain rice, wholewheat pasta and bread, seeds, nuts and oats.
GALLSTONE PAIN AND THE EFFECTS OF REMOVAL CONCLUSION
It would have been nice to be told by the doctors what to expect afterwards or some advice on the situation, but there was sadly no aftercare.
Did you get any aftercare advice? Drop a comment at the end of the post.
Overall having the gallbladder out for me was the best thing to do as my pain was constant, and I had a newborn baby to attend to.
Finally, if I only had pain on rare occasions, i.e., once every few months, I probably wouldn’t have it out, plus it’s recommended to leave them alone.
Have you had any bad symptoms after your removal? Or does everything feel normal as it should be? I would love to know. Just drop a comment in the box below.
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