Dyspepsia, pain, bloating

[JanineG]

I had surgery last summer to remove my gallbladder following a very painful 9 months of gallstones (apparently my gallbladder was "crammed full" of them and I was limited to eating jacket potatoes and dry white toast - couldn't even tolerate milk in coffee). Anyway, the operation went well and other than one post-op gallstone attack (which the Consultant said may have occurred as a result of one stone being lodged in the bile duct), I've been able to return to normal healthy living.

Recently though I've had a couple of attacks which are very similar to the gallstone attack (the bloating, distended stomach, extreme discomfort - although no agonising pain where my gallbladder used to be). So, I'm back to relying on my hot bath, tiger balm and voltarol to ease the pain.

Why am i suddently experiencing these symptoms again? are they anything to do with the fact that i have no gallbladder (i.e. bile is trickled into my stomach constantly instead of when eating), or is it something else? No particular food seems to trigger it - and yesterday i had an attack mid-morning when i hadn't even eaten anything since the night before).

Any advice would be gratefully received ! xx

[cazzz1975]

I cannot help medically but I can understand how you feel, I have had gallstone attacks and they are not nice! I have the same problem as you even though I still have my gallbladder I suffer from extreme discomfort if I eat the wrong type of food or if I eat too much food or if I eat quickly.

as a result I have cut a lot of food from my diet and I only eat smaller portions, avoiding trigger foods like gaseous foods will help a lot with dyspepsia
http://ibs.about.com/...food/a/GassyFoods.htm

giving up chocolate and junk food has probably help me the most, I eat a blander diet as a result but at least I dont have the discomfort night after night

[proudmary]

Hi there, I dont know if this will help but... my mum had her gallbladder removed via keyhole surgery 18 months ago and has had repeated attacks ever since. The surgeon said it had been a difficult operation and he had to leave a piece of gall bladder attached to her liver. Mum was in so much pain in November (she is 75) she was hospitalised only to be told that only a small piece of her gallbladder had been removed not most of it as she had previously been told. She finally saw a consultant last week from another hospital who looked at her recent scans etc and he is going to remove her gallbladder within the next eight weeks. It may be worth your while asking to see a specialist just to make sure all of your gallbladder was removed?

[Sqad]

Post cholecystectomy Syndrome.....occurs in about 1 in 3 patients.

Google it and get back to me if you want further explanation.

[JanineG]

Thank you all sooooo much for your help.

Proudmary - I hope your mum will soon be feeling much better after her op.

Sqad - i'm leaving AnswerBank now to go and Google! Thanks !

xxxx

[Flossy3]

Hi JanineG

I had my gallbladder removed a few years ago and the Consultant at the time told me I would very likely suffer from IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) as a result of this. My mum also had hers removed around the same time and suffers far worse from eating certain foods than I do. I often get a really sharp pain like someone is digging a knife in me just above my pubic area which is caused by trapped wind and I have discovered taking Windeze helps within about 5 mins. Just a thought.

Flossy