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6 weeks post gallbladder surgery--on carafate and prilosec

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Posted 9/17/2011 5:21 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on carafate for two weeks now and do have less nausea and have started eating more....however, I still don't feel back to normal after gallbladder surgery.....Did any of you continue having digestive issues after 6 weeks---if so, what kind of issues----is this normal? Some days I feel good and almost normal----some days I feel slightly queasy, especially in morning---my energy is good---still have pain in left shoulder blade and ribs---
I really do think carafate is a good drug for bile reflux though ---the only side effect I have is some constipation from it but miralax works great for that-
Posted 9/17/2011 8:51 PM (GMT 0)
I had my gallbladder out on 9/2/2011. It was inflamed, had sludge, and working at 10%. I was sick all summer.
I had pancreatitis a week after my surgery. I was hospitalized for the surgery and pancreatitis. I still have pain, discomfort, constipation, burping, and nausea. My symptoms seem to worsen after eat. I am eating low-fat and no fat foods. The doctor and dietician said to eat whatever I want.
I am feeling better but not 100% better. I am wondering when or if I will get better.
Posted 9/17/2011 10:32 PM (GMT 0)
It is still early for you and I think you will feel better each week----I was sick for about three weeks before the surgery where I couldn't eat at all and then after the surgery, I still had nausea too and some discomfort---a drug that really helped is carafate---it addresses the bile reflux that sometimes follows this type of surgery as opposed to the acid reflux. I have been taking prilosec and carafate and can finally eat a regular meal but very lowfat and bland and not feel constant nausea....The carafate did constipate me but I started taking Miralax with it and that has corrected itself---It took four weeks to start feeling better and I still have some off days...Throughout this ordeal, I lost 12 pounds and I didn't need to lose weight---did you lose weight?--I gained a pound this week. I had so many tests and they were all negative except the HIDA scan so I had the surgery---I wonder if I had pancreatitis but it was not diagnosed...Have you had an endoscope? Mine showed some inflammation, probably from the bile so they prescribed the prilosec then later the carafate---Let us know how you do and write if you need support....I know many people who say it takes awhile to fully recover from this...
Posted 9/17/2011 11:23 PM (GMT 0)
I am taking Dexilant. Zofran (anti-nausea med) has not been working for me. The doctor never gave me carafate. I lost approx. 30 pounds this summer. I kept getting misdiagnosed. I had an upper endoscope done before my surgery and it only showed a ring in the lower esophagus. The GI doctor dilated it.

After my gallbladder was removed, I was still very sick and kept going back to the ER. The doctors kept sending me home because my labs only showed mild Dehydration. about a week after my surgery, the labs showed I had acute pancreatitis. I was hospitalized and treated for it.

I don't have health insurance and the clinics are booked up, especially GI clinics. They will not schedule an urgent appt.

Does anyone if I can get some type of disability since I still feel too sick to work?

What is the average it takes to recover from gallbladder surgery?
Posted 9/18/2011 3:11 AM (GMT 0)
I don't know much about disability but I bet you can---Zofran didn't work for me either---my nausea was horrible---phenegran did work some---
The dexilant is basically the same as the prilosec but a bit stronger---just call them---ask if they can give you a presciption for carafate---it is the only thing that helped me feel less nauseated and I began to eat...
In the morning I drink a protein shake made with egg white protein, rice milk, honey , banannas, and a tsp of peanut butter---blend in the blender with ice. For lunch, eat something very lowfat like a grilled chicken sandwich on gluten free bread but no lettuce, tomatoes or mayo----For dinner, have a piece of broiled fish, a potato and some steamed yellow squash----or meals similar to these---try to eat very bland and lowfat----
Do you have any appetite at all now? It took me until week 5 after surgery to even feel like eating---saltine crackers were my staple---also, candied ginger or ginger tea helped the nausea---gradually you will feel better---I still don't feel myself but do go out now to movies, the grocery, to lunch, and I can work half a day---Everyone is different but just know you will get better even if it goes more slowly than you expected---
Posted 9/18/2011 6:44 PM (GMT 0)
I do have an appetite. However, I feel sick after I eat with pain, belching, discomfort, indigestion, and nausea. The surgeon said I should not feel sick.
Would Carafate help me not feel sick after I eat? I feel like I will never get better and be able to eat whatever I want.

Thanks.
Posted 9/18/2011 7:48 PM (GMT 0)
It probably would help---how long does the nausea last---Your body is learning how to digest your food without a gallbladder---you probably have someinflammation and the carafate helps with this---
Posted 9/19/2011 8:27 PM (GMT 0)
The severity and length of my nausea and other symptoms vary.
I read people have problems long after their gallbladder surgery so I am nervous I will not fully recovery.
Posted 9/20/2011 1:01 AM (GMT 0)
You will get well---it might take some time but you also had pancreatitis so you have to recover.....and you will---your body is adjusting to no gallbladder and you are probably having some bile reflux---I think the carafate is like a miracle---just try it---it can't hurt---but follow directions---
Posted 9/20/2011 8:26 AM (GMT 0)
when I had my gallbladder removed in '04 I felt better immediately after surgery as far as the pain I had in my shoulder blade and right ribs. after 2 weeks I was pain free from surgery and the only side effect I had was bile induced diarrhea. I used questran powder for that and after a year switched to colestid pills. Both are old cholesterol meds that absorb the extra bile. I just used immodium now when I have a bout of diarrhea, which is fairly infrequent now.
Lillyle- did you have pain on the left side before your surgery? Just wondering because usually gallbladder pain is under right front ribs or right shoulder blade and usually after eating something greasy. Did they do any tests to confirm your gallbladder was bad? such as hydascan or found stones in it?

Take care,
Bill
Posted 9/20/2011 10:40 AM (GMT 0)
Yes---I have had the shoulder blade and rib pain on the left side for over five years---before my surgery, they did an ultrasound --a CT scan of the abdomen--x-rays of my neck, shoulder blade and viewed the MRI I had three years ago, an endoscope(found inflammation)---and a HIDA scan which showed a very low ejection fraction----I never had the typical right quadrant pain but nausea, belching, bile diarrhea and some indigestion----after surgery when I was still nauseous, they did a small bowel barium study and I still need a colonoscopy. I has been six and a half weeks since surgery---easy recovery but still nausea sometimes and some GERD and some diarrhea----however, I think the carafate and the prilosec have helped----do you think six weeks after is too soon to have the colonoscopy? I had one six years ago and all was clear--
Posted 9/20/2011 12:06 PM (GMT 0)
I wouldn't think it would be too soon since it really can't reach anywhere near where the gallbladder was.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 9/22/2011 12:14 AM (GMT 0)

lillye said...
I have been on carafate for two weeks now and do have less nausea and have started eating more....however, I still don't feel back to normal after gallbladder surgery.....Did any of you continue having digestive issues after 6 weeks---if so, what kind of issues----is this normal? Some days I feel good and almost normal----some days I feel slightly queasy, especially in morning---my energy is good---still have pain in left shoulder blade and ribs---
I really do think carafate is a good drug for bile reflux though ---the only side effect I have is some constipation from it but miralax works great for that-



I called the GI doctor who saw me in the hospital and he will not prescribe me anything or request an urgent appointment at the GI clinic. I can't get into to the clinic until December. My PCP will not do anything. Does anyone have any suggestions? I can't keep suffering like this.
Posted 9/22/2011 1:55 AM (GMT 0)
Can you go to an emergency room? Why won't they see you? Did you explain that you are really not feeling well?
Posted 9/22/2011 2:31 AM (GMT 0)
The clinic is booked up so that is why they will not see me sooner. I guess I don't meet the criteria for an urgent appointment. I even called patient relations and they were no help.

The ER will not do anything.

I am supposed to have a EUS done but the clinics are booked.

I told the doctors I was still not felling well.
Posted 9/22/2011 9:55 PM (GMT 0)
I am so sorry---did you ask them to call in some meds---perhaps you could buy some over the counter prilosec and ask the doctor for the carafate
Posted 9/23/2011 10:23 PM (GMT 0)
I left a message for my primary care doctor and he never called me back. I still do not have medication to help.
I still can't get in sooner to the GI clinic.
I am starting to have foul smelling, painful, and urgent BMs. I hope it is not Bile Salt Diarrhea. I read that does not go away.

Is the Carafate pill hard to swallow? Does the powder or liquid form have a gross taste?

I am still worried I will not fully recover.

Thank you
Posted 9/23/2011 10:37 PM (GMT 0)
It will take some time but you will---the diarrhes is very common---the carafate really helped with that---I would get the liquid because it works best and it isn't too terribly gross----two teaspoons is all you need to take at one time---Since you can't get the carafate right now---why not buy some over the counter prilosec and Gaviscon and take those until you can see your doctor---both of these should help---Remember I am not a doctor but I have been where you are---also, drink lots of water---
Posted 9/24/2011 1:15 AM (GMT 0)
Lil already knows my story about GB surgery. I am sorry to read that you can't get any help because of your current situation. For me the Metamucil three times a day did help with some of the symptoms you are describing. You can at least buy that OTC. My GI and pharmacist both recommended the extra fiber to help soak up the bile and to keep the BMs regular. I am 11 weeks out an still have a few minor things going on. It was a long time for a reasonable recovery for me. Started having excessive burping a few weeks ago but also started having the most normal BMs I have had in months, just a few days ago. Hopefully that is a sign that the bile is finally sorting out.

You are only three weeks out from surgery and also had the pancreatitis to deal with. Try to stay as calm as possible and not stress yourself out. Believe it was not until the 5th week that I could say that the healing was starting. Hang in there and keep eating well and taking your meds.
Posted 10/9/2011 4:45 AM (GMT 0)
10/08/11
I just had my gallbladder removed three days ago. I have really bad back pains, in my mid back if i lay down for any amount of time. My stomach looks like i'm 6 months pregnant. wondering if this will go away. Does anyone have any feed back.
Posted 10/9/2011 11:17 AM (GMT 0)
That will go away I think---you are only three days post op---the pain in your back could be gas from the air they pump into yoou during surgery---just try to walk around a lot and support your hips on pillows and lie on your side so the gas can escape---that really helped me---also, my stomach was a bit bloated and this went away after about three weeks---just try to take care of yourself, eat lowfat for awhile and if something doesn't feel right, don't hesitate to call your doctor---good luck
Posted 4/30/2012 8:02 PM (GMT 0)

Gallbladder Post Op - This is my story once every test possible was taken and all came back normal but i was continuing to vomit daily....

I was having alot of bile vomiting until I got the morning stomach gas under control with Gasalia dissovable pills from whole foods. This in turn lead to the next problem of bright yellow runny stools. I started taking HALF of ONE caltrate +D (not the one with minerals - purple box, but the pink box one) made a difference in ONE night. Felt like I had hope of leading a semi-back to normal life.

Few things to note, start very small dosage. ALWAYS take calcium with food. This helps the process...slowly increase it as you increase you food intake. I started eating more but didnt up the dosage and was having half good bowels and loose again. Also, if you take too much you'll end up constipated AND be warely of too much calcium as thats not good for you system or kidneys.

Be very careful also with the cholesterol powder as it does not allow for your system to absorb the vitamins/nutrients you need and can become deficient. Also at one point I was on several different medications and none helped and seemed to further aggravate the situation. Read those labels/side effects carefully! rolleyes

I'm on mostly herbal/natural now. I take the following:

 2-4 Gasalia (WF) dissovable pills upon waking up. Take it VERY slow. If I move too fast my tummy starts knots and vomiting begins. Give the pills a chance to dissolve so they can get the gas OUT. No matter how, get it out!

2 digest enzymes from whole foods (WF)

1 cranberry pill

.5 caltrate (they say 2 pills a day, this is WAY too much for me so i'm still at .5)

2 lecitin pills (WF)

2 daily probiotics (WF)

 

I'm also using A&D for my rear as it gets burning and hurts horrible if I miss a caltrate dose. In addition I'm seeing a chiropractor 2-3x a week. I tried accupuncture but didnt help much.

 

Along with that I'm eating about every 2-3 hours, small bland, low fat/low sugar meals. No raw (including veggies), dairy, oils, creams, candy. Try to stay as natural as you can. It is easier for your body to digest food (broiled/steamed/boiled).  yeah   

I won't say I'm 100% but today is my first day back to work and I'm not nearly in as much pain as I have been since exactly 1 month post op. I hate trial and error but that is the only way to get better.  Everyone's bodies are different and it is going to take time. I've read 6wks-6months or more. Just figure a plan that works and slowly add to it (eat more/get out) it makes a difference. I have good days/bad days still. Just as long as the ratio is more on good is better. I continue to have back pain where my gallbladder was but that comes and goes. At least not consistant as before.   idea I am posting my battle plan above as I've learned a TON from others (more so than from my doctors) and hope anyone that can learn from my experience can.

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