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Post gallbladder surgery symptoms

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Posted 12/30/2014 7:22 PM (GMT 0)
Hi I am 11 weeks post gallbladder surgery and since then I have been feeling a terrible sensation of a lump on my throat and burning in my throat and chest. I've seen different doctors, my surgeon a gastro doctor and several gps. I've tried different meds, first PPIs which didn't help at all in fact made my heartburn worse so I stopped taking them, then the gastro doctor said to try sucralfate, which helps a bit but the burning on throat comes back always, and now in the last two weeks my surgeon suggested to take denoltab which helps a little but also only with temporary relief of my symptoms. I think I have excess of bile going into my stomach but only further exams will confirm it. Because of a lack of gallbladder, am I going to suffer forever with this? Everyday I struggle and I have a five months baby but I am very concerned that it will become only worse.please Is there anyone with a similar situation and is surgery the only certain treatment for this. I 've researched so much about bile reflux and it can in time cause cancer in esophagus.
Posted 12/30/2014 11:59 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, I dont have experience of it myself, but I believe this is a common problem post gall bladder removal. Sounds like bile is the problem, I would keep taking the sucralfate as it binds to bile and will help. Ask your doctor about dosage because its not really a medicine so you may be able to take more of it without any side effects. Stay away from the ant-acids, as you've already found, they make it worse.

The reflux will be a separate issue as no matter if its acid or bile, it shouldn't be continually coming up your esophagus. Unfortunately there is no magic pill like PPIs for bile. Things to avoid are physical positioning like lying down, try to remain seated upright as much as possible and keep your abdomen relaxed. At night you can sleep on a wedge or elevate the bed to help ease reflux at night. You might have something like a hiatus hernia or weak LES, a GI can diagnose this by barium swallow or endoscopy. A surgery can fix it if need be but is more of a last resort.

You may also find some relief eating acidic foods, like citrus fruits and juices. I find it important to not over-eat or drink too much as it causes my reflux. When I get attacks I stop putting anything in my mouth and try to remain upright and relaxed. In time it usually passes as the stomach empties.

Hopefully this wont last forever, my own reflux was horrible for quite a while but one day just seemed to improve all by itself. I think abdominal relaxation helps me a lot, I do whole body relaxation exercises and they always make me feel better, I guess it allows food to move more easily through my digestive system. Might be worth a try, it really helps the mind stay calm as well.
Posted 12/31/2014 3:24 AM (GMT 0)
Leni09

Welcome to Healing Well.

It's very common to have issues with bile after gallbladder removal. It usually does get better, but how long it takes and how much better is different for everyone.

Eating small meals frequently though out the day can help as it absorbs the bile. I have to be sure to do this or I getting dumping syndrome. I basically graze most of the day.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 12/31/2014 2:01 PM (GMT 0)
I had gallbladder removal in April and my heartburd and gerd got worse! A lot worse!! Now I have hiatel hernia and 4 ulcers. Surgery is in 6 days.

I do believe having my gallbladder removed is what worsened my symptoms. I take 40 mg omiprozole 2 a day. And chew on tums all time.

Maybe you could ask for a egd and see what it looks like in there.
Posted 12/31/2014 4:20 PM (GMT 0)
Hi thank you for all of your replies. Hello pMernzy I've never suffered from any reflux wathsoever before surgery and why all of sudden I have the valves not working properly, because bile is passing to stomach via pyloric valve and onto esophagus via les valve? What surgery are you having, the roux en y or Nissen fundo? All of best.

Hi Andy I've tried everything( elevate bed, no acidic foods, very light meals, etc nothing helps with symptoms. The only thing is the new tablet I am taking denoltab helps a bit with lump on throat and burning.for what I searched only surgery helps completly with bile reflux but it is perhaps too soon for that as it is a complicated one and I don't know anyone that has done the reconnection of the bile duct to the intestine to know how successful it actually is. There are some studies I read and it was hight the success rate but I would like to know about someone that has been though the experience but I don't know nobody yet
sad


Hi Bill
I am hoping that it will get better this reflux thing in time but for now I am concerned about it because I read a lot about it and like you said bile is a problem when you don't have a GB anymore. It can cause you a lot of discomfort and pain if not treated the bile reflux. But my doubt is still is why the valves stopped working properly after surgery when I didn't never have any issues before?. Thank you for your words . All the best
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