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What Causes Persistent Upper Right Abdominal Pain After Gallbladder Surgery?
Question: I have my gallbladder out almost a year but the last week I am getting serious pain which is identical to when I had gallbladder issues and now three days I've pain in my right shoulder also. How is this possible with no gallbladder ?
Brief Answer:
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Unfortunately, it is still possible to develop inflammation stony deposits and inflammation in the remaining structures that drain the liver into the small intestines. The gallbladder is the biggest culprit of this problem, but even with it gone, there are still the ducts connecting the liver and pancreas to the duodenum at the sphincter of Oddi.
Another possibility is that the liver can have some inflammation itself, which can happen with or after gastroenteritis (stomach flu), alcohol use, fatty liver disease, and even from the outside capsule of the liver being stretched when bending over if a person has abdominal obesity.
So, I recommend you go in to your doctor who will examine your abdomen (and may be able to locate better where the problem is coming from) and order blood work which should include a liver panel (liver enzymes, bilirubin). Depending on these, your doctor may want to order an abdominal ultrasound to have a look at the liver, and remaining biliary structures.
If the pain is quite bad right now, or if you also have a fever, then don't wait to see your own doctor, go in to be seen today, to make sure there isn't an infection that needs to be addressed promptly.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Unfortunately, it is still possible to develop inflammation stony deposits and inflammation in the remaining structures that drain the liver into the small intestines. The gallbladder is the biggest culprit of this problem, but even with it gone, there are still the ducts connecting the liver and pancreas to the duodenum at the sphincter of Oddi.
Another possibility is that the liver can have some inflammation itself, which can happen with or after gastroenteritis (stomach flu), alcohol use, fatty liver disease, and even from the outside capsule of the liver being stretched when bending over if a person has abdominal obesity.
So, I recommend you go in to your doctor who will examine your abdomen (and may be able to locate better where the problem is coming from) and order blood work which should include a liver panel (liver enzymes, bilirubin). Depending on these, your doctor may want to order an abdominal ultrasound to have a look at the liver, and remaining biliary structures.
If the pain is quite bad right now, or if you also have a fever, then don't wait to see your own doctor, go in to be seen today, to make sure there isn't an infection that needs to be addressed promptly.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you. If the pain does not ease over night i will go, however i currently have no temp luckily. I rarely drink alcohol so it cant be that. Is a blocked duct easily resolved?
Brief Answer:
Information
Detailed Answer:
It depends on where it is blocked, if that is the problem. One of the most common ways of removing stones in these structures is endoscopically (endoscopic sphincterotomy). Usually surgery like what is required for removal of the gall bladder is not necessary for dealing with retained or recurrent stones in the common bile duct or cystic duct.
Where and what the problem is needs to be sorted out first. And an ultrasound is a good way to see what is going on if there is a suspicion for stones or inflammation in the common bile duct. A type of abdominal MRI may be even better, but usually we start with an ultrasound.
I thought you might find the following article helpful. It might help if I translate a few terms they use first:
calculi or calculus = stone(s)
post cholecystectomy = you had your gall bladder removed
dyspepsia = indigestion
dyskinesia = not moving/functioning properly
strictures = narrowing, usually due to scarring or inflammation
XXXX
This may not "link" so if it doesn't, please copy and paste it into your address bar.
Information
Detailed Answer:
It depends on where it is blocked, if that is the problem. One of the most common ways of removing stones in these structures is endoscopically (endoscopic sphincterotomy). Usually surgery like what is required for removal of the gall bladder is not necessary for dealing with retained or recurrent stones in the common bile duct or cystic duct.
Where and what the problem is needs to be sorted out first. And an ultrasound is a good way to see what is going on if there is a suspicion for stones or inflammation in the common bile duct. A type of abdominal MRI may be even better, but usually we start with an ultrasound.
I thought you might find the following article helpful. It might help if I translate a few terms they use first:
calculi or calculus = stone(s)
post cholecystectomy = you had your gall bladder removed
dyspepsia = indigestion
dyskinesia = not moving/functioning properly
strictures = narrowing, usually due to scarring or inflammation
XXXX
This may not "link" so if it doesn't, please copy and paste it into your address bar.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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