can gallstones return?

BoomerRN · Sep 19, 2006

I finally had my gallbladder removed yesterday (the surgery was cancelled and rescheduled x5). It really wasn't that bad. I am sore, but that is to be expected. I haven't required any pain meds yet and I hope I don't. I sure hope I never have anymore gallstones. The pain from them was worse than the surgery.

BoomerRN · Sep 29, 2006

I had the cholecystectomy via lap. on 9/18 around 12 noon. Returned to my room wide awake at 2/30 p.m. Sat up in a chair at 3 p.m. Went home at 3:30. No nausea or vomiting, of which I was concerned about.

No pain med. taken, just sore. I saw the surgeon yesterday for my 10 day follow-up and he pronounced me healthy. I told him the gallstones hurt worse than the surgery. I can't believe how easy this was. I cleaned my house and mopped floors after a week of taking it easy. Thanks for the feed back and encouragement that was given.

SBTLAWREN · Sep 29, 2006

I had mine out when I was 15 I was told you can have phantom pains after the surgery

BoomerRN · Sep 30, 2006

Yes, the surgeon said there would probably be some sharp pains on the right side as the inside was healing. I've already had a few pains but nothing bad.

blackmore · Dec 21, 2006

...i had my gallbladder removed few years back...surgery was uneventful...minimal discomfort...and im doing fine till now...

...a fren of mine had the same surgery...but hers was an open surgery...she wrote to me telling me of a fren of hers that had died due to what she said as having stones in the liver...

...i started looking for articles on liver stones and was rather surprise to read that if u had gallstones, then chances is that u could as well have liver stones all along...the article also states that the stones actually originated in the intrahepatic duct and travelled down to the gallbladder where they continue to grow in size...

...treatment wise...they recommended doing liver cleansing which could remove the stones...

...question...

...have any of u guys heard of liver cleansing??...

...thank u....

core0 · Dec 26, 2006

...i had my gallbladder removed few years back...surgery was uneventful...minimal discomfort...and im doing fine till now...
...a fren of mine had the same surgery...but hers was an open surgery...she wrote to me telling me of a fren of hers that had died due to what she said as having stones in the liver...
...i started looking for articles on liver stones and was rather surprise to read that if u had gallstones, then chances is that u could as well have liver stones all along...the article also states that the stones actually originated in the intrahepatic duct and travelled down to the gallbladder where they continue to grow in size...
...treatment wise...they recommended doing liver cleansing which could remove the stones...
...question...
...have any of u guys heard of liver cleansing??...
...thank u....

usually the internet is a bad place to get medical advice. from a scientific standpoint gallstones can originate after a cholecystectomy through two mechanisms. the first is described above, that the stones originate in the intrahepatic ducts. usually these are small stones that pass through the sphincter. the other method involves the cbd (common bile duct). once you have a cholecystectomy the cbd enlarges. this may leave an area or relative stasis. this can lead to cbd stones developing directly or an stones from the intrahepatic ducts may enlarge here.

as far as liver cleansing it is difficult to know what you mean. sometimes actigall is helpful in dissolving gallstones, but i haven't had much luck with this. other "liver cleansing" products are worse than useless.

as far as post chole pain there are a couple of issues. one is that some ruq pain is not gallbladder related. some of this is sphincter of odi dysfunction, some may be biliary stenosis from repeated stones, or bilary dyskenesia. all of these need to be worked up by gi.

david carpenter, pa-c

worried1 · Mar 28, 2008

I have a question, I had a surgery done to me on July of 2007 I have gallstones. The pain was very bad to were I couldn't move. I don't know the type of surgery I had but I think it was the fastest one which the I only have a scar in my belly button, another just below my breast area and two more on my right side of my stomach. Just recently about maybe 1 week ago I started feeling the same symptons before when I had the gallstones. My question is can gallstones develop that fast. I mean do you think I should seek a doctor and ask him or get another surgery done so they can take my whole gallbladder out. Please I need to seek some kind of advice. I don't tolerate pain very well. :crying2: :uhoh21:

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Mar 28, 2008

Worried:

Proedure you had is laproscopic cholycysectomy. See core0 post above you regarding stone recurrance post cholecystectomy.

You need to follow-up with doctor or GI specialist for further testing if ongoing pain months post procedure.

george57 · Apr 7, 2008

Has anyone heard of gallstones returning? A friend has had her gallbladder out but says she is having symptoms similar to what she had before her gallbladder was removed. I don't specialize in GI, so I was wondering if anyone knew if gallstones could come back? Could they lodge in the bile ducts maybe. I know this is not a medical board, but I was curious.
Thanks

yes, they can comeback or occur in the bile duct. An ERCP can be preformed to get rid of the stones.