gallbladder disease and reflux

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in OB, Med-Surg.

Hi, I am about to have a lap chole in a few weeks, due to a HIDA scan result of 9%, and very mild intermittent pain, nausea, etc... ( all that goes with having a wimpy gallbladder ). Last night I had a rough night because everytime I layed down to sleep, I would feel my stomach contents moving upward, and I would have to sit up. I was nauseated after each episode but never vomited. I am wondering, is reflux a symptom of gallbladder disease? I have not heard that being one of most patients complaints and can't find anything to specifically say yes it is or no it isn't. And any of you who had the surgery, are you glad you did? thanks gang :)

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I know when I had on gallbladder removed the first sign that anything was wrong was the reflux. Keep in mind I never had any for of heart burn or indigestion previous to this sudden case of aggravating reflux. It was quite mild at first but eventually became unbearable. Which is how they found that I had very small stones in my gallbladder. So needless to say once the gall bladder was removed the reflux left.:)

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

had GERD before lap choley and afterward so evidently it is not dependent upon the presence of a gallbladder

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Ok, let me try to figure this out. The gall bladder holds bile from the liver. The bile travels down the cystic duct and then into the common bile duct in response to mostly amino acids and fats. I suppose if the gall bladder was inflamed, then that might cause problems in the pyloric sphincter...or the lower stomach and prevent food from emptying the stomach.

Now, if you are talking about food moving up the esophagus (the other side of the stomach from the pyloric sphincter) then that's a distance away from the gallbladder.

I suppose (in my reasoning) that it's possible that the inflamed gallbladder is preventing food from emptying in the stomach, and if the stomach is full, then I suppose it's possible that food might leak into the esophagus. However, I also imagine that would be quite painful, and probably an emergency.

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Reflux was one of my first symptoms. After having my lap chole, my reflux disappeared. The only times I had reflux was when I was pregnant with each of my children. OTC meds helped and as soon as I delivered, I felt fine again.

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Specializes in PACU, CARDIAC ICU, TRAUMA, SICU, LTC.

Have you spoken with your MD re: hiatal hernia?

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I know when I had on gallbladder removed the first sign that anything was wrong was the reflux. Keep in mind I never had any for of heart burn or indigestion previous to this sudden case of aggravating reflux. It was quite mild at first but eventually became unbearable. Which is how they found that I had very small stones in my gallbladder. So needless to say once the gall bladder was removed the reflux left.:)

The opposite happened to me, once I had the gallbladder out I began having reflux. I'm soo happy I did though I'd much rather pop a Nexium than to have the unbearable pain I was having with my dysfunctional gallbladder :)

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Specializes in ER, cardiac, addictions.

In my case, reflux and gall bladder disease appeared at about the same time. I got rid of the gall bladder (the lap surgery wasn't as bad as even one gall bladder attack!), but the reflux stayed. Thank goodness for proton pump inhibitors. :>P

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Although we can offer support we can't offer medical advice so any symptoms that you are expressing concern over should be directed to your PCP. What I can say is I had my gall bladder removed and no problems since.

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Specializes in OB, Med-Surg.

thank you all for your info.........and i am not looking for medical advice, just want to know of others who have the same issue as i do. I already know i have gallbladder disease and i have already been to an md. I am more worried about the upcoming surgery than anything else and it was nice to hear from some of the others who have already gone through it. :)

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Specializes in NICU.

I had GERD first--I've been on Nexium since I was 16 and have these really weird stomach spasms/squawks that seem related to reflux episodes--Then my gallbladder quit out on me. Sadly, the reflux is still present, even if my gallbladder isn't :p

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