Question:
What is causing this abdominal pain?

I am 1 year 1 month post-op. 3 months ago I had my gallbladder removed. Before my gallbladder was removed I was complaining of horriable abdominal pain my dr. did an ultrasound and found that i had gallstones. but shortly after my surgery the pain was back. it is not as intense as before but it is painful. it has happened about three times since gallbladder surgery. each time it happens it lasts for a few days and then is gone. it doesnt feel like gas even though it is in the area gas would be. has anyone else experinced anything like this? thank you    — Lindsay F. (posted on July 7, 2004)

July 7, 2004
Hi. I am 17 months out and had my gall bladder removed last week. I remember someone at one of my support group meetings saying that even after the gall bladder is removed, you can still have gall bladder like apin. Something about bile ducts and stones still being able to be produced was mentioned, but i cn't really remember exactly. I would ask the Dr. that did the surgery if he/she has ever had experience with something like this. Good luck.
   — Fixnmyself

July 7, 2004
I have not experienced this but I do lnow that even post GB surgery you can get stones in your common bile duct which still remains. It can feel almost as bad as a GB attack, Chick with your surgeon.
   — Sally B.

July 8, 2004
I get that same pain right in the middle of my stomach. It used to be every now and then, but recently the attacks are more frequent. I've been back to my surgeon many times; I've taken MRI's, CT Scans, more than once. Each time they say they don't see anything wrong. These attacks double me over and warrant a trip to the emergency room. But since changing my insurance I have a lot of out of pocket expense on my end so I don't want to go just to pay for the unresolved issue. During on of these attacks my coworker suggested peppermint which is known to aid in digestive difficulties. I know it is a digestive issue because it only happens after I've eaten something. Problem is that it is so random; I don't know which foods trigger the attacks. I recently visited a GNC. Asked them for peppermint which was out of stock, the clerk asked what would I use the peppermint oil drops for. I explained how and she said something that made a lot of sense. Long story short, she mentioned B12 vitamins, which help in the breakdown of proteins, of which I have not been taking for quite a while. I'm no doc and I dared not tell my doctor that I haven't been taking my B12's but it makes sense. The results aren't in yet, but I will keep you posted. Will you let me know if you get an answer from you doc as well? [email protected]
   — aprilbaree