Has anyone had gallbladder attacks since having your VSG? The weird thing is my pain is all on the left and the GB is on the right..My doctor suggested I get an Ultrasound and I will but I wanted to pick everyones brain as well.

The classic pain pattern is a radiating pain on the right side under the ribcage that radiates out and quite often radiates to the back between the shoulder blades.

I had those exact pains 23 years ago and had to endure the episodic and very painful attacks for 6 months before I was given surgery to remove my gallbladder. Since I did not have an infection, the surgery wasn't what they considered emergency. Gosh that pain was awful.

I would curl up in a ball on the bed to try and get through the pain. Often I was in the bathroom feeling like I would explode...but I was not vomiting or having the runs, I just needed a private place to get through the episode.

An ultrasound can diagnose the stones in just a few minutes time, if that's what it is.

Gallbladder pain can radiate up to shoulders and also to the left.. you don't always have the pain in the actual gallbladder until you get very near the end and you wind up with a ruptured gallbladder. It wasn't until my gallbladder ruptured that I knew EXACTLY where the pain was originating from.

I thought that I was having a heart attack! It is very painful.

Good luck to you

So glad my sleeve surgeon took mine out while he was in there! I was diagnosed with gallstones during my pre-op u/s. I really didn't know I had them but periodically would have this dull aching pain in my back that was rather unpleasant, which was gall bladder related, I think.

-Kendra

I posted this in a Hernia Topic earlier - but it applies here also. I apologize if this is not proper etiquette. Please see red below - can this still be a gallblatter problem even if they don't see stones?

"I am waiting insurance approval. Hope to have sleeve later this month. I too have a small hernia which he said he would fix. Couple of questions:

• For the last couple of weeks I have been getting a feeling of food coming up my throat, bad hunger like feelings, and pain (mid back) when I sleep on my right side. Had endoscope - all ok. Had gallblatter ultrasound - ok. I have had gerd before and this doesn't feel like it - it doesn't get worse when I lay down, opposite - worse when I stand up. I take 2 nexiums/day. Does this sound like something from my hernia. My Doctor is unconcerned about this and all set to continue with the surgery?
  
• What is all the gas from and why is it such a big deal after surgery? I have read lots of recommendations to bring Gas X for post surgery..."
  

Thanks All

Yes, it can still be gallbladder! I just had mine out yesterday. I originally got an ultrasound in May before my sleeve and I had no stones. I'm kind of irritated the doctor didn't look into it more so I could have had it removed with my VSG in June. When I started having attacks again a month ago I ended up in the ER because I, too, felt like I was having a heart attack. After that I had a hida scan, which tests gallbladder function. My was functioning at 7% (ejection fraction, I think it's called). So, if the ultrasound does not show stones but you are still having attacks, ask your doctor about a hida scan because it could just be diseased. It's very common after losing weight... my bariatric surgeon actually did my GB too.

Thanks Keldolbeth

Do my symptoms sound to you like GallBladder symptoms. My surgeon only ordered the ultrascan because I was so insistent. And my GI doctor is giving me grief as well - his statement regarding my symptoms was that from a GI perspective I am fine. I would hate for this to be a developing gallbladder problem, get my sleeve and then have to come back like you. Conversely, I don't want to mess with it if its fine. BUT I am concerned about ignoring the symptoms and about going into surgery with something undiagnosed...