Abdominal pain after taking codeine post cholecystectomy

[BELLEJC1]

Hi there, I'm 39, I'm 5ft 10", and have not had weight problems and have enjoyed a balanced diet all my life.  In 1999 after the birth of my first child, I began to experience terrible pain after ingestion of fatty foods when people came to visit me in the weeks following the birth- I was diagnosed cholecystitis (which I was told developed in pregnancy) and had a laparoscopic removal of gravel from my gall bladder.   When my baby was 4 months old I had a severe headache and took paracetamol with codeine (16mg codeine) which I had taken episodically during my life with no adverse effect. Within 30 mins of ingestion I began to experience symptoms the same as when i had a gall-bladder attack and I went to the ED thinking I still had a bile stone trapped somewhere - the ultrasound of my liver was normal. I have take codeine at random times for severe pain  over 12 years since then, and every time I take codeine the same thing occurs - sudden severe abdominal pain that feels exactly the same as with cholecystitis-excruciating!  Milk helps a little but not much.   I've read a few things on the net and I now know there is a relation to Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction after gall bladder removal that may be triggered after ingestion of codeine, and there may even be a link to pancreatic cancer in later life.  I'd like to contact others experiencing similar problems.  Obviously I no longer take codeine and have not experienced an episode since.  Why don't doctors warn us post cholecystectomy of this possible occurrence?  A warning may have saved me one trip to hospital.  I'd like others who have had their gallbladder removed to know that this is quite a common occurrence and there is more documented evidence of this occurrence than there ever was in 1999. It may even be very bad for you.  

[Liz712]

I had my gallbladder removed a little over 2 years ago. I am having random severe pain as well. The pain comes usually after taking Tylenol and just last night I took 2 Advil for a headache and I got the same pain. It feels like the same pain I had before I had my gallbladder removed. I have been hospitalized a few times for this reason and the doctors think I am there just to get some dope. I took a CT scan and nothing came up. Now I do not go to the hospital when the pain comes. I am always anxious now because I know I can be anywhere when this severe pain occurs. I am thinking about seeing a neurologist because I do not know what else to do. I wish i could just warn the world not to get this surgery because there are natural alternatives. Has anyone found any technique that at least reduces the pain? Any suggestions?

[Coke4ever]

I have the same problem from just taking Tylenol - without any codeine. Excruciating, crushing pain like someone put my rib cage in vice grip. Sweating, severe nausea, awful! I cannot take any Tylenol any longer and am allergic to aspirin and Ibuprofen. Regret getting my gallbladder removed.

[Sj5729seahorse]

Thank good ness.for google
Currently waiting for codeine to wear off... In agony  ...at least.i know now why

I only get it with higher doses.of codeine... Cold relief.capsules not a problem

[myName1229]

THANK YOU FOR POSTING THIS!!! I had my gallbladder out 5 years ago, even though I had no gallstones, just general discomfort, and gallbladder "not working".  General discomfort went away.  
Twice since then I've had these horrible attacks, breaking out in sudden cold sweat, nausea, feeling of suffocating, and feeling like a vice is around my midsection. Once after high fat meal, once with the flu, and now the 2nd time exactly 30 minutes after taking tylenol with codeine.  Thought the first time was a fluke.  Took this time for an abscessed tooth.  The side effects MUCH worse than the tooth pain.
I searched the internet for side effects, didn't find anything until this.  I feel better, but am concerned if I ever get an illness with intense pain requiring a narcotic.

[myName1229]

THANK YOU FOR POSTING THIS!!! I had my gallbladder out 5 years ago, even though I had no gallstones, just general discomfort, and gallbladder "not working".  General discomfort went away.  
Twice since then I've had these horrible attacks, breaking out in sudden cold sweat, nausea, feeling of suffocating, and feeling like a vice is around my midsection. Once after high fat meal, once with the flu, and now the 2nd time exactly 30 minutes after taking tylenol with codeine.  Thought the first time was a fluke.  Took this time for an abscessed tooth.  The side effects MUCH worse than the tooth pain.
I searched the internet for side effects, didn't find anything until this.  I feel better, but am concerned if I ever get an illness with intense pain requiring a narcotic.

[dinahb]

i too have had the same pains.  i also cannot take many other pain killers and it appears that nurofen and paracetamol are pretty much the strongest i can take which makes it difficult following surgery.  i find that when an attack does occur that Buscopan helps relieve it pretty quickly.  some foods trigger it off too.

[lalaw32]

I had my gallbladder removed May of this year, after developing gallstones during pregnancy. Yesterday I was prescribed Tylenol #3 by my dentist after starting a root canal. A few hours after taking it, I started having severe upper abdominal pains. I was actually driving, the sitting seemed to make it worse. I haven't felt pain so bad in a long time. It was almost worse than gallstones. I got very sweaty, felt some flutters in my chest. It was so scary. I took a Nexium, & Tums, nothing helped. It lasyed for hours. The awful pain went into my back. I woke up with it, still having it but not as bad. I took tge same pills during my pregnancy for the stones & had no issues with it. I read this is very common. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one. I go back to the dentist today, I hope they don't think I'm crazy when I mention this!

[paininthearticle]

I know this is old post but after getting root canal treatment yesterday I took Solpadol which containscodeine. I had gall bladder removed 2 yrs ago. The pain I suffered was like a gall bladder attack which lasted 4hrs. After reading this blog I now know not to touch anything with codeine in it.