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.  

[dwalter64]

I had my gall bladder out 22 yrs ago at six months pregnant. Last night I took a Tylenol/Codeine for a toothache. Within 30 minutes my stomach was in excruciating pain which caused my blood pressure to plummet and I eventually blacked out (my poor 7 yr old ran in the bedroom and told his 10 yr old sibling he thought I was dead.) It took two hours of horrible pain and fading in and out before the codeine passed far enough. Trust me, I will be more than careful of what I take from now on! I appreciate all that have responded to this board, I feel like I am not crazy! And, like others, I would like to know why this is NOT a warning on the medicine!

[owltogether88]

Hi there. I'm not sure anyone will see this because the threat seems quite old now but I had an episode today that was insane and when I looked it up, I found this threat. I recently had my gallbladder out and took a couple t3s and Just like everyone on here has said. The minute it starts to kick in boom! I could not believe how much pain I was in. It felt JUST like a GB attack. Crazy. I was convinced I would have to go to the ER but it died down.. then started again. It was really tough to decide if I should go bUT after throwing up I felt better. It was a good 4 hours before I started to feel normal again. That was the worst pain I have ever felt. Horrible. I know for sure it was the T3s. Thank you to everyone who posted their stories. Without people sharing their experiences you will never know half the info out there

[chrissycollects]

Such a relief to know why I felt so awful after a normal dose of tylenol 3 a few months after gallbladder removal.  It felt very similar--pain when taking a breath that goes from mid-belly to the back.  I will never again take codeine/morphine based painkillers.  I have had tramadol for pain and it is a wonderful alternative with absolutely no nausea or abdominal pain.  I'm so glad that there is still a good option out there!

[LCB68]

I see this  is an old post but I'm so happy to find it.  I have thought I was having a heart attack after taking codeine post gallbladder surgery.  It is so excruciating and no doc has ever been able to say why.  Did not know relationship between morphine and codeine and had the same reaction with morphine.  Now I know to avoid both like the plague.  

[cyndi54]

Had my gall bladder removed in 1990. Went to hospital last week to have neck surgery. Was giving a shot of morphine. 10 mins later I had crushing chest pain clammy, sweaty, painful. I was rushed to the ER my surgery was canceled. Stayed in ER 6 Hrs then into hospital. Everyone said heart attack. Then I was cleared no heart attack. They said it was because I got a shot of morphine and no gall bladder. I lucky to be writing this...

[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.