I had my gallbladder removed on 4/3/2017. It ended up being open as it was super inflamed and had many adhesions. I was under for 5 1/2 hours and they were not able to do the scan to make sure my bile duct was clear b/c they didn't want me to stay under any longer. They tried an MRCP Scan but was not able to do a proper one as the scan required pressing down on my incision and it was too painful. Fast forward to 4/19/17. I had leftover Chinese food and an ice cream sandwich (yes, I know it's fatty food), and shortly after I started having the same pains as I use to when having a "gallbladder attack". The bloating, center abdominal pain and back pain. It quickly became so painful that I went to the ER as this mimicked a gallbladder attack yet, I do not have one anymore. This made me worried that there was a complication. They did an ultrasound in the ER and it showed nothing. A HIDA scan was ordered for the next day. The next day my pain was gone and the scan showed I was clear. When I use to have gallbladder attacks it would block my bile duct, sending my liver enzymes high and I would urinate dark urine from high bilirubin levels. After a day or two my urine would clear up and my enzymes would eventually level out per blood tests. This last "event" (I guess I can't call it a "gallbladder attack") produced dark urine approx. 12 hours later. Just like my attacks I had when I did have my gallbladder.
The surgery dept was satisfied that I was not blocked, and not having any complications after surgery I.E. clips moved, stones left after surgery etc. The ER doc contributed my pains to "stomach irritation" which I disagreed with b/c I have GERD as well, and know what that pain feels like. And this "event" was 100% identical to the "gallbladder attacks" I had for close to two years.
Even if we all agreed it was "stomach irritation" what about the dark urine. My surgeon was not concerned w/ it because, in their book, it has nothing to do with my gallbladder surgery. So they are sending me elsewhere for answers. GI doctor is next on the list. I was hoping to talk them into a liver function blood test, but they wouldn't order it. That would have to be ordered by my PCP which I currently do not have b/c was just switched facilities.
Is it possible that I did have a stone that passed before the HIDA scan? Everything from the pain to the dark urine lines up w/ what I had for a long time before I had my gallbladder removed.
I am now so scared to eat ANYTHING that I will only eat my wife's homemade soap, water, and carrot juice. While that is of course much healthier for me to eat than the crap I was eating for the last two weeks after my surgery (and yes, it was a lot of crap, fast food etc) I have a lot of anxiety issues and the fear of another "episode" happening is terrifying.
I am hoping someone can shed some light on this.