Recurrent gall stones in the bile duct after gall bladder removal

[brigitte425]

I had my gall bladder out in 2003.  Since then I have had recurrent gall stones that get stuck in my bile duct and have to be removed by ERCP.  It didn't happen until 2005.  Then it was close to another year and it happened again.  Since then I have had to have this done 1 to 2 times per year.  I have gotten pretty sick a couple of times, but mostly my doctor schedules me in time before that happens.  He is very much trying to convince me to have an operation that attaches my bile duct to my intestines.  He says that he is almost certain that will solve the problem.  I have tried every supplement and homeopathic remedy known to man to stop the stones from forming without any long-term success.  The ursodial I take 600 mg 3 times per day slows it down a little, but doesn't really fix the problem.  After having the ERCP I usually feel pretty goood for about 5 months then I start getting symptoms again and have to have it done again.  There is no real explanation as to why it keeps happening.  Now they are saying it must be genetic.  The problem I have is that the operation is major surgery and there is still no guarantee that it will work.  I met with the surgeon once and he told me that it won't stop the stones but they will be able to move through easier and more directly.  He said that if they get stuck after the operation, the only way to get them through would be to stick something through my back and push them through that way.  It seems that so far the ERCP is a better alternative.  I have had difficulty finding much information on this operation.  My stones are all cholesterol stones and everything else is normal.  Does anyone have any information on this re: is there any way to stop the stones from forming, is the operation the best option, how I can get more information on this happening to people and how they made out if they got the operation, etc.  Thanks for any help you can give me.              

[Colsev]

Your post has given me hope!   I keep on getting admited with terrible pain and I can't keep food down.    Did you have jaundice?

[ramapes]

I had my Gallbladder on Nov 18th, 2014, after suffering years of pain from numerous Gallbladder attacks that I though was severe back pain... over thiirty years of pain. Felt great!!! Hadn't felt that great since I was a teenager! Then about 8 moths ago... in August to be exact I started to get horrible stomach aches after I ate certain things... Then by the middle of last month I started having stomach aches about 30 minutes after I ate any meal... I finally broke down, went to the ER... they scheduled an MRI... and there it was a Stone in my bile duct... Just this past Friday, November 13th, 2015.. 5 days shy of when I had my gallbladder surgery last year, I had my first ERCP.... I knew when I went in that this may only be just the beginning...... Even the doctor I saw said that some people are just genetically predisposed to make stones...

[Solmiles]

I had my gall bladder out 10 months ago, I had one 4 cm stone the size of an egg.  I felt great until last week, when I started vomiting and having pain under my ribcage where the gall bladder used to be.  I also had painful muscle spasms there.  Going to have the endoscope thing.  It sounds like a horror.  My gallbladder was VERY infected when they got it out, I had to be on antibiotics for 2 months before the surgery.  Not looking forward to this at all.  Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories.

[Solmiles]

I had my gall bladder out 10 months ago, I had one 4 cm stone the size of an egg.  I felt great until last week, when I started vomiting and having pain under my ribcage where the gall bladder used to be.  I also had painful muscle spasms there.  Going to have the endoscope thing.  It sounds like a horror.  My gallbladder was VERY infected when they got it out, I had to be on antibiotics for 2 months before the surgery.  Not looking forward to this at all.  Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories.

[bgillette]

I had my gallbladder out in 2013 since that time I have had many issues, including intestinal.  Are these the types of symptoms you all are having...pain usually starts on the right side under the rib cage radiating toward the sternum, up the right jaw line and into the back, sometimes feels like a heart attack?  I have had MRI's, CT's and may have to have an ERCP.  The only thing that I have found that helps the pain is Advil.

[spt21012]

I never heard of this before tonight. My mom had her gallbladder removed 56 years ago and finally after suffering from severe pancreatitis over a week now and her systems shutting down they found a stone in her bile duct. The have since got it to move and they don't know if the damage is too much for her to handle at 76 years of age. She is a severe diabetic and has multiple health conditions.

[JayAitch]

I hope she was okay...

[chrisr24]

I had my gall bladder taken out in 95,was fine for a few years and then had problems again. Many ercps done. Got pancrantitis twice from it. Had the surgery done with the intestine thing like someone else was talking about. Am still having issues now. Nothing bad enough for me to go to the hospital, but still have pains. I wish I could find out what I can do to stop this pain forever!anyone have any advice?

[SarahSunshine82]

I am in the same situation. I was getting sick and having pain every few weeks on and off for a year. It got to the point I was passing out and went to the er. This is 2008. I was told my gallbladder was about to rupture and it needed to come out. I had surgery and was discharged a day later. The next day I started throwing up and turned yellow. I was taken back to the hospital and told I had stones in my bile duct and had to have a stent put it. I was in the hospital for about a week. I felt moderately better and symptom free until around 2010 when I started feeling like I was having a gallbladder attack again. I went back to the er and they were surprised to find I still had a stent and no one had done a procedure to remove it. They removed the stones that were stuck in my bile duct and the stent and I was discharged about a week later . A month or two goes by and same symptoms return I am back in the hospital with more stones and have another ERCP. I have changed to low fat diet but nothing helps. I have severe heartburn daily that is only calmed by 2 protonix twice a day, There is little I can eat with out developing symptoms. The stones came back again in 2012 and now in 2014 I have the same issue and I am waiting on new insurance to go into effect so I can go have them out again. Every time this happens they marvel that they have come back . No one can offer me any solution and I am so discouraged on how to live with this .

[Oktoberfest]

Have you tried Gluten Free diet?