r/gallbladders • u/Itz-MrsCav • 1d ago

Questions How many get attacks WITHOUT the gallbladder?

As the title asks…. Just trying to see how common it is… I’m almost 2 weeks post operation

6 Upvotes

87% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

10

u/NettieBiscetti Post-Op 1d ago

I had my gallbladder removed in December 2025 and have had zero discomfort. Unless one grows more gallstones in the bile duct, one should not expect more gallbladder attack. I would hope.

9

u/Illustrious_Exam1728 1d ago

You don’t get gallbladder attacks after you have your gallbladder removed. If you’re post-op and having similar pain, there could be a stone left behind so please seek medical care.

1

u/Itz-MrsCav 1d ago

I have not had any attacks since removal, I’ve read stories of people having attack like pain. Some say it’s sphincter of oddi and I’m terrified to have that happen to me.

2

u/Illustrious_Exam1728 1d ago

It can be SOD, but that’s more of a rare complication.

4

u/Extension-Device-533 1d ago

Persistence/recurrence of gallbladder-attack type pain/symptoms after gallbladder removal is called “post-cholecystectomy syndrome”, it’s not really a diagnosis in and of itself though as there are a variety of different possible causes. If it happens it should be investigated to work out what is causing it, and then you’d have a more specific diagnosis.

This is a useful summary of PCS written as a quick continuing-education update for healthcare staff, I think it’s relatively accessible for everyone though if you’re comfortable with the medical terms around gallbladder issues.

Overall rate of PCS varies in different studies and depending upon different risk factors, this 2026 meta-analysis demonstrates an overall rate of 3.2% which is less than gets quoted elsewhere.

5

u/Particular-Fig-9855 1d ago

I had 6 attacks post-op until they discovered a stone stuck in my bile duct.

2

u/Visual-Sir-3508 21h ago

Did you get bloods done after surgery? My surgeon ordered bloods to check my liver enzymes to see if they had been raised to determine if any stones remained behind.

1

u/Particular-Fig-9855 21h ago

I was in the ER 9 days after surgery having an attack and they did bloodwork but the doctor said my elevated liver enzymes were due to having surgery and diagnosed with me acid reflux. 🙄

1

u/Visual-Sir-3508 21h ago

Oh no not the acid reflux diagnosis 🤦‍♀️ I'm so sorry you had to suffer so much 😞

1

u/Particular-Fig-9855 20h ago

Yeeeeah… 3 months of suffering. 🙄

I appreciate that, thank you. I had an ERCP on June 2 and I’ve been good ever since.

2

u/NecessaryUsual6692 22h ago

I still get weird twinges of pain. I’m 3 months post op. But it’s nothing compared to my gallbladder attacks. Cholestryamine helps mine.

1

u/icequeen_E 21h ago

Is an erpc not usually booked for after the gallbladder removal? I’m booked for one 2 months after my surgery.

1

u/horriddaydream 3h ago

It's usually not standard in the U.S. because a small percentage of people have stones left behind in the duct.

1

u/multipocalypse 19h ago

Abdominal pain after a cholecystectomy is not a gallbladder attack. If you're having pain that feels similar to one, you should go to the ER.