Post-Cholecystectomy Recovery: Common Symptoms & What to Expect

Question
I had a laprascopic cholecystectomy in mid March.  I had a few
unusual symptoms for gallbladder, this is what my primary
physician told me. I had nausea and chest pain that would wake
me from sleep, but also had lower back pain and pain just above
my belly betton.  I has no stones but my hida scan results were
only 17%.  The surgery routine but difficult the surgeon said,
because my gallbladder had adhered itself to all that was around
it.  I felt pretty well the first week after surgery, just tired and a
little sore, but after the first week I started waking with chest
pain and nausea again. I returned to my general physician, 2
weeks after surgery, who did blood test for lipase and hepatic
panel all were slightly raised.  He also told me to go back on
nexium that he had me on before surgery and sent me back to
my surgeon. The surgeon said he was slightly worried about the
lipase and said no fats for a week, but otherwise thought all was
normal, i would have a hard time after my difficult surgery.  My
general physician found it unusual for me to still be sick for so
long after surgery though.  I gradually got better after couple
weeks back on the nexium.  It has been three months and I still
take 40 of nexium daily and still have mildly upset stomach in
the mornings. When I try to go off the nexium my upset stomach
worsens. I also still have mild discomfort in my abdomen that
worsens when laying on my stomach. I also have a feeling of
pressure, kinda of a swelling feeling, under my right ribs shortly
after eating.  My questions are, should I still have these
symptoms 3 months after surgery or should this be of concern?
Also, how long can I stay on nexium if it helps my upset
stomach, its been five months already? Sorry about the long
explanation but I apprecaite your time and help.
Susan


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Answer
With continued symptoms and elevated lipase, I would worry about pancreatitis, inflammation of the pancreas, possibly from a gallbladder stone that can lodge in the pancrease duct.  You need a full thorough evaluation by a doctor comfortable with GI disease evaluation.... at your age, Nexium should completely relieve your symptoms if they are from reflux, so I would suggest you might have another process going on..... hope this helps....