What is a Postoperative Bile Leak?

Two days after having my gallbladder removed, I experienced horrible pain, much more than just the surgery pain and I was having trouble breathing. After a night of throwing up and severe pain an ambulance was called. After a HIDA scan, leaks were detected. I go back into surgery today to have the leakage repaired and a stint put in. I'm scared.

Two days after surgery, my daughter called an ambulance because the pain was so bad. I was worried I wouldn't make it to the hospital. Was told in the ER that I was constipated. Twelve days after surgery I could no longer handle it. The pain was unbearable and I was exhausted. Went back to ER and the leak was finally discovered. I had a stent placed, but I still hurt so bad.

I had my gallbladder removed in 2018, and about 10 months later began to suffer horrific panic attacks. It took me a while to puzzle why and how, but the severity and frequency of he attacks made imperative that I persevere and eventually I reconstructed what must have happened.

When the surgeon removed the gallbladder, s/he (I am not sure which) he must have severed the bile duct, but omitted to fully push it back into the abdomen, with its clip, or the clip came off altogether and the duct got trapped. I cannot be sure which.

Fact is, I discovered that there is a hormone, called choleocystokinin, which is a hormone that helps the digestion of fat and protein.

So, I have reconstructed that the CCk hormone is leaking into the exit wound, seeping into my capillary blood vessels, causing these horrific attacks of pure, unadulterated terror, that last, intermittently, throughout a day.

What helped me seal my self-diagnosis is the fact that, as the wound healed - forming a keloid scar - the duct was squeezed almost shut, and the attacks went from hourly or more frequent to only on occasions where i eat an excess of saturated fats.

This stimulates secretion of CCK that seeps into the capillaries surrounding the trapped bile duct, and enters into circulation. The symptoms persist around 24 hours and I have not found a way of neutralizing them.

Naturally the medical profession refuses to acknowledge this process, probably afraid that I would sue for compensation - I have no intention of suing the NHS!

I thought I would share this, in case there should be some who experience the same phenomenon and think they are going crazy.

When I had my bile leakage it felt like I was getting punched in the stomach area. It was worst pain I've ever had. My doctor tried to say it was just a backache. I went to another hospital and the leak was discovered. I stayed in the hospital for about a week. I had a stent placed while in the hospital. I had to have the stent removed after a couple of months.

I had a bile leakage which was repaired after five days. It's been eight weeks and I have terrible muscle aches in both arms and total skeletal inflammation and am continuing on 1000 mg of nabumetone per day.

Anyone else?

I also had a bile leak. The days after my surgery I noticed I wasn't getting any better. I couldn't eat. My stomach looked like I was nine months pregnant. Finally, a week after the surgery, my husband called an ambulance because he could not even help me to my feet. The pain was so bad.

We went to the emergency room. After several tests, they admitted me. The next day they put in a tube to drain the bile. I had so much relief from this procedure, but still a lot of pain. Two days later, they put in a stent. I am home now and it has been five weeks since the surgery. I am tired, but the doctors say I have been through a lot.

I go back in three weeks to have the stent taken out. Hopefully, there will be no more leaks. If it is still leaking, I will have to have another stent. Sometimes it takes more than one stent. I am on the road to recovery!

My Mom had surgery for a bleeding duodenal ulcer a month ago. Her JP drain continues to fill up with green fluid (bile). Her surgeon said the leak will eventually close with proper nutrition. I am just worried because it is more than a month now and the volume has not decreased.

Based on my experience, having a bile leak six days post surgery, you will absolutely you are having a major problem as compared to normal recovery.

I have chronic migraines, so I am used to dealing with pain. This was beyond! My son had to call an ambulance and I was hospitalized for two weeks. It took three surgical procedures to get my leak under control as it was "stubborn." Fun times. However, these situations, from what I've been told and read, are extremely rare! I know do many people who have done perfectly well with gallbladder surgery. Just be sure, if you are concerned about something, do not let the medical professionals put you off. Best wishes!

I had a bile leak. It took a week and lots of tests to find it and that was the longest week of my life! I assume everyone has different experiences, but the pain was worse then a kidney stone, labor, or having three C-sections.

Mine started has a heartburn feeling, but it went around to my back. About a day later, it went to attacks of pain. During the attacks I couldn't breathe and sweat poured. It could last 10 minutes or an hour.

I got three shots of morphine in about 30 minutes and it didn't ease anything. When the HIDA showed the leak, late that night a stent was put in. The next morning, I had surgery again to clean the bile out and had two JP drains put in. I wore one drain for three weeks. I'll need another surgery to remove the stent.

I had a bile leak after having my gallbladder removed. I was in a severe amount of pain after the surgery, but just thought it was from the surgery. The major site of the pain was around my kidney.

The pain continued for a weeks, so I finally went to the ER. Of course, they couldn't find anything. It took a doctor ordering a scan called a hida scan (sp)?, to notice the leak. I had the ERCP done. Unfortunately, the damage to my body was already so bad that I developed acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis. I had to be opened up completely and cleaned out.

I'm not trying to scare you. Just saying that if you do suddenly notice severe pain after having the surgery, say something immediately.

@drtroubles - I had my gallbladder out when I was in my early twenties due to bad diet and a family history of similar issues. I was one of the unlucky ones that had postoperative bile leak and honestly it wasn't that bad. I didn't even know about mine because the doctor spotted it first. I guess they wheeled me right back into surgery and fixed it. It was just a note on my medical chart my mom spotted while snooping about.

I think you'll be fine with your gallbladder surgery. Almost everyone in my family has had it, and besides the issue I had they have all been perfectly fine afterwards. The recovery period is a bit painful, but nothing medication doesn't help.

Having your gallbladder removed is a pretty common surgery but I didn't know until recently that a postoperative bile leak was a possibility until I spotted it on a list of complications that could result from this surgery.

Has anyone ever experienced a postoperative bile leak? Did you notice it first or did the doctor?

I am a bit worried about my own upcoming cholecystectomy surgery and worry that I won't be able to discern normal discomforts after surgery from something more serious. I am prepared to be really sore for a while, but am not sure about additional complications. Perhaps I am just worrying a bit too much.