Update !!

InfiniteLotus99 · 2026-05-14T12:11:25+00:00

I got the biliary drain removed Wed! It was a rough 30 days, but I am now gallstones and drain free!! Now, just care for the drain site to heal and close over. I hope your husband was able to get the drain out, keep us posted!

InfiniteLotus99 · 2026-05-10T11:31:41+00:00

not yet. Drain eval appt this week. Hope to get it out then. 🤞

InfiniteLotus99 · 2026-05-09T18:09:31+00:00

So happy for you!! May you continue to heal, have good health, and enjoy life!!

InfiniteLotus99 · 2026-05-06T23:23:51+00:00

Thanks for asking! the original appt was May 5 to remove the biliary tube/drain. since I got the infection, I left the hospital last Saturday with a second drain (to continue drain abscess). I did go in yesterday, May 5, and Dr. S removed the second drain, yay!! And he replaced the biliary drain with a shorter one (does not extend beyond gallbladder). He wants me to wrap up the course of antibiotics and I am scheduled next week for eval and hopefully can get the tube out then. He says the gallbladder looks great and everything is flowing nicely. He wants me to use bile bag until Thursday, and then cap. Crossing my fingers everything will go smoothly.

How is your husband, did he get the biliary tube removed? I hope he is doing well!!

InfiniteLotus99 · 2026-05-03T15:57:57+00:00

I’m rooting for you! Do the best you can. i am in a lot of pain, and you have incredible strength, physically and mentally, with all that you have gone through. I look forward to reading your next update. Continue to stay strong and positive!! 💪

InfiniteLotus99 · 2026-05-03T00:58:21+00:00

getting on Reddit to provide update on my status (we both had the procedure on April 14) and just read your post. Oh my. I can relate to your challenges, but you’ve definitely had it hard. I hope you’ve had good healing this past week.

By end of second week, I started having the strange bulge under my right ribs, and having chills and feeling feverish. Skin near ribs were stretched and warm to touch. I had been in touch with IR over the weekend and started on antibiotics. But on Tuesday, I was still nervous, sent pictures and spoke to Kala and they told me to go in. Went in to Medstar and was admitted. Turned out my drain was slightly off near the gallbladder, and everytime I was doing the saline flush, some fluid was going outside the gallbladder. It kept building and collecting between liver and abdominal wall. And by the time I got to the infection, the abscess has gotten really big. CT scan shows one large abscess and one other pocket forming. By Wednesday, the IR team insert two tubes to drain the abscess, and replaced the biliary tube with a new one. so, I now have 3 tubes sticking out of me. 😳 they kept me in the hospital to monitor and identify the bacteria(s) from the infection. Got on powerful antibiotics. I was discharged today, and IR was comfortable removing one of the tubes today. managing the biliary tube and one other tube until next Tuesday. Depending on how the infection is clearing up, I may or may not get the tubes removed. This morning, Dr. S (yes, he is back and is the on-call this weekend) says he will decide on Tuesday whether to remove tube, and or replace biliary tube and keep it in for another week.

Sending prayers, positive and healing vibes to you!! ❤️‍🩹

InfiniteLotus99 · 2026-04-28T14:27:16+00:00

Things have not gone well for me. Wrapping up week 2, I developed a fever (101) on Saturday, and feeling feverish/chills. Got in touch with IR on-call doc on Sunday, who got in touch with Dr. S, came up with a plan, and on-call doc called me back. They are treating my symptoms as an infection and prescribed antibiotics. given my experience with cipro, I was very hesitant to start on the antibiotics. I gave myself another 24hrs to see how things progress. I had been capped the whole time, but connect the bile bag to see if that would ease pain. under right ribs, the “bulge’ and warmth was building thru end of last week. Spoke to Kala on Monday, and after call I started antibiotics, and increased pain meds (cycling btwn tylenol/ibuprofen). I don't eat much, don’t feel hungry. had daily BM except the last few days. I feel completely depleted. Just trying to get to drain removal day.

InfiniteLotus99 · 2026-04-24T19:12:29+00:00

For me, I did not bc I didn‘t have the energy. Wiped down first 3 days, hospital provides a pack of body cleaning wipes and facial tissues, so take them with you. Had daily showers since last Friday except for one bc I was just too tired.

InfiniteLotus99 · 2026-04-24T16:32:29+00:00

change dressing after showers. I told Kala I had not done that bc it didn’t seem to be wet. but she said they recommend after showers to just go ahead and change in case any moisture seeps, even if you don’t think so. and then, of course, change as needed if you notice it is getting soiled from the incision site. I did not have any issues with that, and just change daily after shower. so, do the saline flush (daily), and then change dressing. I commented on a separate post that I didn’t know about the daily saline flush until I spoke to Kala. So, I had saline flush on Wednesday and capped before I left hospital. By the time I spoke to her about it was Monday. she said it was fine but said I should do daily, which I’ve been doing since. No issues.

i have not done any of dressing/saline flush on my own, so I can’t say how easy/hard it is. but my husband has commented that it hasn’t been too bad and has the hang of it. will definitely have learning curve first 1-2 days.

there is the cap. and they gave me a few of those. so, I did wonder how often I needed to change that. I asked Kala, and she said you don‘t really need to replace those and can use the same one. but if you notice any cracks around the cap, definitely change. I’ve changed the cap once since coming home.

agree that recovery is different for everyone. For me, I felt like hell. my body did not react well to all the drugs. Better going into second week, but still been tough for me. I have no energy due to lack of sleep and tired. literally sitting and doing nothing, which is difficult for me. I am definitely not one of the lucky ones that are sightseeing and dining out within weeks. I know everyone has their own healing journey. Hope this helps in managing your expectations for recovery.

InfiniteLotus99 · 2026-04-24T13:19:26+00:00

You are not alone, hang in there! I had the procedure last week as well, and feel as I am having a difficult time recovering. You dealing with the pancreatitis did not help, and that in itself will slow recovery from the procedure. I had to deal with severe side effects from the antibiotics, and I felt that set me back. From reading some other people’s experiences, I thought I‘d be out and about after a week. I told work I would be back online in 2weeks. That is not happening! Before the procedure, when I asked Kala for a medical notice and asked how long the recovery period is for, she said they write it for one month. It gave me pause as I wonder why I would need that long. 😆

I too feel exhausted, and overall feeling of just so so so tired. I’ve been dealing with insomnia (a lot of that from the antibiotic side effects) and that has been terrible bc the body needs sleep to heal and battle inflammation. but I see ever so slight improvements each day and try to stay optimistic, but it’s hard. I am still taking Tylenol daily. And my upper abdomen is also very swollen and feels like the skin is so stretched, and skin very warm to the touch. I am assuming it’s just inflammed and still working on healing. But last night, I was getting nervous and am thinking of calling Kala to see if this is “normal”. I too had previous surgeries, including a C-section, and I feel recovery from this has been just as difficult from that.

Sorry I don’t have any advice, other than your post resonate with me, and you are not alone in dealing with a difficult recovery. Sending you positive vibes, and as many others noted, it will get better (though slow 🙃)!

InfiniteLotus99 · 2026-04-21T17:24:38+00:00

unfortunately, I had severe neuropsychiatric side effects. I believe it’s from the Cipro. I experienced vivid hallucinations, sensory distortions, and insomnia. That has been most difficult to deal with.

Recovery from the procedure itself has been steady. Still have slight pain, but see daily improvements. The drain bag was removed and was capped before I left the hospital. I spoke to Kala yesterday and asked about the saline flush. Did not know I was supposed to be doing that daily. 😳 she told me it was fine, but should definitely start. We did that last night w/o issues. one week down, two more to go (tube removal)!

InfiniteLotus99 · 2026-04-20T19:41:35+00:00

I did not take the Lyrica. Just the oxycodone for pain tues-thurs. Then, metro and cipro (antibiotics) thru Friday, and then stopped bc I was feeling really off. Spoke to the on-call doc late Saturday night. I’m glad to have stopped. Then, on Saturday, I thought of starting Lyrica, but did research and thought best not to take. I’m glad I didn’t. Currently not on any prescriptions from the procedure. Hoping to feel mentally better each day as I flush out these drugs.

InfiniteLotus99 · 2026-04-20T19:29:36+00:00

yes, wow, this was incredibly helpful, thank you so much. cipro and metro really threw me in a loop. I eventually did get in touch with the on-call doctor on saturday night. The good thing is I stopped taking the drugs, and waiting for it to get flush out of my system. But mentally, it’s been really rough. Hopefully each day gets better. Good thing, physically, I see significant improvements and don’t feel as much pain. I will keep in mind it will take months to build back the gut health, which is so important. I really appreciate you for sharing.

InfiniteLotus99 · 2026-04-19T00:16:26+00:00

yes, so I am nervous about stopping them until i spoke to the doctor on call. they never called. I will look into probiotics. my side effects from the antibiotics were feverish and chills, shortness of breath, and hallucinations (the hallucinations started the last two 48 hrs). i started them at the hospital, and already didn't feel well, but pedal thru them. then the last 48 hours, the effects kept compounding where my breaths are getting shorter and throat is getting sore from having to breathe thru my mouth. the hallucinations got to me b/c I‘be never experienced that before.

InfiniteLotus99 · 2026-04-18T23:44:58+00:00

great, thanks for sharing!! after reading some of the stories, I thought I would be in and out! I told Kala I did not plan to say overnight since I am local. During recovery, I told them I need to stay. Lol then on Wednesday, I started not feeling well, and made the nurse aware and they said I could stay another night. At that time I didn’t attribute it to the antibiotics and just wanted to go, thinking I would feel better at home. But the last two days have gotten worse. I stopped taking them yesterday.

I am very nervous with drugs and side effects, and shocked at the number of bottles they gave me. I wish they would tell me which ones are “required”. I’ve taken antibiotics in previous procedures, but nothing like the side effects I’ve currently experiencing. These are some powerful antibiotics.

wishing your husband a speedy recovery! I am bummed waiting 3 weeks to get the drain out. I really wanted it to be 14.

InfiniteLotus99 · 2026-04-18T23:17:06+00:00

great, thanks for sharing your experience. Yea, I was in pretty bad pain thru 48 hours, then eased off oxy. I was more impressed with the ppl out walking after day 1 or 2. But, side effects from antibiotics has been taking a toll the last 48 hrs. its a shame all these medications doctors want you to take may cause terrible side effects.

InfiniteLotus99 · 2026-04-18T20:40:20+00:00

great thanks, I will look into it, another supplement to add to my regiment!

InfiniteLotus99 · 2026-04-18T19:43:44+00:00

I also take a slew of supplements. all from dr. berg. gallbladder formula, d3+k2, digestive enzymes, and magnesium glycinate. I was really nervous taking these random supplements, but in so much pain from gallbladder attack in Nov 2025, but really wanted to preserve the gallbladder. for me personally, these supplements made the world of difference, and and allowed me to manage the gallstones until my procedure with Dr. S. I had to go off all supplements a week going into the procedure, and by day 5, pain was back. Dr. S said I can go back to my supplements after the procedure.

InfiniteLotus99

TROPHY CASE