Gallbladder out nearly two years ago, now my liver blood tests are up and the GP wants a scan of the bile duct. Can stones come back without a gallbladder?

Old hand on here, I usually answer these rather than ask them. Gallbladder out December 2024 after the sludge saga, and I have been completely fine since. Eat what I like.

Routine bloods at the GP last week for my blood pressure tablets, and two of the liver numbers have come back raised. She asked whether I had had any pain, and honestly there was a night about a month ago with a gripping pain under the ribs that felt a lot like the old attacks, but it went off after an hour and I put it down to a takeaway.

She has asked for an MRI of the bile duct (MRCP, I think she called it) and repeat bloods. I thought the whole point of having the gallbladder out was that stones could not come back. Has anyone had this?

Not had it, but I remember the surgeon telling me before my op that it stops stones forming in the gallbladder because there is no gallbladder, but very occasionally stones can turn up in the bile duct afterwards. I had forgotten that until I read your post.

Kev, after everything you told me last year, it is very odd to be the one saying get it checked and do not put it down to a takeaway. But get it checked and do not put it down to a takeaway.

If you get that pain again and it does not go, or you go yellow or get a temperature, do not wait for the scan date. The site's piece on stones in the bile duct has the warning signs and what ERCP involves if it comes to that.

Update. MRCP last week showed a single small stone in the bile duct. Bloods a bit higher on the repeat. I have been booked for an ERCP next month, where they go down with a camera and take it out, and the gastroenterologist said it is uncommon but well recognised after gallbladder removal, either a stone that was missed at the time or one that formed in the duct since.

No more pain since that one night. I have been told exactly what to come in for if it happens. I am being sensible, Threestones, you can stop looking at me like that.