Diarrhea after gallbladder removal

Hi all-

I am very excited to have found this site.  I had my GB removed 5 years ago and since then have had immediate D anytime I eat, and sometimes even when I don't eat.  This made it very difficult to work or go out.  I had cultures, colonoscopy and it was all normal.  My GP then just told me that it would eventually go away and didn't give me anything else to try!!

For the last 2 years I have been taking Immodium every day.  I finally found that if I take 8 pills a day (4 in the morning and 4 at night) the D is controllable.  I know that this is way above the reccommended dose-- so I am wondering- Does anyone know if there are any long term effects from taking this much?

Also, I want to get pregnant sometime in the next year and am wondering if anyone knows if you can take Immodium while pregnant or if you can take any of the other medicines that have been talked about in this post?

Thanks for your help!

I have taken immodiums and pepto at times to help. I'm not doctor but I don't think I would take over the reccomended amount and do it daily. At the very least I think I would talk to the doctor about it or a pharmacist to get thier opinion about the safety aspect. My mom has had GB surgery as well as my aunt and grandmother and myself. My mom says that she had the diarrhea for years but it eventually did get better. I think she still may have the occasional issue but its not a daily thing for her anymore I think. When I had my surgery a year and a half ago, that was a big concern for me and I talked to the dr that did my surgery. I told him that I just simply didn't want to remain sick every day.... He told me that if I was before the surgery I likely would be after But that there was a powder you could take that would stop it and to not suffer with the D. I eventually went back to the doctor after the surgery to get the medicine to try and it has helped me greatly. It's called "Cholestyramine" its a powder form that you put a scoop full into your water or juice and drink with your meal or just before. It has done wonders for me. Its actually intended to aid in lowering cholesterol but I think there is something about it that binds the bile and works for this post GB issue. The only thing, is that I've heard lately that this medicine can affect your liver. I'm actually going to the doctor currently because the DR did a blood test and my liver enzymes were elevated not sure if its med related, or what but I'm having other tests to check out that...but instead of over doing the over the counter meds daily you may want to talk to a dr about this medicine or others that will help.

I think I'd definately check with a Dr or Pharmacist about the safety of taking over the recomended dose daily.

I hope you find a solution soon and get to feeling better! :O)

I am so glad I checked out this site. I had my gallbladder out almost 13 years ago after the birth of my 3rd child and I have had diarrhea since. I have been to numerous Dr's and tried different medications but nothing seems to work. I always end up going back to taking amodium and even that doesn't work well but I can take 3 or 4 before going out to dinner and know that I can make it home before I have to go to the bathroom. I am going to try the calcium and hopefully that will work. Wish me luck

Hi,

Maybe some of you have read my posts in other forums. Basically, I had my gallbladder removed in 2002 and suffered the Bile D right away. But I had already heard of Cholestyramine, and so I knew to ask my doctor to prescribe it for me way back then. It worked wonders for me, and I continued to take it for 5 long and successful years right up until just last year (June 2007) when the brand I was taking, Eon Labs, was bought out by another company, Sandoz.

Ever since switching to the Sandoz brand, although it continued to control my diarrhea well (thank goodness), it gave me unbearably bad gas, some nausea, and other GI side effects which have driven me crazy ever since. Last July, August, and September I went crazy back and forth trying different brands of Cholestyramine to see if I could get the same quality I experienced with Eon Labs. No such luck -- I tried Par Pharmaceuticals, Sandoz, Questran Light, etc., and although I was still relieved from the bile diarrhea no matter which new brand I tried, I always suffered lousy side effects. At one point in September I developed chronic sour taste in my mouth all day and a white coated tongue which has persisted to this very day. This has been my latest bad symptom to deal with which has driven me nuts for the past 7 months now. When the tongue began bothering me I switched over to 1 gram tablets of Colestid, which I thought might help, but I still have the effects. I have been on Colestid since September.

I went to a couple of GI docs, two regular GP docs, two Ear/Nose/Throat docs.... and a couple of them thought I had developed Thrush, but most feel this is reflux that's affecting my mouth. I have tried lozenges called Mycelex for the Thrush, but this hasn't cleared it up.

I should mention that I heard about Linda's Calcium plan, and a couple of times I did try to avoid all medications and dedicate myself solely to Caltrate+D (calcium). The first time I tried the calcium was last August for about 9 days (I did not have the white tongue at the time) but while it relieved  my side effects of the meds, I still had to battle urgent diarrhea -- so much to my disappointment, I had to go back to the medicines. After I acquired the chronic sour taste and  white coated tongue in September, I stopped all meds a second time and went back to Calcium solo --- I tried it for about 5 days and I still couldn't really control the diarrhea.... plus, it did not stop my white tongue...

I have not tried Welchol yet, which is my last Ace In The Hole, in a way... 

So I am really lost and am going more and more mental as the months (soon to turn into years) go on. I had such great luck with the Eon Labs Cholestyramine for 5 years; I don't know what happened after they got bought out by Sandoz. And now I don't even know why I have the mouth troubles -- is it reflux, acid, a side effect, dehydration, Thrush, Candida, or worse??  I HAVE to take something to keep my bile diarrhea at bay, but by taking these things I have a terrible quality of life. It is quite a dilemma. I am going to my doctor later today to make him run some more tests just because I need mental relief from the sour taste/white tongue thing. These doctors are all completely useless and frustrating.

    

 

Post Edited (Joe9) : 4/2/2008 12:42:04 PM (GMT-6)

No, I have been saving the Welchol as a last resort. For all I know, the Colestid I am now taking (and the Cholestyramine before that) isn't even directly responsible for the sour taste/white tongue I am experiencing. The reason I'd switch over to the Welchol now is if it would clear up the mouth issues I am having. I'd hate to stop the Colestid if it's not related to my troubles, since it works well as far as controling the diarrhea.

On the other hand, if my sour white tongue IS the result of gas/acid caused by these meds, then Welchol is certainly worth a try.  This is part of the reason I'm going insane -- just too many "what ifs" with no clear answers!! 

My gas and stomach issues haven't been nearly as bad with Colestid as they were with Questran. 

In an even more bizarre side note, I have been wearing a mouth guard at night for about a year and a half because I have been grinding my teeth at night. I was also wondering if the guard got dirty, even though I have done my best to keep it clean? I have replaced it once, but perhaps there was bacteria involved. Either way, as a precaution I have stopped wearing the mouth guard three or four nights ago.

As for probiotics,  would that be the Flora-Q I am taking? It was suggested to me by a GI doctor, as "good bacteria". As for taking antibiotics too, I have heard that antibiotics can actually CAUSE this condition, so I don;t know...

Thanks for all your advice. I still haven't been wearing the mouth guard, just in case. This morning I woke up with a sore tongue in the back, the same place where I usually bite it in my sleep when I don't wear the thing. I have gotten away with not biting it a couple of nights though. The mouth guard itself is a cheap over-the-counter job, which you have to boil and mold to your own teeth. So I'm thinking it may soften up and go out of shape if I boil it. I have thought of getting a professional guard made up by my dentist, but that's expen$ive and I'll hang loose for the moment on that.

I saw my regular doctor yesterday. I have seen many different docs over the past 10 months but I haven't seen this particular guy since September. I went there to ask him to do some tests, and finally I got him to swab my tongue (results in a few days). He's one of the doctors who laughs at the idea that I have Thrush or Candida, but he also took some blood and said he will look for Diabetes (would that cause my oral problems? Just what I would need with all I'm going through!!). I don't want to put the cart before the horse, but if I did have diabetes, then I couldn't use any Cholestyramine because it has sugar in it, nor could I take my daily Glucosamine for my arthritic knees, because that is also sugar.

When I talked about Welchol as being the last bile sequestrant I have not tried, the doctor told me he had free samples if I'd like to give it a shot. But I declined because I don't know what's causing what, as I said earlier. The Colestid seems fine, although - wouldn't you know it - this morning as I type I have VERY bad gas in the stomach and an unsettled gut. This hasn't happened in weeks, but this morning I feel lousy. Then again, I went off my healthy diet last night and actually ate some fast food which I have not done in many weeks, so who knows?

I like this particular doctor because he's a very down to earth and friendly type of guy, but just like all others he can make amazing errors. When he first looked at my tongue he asked me "How are you doing with the cigarettes?" to which I responded, "Very Good -- I haven't smoked one in my life".  Then, even though I had told him several times that I no longer use Cholestyramine and have switched to Colestid, he told me at the end of our meeting to "continue taking your Cholestyramine as needed". When I mentioned about the Calcium supplements which Inape suggests, he said "just take TUMS". But I've already tried TUMS plenty of times, and they did nothing... not for stopping diarrhea, and not for settling my stomach when it is upset, either.  

He was sort of taken aback when I told him how frustrated I was with doctors and that the scary thing is we all start to realize after searching for so long and hearing all sorts of different opinions that they really know nothing and that it's all guess work. But I think all of us out there have often felt like we know more about diarrhea, calcium supplements, and scores of other things than they ever will, simply because we've been forced to look up so much info and correspond with so many fellow sufferers like ourselves over the months (or years).   

Post Edited (Joe9) : 4/3/2008 4:13:34 AM (GMT-6)

Hi - Stumbled on this website when I googled bile salts 9 want to purchase ).  I had my GB out almost 4 years ago - worst mistake I could have made but must accept that I cannot put it back in!  Anyway, I was laughing at one of the comments I read about how not many doctors recognize the diarrhea after GB surgery because the diagnosis becomes IBS - although my doc says there's no way GB surgery caused IBS ( my syptoms began 6 days post surgery ).  Long story short I lost 30 pounds, was too sick to leave my house and finally went on antidepressants which helped TREMENDOUSLY with the pain but I quickly gained all the weight back plus another 20 - yikes!  I work out but the weight won't budge!  Anyway, someone suggested bile salts - might try them.  I don't think most docs have a clue the misery we go through post surgery - I was told I could go back to work one week post surgery - it almost did me in.  My surgeon said the only side effect would be tiny scars and that I might want to wear a one piece swim suit rather than a bikini - ha ha ha - funny guy.  I wish you well - I think one day docs will stop performing this surgery so nonchalantly - it is  a big deal that can debilitate you!

 

Hi.

I'm sure I don't have the answer, as I'm sure you've tried EVERYTHING. But I do take the Cholestyramine. Mine comes in a can with a scoop. I usually take two scoops a day through the work week. One in the morning without food and then once in the evening when I eat my one meal a day. What comes to my mind is seems like I do recall the instructions with my Cholestyramine, it seems like it did say something about rinsing your mouth as this Med taking over a long time can damage your teeth. Personally I don't really rinse after I use it and have never had this kind of tongue problem. But, perhaps you might should try rinsing your mouth out well, or brushing after taking the medicine. I've only taken my Cholestyramine for close to a year now. But maybe since you've taken it so long, maybe if you're not rinsing afterwords like I don't myself, perhaps this is why. It does seem like I recall that the directions did say to rinse afterwards but I never did... Maybe I should start doing that.........

piper777,

This may help your since you have had your gallbladder removed...

Lets start with eating veggies and fruit. The theory behind this is for normal folks eating more fiber in the diet is healthy but for us it only causes more gas cramps and diarrhea.

Next taking all kinds of meds over the counter or Prescriptions have side effects and by taking so many things at once you may be doing the wrong thing again. You need to stop everything you can and start fresh with one thing and give it a good try before going on to something else. No multi vitamins because the A, E, C and magnesium in them will cause diarrhea and stomach upset. Always check for side effects for anything you take even over the counter. Many anti acids contain magnesium and they to will cause diarrhea.

Eating lettuce is pretty harsh on the digestion if you have inflamed intestines and the acid foods and drink like OJ and Tomato sauce are not good until you can control the inflammation. So try to eat bland foods pasta little sauce, bread, soup, lean meats, chicken fish cereal etc. Cucumbers are gassy so this is not a good thing either. NO SALADS.

Calcium that you need to use is calcium carbonate with vitamin D only. If you see an unmeasurable amount of magnesium listed in the fine print this is fine this is used to process the tablets. Start with,if you use the Caltrate Brand, the on in the pink and white bottle or a store brand with the same ingredients. Be sure to start with 1/2 tablet with each of your 3 daily meals for 3 days then you see what is happening and then you adjust the dose. If you start with full tablets at first you will have indigestion and gas any you will want to give up too soon. This is important. If you need something for gas use simethicone. It did not cause me too much of a problem and the diarrhea was gone so the little gas was worth that. It does go away after the adjusting period of usually 3 days.


This should get you started if you want to do the calcium and I would be glad to give you one on one info if you would like to email me, or on the board. I have been doing great for 10 years now with the calcium only and many on the board also have great success as you can see so lets try to start fresh and see what happens.

Linda


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Linda (D-Type)If I don't take my calcium. Gall Bladder removed in 1976 and suffered with urgent diarrhea until I started calcium.

[email protected]

That is how it seems to work one time you can eat something and be fine and the next time to the bathroom with the first bit.

What a way to live.

Linda

Hi all,

I posted this as a separate topic by mistake.  My apologies....

I am SO glad to have found this forum...

I am a 34 year-old female, one child....  I had my gallbladder removed 5 days ago.  Yes, I know my body needs to adjust.  HOWEVER, my gallbladder was overactive/spastic, so I was having D all the time before surgery and this was supposed to help (still hoping it will). I didn't know about the bile-D until researching since I have had nothing better to do.  It sounds like the exact issue I have had off and on for 6 years (which I think would make sens if my gallbladder was overactive all this time) - was diagnosed with acid reflux and IBS at that time, 6 years later it's really my gallbladder.

I am already thin - size 2 and 5'7"- and have been losing more weight since my last attack - about 4 weks before the surgery.  Originally the anesthesia constipated me (probably only the 2nd or 3rd time in , but as of 3 days after surgery the D is back.

Is it safe to try the Caltrate this soon even if this is temporary? I would like to eat outside  of my house again!

Please help!

Thanks...

Amy

Great! I only take birth control, so I will it right away!