After Gallbladder removal

 Hi, in 2006 I was experiencing weird syntoms where I just couldn't eat.  My doctors said "depression and GERD."  I found this a bit strange because my GERD was always under control for years as long as I ate what I wanted in moderation.  My syntoms were different too, so I knew that I was being misdiagnosed.  Finally, I went to a new GI who sent me for further testing and found that it was my gallbladder; shortly after, it was removed and all my problems went away for about 2-3 months.  Unfortunately, no one told me about any diet, infact, my doctors said I could eat anything I wanted so I did.  Well, guess what?  I got sick again, and I developed gastritis, and bad pain in the middle of my chest and back, and I couldn't eat again.  I was convinced that something went wrong with the removal of my gallbladder.  I was given prilosec which I took for 3 weeks and complaint about it.  The 1st 2 weeks was wonderful, but the 3rd week I was getting weird syntoms up my throat, ears and headaches.  Oh boy, what now!    I remembered two persons talking about how they developed IBS after their gallbladder was removed, so I took some pills I had for IBS, and all my synthoms went away, even the acid reflux, and gastritis.  Right now I'm about 95% better.

So for those of you who are experiencing problems after a gallbladder removal, check for IBS.  I have had IBS and GERD for years and it was never hard to control, until my gallbladder was removed.  IBS comes and goes.  Hope this will help. 

 

angelwish,

What you most likely have is bile salts diarrhea this happens after having the gall bladder removed to lots of people. Email me and I will give you my info on calcium and how to take it to control this problem. It has worked for many sufferers of diarrhea.

Linda

Sojourner2dd,

You may want to listen to your doctor you gall bladder can become abscessed and that can be life threatening. I tried most of the meds offered by doctors to control the diarrhea after the gall bladder was removed but the only thing that worked was the calcium. Which is a good thing to take anyway. If you have other health issues it can be more difficult to get it to work because you may have other meds with sided effects that will interfer with your success with the calcium.

Linda

I was recently diagnosed with IBS and bile acid diahrrea after having my gallbladder removed. After a while of working it out, I am now taking Colestid (a cholesterol med that reduces bile acids) and Levsin SL and my BM's are once daily, pain free and like normal stools.

I don't know about any natural cures but I do know that if I'm VERY careful to avoid any fat then I don't get problems even if I forget to take my pills. It's darn near impossible to have a completely low fat diet... but it was worth the sacrifice. I also cut out caffine, and gosh it seems like everything.

A doctor recently suggested psyllium fiber, and I've tried it in the last few days and it seems to be helping so far.

Veggies were hard for me to eat and fruit after the GB was removed and I don't think you have IBS when you have you gall bladder removed it is Bile Salts Diarrhea. IBS is what they say you have if they can not find any other reason for the diarrhea and the reason after the GB is removed is the excess bile salts always running through the system. Calcium carbonate with vitamin d taken at regular intervals with food has controlled lots of us with this condition but you won't find a doctor to suggest this because it has not been scientifically proven to work they will not recommend it. No money in it for them.

Linda

Th calcium will help with the acid in the stomach and intestines. You do need to take it every day with food and start with 1/2 tablet with your 3 daily meals. Avoid lettuce and acid foods and drinks.

If you were taking pain meds this will constipate you.

Linda

The calcium does constipate that is why it helps with diarrhea. I use the calcium carbonate with added minerals it has a small amount of magnesium that can help there. You may need to spread your doses apart if you get constipated to 1/2 with breakfast and 1/2 at dinner to start. It takes about 3 days to adjust to the calcium it can cause you gas or indigestion but this goes away. You can take simethicone if you need to for this. Mine is 600 mg of calcium carbonate and 400 iu of vitamin d and added minerals. Walgreens has this in there store brand.

Linda

My wife had her GB removed 4 weeks ago at first any fat would cause diarrhea but now she is getting constipated which she has had that for years. I was hoping the GB removal would fix it she had it removed because it caused paid for 3 years they kept saying it was acid reflux but after a few times we found it was after she ate fatty foods her GI orded a hida scan it was 35%. They said she had no stones and it was up to us to have it out or not. She couldn't wear a bra all day it would cause pain and she had to pull on the front all the time and contort her body. When the surgen pulled the GB out she told us it was full of black bile which she said was a good thing because that black bile was a sign that the GB was causing the issue. Now she complains that her breath is bad and her teeth feel dirty eventhough she is brushing 3-4 times a day. She says her body oder is stronger now I don't notice anything maybe her body just adjusting to not having a GB. This last week she has been doing better still has to watch out for fatty foods but thats okay less fat is better.

I hope the operation helped a much as you thought it would. I had my gallbladder removed 4 weeks ago--I had already been diagnosed with IBS. I assumed all my symptoms were tied to my gallbladder, but I'm having a very hard time recovering. In the mornings, I eat a couple of eggs or a bowl of Cherios, have the two trips to the bathroom, loose unformed stools, then rush to work, hoping I won't have to stop on the way. I'm fine till about 10:00 a.m. Then, I start feeling weak and faint, getting chills and get this feeling that my stomach's full, which, of course, it's not. I eat one portion of applesauce (50 calories) and a banana for lunch. Then, the feeling of fullness and dull pain continues till it reaches a peak and I have to stop working. My mind is constantly on what's going to happen next. Will I pass out? Will I have to run to the bathroom? I'm going to start taking the Calcium the way that Linda recommends, and see if it works. I'm already eating low fat, but what works one day doesn't work another. I am sick of being sick, especially when I thought this surgery would help so much. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Hi DendroicaBlue. Isn't the internet amazing? I had searched "official" website after website, WebMD, Mayo Clinic's, etc., but they never came up with anything I could use. Then, I was home from work--and in despair. i don't like the thought of taking Immodium by the handfull--or much of anything else. I, too, read the posts on this website, and thought, "That's me!" I had the yellow bile salt IBS before my gallbladder was removed! At least then, I could control it on the BRAT diet. But after the removal, BRAT didn't work anymore. What I have found is that most doctors won't suggest medication, or what might work for you. When I was 40 I was diagnosed with IBS, but what I had was Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, an autoimmune disease that was killing my thyroid, so my thyroid was going nuts until it died. I lost 20 pounds, and didn't dare eat out. Then, after my thyroid was dead, I gained back 25, my hair started falling out, and I could sleep for 24 hours without getting any rest. My periods stopped. I was constipated. After 2 years of fooling around with my GP--he said I was probably entering menopause. He gave me tranquilizers and stuff for IBS that made me slur my words--I went to a female OB/GYN who sent me to an Endocrinologist. Now, I'm on Thyroid medication for life. Anyway, I tried Linda's calcium treatment, and--it mostly works for me! I still have to be careful, no or very low fat. And, if I eat recklessly, it takes me two days to get over it. Let me know how your edoscopy went. I'll see my GI guy next week. If he comes up with anything else, I'll let you know. Take care! LuckyGirl49.

Hi DendroicaBlue! I've been taking Caltrate 600+D. Walgreens has the same formula under their brand. It's Calcium Carbonate. It's been mostly working for me since Thursday, the 8th. On really bad days, I take one or two Immodium AD's. I went to my Gastroenterologist today, and he gave me a prescription for Colestid. It's basically a resin that binds the excess bile salts as well. I'm going to get it filled and see what happens. I guess it comes in a powder or granular form and you mix it with water and drink it. He told me to take it at night, but I might need to take it each morning. I guess it has a side effect of "binding" any prescription med you might need to be taking as well, and rendering that med ineffective. But, I take my prescription meds at night, not during the day. Oh, the BRAT diet is eating bananas, rice, applesauce and dry toast (Yum). Yea, I've had some problem Docs over the years, but eventually, I find someone who's willing to work with me Don't give up, and let me know how things turn out. Take care! LuckyGirl49

 

I  am a female who is 42 yrs old, I had my gallbladder out 2 yrs ago, before this I suffered with the bouts of the diarrhea alot, but it seems worse now that I had my GB removed, I get Bile Salts Diarrhea, and it is terrible, it burns.. I suffer from Acid reflux/GERD as well..I feel like a prisoner in my own home, I have bad panic attacks when I know I have to go somewhere, and let me tell you I know where every bathroom is from here to the northpole seems like,lol, I get anxious and then I start suffering from chest pains, etc it feels like I am having a heart attack, in fact I have to go to the doctors today to get checked because I am having fluttering in my chest and heaviness etc for the last 2 weeks.. I have been sick for 8 months straight with one thing or another, vertigo etc, I think, maybe the fluttering & heaviness is caused from my vertigo/Labyrinthitis, but who knows, I hope it isn't anything serious, like a heart attack..