HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

HOW MANY HAVE RETURN PAIN AFTER GB SURGERY

Support Forums
>
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 6/16/2007 4:26 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone.....well here I am again still struggling with two issues after GB surgery last October. I still have the D although I took the suggestion of these wise people here and tried the calcium this time and immodium. I could not take the Questran or Welchol as it blocked my thyroid meds, no matter what time I took it.

My first question is I have most of my BM after dinner now, within an hour. So that kills going out for dinner at all. Giving a huge Birthday party at a restaurant for my boyfriend on July 1 and am agonizing how I am going to get through the 6 to 7 PM cramps and BM. I am experimenting with all different things to practice before!!! I was going up to 8 times a day until a few months ago post GB surgery. I am now down to one in the AM on most days and the big mess after dinner within an hour. Take my Immodium at 1 PM (and now that gets me through about 4 hours) and the calcium after dinner, that at least gives me some formed BMs. Yesterday was a bad day and had D about 6 times..... Any suggestions to change the clock around and have my main BM in the AM and not PM??? Would appreciate that feedback...also to say, that I have to take meds staggered through the day, so I have to keep in mind the calcium had to have a 2 hour window either way before or after other medications...

Also, I still have pain every day deep inside (somewhat tolerable) on the right side where they removed my GB. It should have healed by now, but it is a constant sore pain in the right side at my waistline. Had the keyhole surgery they did not open me up completely. I have seen my gastroenterologist and he says maybe hernia, or adhesions? The point is I have no swelling (to show a hernia) and I feel that they goofed up somehow, perhaps with a staple in there or something. I remember others talking on the board about residual pain after GB surgery still. It seems if I am quiet and do not do much it is tolerable, however when I am active, even just walking a lot, it gets worse and more intense. It is a pain in the very same spot all the time, does not move around and it is sore....
Can anyone relate to either issue???
Posted 6/17/2007 11:19 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Sheree,
I still have my gallbladder so I cannot be of too much help for you. The only thing I can suggest for you to get through your bf's b-day dinner is to take Imodium right before you head out of the house that night. Take it about an hour before you leave that way you know it has kicked in by the time you hop in the car. Then make sure to keep some on hand during the party. I do not recommend Imodium for long term use (not many docs do), BUT I definitely would suggest using it on rare special occasions.
Hopefully others will be on soon to give you better help with both your questions.
Good luck! I hope you get to feeling better soon.
Posted 6/18/2007 2:51 AM (GMT 0)
HI Lil
It is nice you replied, I was hoping to get some suggestions. Yes, I plan to take one that night one hour before, but it doesn't always work. I will not eat anything at the party (just in case) and try to eat something mid afternoon.Then hopefull I will have to go to the bathroom within a hour and be finished with it. I will take my 1 PM imodium and then take another as you suggested at 6PM.....my Doctor says keep taking the imodium, and I know it can't be good on a daily basis. I called the drug company and they said they do not have any info over 2 days on side effects. Can you believe that one???? They said it was just recomended for travelers diahhrea, ask your Doctor..... Immodium, is what I am having to do right now, to at least have some relief from the contant D and BMs a day. Oh what a mess!!!!
Thankyou for responding!!!!!
Love
Sher
Posted 6/18/2007 7:57 PM (GMT 0)
It's a shame that you couldn't take the Welchol.

If the imodium isn't lasting the rest of the day after you take it, have you tried taking more? I don't know if you're already on 2 pills a day yet, but there was a point where I was having to take two a day. (Which is really, really weird, because at any other time, I can't take more than 1/2 a pill without getting terrible constipation).

Have you tried a very low fat diet? I was able to get off the Welchol for a while when I was on a very low fat diet: 1600 calories a day or less. I have reason to believe that under normal circumstances, that sort of diet isn't good for you (because it messed up my metabolism to the point that I gain weight on anything more than staravation rations), but if it's the only way to control your D, then it could be worth any other problems it might cause. In fact, I not only went off my Welchol, I had problems with cronic constipation when I went under 1400 calories.
Posted 6/18/2007 9:44 PM (GMT 0)
They have all sorts of warning labels on over-the-counter medications that can scare the bojingles out of anyone, and it's true that some people have used Immodium so long-term that they actually get chronically constipated...but taking an extra pill here or there for situations like this won't be a problem.  Heck, take two pills - that's actually considered one dose.  You should be fine. 

Afterwards, however, you need to figure out how to get the diarrhea under control without the help of Welchol or Questran.  Are you on Synthroid?  I have Grave's disease (autoimmune hyperthyroidism) and take Tapazole.  When I was really hyperthyroid I went to the bathroom a lot more.  Which is funny because I still go 5-10 times a day and my TSH is normal.  Have you had your TSH checked recently?  Maybe your thyroid meds need to be adjusted?

Posted 6/18/2007 11:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, thankyou everyone for your input. I want to address the imodium first. It is the only thing that has enabled me to get out for 4 or 5 hours in the afternoon. Then as I said, the D starts after I eat. NO, I am not on a high fat diet and I should be adjusted by now!!! I hope within the next few months I will find something to regulate me, or at least, turn around the BM to AM instead of the otherway around.. I hope that made sense??? I will try the imodium at 6PM next week or this week and see if it holds me through dinner. YOu know, sometimes they don't work that well. The only thing I am doing right at the moment is taking it at 1PM every day and I somehow manage to get through until 6PM..A couple of months ago, could not go out longer than a couple of hours a day without cramps and D.However, I do not eat a thing all afternoon, if I do it doesn't hold me, no matter what I do or eat...

Also, to answer the thyroid issue, yes I had Graves Disease 20 years ago. I received RAI and I have no thyroid function at all anymore. Big mistake ladies....when they say, you will be rid of this disease and only have to take one pill a day to supply thyroid replacement, THEY LIE!!! I have had to adjust constantly through the years because of this. They kept me at such a high dose, yes I would have D all the time, and also it messed up my heart beats and now I have AFib. I finally fought the drug company and they will now acknowlege that if you are taking to much it can mess up your heart. However, my new endo, just lets me titrate the Synthroid and I go every 6 weeks to check it. So, it is finally under control the last 2 years. Thankyou for your observation about thyroid panels, and yes it is necessary to keep that up. Also for all of those that have these symptoms of Graves disease or Hashimotos just ask me and I will share my knowledge of all of this, and believe me I know it all about the thyroid.....

Meanwhile I thank everyone for responding. Kind people here...I guess we all stick together towards on goal, which is support and sharing ideas....

Love
Sherie
Posted 7/8/2007 11:01 PM (GMT 0)
HI, I bet there isn't anyone on this board who hasn't taken imodium before going out. The extra problem is that we worry about it happening to such an extent that I think we make it worse. At least I do. Unfortunately, it's a way of life. I went to a shower last week and took it before I went. Despite the fact that I payed with C the next 3 days , it was still worth it. They had a PORTA POTTY in the yard for the guests to use!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You never know so it's best to be prepared. Merri

Posted 7/9/2007 12:36 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Sheree - my name is Mary, I'm 52 and I've been lurking on this site for a few years now. I had colon cancer in 1999, 15 inches of my lower colon and sigmoid removed, temp colostomy that was reversed 2 months later and I also had my GB taken out during my colon resection (due to hundreds of gallstones, discovered during a pre-op cat scan). I too have the dreaded D and am in the bathroom a lot, especially after a big meal. As you mentioned, for an hour or more. My bm's seem to come every 10 minutes or so and I've compared them to labor pains (I have two daughters, 17 and 20). The good news is I'm still cancer free but the bad news is this has been an 8 year struggle for me, to maintain a normal lifestyle and function out in the real world. I know where every single bathrom is and I've used them ALL! I follow a low residue diet (which saved me 4 months after my first surgery) and watch what I eat.

I know you are worried about this big dinner and here is my advice. You may not like it but this is what I do when faced with such a situation....

I don't eat! Period. Or I order something very, very light and nibble. Everyone around me is so busy, talking, socializing, laughing, enjoying themselves that they usually don't notice if I'm not eating much of anything. And if they glance over and notice I'm not into my meal, I just say oh I'm really not that hungry and I then ask for a doggie bag. Try this - it does work. You have to get your explanations all lined up. Another trick I use - I go to the bathroom. A lot - in reality and sometimes I just go there, to escape the image of me not eating. Of course the waitress will think you might be bulemic or anorexic but get past this. A big celebration like this is not the time to eat a huge meal, especially since you know what is going to happen. Don't chance it to Immodium (which will help of course).

You also might want to explain this to a few trusted dinner guests (b/f, etc.). So when you order just a side salad or soup, they won't say - that is all you're eating?

Wishing you the best here.

Marsky/Mary

Post Edited (Marsky) : 7/9/2007 7:08:56 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/9/2007 2:48 PM (GMT 0)
Merri, if Imodium constipates you, try cutting them in half. Normally I have to do that or they constipate me horribly. The other thing that I have found that works is Pepto Bismol; they're not as strong as the imodium, so I can take two of them and usually be okay without getting constipated. The thing I have found is that you have to work in 30 minute intervals. You need to take a dose at least 30 minutes before you need to go somewhere, then if you still feel like you might need to go to the bathroom 30 minutes later, take another dose. This is about how much time it takes for pills to kick in and start to work. If you don't give them that long to kick in, you might take too much and make yourself really constipated. Although, they do have a new liquid imodium out, which is supposed to work a lot faster. Might give it 15 minutes between doses.

Marsky, have you heard about Welchol? Sheree can't take it because of her thyroid medicine, but most other people can take it. It absorbs the excess bile in your stools which come from not having a gall bladder anymore (and also, in your case, from missing part of your intestinal tract which used to absorb it). The other thing to try is calcium pills. They can help by absorbing excess water in your stools, which lessens D, but I found that they helped my pain, which I think was due to irritating my intestines with too much bile acid. They might help your pain too; worth a shot, anyways.
Posted 7/9/2007 2:53 PM (GMT 0)
Please be careful with long term use of Imodium and if used as a prevention, please use it sparingly. Imodium can cause constipation and adds extra pressure to your colon from your stool which may lead to diverticulosis. This is my doctor's theory of why I developed it (diverticulosis).

I used it daily in high school when I developed IBS and my docs believe that I have caused irreversable damage to my colon. Just be careful.
Posted 7/9/2007 3:54 PM (GMT 0)

Merri said...
HI, I bet there isn't anyone on this board who hasn't taken imodium before going out.

That would be me!  I wouldn't touch the stuff.  When I was first diagnosed with IBS 20 years ago, it was mostly D.  But over the years I have experienced severe C as well.  Having known both conditions, I will take D any day.  It's really just the flip side of excessive laxative use for those who suffer with C.  The damage I have wrought on my system with laxatives is incalculable. And you can't hide it because it shows up in the coloscopy! While it gets tricky trying to manage all these arbitrary symptoms, I believe most chemical preparations, when taken over a period of time, do terrible damage to our fragile symptoms.

Just my little opinion! tongue

Posted 7/9/2007 4:00 PM (GMT 0)

Marsky said...

I don't eat! Period.

Nor do I!  Everyone in my life KNOWS that if I am attending a function that involves a meal, they don't have to put a plate at my spot!  The exception would be if I was dining at a family member's house or the home of someone with whom I am very close (who has more than one bathroom!). 

For me, having dinner parties and celebrations at my home solves this dilemna.  Or if I do go out to eat, I make sure the restaurant is very close by my home. 

 

Posted 7/9/2007 5:30 PM (GMT 0)
gutastrophe - BTW, love the nic! - thanks. I knew I wasn't alone in this approach. When I skip a meal at a social function, I make sure I eat very well the day before and even the meal beforehand. So it's not as if I'm fasting for 24 hours, only 4 to 6 hours. For example, if I'm skipping an evening meal, I have a good breakfast (english muffin, half of a bagel, banana, or oatmeal/cream of wheat), good lunch (turkey sandwich, soup, or salad) and the kicker, and most important part? A yogurt, mid afternoon. Just one serving of Stonyfield Vanilla yogurt with live cultures helps too. I actually find myself not that hungry by dinner time and if I drink a very large glass of water before the function, I'm not even hungry. All of this helps, IMO because it's only one meal and I can easily go back to eating well the following day. In other words, if you add up 6 meals over two days, I'm only skipping 1 out of the 6 meals. You can skip a meal and do fine!

One of my main GI motto's now is - no input, no output. I'm a firm believer in that!

Marsky/Mary
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply