orange leak---has anyone had this?

This is very common with post gall bladder removal surgeries, there have been numerous topics about this issue since it can complicate bowel issues and mimic IBS as well.

What to do?

One long time member here touts chewable Caltrate calcium supplements with Vitamin D (purple bottle) as her solution. She chews one pill during each meal and sips small amounts of water. This calcium binds with her food and she experiences minimal orange discharge. Hopefully she'll see your topic but you could edit the title to state - post GB removal surgery, orange stool or orange D - that will grab her attention.

There are several medications that can help. One is a generic powder, called Cholestyramine. You mix it with fruit juice at bedtime and it will stop the yellow output. Go easy on recommended dosage, if your label states 1 tablespoon, I'd start with 1/2 to 1 teaspoon and see if that amount is all your need. You can always increase the dosage if it's not helping. Ask your doctor about this powder, it's saved so many post GB removal people from living in the bathroom the rest of their lives. I did try this powder but since I've never once witnessed yellow output, it didn't help me as much as it does for those in your exact shoes.

Good luck to you. Oh, a low fat diet helps too. Just google your symptoms but start with GB removal and you'll find lots of links for people in your situation (and what has helped them return to more normal bathroom habits).

I had a good chunk of my colon removed due to cancer, a temporary colostomy created and while under the knife my surgeon said he'd remove my GB, because a pre-op cat scan revealed hundreds of gallstones. He led me to believe having your gall bladder removed wasn't a big deal and I'd adjust. So my post op recovery, gall bladder removal wise, is complicated. I was in severe pain from my colon resection and a real mess back then.

All these years my doctors have said my multiple bm count (20 a day), is from having my sigmoid and then 15 inches of colon removed above the sigmoid. Since I've never experienced any sort of color in my D (typical color is yellow which is actually bile that was dumped into your small intestine), I don't quite fall into this post GB removal camp. I did recently try the Cholestyramine powder, out of desperation because I've gravitated towards all out dumping episodes now, that go on for hours, hit without warning and then I'm depleted of stool and nutrients. Not because of any output with color in it. The powder did help for a week but then it didn't help nearly like it did at first. I get the impression you need to either be tested or have your surgeon examine you to be sure you are secreting unprocessed bile into your stool (hence the color). If that's the case, this powder is for you. Don't hesitate to ask your doctor about it. It's a med typically prescribed for high cholesterol but had an added benefit with people who have had their gall bladders removed. The powder does the job your gall bladder used to perform.

I do wish you well. Hopefully others who just had their GB's removed w/o other surgeries at the same time can answer your questions.