5 months post gallbladder surgery!

Sorry you're going through this.  How long has it been since your surgery?  It appears that perhaps your liver may now be producing too much bile.  Or, your body may have stopped producing the hormone that allows bile to be reabsorbed at the end of the digestive process.  

There is a medication, cholestyramine, that can help absorb the excess bile.  Your doctor can prescribe it for you.

However, you might need to explore some modifications to your diet, too. Best of luck to you, please let us know how you get on.  

Hi Lisa,

Don’t stress. Seriously. i have been living with those exact symptoms on and off for the last 4 years post op. I talked to the doc and did a bunch of tests. Nothing.. the Doc said to modify my diet which means smaller low fat meals eaten more frequently (he said 6 times a day).

I have tried doing just that and it works for the pain and for the lose bowel movements (with half digested food (esp. salads) - same as you )

When i eat unhealthy for a few days the symptoms and pain come back for a few days.  Research postcholecystectomy syndrome and see if it rings a bell

I’d definitely stick to a low fat diet and eat small amounts often. They tell you can eat ‘normally’ after the surgery, but the fact is that many can’t. Try switching to skimmed milk, low fat spread and 0% fat yogurts. Avoid spicy foods, fast foods, take away foods and alcohol.

What you’re describing is consistent with the over production of bile or a stone lodged in the common bile duct. However, your CT scan seems to have ruled out a stone. Yellow, greasy diarrhoea suggests it is an issue with bile. Stick to bland foods: rice, baked/mashed potato, pears, bananas, coffee, toast for a while, which are all reputed to be good for gallbladder issues. Also you may find increasing the amount of fibre in your diet helps soak up excess bile. There are medications that can help too.  It does take time for everything to settle down. Try not to get too depressed about it. 

I’m almost 5 years post cholecystectomy and have finally got the symptoms under control. I follow one of the slimming companies eating plans and I would say that I now feel like I did before I had gall stones. It is essentially a good balance of fibre, good fats and protein. I don’t have much dairy and have cut back on alcohol. I have lost 40lbs and feel so much better for it. The only time I have pain is if I overdo alcohol at a party or social event.  I had ultrasound scans, blood work and an MRI when my symptoms were particularly bad and nothing has ever shown up. The surgeons fail to tell us that there may be after effects from a cholecystectomy and sometimes they can be debilitating.  Take a note of when your symptoms are worse and look at what you have eaten and just start an elimination process. Hang on in there , it should get better. 😀

Oh, Lisa, sounds like you are having what I just went through, only my gallbladder has been gone for 15 years!   I have had what you describe off and on over those past 15 years but never as badly as it was starting last November and ending with a scope to remove 50 cc of bile from my stomach two weeks ago (February) by a gastroenterologist.   I was shocked to find out my problem was a stomach issue, as I have thought forever that they MUST have left part of the gallbladder or a tube or something in me when they did the surgery!   The doctor told me to take cholestyramine, which is a powder that you mix in water or juice 30 minutes before eating...it is a prescription and helps tremendously with diarrhea!   Additionally, he prescribed Omerpazole 40 mg, which is also a prescription but you can buy it over-the-counter, just not in 40 mg...I take 2 per day, so would be 8 of the over-the-counter pills!   Would do the same thing but more expensive, since insurance covers the 40 mg.   I am pleased to report that, while I am not completely painless, it is SO much better that I am really surprised and relieved after the terrible pain I have had for the past couple of months.   Good luck!   Honestly, I think if you will try those two things, it may help you a lot.   You may also have to watch what you eat regarding fat!