Bile Salt Malabsorption after Cholecystectomy

Hi,

I can see this is an old thread but because people are still reading I thought I would wade in!  

I have bile salt malabsorption following GB removal, and have found relief from the life-ruining diarrhoea from a combination of slow release Tramadol and Colveselam (sp?) tablets.  The Colveselam are more effective for me than the Questran and I am digesting more of my food now, but I have gained 7 lbs in a week since I started taking it!  I think this may be that I got used to eating whatever I wanted because the constant diarrhoea meant I never gained weight, but would like to know if anyone else is getting weight gain from Colveselam.

For anyone suffering, there is a combination of drugs out there for you.  I didn't want to resort to opiates but they do the job better than loperamide and I no longer wake up 3 times every night for the loo, so if I have to take them so be it!

unlucky Shirl,

I am concerned that I may have bile salt malabsorption. Can you please tell me the symptoms of this diagnosis? This would be most helpful. I had my gallbladder out & am concerned that maybe I should be taking a bile salt supplement.

Any info would be appreciated! Thank you!

Ryleemady

I feel fortunate to have found this group as I have suffered greatly for many years.  Unfortunately, very few people understand it!  I have never been tested for bile salt malabsorption nor have I ever heard of some of the Rx products mentioned!  I think I have a good gastro man and will consult about these products, however, I have had a problem with the blood pressure Rx I take causing hair loss, plus, weight gain so, you may want to consider the weight gain cause to be another thing you take.  It is a very complicated problem but, keep trying and most of all don't give up and keep in touch with the good folks on this site!

 

Hi, I was born with bile malabsorption.  My parents spoke of yellow poo in nappies and chronic nappy rash.  I had years of pain and problems growing up. I had my gall bladder removed in 2003 as I had gall bladder disease and gall stones. 2011 I was finally diagnosed with the malabsorption and a hiatus hernia.  I took questran first and when that discontinued went on to colostid. As long as I take the Meds I am fine and it is nice to do the shopping without dumping my trolley and running to the loo. I hope you all eventually find relief like I have

 

I had my badly diseased gall bladder removed in 1995 and had no problems until a few years ago.  Severe diarrhoea about 20 minutes after eating anything (including salads).  Had a hospital consultation and he was most disinterested; said I had IBS and wouldn't even look at my carefully-prepared 6-week dietary log.  He said to show it to a dietitician.  She looked through it very carefully and couldn't see anything on there that would cause such urgent and severe diarrhoea.  She suggested I come back in a month's time, when she would suggest FOGMAPS.  This is where you remove everything from your diet except for boiled rice and plain water and gradually reintroduce things.  She said she wouldn't do this unless she really had to because it would make me extremely miserable.  I asked my GP for referral for a SeHcat scan.  He said those are not offered to people suffering from IBS.  My GP there and then diagnosed me with Bile Salt Malabsorption and prescribed Questran Lite (aka Cholestyramine).  1 sachet 20 minutes before food; maximum 3 per day.  The transformation in me is amazing!  I take it in 150ml of orange juice and it does the trick every time!  Only down-side is headaches (which I have never suffered from until now) and flatulence (!)  But hey, when I think of the sprint to find a public toilet, all my outings dependent upon finding a toilet, soiling myself in public.....then a headache and a burst of wind is a small price to pay!

Hello. I too have had my gallbladder removed, and about 4 months later I experienced pain in my right side right at the waist, radiating to the front and to the back. Feels much like a gallbladder attack. I could barely breathe without it feeling like a knife stabbing me.

I'll keep this simple:

--After your gallbladder is removed, your liver takes on a big load and needs to be watched and cared for very seriously. Even do liver cleanses 4 times a year. Research this on your own. Great information available. Your liver produces the bile that used to be stored in your gallbladder.

--Research OxBile. I found it on Amazon. When you don't have a gallbladder, you may need a bile supplement. Read the product description, and the customer reviews. Take one capsule when you begin your meal. They call it your gallbladder in a bottle.

--I've read many blogs where people have had side pain and have had it examined through all sorts of tests, such as MRI, CT scans, blood work, HIDA scans, etc. As far as I can tell, no one can tell where the pain comes from.

--I research everything, and when I started having the side pain about 10 days ago, I jumped into a deep research about this. There has been some speculation that maybe there was a slight nerve damage during the removal surgery. Who knows.

--Through trial and error I am discovering that if I eat a fatty meal or eat food difficult to digest, I have this side pain. I feel bloated too.

--To help remedy the pain and bloating, I take an oxbile supplement. I also take digestive enzymes (not to be confused with probiotics), and Gas-X. Great help.

--I also do some stretches and crunches, and other calisthenic exercises. These help enormously.

The bottom line is this... Your diet has to change, and you will need to exercise a bit every day. Simple exercises that work the parts of your body that hurt. Clear this with your doctor. Only 15 minutes of workout makes a massive difference for me. You CANNOT eat like you did before your gallbladder was removed.

Take the time to find out what kinds of foods you should eat without a gallbladder. Research Oxbile and Digestive Enzymes. Check out information on your liver and pancreas after GB removal. I've had much relief by eating better, and a bit of exercise, even during the pain. It goes away for me.

Good luck

I have been taking colesevelam for over a month now and i think they are making me feel worse, i was diagnosed with BAM. 

i always feel hot, sick, dizzy, stomach pain is worse, so is the diarhea, swollen glands, shortness of breath and god i feel so nervous all the time. could colesevelam be causing this?. they tried me on the cholstrmyne (spelling) sachets but i couldnt keep them down.. is there anything else people have tried? 

i feel so low its effecting me so much, yesterday was my birthday and it was spent on the loo

thanks in advance