Bile Salt Malabsorption after Cholecystectomy
Posted , 76 users are following.
I had my gallbladder removed 11 years ago and have suffered with chronic diarrhoea since, but the condition is getting worse. I've been diagnosed with bile salt malabsorption. Most people lose weight with this condition, but unfortunately for me, I have gained around 3 stone. Has anyone with this condition had the added problem of weight gain. I'm at the end of my tether as I can't lose this weight.
14 likes, 143 replies
ianiow1980 Unlucky_Shirl
Posted
ann74217 ianiow1980
Posted
Colesevelam 6 a day and they definitely help, I could
not tolerate Questran at all, I have been thinking of trying
acupuncture, ,I have tried reflexology but that didn't help me,
cutting caffeine out helps
ianiow1980 ann74217
Posted
ann74217 ianiow1980
Posted
ianiow1980 ann74217
Posted
ianiow1980 ann74217
Posted
ann74217 ianiow1980
Posted
needed the full dose, hopefully they will work for you, you
may not need the full dose as everyone is different, yes i agree
i think bowel problems are worse, I've been told to drink more
water as well, I don't think that does much for me
juewel Unlucky_Shirl
Posted
I had mine removed 18 months ago
Im gaining weight quickly, ride 12 miles at least 2x a week and maybe 3 along with normal working doing and living ive gaine 18 pounds since my op and i dont look like im stopping doing it any time soon
if anyone knows how to stop it please let me know im too short to be fat
lynda20916 juewel
Posted
Hi, Juewel, I had weight gain problems, too. I suggest that you might want to investigate whether you have a fatty liver, or a liver that has fat deposits within it. When this occurs, the liver can't digest fat, but stores it in intself and in the body. Fatty liver can be caused by eating foods containing sugars, especially high fructose corn syrup, which is in almost all manufactured foods. Also, women need about 450 milligrams of choline a day, which they almost never get. Choline helps the liver cleanse itself. I was diagnosed with a fatty liver which is serious. It can lead to scarring of the liver and liver cancer. I immediately cut out high fructose corn syrup and most sugars from my diet. I also started taking a choline supplement. You don't need to do heavy duty cleanses with "liver cleansing" supplements such as Milk Thistle, etc., as they can cause diarreha. Just eat low fat, avoid sugar, increase your water intake. I lost about 30 pounds in four months! Hope this info helps! Best of luck!
Guest Unlucky_Shirl
Posted
here in Canada,apparently.
I find this condition extremely intrusive to my everyday life to say the least.
Guest Unlucky_Shirl
Posted
For those of us that have experienced weight gain, following a bit of research - one of the ingredients in this resin binder- Cholestyramine powder is aspartame. Used to make taking the medication more
palatable. I asked if there was an alternate medication available & was told there wasn't. So - lesser of two evils here.......
sally14335 Guest
Posted
Oh cripe! I didn't know the Cholestyramine powder is aspartame. Isn't that the bad stuff in diet soda? Anyway, it is the ONLY thing that has helped me with the irritable bowel syndrome, and this, after struggling and many, many most embarrassing incidents. I've only been on it two weeks but not one incident yet and have taken immodium only once. So now, my question to you is, do you believe the Cholestyramine to be a fault in the weight gain?
Guest Unlucky_Shirl
Posted
Yes - have a read- should be right in the pamphlet inside the box. I went to a compound pharmacy & asked if they could make this using something else & they said they couldn't for legal reasons & it is mass produced. This is the exact question I had about the weight gain but of course no one could answer that question. Thank goodness for that medication though - don't get me wrong. It's much more manageable. (For now anyway) I also get a terrible intermittent pain under my right rib cage from time to time as well.
Id say over the last 3 years I have gained close to 40 lbs and I'm fighting a miriad of other health issues related to that as well. (Sucks to be us - hey?)
isobel66076 Unlucky_Shirl
Posted
Hi - I can't tell you how relieved I am to find this thread - I've felt so alone. I had my gall bladder removed in 2004 and for a time all seemed well. However, in 2010 I was admitted to hospital with suspected Appendicitis. The first doctor I saw told me that a mass had shown up on the upper left hand quadrant of my stomach which he thought was constipation. I questioned this as that morning I had had a bout of Diarrhoea, the nurse explained that with fecal impaction fresh fecies will push round it which causes Diarrhoea. Typically I never saw that Doctor again and after several scans I was diagnosed with Fibroids. However, my diarrhoea remained although at that time it was occasional bouts. Since then I've had a lot of stitchy like pain lower left quadrant pain, loud rumblings and stomach ache mainly over my belly button area and the upper left side, sometimes it feels as though there are mild contractions and also I have developed discomfort in my mid back. I have also noticed that my Diarrhoea and loose stools are increasing - today I have been 4 times alread and it's only 11.30 am. I am getting to the stage where I don't feel comfortable leaving the house as it can strike at any time....and I need to go. It would be my worst nightmare if I got caught short. I am seeing my GP next Wednesday, he usually fobs me off, what would be the best way to approach this. I realise I have given a long winded explaination to you but I wont get the chance with him....I'm usually in and out before I know it. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
lynda20916 isobel66076
Posted
Hi, Isobel, I would just tell him your symptoms. Is there excess bile in your diarrhea? That is a yellow, caustic substance. Tell him you think you have bile salt malobsorption, and that you need a prescription for cholestyramine. I don't think you need to worry about weight gain--aspartame can mess with the bacterial content in your gut, but shouldn't cause you to gain weight. Just stay away from foods containing high fructose corn syrup if you can. Eat low or no fat, but you can have butter and olive oil in moderation. Best of luck, and let us know how you do!
isobel66076 lynda20916
Posted
Hi Linda, my diarrhea is normal brown but smells bad. It's not chronic as such, it alternates between "normal" then bouts of explosive Diarheoa which just comes on without any warning. I have been taking Loperimide before going anywhere and I'm reluctant to eat before hand just in case but sometimes it happens even if I haven't eaten. My bottom also gets really, really sore and I have developed what I can only describe is an open sore in the crease between my bum cheeks and sometimes it's almost like a nappy rash. It bleeds and itches and drives me crazy - I have tried steriod and Sudocreme which is helpful but it never heals. I've tried different wash powders, no wash powder, no underwear, cotton underwear but nothing helps. It's all just so embarrassing. I did put on weight after the surgery and I can't lose it despite being on a strict no dairy, no yeast diet and getting plenty of exercise, on average I do 10000 steps per day but usually a lot more. I feel so depressed about it all. Is the yellow diarhea the 'norm' for this condition then or does it alter from person to person?
sally14335 isobel66076
Posted
This sounds, for the most part, all too familiar. I have only one question regarding the skin rash. Have you seen a dermatologist. I have a really good one and honestly there probably isn't anything a dermatologist has not heard. Mine is a woman and a couple of things I was hating to ask her she actually said, " Oh, I know about that. I have had it myself!" So, there you go, We are not alone, however this BAM situation presents itself to some of us. Best to you.
lynda20916 isobel66076
Posted
Hi, Isobel,
I think it varries from person to person. But, there is also a pancreatic condition that causes what you describe, so I suggest you see a gastroenterologist.
Sally's response is correct. You probably need to see a dermatologist about that sore. You could have an infection.
Your inability to lose weight might mean that you have fatty liver disease. I have that. It's when your liver loses the ability to digest fats and starts storing them, in your body and in itself. It can be caused by high fructose corn syrup, which is in just about every manufactured food. You can have a bit of sugar or honey. Use fats like butter, olive or coconut oil. Avoid diet products because artificial sweeteners negatively affect the bacteria in your gut. I don't know why you're avoiding dairy or yeast.
You could try taking 500 mg of choline a day, that will help your liver to start gently cleansing itself, and the point is a gentle cleanse, not a heavy duty one. A heavy dutky cleanse is done with sillymarin or dandelion extract or other combinations calling themselves liver cleanses. You don't need more gastric distress, which these types of cleanses can cause.
Best of luck and let us know how you get on!