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Bile Salt Malabsorption after Cholecystectomy

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Unlucky_Shirl
Unlucky_Shirl

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

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  • michael98050
    michael98050 Unlucky_Shirl

    Posted

    Hello everyone. I continue to read the same thing over and over about poor digestion/diahorrea etc once the gallbladder has been removed. I have a simple thing i'd like you to try. I know it sounds weird but it costs nothing really and it has to be worth a try. It has taken me a year or so since my gallbladder removal, I dont wish to be on medication for the rest of my life, so I looked for something I could fit into my life which would work. Ok so I did two things. Firstly I cut out large amounts of (especially dark) chocolate. This helped but the one thing I discovered around a month ago, which seems to work for me and gets me back to about 85% of sensible bowel function, drink tea! I know it sounds stupid but I was advised to try it and I laughed but I cant put it down to anything else.

    You start the day with a large cup of tea and have at least 4-5 large cups/mugs over the day. I don't find this an issue. So my belief is that instead of medication etc, the tea is helping to absorb the bile salts into the system and being flushed away in the urine and through the kidneys instead of being expelled through the gut having not been absorbed by any food etc. Give it a try. I have 4-5 large mugs of tea a day, I even have a couple sugars in it sometimes too and I have to say my life is changed. Try it for at least 4 days and then please do report back. See if it helps. WHat have you got to lose.  

  • J.L
    J.L Unlucky_Shirl

    Posted

    I had my gallbladder removed 7/29/2016 and I'm kicking myself for one trusting the surgeon and two that I didn't research anything about the awful after math I should have I'm a medical Assistant and it's only now a little over a year later I'm searching for answers to why I have chronic diahrrea daily every day unless I take an anti-diahrrea otc med.  I also experience nausea vomiting randomly I have rapidly put on 52 lbs for my height and body build this extra weight is also making life a living hell I have to take acid reflux medicine daily as well or I get heart burn severely.  I wish I could go back and not have the surgery as I've never been the same since and as a medical Assistant your role in the clinic is huge you don't just room patients and take vitals so much more involved I've had to take a leave of absence for the last two months I'm exhausted I'm sick every day I took the leave because I was afraid of getting fired for all the time I've missed since gallbladder removed my boss even said to me I've not been the same since having that surgery and she's totally correct! I'm going to talk with my pcp about prescription meds and have started getting out and walking which may sound easy but, it's not for me anymore I get short of breath along with my lower back flaring with pain which is in my opinion because I'm fatter than I've ever been in my life and I'm scared to death I'm just going to keep gaining weight 222 lbs for a woman of five feet five inches medium build is absolutely to much I'd love to be back at 178 again I looked ok not to chubby not to much belly love handles hang over in my jeans I can't even where jeans I'm to fat and then I bloat badly which makes me appear even larger.  I'm taking a multivitamin vitamin d and digestive enzymes I don't think there working how can they I poop constantly nothing is able to be absorbed.  No one understands this hell unless as the rest of you like myself are living it.  I don't go out if I can just feel it's going to be a bad tummy day I also still have the right upper abdomen pain just under my ribs please someone tell me this isn't forever?  Here in the US I don't think think I'd qualify for social security disability with this awful problem.  By the way how many pounds is 3 stone? Curious never heard that term before.  Sorry for my long rant however it is nice to know I'm not crazy and my symptoms and sickness are real and others suffer the same.  I've been going crazy researching what's wrong with me by means of the net and going through my human diseases book from school I kept getting liver cancer or pancreas cancer stomach cancer colon cancer even started to except if it is cancer just give me the good drugs so I don't die the extremely painful death but, then I was like hey dumby if you actually had cancer you usually loose weight and without trying I'm gaining seems like 7 pounds a month.  Thank you all for listening. J.L. USA no longer feel alone 

    • lynda20916
      lynda20916 J.L

      Posted

      You are experiencing the symptoms of bile acid malabsorption, and, I would venture to say, fatty liver disease as well. 

      Without your gallbladder there is no means for your body to measure out or store bile.  So, bile is dripping into your small intestine constantly.  The body also makes a hormone that allows bile to be absorbed close to the end of the digestive process.  Some individuals stop making this hormone for unknown reasons. When this process happens, you will experience diarrhea, floating stools surrounded by the caustic yellow liquid that is bile.  If the stools are tested, they will usually be classified as normal. You will also experience nausea and vomiting if the bile is backing up into your stomach.  

      The last thing you need, in my opinion are digestive aids, such as enzymes, bile salts, etc.  They do no good, and actually make the problems worse. Of course, that's not what the people that are selling the supplements will tell you. There is a cholesterol lowering drug that has been prescribed for this problem for several years that will reduce if not eliminate the diarrhea and absorb the bile.  

      Fatty liver disease occurs when the liver becomes unable to digest fats, and starts storing the you eat in itself and in the body. (An ultrasound should indicate whether you have it.)  It's almost impossible to lose weight.  It is thought that this disease is linked to excess sugar in the diet, especially high fructose corn syrup. Mass produced foods that are supposedly low fat actually have a high sugar content.  If they didn't no one would eat them.  This is another area where so-called health gurus make a lot of money, selling products that are said to detoxify or de-fat the liver.

      To be safe, you might also consider going to a gastroenterologist for a colonoscopy and endoscopy--just to make sure.

      Best of luck to you.     

  • mary79911
    mary79911 Unlucky_Shirl

    Posted

    I had my gallbladder out 18 months ago was diagnosed with bile salt malabsorption 6 months ago and even though the consultant said the colestyramine would help with the bloating it hasn't in fact it makes it worse and yes I have also put on weight that I can't shift even with a very active life

  • sally14335
    sally14335 Unlucky_Shirl

    Posted

    What you are saying sounds very familiar.  I had my gallbladder out many years ago and had no problems during or right after the surgery.  These very hard to manage problems started showing up about 3 years ago to the extent of having to seek special help.  What drove me to that point was a lack of control over sudden and explosive diarrhea on several indescribable situations.  Yes, finally  was prescribed the chlorastyramine and it worked, sort of.  Still have the bloating at times and have gained so much weight and it is out of control.  I am zeroing in on this malabsorption.  Keep in touch and I will do the same.
    • mary79911
      mary79911 sally14335

      Posted

      You’re lucky you didn’t have complications during or just after I had complications just after with my blood pressure dropping as well as my hemoglobin level dropping very low what should have been a day case turned into a 6 day stay in hospital was put on ferrous sulphate for 6 months which had to be changed as the tablets caused even more diarrhoea and more recently was put on folic acid tablets which again I wasn’t able to take both have to be maintained through my diet it’s frustrating that Doctors don’t listen to what is being said by patients I know with in myself this problem can be sorted if I was treated holistically rather than Doctors Just treating symptoms 
    • ann55375
      ann55375 sally14335

      Posted

      Two years since gb removal.  Eating and stomach ok at first, bit of diarrhoea but not every day. Dr said ibs.  Now i have acid in gullet some days, diarrhoea others, nausea others. Dr gave omeprazole, gave me major anxiety, had to stop.  Have reduced diet to no dairy, fats, etc.  What can i do next to help?
  • karol1990
    karol1990 Unlucky_Shirl

    Posted

    Good Evening! Are there any of you who suffer from BAM who have diarrhea ONLY in the morning after breakfast, whatever that is?

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