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Bouts of diarrhea with lots of bile, weakness, could this be gallbladder disease

Posted , 5 users are following.

barbara02305
barbara02305

i had an ultra sound years ago that the doctor felt was gallbladder dysfunction.  Now I keep getting bouts of diarreah with lots of bile and get extremely weak, I think from dehydration.  Has anyone else had this problem?

2 likes, 20 replies

20 Replies

  • lori73442
    lori73442 barbara02305

    Posted

    See a doctor! Drink some Gatorade to help with the diarrhea and get what you have lost back.

    It could be gallbladder but you didn't say you were having any back and stomach pains. Could also be irritable bowel syndrome-IBS.

    See your doctor always to be on the safe side. Try yogurt that has propiotics in the yogurt. Lay off milk, milk can give you diarrhea. Also you can try pretzels, they helped me and my daughter when we had a bad flu.

    Hope you feel better real soon.

    • barbara02305
      barbara02305 lori73442

      Posted

      I had an ultrasound years ago that were suspicious of gallbladder dysfunction.  I have clay looking bowel movements from time to time, pain that goes from a heavy feeling to a dull pain under my right rib cage, to pain in the right shoulder area, bouts of diarreah with lots of bile, then get so weak I can barely stand up from what I suspect is dehydration, does this sound like a gallbladder problem?
  • angela72602
    angela72602 barbara02305

    Posted

    Have you had a CT lately? Something is wrong. get back to your doctor and insist on a CT to check for stones and the dysfunction.
  • evelyn14995
    evelyn14995 barbara02305

    Posted

    Is the diarreah preceeded by a bit of constipation? Not true constipation -- just feces that is reluctant to exit and then appears to be lacking in water. If so and you discover a name for it or a cure, let me know. So far, any meds from the doctor just make either condition worse. The short time bouts are easier to live with. Tomatoes and cabbage family vegies - broccoli, cauliflower, kohlrabi, brussels sprouts - help maintain ... and of course, a lot of water. Crystal Light or the generic/store brand is a nice taste change from water. Everyone is different especially when discussing gallbladder ... 
    • evelyn14995
      evelyn14995 angela72602

      Posted

      No. The tests - upper and lower GI, plus - showed that there were no gall stones, so doctor said colic. 2 years ago, xrays and more tests were taken for another problem, but no stones. The additional problem was a hiatal hernia which had further upset my food tolerances. Cheeze-its, green olives, and ice cream for 2 months ... everything else hurt or came back up. Lost 110 pounds in 6 months. The onion soup was like a miracle. Didn't take long to cook so the arthritis wasn't called upon to rebel, plus it settled the hernia -- or something. 

          Still, the rules for gall bladder are much the same as I've discovered when talking to a girl friend who had stones and had the gallbladder removed. She said it was necessary, but her problems didn't go away. 

    • angela72602
      angela72602 evelyn14995

      Posted

      WOW! You lost 110 lbs. in 2 months! That is amazing. On those three ingredients and what did you drink? I guess it was good you lost the weight, but at that pace did it not worry you?
    • evelyn14995
      evelyn14995 angela72602

      Posted

      It was 6 months and it definitely was not on purpose. I was worried especially since I also couldn't take my meds. I have drank 6 gallons of water a week since 1961 ... doctor scared me when i got a kidney infection. My doctor didn't seem worried about the weight loss ... well, I went in for tests: MRI, etc and discovered that I have a hiatal hernia but the intestine problem was and is a mystery. Now things are working again and I'm trying to not regain the weight. Those 3 things were what I could eat - there may have been something else, but I either didn't have it or didn't think of it. I got a package of Biscoff shortbread cookies from a friend: very good, and no problems so I tried Graham Crackers. 
    • angela72602
      angela72602 evelyn14995

      Posted

      A gallon of water a day? Nothing else to drink? No coffee, fruit juices, tea, soda--nothing but water? I always thought too much water in your colon was one thing that caused diarrhea. An imbalance. I wish I could lose weight like that. I am having a terrrible time with my weight because i cannot walk or stand for long or exercise due to a bad back and diabetes. I am really depressed over this too. I use to be so active and now I am not. Wish I could really find a combination of food to eat and lose weight fast.
    • evelyn14995
      evelyn14995 angela72602

      Posted

      When I was 18 I got a severe kidney infection. The doctor told me to drink 1 gallon orange juice, 1 gallon water plus 1 gallon more of either of those. I cannot stand orange juice, but I drank it. I almost managed 1 1/2 gallons of water - my uncle Bob was either taking my empty glass or putting a full one in my hand. Thing is, doctor told me to drink twice as much water as usual. so I did: 8 or 9 glasses a day (I like water) x 2. Ever since then, 1961. I now buy 6 gallon bottles a week. 

           I drink 1 Shasta Cola most days, 1 cup hot chocolate at bedtime, 1 16oz Crystal Light while waiting for the mail, 3 cups black tea with 3 sugar cubes ... when I have the flu or a cold, I can't taste the orange juice so I substitute OJ for about half the water. 

           I don't exactly drink so much water on purpose, it's a habit to always have a 16oz bottle or glass of water close by. I don't need it, but I get anxious if it isn't available. Hey, I could be addicted to -- dope or  booze, so I'm not worried. There is a side benefit: I get to eat salt. 

    • angela72602
      angela72602 evelyn14995

      Posted

      That is a lot to drink. Do your ankles ever swell? I drink a lot of water and unfotunately Pepsi which has contributed to my weight gain. I know, I am going to have to put it down! I cannot drink oj because of diabetes. Maybe once every 3 months I will buy a 6 oz. bottle and drink it. I like flavored water every now and then. I use a no calorie liquid sweetner in my coffee that is made for diabetics.Isn't it starnge how we are so different? One works for somebody and the otherdoesn't. Makes the world go round!  biggrin
  • hope4cure
    hope4cure barbara02305

    Posted

    Hi could be many things. I agree with Lori it's best to see a doc.

    I take anti d meds so I don't get dehydrated . Weakness sound like dehydration.

    so drink lots of liquids a replenish electrolytes by drinks Gatorade .

    I hope it not anything serious.

    keep us posted.

  • evelyn14995
    evelyn14995 barbara02305

    Posted

    Check colicy gallbladder which I believe translates to an allergy to some foods, not sure about that. I continue to treat my colicy gallbladder with diet. It works very well mostly, but the past year I've had the diarreah/constipation - like clay! Good description! Doctor just gives me laxatives, and that does not help ME. I know it's not dehydration because I drink 6 gallons of water a week - not counting city water for cooking and koolaid. I discovered Onion Soup: any meat, whole chopped onion, s/p = 1tsp each, a handful of noodles - lots of water; the broth that is left is great for the 2nd meal of the day with a roll submerged into it. 30 minutes. Diarreah is not so often though fecal material doesn't want to leave my body. And if I can do it, cabbage family helps with that. (brussels sprouts, kohlrabi, cauliflower, brussel sprouts - plain cabbage of course.) But not al dente! The raw is going to hurt me like a Big Dog. Friday, I did the onion soup with chicken and cauliflower - I know, blah on the appetizing color scheme, but great on taste buds and tummy. 

        The first time I got that pain, I was only comfortable in the wish I were dead position. I empathize. Sympathize. Rushed to hospital, tests galore only to be diagnosed with colicy gallbladder, and doctors orders to retrain my taste buds. No way am I ever (!) going to like unflavored chicken broth or gelatin, but the adherence to the rule makes it posible to manage enhanced broth. The Rule: if it hurts, don't eat it. So: when you get that heavy feeling, think what you ate up to 2 hours ago: cut that item. It might be the cooking oil. I can't abide coconut or seseme or olive oil. I've discovered Cooking without grease. These things will not hurt you or your body though you should check with your doctor so he knows that you are using Dr Thiemann's treatment - he wasn't a famous man, just a very good doctor who passed in 1989. Your doctor will check it out, research and probably arrive at an updated plan. See, I'm old: diagnosed in 1975 and opted for control with diet other than pills. It may be that you need to keep a diary of the foods you eat. Hide the diary if you like to sneak a cookie or a Frito. make a column for pain level mild, middle, great. Most days you won't check a box, but in a couple of months you will see a pattern.

        I hope this helps in encouragement even if it isn't a plan you care to work with or one that works with you. In nurses training, one of the first lectures involved pain in a patient: we were told to pay attention when informed there was pain. The gallbladder is an excellent example as there is tremendous pain while the person looks absolutely normal. 

    • angela72602
      angela72602 evelyn14995

      Posted

      I can understand part of your diet, but if I ate most of those veggies I would have MORE diarrhea. I am glad it has worked for you. The soup sounds good.
    • evelyn14995
      evelyn14995 angela72602

      Posted

      My diet is based on the rule "If it hurt, don't eat it". The other bits are what works for me. I know that all people are different especially when talking about the gallbladder. It's as individual as a fingerprint. 

         Sounds as though you need roughage or even fiber. I hope you find a diet to balance ... have you gone to a nutritionist? Mine has helped me a lot to integrate the hiatal hernia demands with the colicy gallbladder diet. I was leary at first, then discovered she was trained to work with me rather than dictate menus. 

    • angela72602
      angela72602 evelyn14995

      Posted

      I have worked with so many different istionist in my 61 years but when you have IBS severely; even fiber will cause diarrhea for me at times. Yes, we are all different. I do try different things and at times they work for about a week then they don't. These two meds, the powder and pills have been the best so far.
    • evelyn14995
      evelyn14995 angela72602

      Posted

      I'm 71 for another couple months, kiddo. I don't have IBS but it sounds horrible. I did have a 'thing' where I wasn't digesting exactly ... seemed as though the food traveled via gravity, turned out I needed to replenish the bacteria in the intestine. I think that's what it was: Agile was the medicine doctor gave me. It worked. 

          Would it help to make a list of all the foods, with a column for problems? Maybe spot a pattern? You can tell I know little about IBS. 

          Good luck to you, hope you find a something that works for you!

    • evelyn14995
      evelyn14995 angela72602

      Posted

      I had to go find the package ... took 2 seconds to verify my memory -- was almost completely wrong. All but one letter and the arrangement is different ... Align . Digestive care. I'm not sure, but it made the intestines go back to work. 

      Emis Moderator comment: I have removed the link as it was to a site unsuitable for inclusion in the forums. If users want this information please use the Private Message service to request the details.

      http://patient.uservoice.com/knowledgebase/articles/398331-private-messages

    • evelyn14995
      evelyn14995 angela72602

      Posted

      Looks as though I have violated policy: I included a link to another site and mentioned a brand name. I didn't know it was against the rules or I wouldn't have done it. Anyway, it's been sent to moderation - will they delete the bad words and post it or simply delete the whole thing? 

         No, my ankles don't swell. I have thickened ankles but that isn't swelling. Both my grandmothers and my mother had this same thing: so it's either genetic or compensation for all the sprained ankles. 

         I don't have diabetes, though I'm going to the nutritionist because I tested pre-diabetes ... that lab work was done during the time I could only eat 3 things. Green olives, cheez-its and ice cream are not foods high on any list of any menu ... I was worried, scared - and now a bit angry because I wanted to fix what was wrong, not cure one of the results of the wrong. I don't think changing doctors will help any, the next one will read my chart (24 years worth) and probably do the same things. Onion soup cured the problem, or most of the problem. Now, I can eat almost anything and I'm hungry for all the foods I have enjoyed in my life. What's strange is that my body is happiest with grilled cheese sandwiches for breakfast and onion soup for dinner. Doesn't seem as though that's enough calories to gain weight on, and I don't: but I also don't lose weight. I could stand to lose another 80 pounds to get back to a size 10 ... I'm not worried about it. 

          I gained the weight because I used to drink beer. Can't anymore, don't miss it very often - only when everyone else ... they aren't drunk, but a couple beers equals a relaxation of mood that a non-drinker can't equal. 

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