Diarrhea after gallbladder removal?
Posted , 77 users are following.
I had my gallbladder removed January 25th. Been ok... i didn't really eat the first 3 days. Now that I'm eating 'normally' I'm having some stomach issues still after eating, I get diarrhea with in minutes of finishing a meal, I'm always hungry after! I feel like my food goes right through me... it's depressing that I can't even go out to dinner with my family at a restaurant because I have to run to the bathroom after I eat. Forget about car rides! I have to stop a gas stations sometimes to relive myself. It's so embarrassing! Not to mention inconvenient! Someone help! Is anyone else experiencing this!
8 likes, 182 replies
margaret60653 Realbarbielife
Posted
Hi,
?Stick to your low fat diet. Stay away from rich foods. Everyone gets this to a degree. Every once in awhile it happens to me, but I've learned that anything with high fat will activate the diarrhea. When this happens, stay close to a bathroom, and lay low for an hour or so after it happens. You should feel better as time goes on. You're still healing and your body is adjusting to working without the gallbladder which used to store the bile and distribute it as you ate. Now the bile runs directly from your liver into your stomach and through your intestines. Get plenty of rest, and eat a balance diet every day. What has helped me is to eat several small meals a day. Eat your lightest meal in the evening. Just a reminder, it takes about five weeks until you are feeling back to yourself, but really an entire year until your body is fully recovered. So, take it easy.
karon12802 margaret60653
Posted
I enjoyed reading your comments, I just had my surgery 2 weeks ago yesterday. Went to church today and to leave due to the diarrhea issues. It's very embarrassing. I like your comments because they're very encouraging and just saying be patient and let the body heal itself is what I need to hear. Also you talked about eating right, and be patient.
Thank you Karon
mona86 Realbarbielife
Posted
alice77173 Realbarbielife
Posted
Hello. I had my gallbladder out 6 years ago and still have problems with urgent and violent diarrhea. It does make planning outings a problem but my GP has recently prescribed Questran. A powder you mix with water.. i dont take everyday..but perhaps should,,but do when I am going out for a meal or am likely to be away from home for some hours. I read on this site that most get over this problem but I understand from my GP ( who incidently apologised for not prescribing before) that a few of us have this condition for life. I have had disastrous episodes whilst out , which DOES knock your confidence and self esteem but this 'medicine' does help. Its the unpredictabilty of it that is difficult but I dont usually feel unwell..though have had to lie down after a bad bout..this tho is rare for me at any rate. Try to ask you doc for this medicine. I think it will change your life but I so understand the depressing feeling. I hope you feel better soon and with you it might be a short term problem..so chin up!
?Ali
lynda20916 alice77173
Posted
Hi Alice,
I've been taking this powder daily since 2009, and have had no ill effects from it. You can also mix it with juice. I mix mine with 4 oz of water and 4 oz of juice, shake it up and drink it at bed time. I am wondering why you're not taking it daily? xx
marisol69642 lynda20916
Posted
lynda20916 marisol69642
Posted
Hi I'm taking it that way because that's how it was prescribed for me. If you take it twice a day you would take it in the morning and then again maybe 12 hours later. Maybe 6 in the morning and 6 in the evening.
I'm sure my doctor would have upped the dosage for me if taking it once a day wasn't enough.
It's important to remember that if you take any kind of medication the powder will absorb it. So you need to take your meds 1 hour before you take the powder, or 4 hours afterwards.
alice77173 lynda20916
Posted
I am only just back on this site..I didnt take it daily as thought ..well heaven knows what I thought...but am now going to do so. THank you for your post..belatedly.
Ali
lynda20916 alice77173
Posted
You're welcome! The idea is for the medication to keep soaking up the bile, so that the intestines get into a sort of rhythm--that's why you need to take it every day, at about the same time.
And, give it time to work. Normal bowel transit (the time it takes for one to eat, digest and then excrete what one has eaten) is usually about 2 1/2 to 3 days. That's why you need to take it regularly for it to work. So, start taking it every day and then in 3-4 days you should really see a difference. Don't give up too soon! xx
carolyn48718 lynda20916
Posted
jenifer61535 carolyn48718
Posted
Hi Carolyn I have suffered with bile salt malabsorbsion for many year's due to having gaul bladder out nothing worked until my specialist put me on cholestagel tablets and the difference is amazing,sometimes I do have a little trouble shall we say but they have changed my life in respect of not going out for meals ,day's out ECT without looking for the nearest toilet.good luck jenie
carolyn48718 jenifer61535
Posted
Thank you so much Jennifer! I hope they have this in Canada. 😄
jenifer61535 carolyn48718
Posted
So do I Carolyn please let me know I know it's quite expensive in UK and because we get "free" prescriptions I've worked for 52years my doctor got in touch with me to say that if I didn't take them to let them know .They are not getting there hands on them. Again good luck jenie.
carolyn48718 jenifer61535
Posted
Hi Jenie, my doctor prescribed the pills for me and they seem to be working really well. My medical insurance paid for most of it so that makes me happy. So hoping it continues to work and I can now go on trips with confidence 😄
flavio41965 lynda20916
Posted
I have just been diagnosed with gallstones and it was suggested that I have my gallbladder removed. I have been reading articles on this site and a lot of negativity surrounding this issue.
Are there any alternative solutions to this problem? Does the diaharea become uncontrollable?Looking forward to your response.
Flavio
lynda20916 flavio41965
Posted
Hi Flavio,
I wouldn't characterize it as a lot of negativity. It's the truth. Some people have issues with their liver producing too much bile afterwards, and because there is no gallbladder to store and dispense it any longer, it drips constantly into the small intestine. That's what causes the diarrhea. And diarrhea can often be uncontrollable. That's its nature.
Another reason people can get diarrhea, is that their body stops producing a hormone which allows the bile to be reabsorbed by the body after digestion.
Still, having the side effects of having a diseased gallbladder, which can rupture, fuse to the liver, become cancerous and severely affect the other organs, including the pancreas, are worse for the body that having it removed.
The people on this site who are relating their problems are looking for practical advice and comfort. They need to know they are not alone. Because very often, their doctors are ignorant of what can be done to help them, including medication. They just turn their backs. Family and friends don't understand and can't relate to what's going on--especially the stress and humiliation of having diarrhea where there are no facilities.
Activities and favorite pastimes get restricted. People can't leave the house. Their lives change completely.
There Is a strange expectation that no matter what people are going through they should remain "positive," It's an unfair judgement because people who aren't experiencing what is happening have no right to judge the pain or sorrow of another, much less tell them how to behave when they're going through pain and fear.
The chances are that most of those who have their gallbladders removed won't experience these issues. But some do. And that's why this site is here to help. xx
Debbielynn lynda20916
Posted
Very well said, living with this daily, life now revolves on D some days are ok others are not, unable to make commitment because you don't know how your going to feel, i want to go on a trip so badly, the commute to airport, going through airport , not knowing where bathrooms are, and sometimes it's a quick stop, sometimes it's an all day event, its just better to not commit I guess. Then others have no problems ,wish i was one of them
jenifer61535 carolyn48718
Posted
lynda20916 Debbielynn
Posted
I understand Debbielynn. I have got to where I just stop at home most of the time. If I have to go anywhere, like a doctor's appointment, I have to take immodium. xx
flavio41965 lynda20916
Posted
Thank you ever so much for your response. Please forgive me for my ignorance regarding the above. My use of the word negativity was misleading and I do apologize for the misunderstanding. I have been diagnosed with severe gallstones. The ultrasound cleared me of any liver pancreas and colon damage. As you can well imagine after hearing the news today I started my research and found this site and glad I did. I suppose only time will tell if I will be experiencing the same as all these good people on this site are experiencing and if I do I will know my future port of call. Thanks again and all the best.
lynda20916 flavio41965
Posted
Hi Flavio,
An apology isn't necessary. Everyone on this site knows what you're going through, believe me. This site is awesome, the best I've found. I am glad that there is no other organ involvement. I hope that you can have surgery, and emerge from it feeling better than you have been! People on this site will support you all the way.
One thing I will say, beware of those who will (usually) try to sell you substances that supposedly dissolve stones and clean your liver. Those products do not work--and they're dangerous. Best of luck to you and let us know how you're doing!