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
julie21501 Realbarbielife
Posted
adrian41116 Realbarbielife
Posted
Hello fellow suffering friends,
I am struggling just like you all, with chronic diarrhea for years. It took so much time and prayers to God to finally find a doctor that told me to take questran (colestyramine). The problem is that I cannot have it from my country (Romania), so an aunt sends me the medicine from Italy. Questran is still not enough for me. I take 1 in the morning and 1 in the evening plus 2 or 3 trimebutine (is the name of the substance, is used for intestinal motility) pills. These are still not enough, Still having pain and the psychiatrist gave me 1 mirtazapine for having deep slepp (because I couldn't sleep anymore of the shock of irritable intestines). After taking these together I felt better. But one more was needed: I take amino-acids for taking some weight and having some strength. I still am bloated but I must take these pills.
Thank you for all your posts here, I will try the caltrate also. Psyllium husk or Metamucil was no good for me, I went 4 times to the toilet because of it.
Every day is a challenge with this kind of disease. I don't know about you, but not many people understands me, they cannot know how can a diarrhea problem becomes a nightmare.
Jesus is my hope.
Make Him as your Savior and Healer.
This is our last chance.
God bless you all!
thaddeusjones42 Realbarbielife
Posted
I have had that everyday since i was fourteen and im 25 now. Only thing that i can tell ya is learn what to eat and not to eat it'll help some but not always. Hopefully you can find something I've just grown to it now and have accepted it as who i am now
van071191 Realbarbielife
Posted
Hi there--
I had my gallbladder removed in March 2018. I didn't have stones but I was tested multiple times and determined I had a diseased gallbladder that was causing sharp knife like pains in my upper left side abdomen. It all happened really fast and I didn't have enough time to really research the side effects of removing your gallbladder. I was so focused on not ever experiencing that sharp pain again I didn't even ask my surgeon what to expect. That was my fault as well.
Its now almost 5 months later and this is what I've experienced similar to what has been said about.
I noticed that after my first meal (regardless of when I decide to eat 8am, 10am, 12pm) I experience the immediate urge to use the restroom. I end up having to go diarreah at least 1-3 times for the next hour after my first episode. After that, I'm usually fine for the rest of the day and continue on eating without any urge to use the restroom again (THANK GOD)
But its still annoying, frustrating and downright NOT COOL at all! It truly sucks but I've also noticed that if I eat a piece of toast or wheat crackers (I guess really anything with fiber), let it sit in the morning, NO LIQUIDS. I am able to go the entire day without an episode of diarrhea.
Im not exactly sure why this makes such a difference, but most of the time when I try doing this I'm fine. I also noticed that I can eat pretty much anything in the morning and not have a reaction UNTIL I consume any form of liquid.
It's strange and of course we would be the few 10% who have the reaction after gallbladder removal. I say for sure it sucks but listen to your body, do what you find works best for you, have great communication with your doctor, get second opinions, share your story and have faith that everything will be okay in the end
Wishing healing, good health and comfort to all--
jenn03028 van071191
Posted
Wow I have the exact same situation I had mine removed in Feb 2018. I go like 2-4 times within the first hour of waking and then Im ok, apart from some cramping. Ok being no coffee -thats send me straight to the bathroom now. Can you drink coffee? I had a juice this morning then ate some non dairy yogurt and boom 4 trips to the bathroom each one worse than the other then fine the rest of the day. I also seem to react to drinking with meals. I have stopped, I read someone posted they don't drink for an hour after or before eating. thats hard for me but I think would help. I also have started Metamucil in the evening, idk if its helping. Noticed if I have a bigger than normal dinner(my usual dinner has now become small and so bland) I have to go as soon as I wakeup and drink a sip of water? I need to start journaling my food etc.. to get a better picture, but I have two small kids running around its hard when Im sick in the morning.
I've read fiber helps( to soak up overnight bile) so I bought a fiber cereal, but I want to make sure I'm not over doing it with the fiber.
van071191 jenn03028
Posted
My doctor prescribed me Cholestyramine Powder form and it is a complete GAME CHANGER. You can mix it in water or any juice of your choice. The recommended dosage is 2-3 packs a day but I have been fine with drinking one in the morning and thats it.
After I consume the medicine, I am fine to eat and drink whatever I please throughout my day. I'm sure it works differently for everyone but it wouldnt hurt to give it a try? Hope that helps!
jenn03028 Realbarbielife
Posted
I am 6 months post gallbladder surgery and having diarrhea first thing in the morning, sometimes I have to use the rest room 2/3 times first thing in the morning. I've been reading here its probably due to the bile building up over night. I started Metamucil 1 tsp before bed, I think it helps a bit but last night I had some pasta mild and I had yogurt low fat dairy free when I woke up and had 4 urgent movements. The rest of the day I am ok. I usually eat very clean, no fat, friend food and dairy free but I know if I over do it at dinner- anything other than a bland small meal I will be sick the next day.
A few questions:
-If I know I am having a bigger meal due to be on vacation or at a restaurant with my family, is there something I can take the mitigate (cramping after I eat, gurgling, pain)
-on Am.. I see a lot of digestive enzymes- in the reviews people say works for them after gb surgery, are these a complete a no no.I was ok for a week while I was on vacation one that had bile, and HCL but the next week it started to bother me with headaches and a sore throat.
- It seems to me that sometimes Im ok with a food item, and then other times i get cramps and am not ok, is it usually so inconsistent that I will never be able to figure out what foods are bad for me. I think I cant eat eggs.
Should I try the FODMAP, Im will to just a struggle as a mom to two small kids- we are going to Disney in a few weeks and Im petrified what to do with eating there.
Any helps or advice appreciated.
lynda20916 jenn03028
Posted
Hi Jenn, sorry you're struggling with this. After gallbladder surgery, bile drips constantly into the small intestine, especially overnight. That's one reason why people have diarrhea in the a.m. The last thing you need is more bile, or digestive enzymes. Your body's already making enough. If you needed them, you'd be having constipation.
There is a prescription medication you can take, cholestyramine, which will absorb the bile. It's usually prescribed in the evening. You can mix it with water or juice. You can also use immodium which in the USA is an over the counter medication.
I think the FODMAP diet is a good idea. Everyone is different, so finding out what you can eat is largely trial and error. The reason eggs may upset your stomach could be that they're a good source of choline, that stimulates the liver. Or, it could be what you're cooking it in--I use butter from grass fed cows, which doesn't bother me.
I suggest you stay away from any food that contains a sugar substitute, like diet sodas, as those can mess up your gut bacteria. I take a women's probiotic daily.
Hope this helps. xx
jenn03028 lynda20916
Posted
Ok I have an appointment with my Dr in a few weeks, Im in NYC. I will ask her about Questran. I see people here also talk about Welchol whats the difference? I am also doing Metamucil but not sure if thats helping. I started a good Probiotic. I don't drink any diet drinks. I also cook in avocado oil usually ..I didnt think to try butter, Im scared of anything with fat but I guess its trial and error. I also notice if I drink too much with meals or before or after now it makes things worse.
bob92239 jenn03028
Posted
Hi,
I just wanted to add that the bile constantly drips after gall bladder removal means its not available in its concentrated form like it was when you had a gall bladder, and that is the reason some find it helpful to add enzyme supplements. I would not dismiss the idea that enzyme supplements might be helpful out of hand because It has helped me, have been using them for several years now.
I would recommend avoiding any of the ones containing bile in any form, since its likely that irritation from the continuous bile drip is causing you trouble, adding more in the form of diet supplements would not be helpful. I have tried many dietary supplements, and one constant for me was that that any supplement containing bile immediately made my symptoms worse by a factor of at least 2.
I have concluded that the problem for me is two fold, my digestive tract is nearly constantly irritated from the continuous flow of bile, and I cannot digest food as I should be able to because the bile I do produce is insufficient.
Welchol was a god send for me initially, I used it for about two years, but over time, for me, I began to have severe gas and symptoms returned. Upping the dose and varying it by taking it different times made things worse for me. Those first two years I was on it though were fantastic and nearly symptom free, so I highly recommend trying it. I think it helped me by making the bile less irritating to my digestive tract but it complicates the other problem since you need bile to digest, but this is just my own personal theory. Regardless, over time, it caused me to have unbearable gas and bloating, and that led me to several years of trial and error with diet and supplements.
I still use welchol from time to time, If I feel I have a flare up, but what I use now is 3 supplements: calcium, lechithin and a digestive enzyme with meals, twice a day. It seems to prevent emergency bathroom visits and doesn't have any side effects that I am aware of. I have been using this for about three years now.
I eat a small breakfast as soon as I get up and try to stick to small meals frequently throughout the day. I find I simply do not do well if I fast, or if I miss a meal time by more than an hour or two.
Good luck
lynda20916 jenn03028
Posted
Hi, Jenn, I don't know the difference between those two medications, but cholestyramine is the generic of Questran. If you want more info on all of them you can look them up on the web.
I would try taking the Metamucil at night, if you're not already.
As for me, I used to love avocados, but can't possibly eat one now. So, cooking with avocado oil might be stimulating more bile production. I cook with coconut oil or grass fed butter, as I said before.
Because of other health problems, I drink water constantly during the day. Water doesn't seem to irritate--and you do need to drink about 8 glasses of water a day or you'll get dehydrated.
I find that eating white potatoes or sweet potatoes provides good fiber, as well as applesauce and pears. I usually eat 1 small baked potato a day. I buy about 4 at a time from a fast food place and keep them in the fridge. Then, heat them up in the microwave.
As another post said, your small and large intestines are already irritated by too much bile, so you need to be gentle with them.
Finally, some people who have issues with bile have stopped producing a hormone that allows the bile to be absorbed at the end of the digestive process. No one knows why this happens, but there is a blood test available to find out if this is occurring.
Lots of people who have this get told they have IBS, and their doctors don't go any further in trying to find out what's going on. IBS is really a catch all term, and can be caused by many different conditions.
I can eat low fat hamburger, chicken or white meat pork. When things got really bad at one point I made microwave rice, a small package of frozen carrots and peas and stirred in a can of drained organic chicken with a bit of butter. The rice really slowed things down for me.
Please let me know how you're doing. xx
michelle64315 bob92239
Posted
Hi Bob,
Just like to say thank you to you and everyone else on this site. I find the information very educating because to be honest when I had my surgery (because I was so I'll) they (the surgeon and staff) never talked about what to expect after so I've had to research everything my self.
Each day is a new day so I'm taking it in my stride.
Once again thank you everyone x
michelle64315 Realbarbielife
Posted
Hi everyone post cholestectomy, so pleased to hear I'm not alone with this problem, I am learning to cope with the unpleasant side affects 6 months down the line. I try and follow a low fat diet as before and find this helps alot. Bonus is weight loss and the freedom of being pain free. It's made me think more about what I choose to eat but it's very restricting and as I posted previously I'd sooner be alive and here today than living with a life or death illnesses, I suppose diahrrhea is a small compensation. Good luck everyone here's to green pee and diarrhea ... happy days xxxx
bryan39933 Realbarbielife
Posted
I had mine out in Jan 2018. Only a hand full of solid stools since... so I think that’s pretty normal post gallbladder surgery. but 6 months later I’m having all the same symptoms and attacks like it grew back. 😂 I know that’s not possible. But WTF? Probiotics and fiber aren’t really helping either. I’m going back to gastro next week, we’ll see what they say... But with that being said, hospitals and some drs are hard to trust, $ and insurance you know. Sucks but reality.
Jdoe777 Realbarbielife
Posted
Hi there!
I thought I'd share my experience too even though this thread is a little old.
23 year old here, due to some rapid weight loss I developed multiple stones and a blockage. I had my gallbladder removed last year in May (2017).
Surgery was successful and I am very grateful to live without that pain. However I did not have my first bowel movement until a week after my surgery with great thanks to a lot of laxatives. After that I would found the consistency of my stools would depend on my diet. It has been a struggle eating strict and listening to my body.. I spent quite a few months unable to even pass wind lest I have an accident.
I still get diarrhoea on occasion, normally my love for milk becomes too much and I have a glass (I am lactose intolerant and I have no willpower, it happens more times than I'm comfortable admitting) and in regards to oil I cut most out of my diet. When I crave a bit I found coconut oil did not trigger me both before and after removal. (Please note it is higher in saturated fat.)
As others have said diet is key for most. Including foods high in fibre has helped immensely and it took me a great while to move from the mindset of 'Great, I have to stick to living a low-fat diet until I kick the bucket' to 'Look at me go, look at all these kneecaps with their deep fried food, dear Lord I have such a slamming salad waiting at home for me.'
My biggest suggestion for anyone reading is to listen to your body. If something doesn't feel right, seek help. It may take a few tries to find something that works for you/your circumstances and we'll all be here ready to lend an ear and support you on your journey.
I also had undiagnosed bipolar that contributed to internal unease filled with stress, anxiety, paranoia, depression.. the works. Last month I finally got my situation in control and I found that my bowel pain and bowel movements in general improved. There may be no correlation but it's a big win for me and may be something to keep in mind.
None_now Jdoe777
Posted
Thanks Jdoe7