Diarrhea after Gall Bladder removal?

[Lycia1168]

Since I have had my Gall Bladder removed in 1998 I ssem to have diarrhea and had been diagnosed with IBS. I notice that generally it occurs after fasting or if I eat a high fat content diet. I am wondering if I could have a form of dumping syndrome? I know that IBS can come any many shapes and forms but I rarely ever have constipation with it just diarrhea. Since here recently it has gotten to the point that everytime I eat (generally after fasting or eat a high fat contenet diet) I have diarrhea. It has become hard to go anywhere after I eat because I have to run to the bathroom let alone trying to go to work after eating. Any suggestions or I deas as to if I may have dumping syndrome, I know you are generally here for advice but if you can help me and point me in the right dircetion I would appreciate it.

[EmeraldSkys]

I had my gallbladder removed last February I had the same problem. I also gained a lot of weight since I was eating mostly soups and plain carbs as that was all I could eat without feeling sick. I have since been experimenting, speaking to a nutritionist and working on a healthy diet for weight loss and for getting rid of this horrible "flushing" of my system. It's not perfect and sometimes I still get these symptoms but in general I am much improved. Here is what I've learned.
1. STOP EATING HIGH FAT FOODS: this is key, and it's hard. No more fast food, fried foods or anything with a lot of oil or cheese. Many times this is the worst part. I don't eat out often, and if I do it's usually a salad. It ***** when going out with friends to eat and I find I can't eat anything on a menu... but I'd rather munch on veggie sticks than feel awful.
2. CUT OUT GLUTEN: There is a lot of research on gluten and why it's not great for anyone's health. But I find I'm no longer able to digest it properly and therefore I get the symptoms everyone on this page has been describing. Cutting out gluten had the added benefit of teaching me how to eat and helped me lose weight.
3. NEVER EVER FAST: Eat small meals often. When you don't have a gallbladder your body still produces bile in the liver, but instead of being stored in the gallbladder it is released directly into your digestive system. This means if there is no food to digest then that bile (essentially acid) travels through your system, burning, causing cramps and diarrhea. There is also some suggestion that this burning of your intestinal tract could lead to other problems like IBS, ulcers and maybe even cancer.
4. DRINK WATER: the more water you drink the more you dilute the bile and the less harmful it will be for your intestinal tract BUT
5. DON"T DRINK LIQUIDS WITH MEALS: you no longer have a backup supply of bile. You only have the little bit in your digestive system at the exact moment you eat, so DON'T dilute it when you need it to work to digest your food.
6. GET IN SHAPE: Working out helps to regulate your system. The better shape you're in, the better your body works.
7. LOTS OF FRUITS AND VEG: it has the natural fibre you need and the nutrients your body needs.
8. EAT HEALTHY LEAN MEATS: Your body needs protein to function, stick with lean cuts, but don't skip the protein.

I hope this helps any one who is suffering, it's been a great help to me. I also take probiotics at night before bed, take DGL (licorice extract) before meals to help coat the intestines and prevent bile burn and I will take a bile supplement and a digestive enzyme for any large meals.

All this has helped me get fit and feel good about 95% of the time. I still slip up and eat things I shouldn't and my body reminds me that that is a terrible idea and then I'm back on track because I never want to feel that way again.

Best of luck.

[jwhatever]

Try cooked rice in the AM, usually does the trick.
Remember the BRAT diet if someone had diarehha .....
B is for bananna
R is for rice
A is for a fresh grated apple
T is for toast
The rice works and also take your Caltrate, with Vit. D and minerals.
The calcium supplement is up to you and how much you should take.
But I take 2 - 6oo mg. / cut them in 4 and take them after each meal.
It is not meds and works so far.  The rice is a binder for the stools.

[Angela060598]

I'm having the Same issue and I know brat and it is hard for me to follow by brat when im allergic to bananas

[TamzUK]

I had my gall bladder removed full open surgery in Sept 2011, I have been absolutely fine up until a month ago. I could eat what I wanted when I wanted, had no problems whatsover.

But since about the beginning of Sept 2012 I havnt had a solid bowel movement, sometimes it just explodes from me not long after eating, it is often very bright in colour and the smell is foul! (sorry to get graphic), I dont have a high fat diet and I was told post op that some foods might cause this so at times I've expected it.

I have a dull ache in my right side just under my right breast where my scar is and sometimes it burns (not connected to eating patterns) in fact it was this pain that caused me to look these symptoms up and brought me here.

From what I'm reading this doesnt sound unusual :(

[MRSGBLUE]

OMG after two weeks after my gallbladder was removed it hit me real bad diarrhea.  It was with any kind of food I ate.  I didn't want to leave my house it was so bad.  Sometimes it was so watery nd sometimes it was yellow and the smell is so terrible.  Luckily my cousin told me about a medication this powder to take that her doctor proscribed to her. Tried one and I was finally free to leave the house and not get diarrhea.  Thank God for CHOLESTYRAMINE FOR ORAL SUSPENSION.  

[Tessa129]

I had my gall bladder out in October 2011.  I recovered fantastically and have been feeling great since about the week after the surgery.  But, for the past 6 weeks or so I have begun to experince diarrhea and it has become more frequent.  Is it uncommon to start to experince this so many months after surgerywhen I had been feeling so good initially?

[Christopher R Watters, MD]

I make a point to see patients back about a week postop and specifically inquire about diarrhea. If it is consistenty watery, cholestyramine is immediately started. The vast majority of patients will increase the dose to effect and taper off the medication over two to three weeks as their GI tract adapts. I have observed that delay in initiating therapy makes it much more difficult to control and requires longer term treatment. Research has shown that bile salt delivery to the colon results in more rapid transit of stool through the colon and secretion of fluid resulting in a "secretory diarrhea." the resin binds the bile salts so they don't irritate the lining of the colon.