Excess bile in my stomach 10 years after gallbladder removal

10 years ago I had my gallbladder removed a few months after the birth of my daughter.  Of course things have never been quite right as far as my digestive system goes since then.  However, I now have a new set of problems.  Since January I have been waking up with severe stomach pain, nausea and vomiting.  And once I vomit, which is nothing but bile, I usually feel slightly better although have no appetite for a few hours.  I have lost some weight which is OK because I am overweight, however this is really not fun.  I am worn out!  I went to a Gastroenterologist last week and he has scheduled me for an endoscopy.  He did mention that because I have no gallbladder, that perhaps excess bile is backing up into my stomach.  Does anyone else know what I am going through?  Is there a speical diet I should consider to help myself?  

[JW1023]

Did you ever findout what was wrong? I am having these EXACT symptoms right now. I just had some blood drawn this morning for lab work and am waiting for a Gastroenterologist referral as we speak.
Thanks!

[cass626]

Hi, I realize this post is a few years ago. but if there is any chance you check back here, I thought I'd share my problem. I had my gall bladder removed a month after the birth of my daughter, felt good for 6 months, then became chronically ill with nausea, fatigue, bloating, diarrhea, constipation. I saw several specialists and some just told me I was stressed or pretty much crazy. I have now had two Endoscopies and one Colonoscopy. Both Endoscopies found a puddle of bile in my stomach and my colon had a bacterial infection (possibly unrelated). Right now I am on Cipro (for infection), a specific Probiotic, and an ulcer medication (which is supposed to coat the stomach to protect from bile). The last eight months have been horrible. I had to have my Gallbladder out due to the excruciating pain but this is ridiculous!!! I have had to become very aggressive with doctors about my care, because for many of them, if they can't diagnose it, they don't know how to help you. Be your best advocate and don't let them push you around.

[mowielee]

Hi there, did either of you figure out what's wrong? I have been taking care of a friend who had her gallbladder removed. About 3 months later, she started experiencing severe pain in her right side just under the rib cage. Sadly, xrays, ultrasounds and CT scans have not revealed everything. Blood work comes back normal, but she is in severe pain. She has had an endoscopy, showing bile in her stomach.

The gastroenterologist prescribed some medication for her stomach, but the pain and burning in her right side have not subsided. Do you have any suggestions or recommendations on what to do?

[Christopher R Watters, MD]

Typically bile reflux gastritis produces pain in the center of the upper abdomen rather tan the right upper quadrant. Biliary type pain afer removal of the gallbladder should be evaluated. The studies that you mention have largely ruled out the structural problems but leaves the functional ones. It is entirely possible that the pain is from dysfunction of the sphinter of Oddi. It doesn't sound like this has been considered. The unfortunate thing about alkaline reflux gastritis is that there are no trustworthy tests for it. Seeing bile in the stomach after the patient has been placed left side down, sedated, and a scope rammed down their throat is far from diagnostic. This is important because failure of medical therapy would indicate surgery to disconnect the duodenum from the stomach. This makes it very difficult for any bile to make it backwards to the stomach and allow the stomah to heal. You clearly don't want this if bile reflux gastritis isn't really the problem.

[steph649]

Ok, so I had my gal bladder removed when I was 18, a few months after I had my daughter. Like everyone else I was having major stomach pains and my doctor finally listened to me (when I threw up in his office). It took my body years to recover at least 4! I had diarreah (diarrhea), pains in my stomach, bloating, and so on. After those 4 years I have been fine with much monitering to my diet. I do not eat fast foods at all, unless I really have to because I don't want the nasty side effects.
Anyways, after my 2nd pregnancy (2 years ago) I seem to be having issue's again. Really after I stopped nursing I would get bloating, diarreah (diarrhea), and stomch pains. I stopped nursing 8 months ago, but now for the last month I have been feeling like I need to vomit, but nothing comes up. I just sit in pain for a few hours feeling like crap.
Any ideas of what could be going on? I'm thinking it's bile build up in my stomach. I don't know, but I hate it. Having diarreah (diarrhea) and this stomach pains just ruin my days (not all but a lot). I haven't been doing anything different either.

[Christopher R Watters, MD]

Bile reflux gastritis is one thing that could be causing your symptoms but there are several other possibilities. It would be wise to see a qualified gastroenterologist to help find an answer.

[jcannontem]

I have had my gallbladder out 6 months, I have pain on right side upper abdominal under rib cage, pain in center at sternum, mucus and loose stool, regurgitated food, Had a sonogram and found enlarged spleen w/ fatty liver, blood work, prostate normal.CT scan done normal with no kidney stones,growths or masses. This has been going on for a month and it's starting to freak me out, also starting some discomfort on the left side upper abdomen but mostly right side, anyone have some ideas

[Christopher R Watters, MD]

About 10% of patients continue to have pain after gallbladder removal. The majority have an identifiable problem. These range from a retained common bile duct stone to sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, peptic ulcer disease and bile reflux gastritis to name a few. A thorough evaluation is in order by a good gastroenterologist.

[chsrkim]

I would like to know what needs to be done if you have this problem with excessive bile in your stomach? My Dr. Did the upper GO and also the bottom end because they found blood in my stool sample after physical. He said my stomach was terribly inflamed and that's where the blood was coming from and biopsy's were good, so he figured it was from excessive bile in my stomach causing this! So what is the next step they should do? I have been having the pain in my upper center area like you mentioned. This seems to be a setups problem!

[Christopher R Watters, MD]

The problem with bile reflux gastritis is that there isn't a good diagnostic test to detect it. Treatment usually is sucralfate which coats the stomach and allows it to heal. If this fails, one can surgically disconnect the stomach from the duodenum but this is always a tough decision when based on a presumptive diagnosis. In your situation, a gastric emptying study would be a good idea as well as some patients with gastroparesis would also have these endoscopic findings due to stasis of gastric contents.

[robertc110]

My Gallbladder was removed 1.5yrs ago and a few weeks back I started experiencing pain in my abdomen and severe digestive issues. Got scoped today (both ends - ughh) and the gastroenterologist said I had a considerable amount of bile in my stomach. He thinks I may have contracted a virus or infection which caused things to get "backed up" and put me on Cholestyramine. Hopefully there will be some improvement

A bit of a relief since my concern was a blockage of the bile duct leading to my issues.

[cheriee]

Help Please. I definitely have bile in my stomach backing up after it was removed on Sept. 10, 2000. The pain is every morning around 4 am and wakes me up with a level 10 pain. It is exactly in the center of my epigastric area. I take Carafate and Methadone. I have been suffering for 13 years and saw your post about redirecting the bile into the colon. I would fly to you specifically for the surgery if it will take away this daily debilitating pain. I also will call your office on Monday 6/3.

[veronica0511]

I had my gb removed 2 years ago. Since then I have severe pain in the RUQ that wakes me up at night. I wake up dreaming I have been stabbed and covered in sweat. I get up, eat a few saltine crackers and drink a glass of water and the pain is GONE immediately. I am also chronically constipated but have been all my life. I have been scoped and checked for ulcers and the only finding is that on CT my bile ducts are dialted. This can be normal so I'm told after gb removal surger.
My theory is that at night (or anytime the the stomach is empty)when our stomach is completely empty the constant drip of bile into the bowel (no holding station, ie the gallbladder) the bile irritates the smallbowel. So when we eat something bland it soaks up the bile.
I refused an ERCP because I am an RN and have seen to many patients develop pancreatitis from the ERCP. I am currently taking bile salts and a digestive enzyme. I just started the supplements a few days ago I will update on how they help!
Any input is greatly appreciated. These are just my thoughts after much research. Doctors are not miracle workers, we have to help them when we can. Write down what triggers it, when it's worse, what helps. and for goodness sakes we have to stop allowing surgery for everything. I certainly learned my lesson!