After Gallbladder removal?

[NoGallbladder56]

What, if any, supplements will assist digestion of fatty foods after gall bladder removal?  I just had mine taken out less than three weeks ago and am suffering whenever I eat anything with even a small amount of fat in it.

[sandy207]

like u i had my gallbladder removed an eating foods caused pain i was addmitted in to hostpital and given  a fluid in a drip to disolve a gallstone lodged in my bile duct. since my gallbladder removal 5 months ago i still suffer gastrisis pain after alcohol or spicy food. i feel if i would have had the operation sooner i wouldnt have this infection in my stomach . ive had courses of antibiotics but it comes back after a few weeks

[Jaybay]

Are you suffering from pain, or diarrhea, or both?  Bile salt diarrhea can be a problem in some gallbladder patients, but it usually goes away after some time.  That time is different for everyone, and even fewer people never seem to get better.  In severe cases, questran can help with the diarrhea.  It's a cholesterol medication so you'd have to discuss that with your doctor.  Also, calcium (like Tums or Caltrate) can help with diarrhea as long as you aren't prone to kidney stones.

If it's the same old pain when you eat a fatty meal, you might consider going back to your gastroenterologist and ask about stones still in your bile duct.  Sometimes sludge, or small gallstones get lodged in there and you're back to the same symptoms.  Another duct-related problem to look into with your gastro doc is Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction.  These tiny muscles are located at the end of the common bile duct where bile and pancreatic enzymes empty into the small intestine.  If they get clenched too tightly, these fluids get backed up and cause a lot of pain, and can sometimes lead to pancreatitis.  It's worth another office visit to have this discussion with your doctor unless your surgery was very recent - like within the past month.