Bowel Problems, i.e. mucous, diarrhea, severe cramping

[ashjo84]

I am a 25 year old female. After my first pregnancy, I had a series of Gallbladder Attacks, and subsequently had my gallbladder removed. That was when I was 21. After that, it seemed that no matter what I ate, within 15-20 minutes I would have severe cramping in my abdomen, cold sweats, and loose bowels. Over time it got better. But in the last year or so, it has came back, even worse. It does not matter what I eat, everytime within 15-20 minutes I'm having the same episodes. Although, this time it comes and goes. For a week or so, I'll be able to eat just fine, and then out of nowhere for a few weeks, the episodes will be back. Sometimes in my bowel movements, there will be clear mucous, a lot of it. Other times, I will have a solid bowel movement but it will have thick globs of milky looking mucous in it. During the episodes my bowel movements are extremely soft and oily. I am at a loss. I have went to a few doctors to be told it is only IBS, or that it is just a natural side effect of having my gall bladder removed. I have lost 20 pounds in the last two months because I am afraid to eat. Can anyone help?

[boron]

When gallbladder is removed, the bile is constantly flowing from the liver into the intestine, so fat malabsorption does not result from gb removal.

I've mentioned fat malabsorption because you've mentioned "oily" stools. Fat makes stool whitish, floating, foamy, sticky and foul smelling. If stools don't float it's not likely fat malabsorption. Maybe it's mucus that gives oily appearance. Mucus is translucent, not bright white as fat.

Pains may be from gas built in the part of the colon where it runs below the ribs. In this case, pain would be maybe relieved with having a bowel movement. Anyway, this may be considered as IBS and low-fodmap (low-sugar) diet might help you in this case.
http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/118248?personal_page_id=801

To say if they are fats and no mucus, you'd need stool test for fats.

Weight loss and mucus in stool also appear in intestinal parasites. Stool test for ova and parasites can reveal them.

If cramps resemble those from the gallbladder then they may arise from blocked bile duct. MRCP or ERCP is for diagnosis.

[ashjo84]

Could the fat malabsorption be a side effect of having a gallbladder removed?

[boron]

It is tru that mucus may apear in IBS but oily stools are not characteristic of IBS but fat malabsorption.

I would suggest you to have stool test for fats and parasites.