HELP PLEASE!!!!

[Tigger1]

Hi -- I posted a question on 10-31-01 -- About being very constipated after gallbladder surgery.  Since then I have also started to have ATTACKS right after I eat, I am very bloated and sick to my stomach alot.  I do not have a temp, but I am EXTREMELY tired all the time.  I was really hoping that someone might have some insight to my problems.  I know it could be complications but I have not really found anything or anyone that actually explains what I should be looking for.  I go back to my Dr on 11/13.  Until then I don't know what to do with myself. Please any info at all will be greatly appreciated....
THANK YOU

[MARY ANN]

first of all are you seeing a gastro/digestive specialest or a regular doctor .if it is your family doctor i would ask him to refer you to a good gastro specialest  however if you are seeing a gastro doc ask them to run a upper scope and a colonoscopy they are two of the best digestive test going .i wished i had more answers for you but the fact is until you have the test ran there's no real way of knowing  .i wish you well and good luck .

[Tigger1]

Thank You -- actually it is the surgeon that performed the surgery.  So hopefully on my next appointment, if I am still the same, he will suggest testing.  I will keep you posted.  If you do find anything out, please let me know. Thanks again for your comment.

[Baseball_Mom]

Hi - It was my experience that my surgeon decided that he did "everything" right and could no longer do anything for me.  Unless your incisions are oozing or you are running a fever I suspect that the surgeon will refer you back to the doctor who sent you to him.  So I'm not so sure I wouldn't just schedule an appointment now with that doctor.  Hopefully it is a gastro doctor.  I had my gallbladder removed over 6 months ago.  I've continued to have problems, continual pain in my right side and attacks that are mimicing a gallbladder attack.  I have had every test in the book done and everything always comes out "within normal range".   Whatever that means.  I am scheduled for an ERCP with Sphincterotomy on the 14th of November.  Hopefully this will be the cure for what ailes me.  But if I have learned anything through all this, a person knows their body better than anyone else.  If you are not satisfied with the treatment you are receiving, keep searching till you find the doctor who will search until he finds the root of the problem.  Hang in there and best of luck to you!

[Tigger1]

Thank you -- I just told my husband last night, that if I didn't know any better, I would say that I still have my Gall bladder.  He is very sympathetic, but this is just rediculous.  The pains are the same and now I have the sick feeling and being tired and not to mention that I am constipated too -- Maybe I should have just left it in and dealt with the attacks -- at least then that was the only problem I was having.  Thanks again for your input.

[Concerned lady]

Dear Tigger,

You should read all the responses, including mine, to a lady named "Brandee" who posted a similar question to yours, called, "What do I do now?" on 9/15/2001. You'll have to "scroll" down the page a little more than half way down all the posted messages, to find it!!

I think you'll get some GOOD ideas from them, that you can ASK YOUR DOCTOR SOME SPECIFIC QUESTIONS about!!! Make a copy of all the answers we gave Brandee, and bring it with you to your doc(s)!

You, and Brandee, and SO MANY OTHERS are having problems AFTER their gall bladders have been removed! It will take an EXPERT GASTRO-ENTEROLOGIST, or whatever the doc is called that deals with GALL BLADDERS, to help you figure out exactly what's wrong, IN YOUR PARTICULAR CASE, and HOW TO FIX IT.

Good luck. Keep us posted, here!

Sincerely, Concerned lady

***@****
website is http://cantbreathesuspectvcd.com

[Tigger1]

Thank you -- I did go and read that particular entry.  My concern is that everyone else complains about the Pain still being there which I have too, but they complain about their stools being loose.  I am not having this problem -- mine is quite opposite.  I am so constipated, that I have a hard time getting comfortable.  I eat, have the "pain", I get the urge to go to the bathroom, and then it disappears as soon as it comes.  I have taken laxatives for days and give me some relief but not completely and as soon as I stop taking them, the relief is gone.  I have also tried to increase my fiber intake and ruffage intake(that only makes me gassy which adds to the discomfort),  I have even went to the extreme and tried real fatty foods because everyone else complains about how after they eat fatty foods they are running to the bathroom, no dice for me though. Any info on the CONSTIPATION part would be greatly accepted.  But in the meantime, I will definitely take all the other info and question the Dr. --- THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!

[Concerned lady]

Dear Tigger,

Here are some ideas about what helps some people to stop constipation: MAKE SURE THAT THESE IDEAS ARE OK FOR YOUR PARTICULAR CONDITION!!! Complications from surgery MUST BE FIXED, for all of these to work better:

1) Drink more water (preferably "hard" well water, or spring water, without chlorine and without fluoride). Make sure your kidneys are functioning well, or else too much water can be bad. People with glaucoma shouldn't drink too much water. Don't drink distilled water, because distilled water pulls ("leaches") minerals out of the bones, contributing to osteoporosis.

2) Take ACIDOPHILUS/BIFIDUS, which are "pro-biotics" that need to be put back into the large intestine, because anti-biotics and other meds destroy these beneficial, friendly bacteria. Health food stores keep these in their refrigerated section.

3) Avoid: WHITE bread, WHITE rice. These WHITE grains have no roughage. Instead, use WHOLE GRAINS, like WHOLE WHEAT, and BROWN rice. White ("de-natured") grains can be constipating.

4) Avoid wheat. Use brown rice instead. Wheat can be very hard on digestive systems.

5) Avoid dried apricots. They can be constipating. Eat FRESH fruits instead. Prunes are OK though. A little PRUNE JUICE adds some natural potassium which helps fight constipation.

6) Eat organic fruits, VEGETABLES (all kinds, including dark green leafy ones, orange ones like carrots, yams, etc.), nuts, seeds, grains, etc.

7) For some, MILK PRODUCTS can be constipating. Try "Rice Dream" instead of milk. It is made from brown rice.

8) Yogurt is good, if it agrees with you. If you have a LACTOSE intolerance, take LACTASE ENZYMES ("Lactaid") along with the yogurt.

9) Get some exercise, like brisk walking. This does wonders for constipation!

10) Avoid artificial food additives, like NUTRASWEET (also called Equal & Aspartame), etc.

11) See a really good NUTRITIONIST/DIETICIAN, who can help you create a diet JUST RIGHT FOR YOUR SITUATION! This person can advise you about supplements (like vitamins, minerals, digestive enzymes, etc.) that could be beneficial for you. Make sure these supplements are OK in your particular case. Health food stores sell good quality supplements.

12) Find out all side effects of any meds you are taking. Ask your pharmacist for the "insert", and look in the PDR (Physician's Desk Reference). See if CONSTIPATION is a side effect of any meds you are on. If so, ask your doc what NATURAL methods could work instead of the meds. But don't suddenly stop taking the meds. First, find out if it's OK to stop the meds. And if it is OK, find out if you have to slowly taper the meds, rather than suddenly stopping them. Do this under doctor's supervision!!

13)Get those post-surgery problems addressed by your docs!!!

14) Consider seeing a good acupuncturist &/or a good chiropracter (only allow GENTLE adjustments, no sudden "cracking"!!!)

Good luck to you! I hope others give you their opinions too!

Sincerely, Concerned lady

***@****
http://cantbreathesuspectvcd.com

[MARY ANN]

tigger before i had surgery on my colon for severe diverticuitis. constipation was a very large problem for me. this is why i felt the colonoscopy would be a good idea it will reveal what ever is going wrong with  your system .i  know how you fill i used to go for days and days with out using the bath room and i was always bloated to the point it took energy just to breath not to mention i looked several months pregnant.and eating anything prior to relief just added more discomfort, and my  feet ,legs and hands would also swell badly.i am not sure that  the test will be a cure all but  at leat it will either find the problem or rule out other more serious conditions .you may want to have them to do a upper scope at the same time which is what they do with most patients so they don't have to keep running back for more test or going through the preps for the test constantly.they will put you under so there is nothing to fear.the worst part of being ill is the not knowing i believe this will also put your mind at ease if they are able to diagnose what is going on .i always felt that the mental stress was harder sometimes than the illness and pain itself.may god bless and i wish you well.

[lildebbi]

This may be too simple, and I'm sure you have already considered this, but just in case - are you taking pain medication for the surgery?  Many pain meds can cause severe constipation, also extreme fatigue.  Hope this is all it is

[Davesgirl2000]

I just wanted to make a suggestion.  I have also had my gall bladder out and had similat problems such as constipation and dirahra both often back and forth.  They tried to tell me that I had irratable bowel syndrome but I found something else out.  It is called Celiac disease.  It cause you to have both problems and also extreme fatigue and anemia.  It is actually an allergy to wheat.  I know this sounds kind of funny but I have read that this is the most common disease in the united states and the most misdiagnosed.  All it takes is a blood test and there is alot of people out there that will never know about it.  I am only 19 years old and I have had it for like 4 to 5 years and barely about a month ago I read an articla about it and sure enough that is what I had.  It usually only appears in infants and older people when you start to really notice the vitamin deficency and things like that.  I am feeling about 100 times better than I have in along time just because I have stopped eating anything withn wheat in it.  But if you suspect you hace this dont go on the diet until you have the test done because it will through off the test results.  I hope this helps--please pass this on because there maybe someone else who does not know about it.  Thanks!!