NEED HELP MY DAUGHTER HAD HER GALLBLADDER REMOVED

[christyphillips813]

My 20 year old daughter had her gallbladder removed in June of 2013 and is still have bad stomach pains, she says it is like needles in her stomach, bouts of diarrhea, and just over all cramping. She has been back to her surgeon/doctor twice and he said this is normal. She has lost 35 lbs from just changing her diet but shouldn't this pain be gone by now? Any suggestions? Help......

[loony56]

I had my gallbladder removed in 1998. I have had nothing but problems. many like constipations, reflux, gas just about everything. Gallbladder is used to store bile. When removed you must eat a low fat diet, no dairy, meat, watch your gluten, and no fats especially spices and deep fried foods. I ended up with Bile Reflux Gastritis. I am now on a very strict diet. Friendly foods for me are bananas, apples, oatmeal, fish, eggs, vegetables, fruit, rice. Try making homemade tea. Chamomile tea, slippery elm and marshmallow root. This will help with stomach issues. It does take quite a while for your body to realize your gallbladder is gone. Hope this is helpful. loony56

[CalGal]

Christyphillips, I don't agree that what you're daughter is experiencing is anywhere near normal, but the sad truth is there can be problems after GB surgery that an take awhile to settle down. But she should be evaluated for remaining sludge/stones. It can be residual, but some people can also make it 'anew.' If she hasn't had a full CBC with liver and pancreatic enzyme levels done, request it. And the best time to have the liver/pancreatic enzymes levels done is within 12 hours of having a really bad bout of pain. I know that sounds screwy, but there is a reason for it. Have her checked for the presence of H. pylori. Stay away from the spicy/dairy/fatty.

Track to see if the bouts of diarrhea coincide with the intake of fatty/dairy. But if the diarrhea is too continuous check to see if the doc will give her something like bentyl which will slow down the 'fast transit' through the GI tract. If that doesn't help, consider a bile-binding resin like that mentioned above, or perhaps Welchol (sp?) which can function in the same capacity. She'll have to play with it a bit so that she doesn't end up with diarrhea, but it might help.

Where specifically is the pain? Saying 'stomach' isn't a good term because it's often used to mean anywhere from bottom of rib cage to top of pubis. And how bad is 'severe.' Is it enough to put her on the floor, or????

[christyphillips813]

yes she has in fact shes lost 35 lbs since her surgery by eating a really clean diet. She still has this knot or twisting in her stomach every day and if she eats any spicy or dairy  she will feel awful. I have taken her back to her surgeon/doctor 3x and he says this is normal?

[CalGal]

Has she been following a low fat diet?

[Jenn423]

It can take up to a year for the digestive system to get back to normal after the gall bladder is removed. Severe diarrhea, especially after meals, is common, but eventually that part will level out. A medication called cholestyramine was prescribed to me for this. It might help. I had to take less than the recommended dose - it can cause constipation. It's a powder you mix with a drink or with food. I liked to mix it with "Instant Breakfast" drink mix - made it much more palatable.

If there is pain similar to the pain that was experienced with the gallstones prior to surgery, there can sometimes be residual "sludge" or "sand" or even small stones causing a blockage in the common duct. (I had this, and have had to go back numerous times b/c, even though I don't have a gall bladder, I still get stones and the attacks of pain. This is not common, so most likely your daughter will not experience this. My family seems to have this particular problem with the liver.)

Hope this helps.