problems after gallbladder removed

[Jessie76]

I had my gallbladder removed over a year ago. I have a history with IBS w/ constipation. All my life I have rarely ever had diarrhea...until my gallbladder was removed. I went from having a bowel movement once ever 3-5 days to 3-8 times a day, most of the time it is diarrhea, always accompanied by cramping and usually I have an unsettled stomach and generally do not look forward to eating. The only time my stomach is not upset is when I get hungry, but once I eat, about 20 min later I start feeling bad; bloated, gassy, unsettled, indigestion, cramping...you get it. I have seen a couple gastro docs and they seem to think it is no big deal, and that it is normal after having your gallbladder removed. When is it time to continue seeing doctors or just throw in the towel and deal with it? I am following a strict diet, nothing greasy at all, and mostly bland foods, no butter, no fatty meat (anything greasy or fatty sends me directly to the bathroom and it is painful cramps - not worth it) Any suggestions are welcome. Thanks

[pfehrman]

Sounds familiar. I can't go anywhere where there is no bathroom facilities close by. When I have to go, which is many times a day, it is emergent! I have found that my life is almost non-functioning since the removal of my gallbladder and all bowel evacuations burn but first severe cramping and pain. I almost think I would have rather kept the gallbladder and accepted whatever was going to happen that way. This is not much of a life. I'm afraid what is going to happen if I ever get offered a job again. How am I going to do this?

I think doctors and researchers have it wrong. They need to figure out how to fix gallbladders instead of removing them. They clearly DO serve an important purpose, otherwise these severe problems would not exist if the gallbladder was really no big deal like my surgeon told me. Boy was he ever WRONG!.

Not only that, but ever since the gallbladder came out the weight is going up. I've read over and over again that this is common after gallbladder removal. None of this has been good in any way.

[toyota49]

I have had years pass since the day of my gall bladder removal, not wanting to sound negative or make light of this, I too have sounds like the same problem and what I have found that helps me of all things is fiber con and not a ton of it but one or two a day and then calcium citrate once a day. Not sure if it will help you but it helps me some. Nothing takes it away where I do not have to worry when traveling and frankly I have had a hard time with employment even because of it, but the last years this has helped some. Ask your DR if this might be something you can try. I tried questran and it was so aweful like drinking rocks, and this has afforded me before a whole day sometimes with no D.
Good luck to you and  if you have an new info post because I would love to know if there is any new things out there that might work better.
God Bless

[balletbelle]

I had these exact symptoms for a about a month after my cholcystectomy. But now, since it's been so long, its time for you to be your own advocate. Do your doctors know your low fat diet? And have you told them every detail? I know it's embarrassing, but they could be missing a key problem maybe with your bile duct and bile production. I don't know much, but i know how miserable those symptoms are.
I hope you find out something soon!