Digestive issues after gallbladder removal

[ebeth714]

I am a 34 year old female and had my gallbladder removed 3 weeks ago.  I had a low ejection fraction and was having attacks followed by constant heartburn.  Post surgery I still have the constant heartburn.  Nothing makes it better.  I have tried, dexalant, prilosec, zantac, tagament.  I just started yesterday with green stools.  No diarrhea but softer bright green stools.  The gall bladder attacks have subsided but I feel like I can't eat anything without being in pain from the heartburn.  It is severe!

[CalGal]

ebeth, are you following a low fat diet? Diet can play a big role in pre- and post-gallbladder issues. If the green color isn't coming from something you ate, it could be due to the unregulated release of bile from the common bile duct. I know you expected everything to be fine after the surgery, but unfortunately that isn't always what happens in some people.

If you've tried that number of anti-acid substances in the three weeks following surgery, you wouldn't have allowed enough time for any of them to try to make a difference. With most proton pump inhibitor med, it can take weeks for just one kind to make a difference. So you'd actually have to wait at least 2-4 weeks just to see if one med helped, although the zantac should cut at least some of the acid production in about 24 hours.

Have you called your doc to discuss the issue? Has he suggested alternatives like the use of carafate and possibly Gaviscon? What about the use of any anti-nausea meds?

[idkwia]

Without your GB you could have bile just leaking into the stomach. Look up Questran or Questran Light.
Good luck

[S. Kaul, MD]

Hi there!

Well, along with the medications dietary changes and lifestyle modification is typically advised for adequate control of heartburn including regular exercise, avoiding smoking/ alcohol, sleeping with head slightly elevated etc. If there is no improvement observed with the changes along with the medication, other interventional/ surgical procedures may be considered as a part of management. You may consider consulting a gastroenterologist for a review and suggestion of an appropriate management plan.
Hope this is helpful.

Take care!

[S. Kaul, MD]

Hi there!

Well, along with the medications dietary changes and lifestyle modification is typically advised for adequate control of heartburn including regular exercise, avoiding smoking/ alcohol, sleeping with head slightly elevated etc. If there is no improvement observed with the changes along with the medication, other interventional/ surgical procedures may be considered as a part of management. You may consider consulting a gastroenterologist for a review and suggestion of an appropriate management plan.
Hope this is helpful.

Take care!