Gall Bladder Removal and Diarrhea

[penny130]

When I was 18 years old I had my gall bladder removed 2 weeks after having my first child. I would get horrible pains during my pregnancy and the gall bladder disease was never discovered until after I had my son. The doctors said my gall bladder was so diseased that it had to be removed immediately. Since the removal (5 years ago) I have had chronic diarrhea everyday, all day. I would say that I have at least 3 bowel movements a day and most days it is around 5. I'm wondering if there is anything I can do about this. I'm 23 now and I feel like I always need to be near a bathroom. This is no way to live. Is there any over-the-counter mediciations or supplements that I can take? Is there any correlation between taking calcium and/or iron pills and stopping diarrhea? I know that this is something I will have to live with forever but it would be great if I could somehow lessen the amount of times that I need to go to the bathroom each day. Any feedback would be appreciated.

[teddylovebears]

I had the same problem, went to a GI doctor and they ran a colonoscopy (perfectly normal) but he decided it was because of my gallbladder removal. The bile in your liver has no where to be stored since your gallbladder is gone and therefore it constantly drips into your intestine causing you to have diarrhea every time you eat. He prescribed me Welchol and I've had a total change of life and I have more energy now and I'm not running to the restroom before I get finished eating or directly after. I am actually living a normal life with 2 pills each day. Hope this helps you also!

[jenny06xx]

hi hun i am exactly the same as u!!!
i had my gallbladder removed when i was 18 and my child was 4 months old and i too have had chronic diarrohea since then im now 24 so 6 years and im still the same if i dont take my medication!!
i have had all the tests possible but only due to begging the doctor and specialist (im in the uk) absoloute nightmare ive tried everything possible the only thing left for me was codeine phosphate 30mg 4 times a day wow it is a miracle i havent suffered since i took it 4 years ago. the trouble is this drug is an opiate so it basically causes constipation it doesnt cure u its just a sde effect of the medication which is normaly used for chronic pain!!
ive been on this for 4 years now and it seemed to work less so i was up to 8 a day my dotors all said its ibs its in your head i have cried so many times and been ashamed to go to the doctors because im told theres nothing we can do for u!!
ive managed to cut down the codeine to 5 a day it was a case of mind over matter and that my body needed to adjust slowly. now i went for my prescription yesterday an was told no by the receptionist who then said infront of 4 people in the que the doctor thinks your taking too many u have to come in monday !!!!!!!!!!!! disgusting!!!!!!!!
i was 1 day early because i have college and a job and 2 kids so i like to make sure i have it so im not stuck in and not able to live properly.........
now i have to go to the doc on monday an beg for these tablets its soooo unfair i had no life for 2 years my child never went anywhere with me i couldnt manage to run to the loo with a buggy or catch a bus or walk to nursery so my hubby did practically everything like that or came with me to have the baby in case i had to run !!! no life at all no way to live..........so codeine was my life saver i learnt to drive had another child got a job went to college looked after my dying nan as a carer i have lived life to the full or well normal for 4 years now im being treated like a druggie an i dont know what is gonna happen if i dont get these tablets on monday my life will be over ill have to quit college an my job and i cant claim disability because it hasnt got a name theres no cure no operation and now there gonna take my last bit of hope away from me
sorry to rant but if u can get codeine prescribed might be hard it will give u a life for as long as they give it to u so good luck try it hun even if u gotta buy over the counter co-codamol or something it works just not as good coz they r very low doses good luck let me know how u get on

[CalGal]

You might want to ask your doc if you could try some questran, a bile-binding resin. It's also possible that following a low fat diet may be of help since 'bile-dumping' can be a consequence of having a GB removed in some people.