Gall Bladder - Removal and after effects

[hellie50]

Hi

I had my gall bladder removed 12 months ago.  I had lots of problems for the first six months.....I do not believe it was gall bladder in the first place, but had it removed due to exhaustion of every other test!!!

About every 4 - 5 weeks I wake up with severe nausea, diarrhea, back pain, gnawing pain on left side under ribs.  I am unable to eat or drink for at least 3 - 4 hours.  After about 10.30am I start to feel human again.  Then it starts all over gain the following morning waking about 4.00am.  This usuall goes on for about 7 - 10 days.  I normally lose a coule of kilos during this process.  Then I am ok for about 2 - 3 weeks and tend to gain a bit of weight.

I am wondering if this is all part of the after effects of having a gall bladder removed.  I have been tested for IBS, ecoli, and had numerous endoscopys and x-rays.  Nothing has been found.  I cannot relate the above to any sorts of food that I eat, so on my good weeks I just eat what I fancy....and during the bad week.....stick to white rice, mashed potatoes.  

Does anyone out there have similar stories.......I am finding it very restrictive to the life I lead.  On the bad days I cannot even go to work....but usually by 10.30 - 11.00 feeling OK.

Thanks for any input..

Susan

[jammedup]

To all with digestive problems. What I have noticed is when you think it's diarrhea it may not be.With IBS(irritable bowel syndrome) the muscles surrounding your intestines can contract and squeeze hard. The liquid food in your intestines is pushed through your system right to the ascending colon and past your constipated descending colon out your hinder. Then I hear that you face a bout with constipation= what I'm saying is maybe it's the constipation that's causing the diarrhea, your system is sending water and contractions to force the undigested meats and fats as well as dried feces stuck to your descending colon wall out, in order to make room for incoming nutrients. This would also explain loss of weight, your popping out undigested food. stop the fatty meats and get more fiber. I use a fiber supplement and add 3 days of fish a week along with chicken(smaller portions of coarse) and increase vegetables along with a little fruit(higher calories then Veggies). I have no gall bladder and I used to eat a chicken and a half I liked meat, but I have to change because I do not have concentrated bile to help digest fatty meats especially beef in a timely matter.

[resptherapist]

WOW!  this sounds so much like what my friend goes through.  he still has his gallbladder.  he has constant diarrhea with stomach cramps.  he'll go through days/weeks of vomiting to the point of losing excessive amounts of weight and then he'll be fine again for a few weeks.  he also complains constantly of upper left quadrant pain.  no doctor has suggested it was his gallbladder.  in fact no doctor has suggested it is anything.  go figure.

[erikamesh]

First off you can't just eat what you fancy anymore even when you feel good. Your digestive system is permanently changed now so you need to watch what you eat. Fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins and fiber are what you should be having. I limit my dairy to skim milk and low fat yogurt but not everyday. My doctor told me not to cut dairy out completely, just go for little to no fat in small amounts. NEVER eat anything fried!!! Ask your doctor for Questran, a bile binding resin you take before you eat to prevent diarrhea. It works wonders

[JenniK61]

I had my gall bladder taken out June of 2007.  I had lost about 70 pounds in about a 6 month period prior to the removal.  I started out at 250 pounds.  I felt great, but the pain was like a heart attack. It was my gall bladder, so emergency surgery was scheduled.

Since then, I've gained back all but 40 of those pounds, am bloated all the time, can't lose any of the weight that I've gained back...slowly am putting it back on...one day I'll have diahreah all day and think, "cool, my body is cleansing and I'll lose some weight." But the next day, I'm bloated with gas, can't have very good bowel movements, can't pass the gas very well and my body bulges in my clothes terribly.  My self esteem takes a dump.

I've read where people also suffer from hypothyroidism. What can I do? I don't eat like a pig, I exercise moderately like I did before to lose the weight, but nothing I do now is working like it did before the surgery.  I don't want to shop for clothes anymore unless it's for a smaller size.

Any help or suggestions?

[Ariom63]

Hi Susan,

I am sorry to hear about your on going issues.  I had my gallbladder removed on March 31st, and have not had any problems at all.  Everything is back to normal.  mainly because even before having surgery I stuck to a very strict low fat diet.  CalGal is right.  Even now, I do try introducing foods very slowly back into my diet.  but I have yet to touch sweets or ice cream.  I think I am not going to do because actually I don't miss them as much.  But for me what seems to work is continuing to stick to a low fat diet and plenty of water.  I don't eat anything white...brown rice is much better and nothing dairy.  But that is my choice. I have tried them and I have regular bowel movements since the surgery...first 2 days constipated and then back to normal.  It has to be something else.  I would take CalGal advise.  I do wish you the best of luck!

Moira

[CalGal]

It's possible the problem could be related to the loss of your gallbaldder. Many people find they're unable to process fats the way they did before the surgery. That problem can cause diarrhea and a number of other issues. You may want to consider following a low fat diet to see if it's of help.

Also make sure that if you do get sick they check your liver and pancreatic enzyme levels. And since stones can form after the GB is removed, if the problems continue and you are following a low fat diet, you may want to consider asking to have an MRCP done.