Bowel Changes

[terrilg]

Ok just a quick question just interested in other idea?

I have always been regualr until about one year ago.  I have had my gallbladder removed and 3 unrelated surgeries since Oct 05.  I awake and can have a very normal BM may have slight musous on wiping (sooo sorry Yuck).  Then about 1/2 hour later will have either very loose or complete watery stools with alot of mucous.  Also no ordor with the first BM but fowl on the second one. Just find this a little weird since I eat nothing between the first and sencond one. The color has turn black over the last 2 weeks but only turned color after starting iron, so I bielve that is the cause.  Any suggestions why this happens or what it could be. Again so very sorry for the unpleasant post, guess there is no way of taking the gross factor out.

Thanks

[topor]

I had gall bladder surgery in April 06. I have a terrible
ordor when passing gas or having a bowel movement. I asked
the surgeon one month after surgery and he claims he never
heard of anyone having bad ordors because of the removal of
the gall bladder. I'm embarrased and very self conscious
about this. The doctor said I could eat whatever I want and
it shouldn't affect my bowel movements. Besides the ordor, my
bowel movements are hit and miss. Sometimes I could have 3
movements a day and the miss a whole day. Also sometimes they
are very loose movements, sometimes regular. And the texture
changes from long and stringy to regular. Again my doctor said
it doesn't matter what foods I eat. ( for 50 years, I always
had a bowel movement in morning and was good for the entire day )

Please help..

[Greeny925]

If the previous advise doesn't work definetley see a Gastroenterologists.  Good Luck :)

[littlears]

I had my gallbladder removed and certain foods can still trigger loose stools after a normal one trigger foods for me are oily foods mayo peanuts peanut butter any nuts really uncooked cabbage keep a diary of what you eat then mark your stool patterns as well this will help you find your trigger foods spices as well as alcohol will effect this.  Good idea to take more fiber naturrally 30 grams per day is the normal which alot of people only get a one fourth of that start slow and build your fiber or will make you bloated at first.  lots of water every day if not helping in 2/3 weeks see your doctor could be irritable bowel.  Good luck.

[terrilg]

Thanks so much. That sounds easy enough so think I will give it a try. I'll let you know the outcome.

[Orbit]

The black stools are probably from the iron, and will go back to normal whenever you stop taking it. Having your gall bladder out shouldn't make any difference to your bowel habits.  From experience I can say that if you have a tendency to be a little constipated, and then eat something that doesn't agree (spicy foods, lots of junk food, a few alcoholic beverages etc) you will often get a fairly normal bowel movement, with diarrhea "backed up" behind it.  I used to occasionally get the mucous thing too.  Also, from experience, as you get older more and more things tend to irritate your stomach.  I took myself to a nutritionist last fall, and made a couple of diet changes -have been unconstipated and very "regular" ever since.  My plan is 3/4 cup of Bran Buds with Psyllium, a tablespoon of ground flax seed, and blueberries every morning, then some vegetables with dinner and one apple sometime during the day.  Otherwise, I pretty much eat what I want.  If I'd known it was this easy I'd have done it years ago.  (As a sidebar my cholesterol and blood pressure have both improved.)  Worth a try - it took me a little over a week to get "regular".  Good luck!