Bowel Problems After Gallbladder Surgery

[N. Solis]

I had my gallbladder removed almost a year ago.  I've seen comments posted about this in the forum, but no real answer or explanation as to why it happens.  Luckily, I suffered no pain after the surgery; I recovered well and I am VERY HAPPY that I do not suffer through those horrible attacks anymore (the last one made me think I was going to die and I ended up in the ER with the surgery scheduled shortly after).  Anyway, I have noticed that ever since the surgery I have a MAJOR problem during and after eating.  I have to RUN to the bathroom.  I, too, am familiar with a lot of public restrooms almost anywhere I go.  Unfortunately, sometimes I choose NOT to go somewhere or NOT to eat something because I'm so afraid of what will happen later.  Is there a real medical ezplanation for this?  I asked my PCP and all he told me was to ask the doc who performed the surgery.  I was given a lot of information before the surgery, but during my TWO follow up visits, nothing about this was mentioned.  I didn't notice it until a few weeks later.  I'm ashamed to talk to anyone about it.  Is there anything that can be done?  I hate to think that this is how I have to live for the rest of my life.

[b-room queen]

I have had bowel problems for as long as i can remember i have been diagnosed as having ibs but my symptoms are worse than ibs i too have to run the the b-room all the time . when i wake up in the am i have a serious prob i go to the b-room 5/6 times b-4 i even have a glass of water and i have been on all kind of meds to treat my symptoms none of which have worked i have even been at the point where i was taking 48 imodium in a matter of 3 days i know this is not good but nothing seems to work i have been on all the ibs meds and have just got to the point where i quit eating so i dont get sick but that doesnt work for 3 dys in other words i dont eat anything for 3 days and on the 4th day the diaherea then slows down enough that i can get to the market. My diahreah symptoms r so bad i have a matter of seconds from the time the noise and rumbling in my body starts to get to the b-room. i am at the point that i carry a pair of underwear with me whereever i go in my purse/my car and at all friends homes/ now i have to carry extra shorts/pants it has gotten so bad i am now a hermit in my home . i cnt get thru a meal without going to the b-room after the 1st 3 bites of food it is like my body is rejecting all the food i put in it.... i am at the end of my rope i have seen 4 gastroenterologist and they must think i am exagerating but they should spend one day with me while this is going on and see for themselves i just recently got a new gastro dr and told him right off the start that this is the last dr i will see about this prob b-cause no one seems to care/or believe me enough to help me i have gone from weighing 140lbs to now weighing 104 lbs now dont get me wrong when i can get it under enough control and have a b-room nearby i will eat and my weight fluxuates.... i also had my gallbladder removed about 2 yrs ago and i was told that the ibs would get better after the surgery i had and incredible amount of pain after the surgery but the worst thing is that the ibs or so called ibs would get better but it got worse instead i really didnt think it could get worse than it was at the time but i was saddly mistaken. if anyone can give me any tips on how to control my out of control symptoms please tell me i am at a loss to knowing what to do.......i have to go 5/6 times b4 i even have water/coffee/tea in the am......then after another 6/7 times and heaven forbid i should eat any thing i then suffer for the rest of the day/// so i am at the point where i eat only once a day usually around dinner when i know that i will be home for the remainder of the day.,, then i suffer for the night and start again in the am.... my stool is not normal either i trully believe i have something more than ibs but drs say they see nothing... i now know i have a hiatal hernia & gerd/ all normal right? the pain from the symptoms is another topic i have tried all the fiber diets/regimens and they dont work and this dr just put me on questran said this will help ? not working yet. have been on it for about 4 dys..... i dont think this will help either but i am willing to try anything. to give you a list of all the different meds i have tried will take the page and a 1/2. any way i can relate to the many people at their end with the ibs diagnosis and treatments that dont work. the dr also mentioned a test i have never heard of and i am kinda nervous about it // it is called small bowel capsule it this dangerous and will my body be able to handle this test i am sooo tired of being the ginea pig and just want the D word to stop so i can treat my other probs.........

very tired of going to the b-room.......sandi g

[jan]

Hello fellow loo luvers

I found this site because I was looking up details about the drug 'Questran'.   Well now I have the answers to my problems (watery diarrhoea, and high abdo pains mostly where the GB was) and it is a comfort to know that I am not imagining all my symtoms!  

I am now 52 and had my gall bladder out about 5 years ago and apart from an increase in heartburn, indigestion and massive increase in the 'burps' when eating, I hadn't had any real problems till last year Jun 2000 when going to the loo became a very very frequent event,  enough to send me to the doctors because I thought I had a bug or worse.  To cut a long story short (well will try) was sent to a Gastrologist and was examined inside, outside and upside down (doesn't do much for self identity when you feel rotton already). Original diagnosis was Microscopic Colitis(another elusive condition), so was put on steroids which made the condition far worse and blew me up like a baloon, thankfully I am off them now, but took 3 months to find out they made me far worse.  

Had severe pains where GB used to be and round front of diaphram under sturnum, still get these now and again,  they can be frightening and was convinced I had pancreatic cancer. Anyway have had more tests including the bile salt malabsorption test which proved very positive, meaning that I was not re-using/storing my bile, does this make sense?   Presumably that means more and more is being made and the bile,  like acid is causing all the problems.  Trouble is that no-one explains anything to you and even when I ask,  the answers are evasive.  My Gastrologist is not very forthcoming with information (I seem to know more about it than he does, and typically you cannot tell him anything or say that you have found things out, without consulting him!).  

Anyway latest is that he gave me Questran to take a couple of weeks ago - and it appears to have stopped my frequent visits to the loo and I haven't had the pains so much, but that leads me to what I said originally about information on the drug.   I also have to take thyroxine because of hypothyroidism and am now worried that the Questran may affect that.  Am due to see him in a couple of weeks and possibly to have a barium meal test.  Will let you know how things go.  

To all that need the GB op, not everyone is the same and mostly things are much better afterwards,  also it is always best to get things checked out, just in case.

Best wishes to all and a Happy and Healthy New Year.

Regards from Jan

[allana]

I want to know about the symptons of gallstones?
I have alot of bloating , shoulderblade pain,stomach sick, pains in my stomach,chest pain and also feel drained.
Please can you tell me if i have it bad enough to get my gallbladder out? The Doctor found out i have stones by the ultra sound test.

[Rita Hargrave]

I recently had my gallbladder removed and was happy to be rid of the pain. I go back to my doctor tommorrow and I thought something had gone wrong till I found this site. I too have became very familiar with all the restrooms. I am going to ask my doctor about the meds. that have been mentioned here about the Dumping Syndrome. I have lost 15 pounds since my surgery, and the surgery has only been a month ago. I assume the weight lose is from visting the bathroom so much?

[allana]

I want to know about the symptons of gallstones?
I have alot of bloating , shoulderblade pain,stomach sick, pains in my stomach,chest pain and also feel drained.
Please can you tell me if i have it bad enough to get my gallbladder out? The Doctor found out i have stones by the ultra sound test.

[Rita Hargrave]

I recently had my gallbladder removed and was happy to be rid of the pain. I go back to my doctor tommorrow and I thought something had gone wrong till I found this site. I too have became very familiar with all the restrooms. I am going to ask my doctor about the meds. that have been mentioned here about the Dumping Syndrome. I have lost 15 pounds since my surgery, and the surgery has only been a month ago. I assume the weight lose is from visting the bathroom so much?