Gallstones? Even after its not there anymore?

[madmadsmommy]

I had my gallbladder removed in August of 2006 and I was told that I was FULL of gallstones. Since March, I have been experiencing the same symptoms as when my gallbladder was full of stones before it was removed. I went to a Gastroenterologist today and he said I may have gallstones again. How is this possible?

[boron]

After gallbladder removal you still have bile ducts. If by feeling the gallbladder you mean feeling the same kind of problems as before, they may be caused by small stones or biliary sludge sticking in the bile duct...

After gallbladder removal, bile is constantly flowing into your intestine, and sometimes not all can be re-absorbed in the distal part of the small intestine, so it reaches the colon and irritates it. This can cause diarrhea. To prevent this, you can try:
- dividing mealsin small portions
- avoiding fat-rich foods
- adding some fibres like Metamucil or Citrucel to meals. Fibres bind some bile acids and prevent irritation of the colon.

If above doesn't help, you can try low-fodmap diet:
http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/118248?personal_page_id=801

[weezie58]

i have had gallstones since i was in my twentys, which back then they hurt me so bad i would have rather gone through labor! then they stopped hurting for about 25 years...then last motnh i had an attack so bad it sent me to the emergency room..by the time i got there about 15 minutes later the pain stopped...so i went and had an ultra sound and my doctor said the gallbladder had to go., anyway i had the surgery and the gallstone was as big a golf ball....plus i had a bunch of small one also...i had a good recovery..but now it seems like everytime i eat i have to run to the bathroom...also it seems like i still have my gallbladder..like a phantom gallbladder..is this possible?

[boron]

You may have gallstones in the duct through which bile flows from the liver to the duodenum. The disorder is officially caled choledocholithiasis. Sometimes it can be confirmed by ultrasound. Stones can be confirmed during endoscopic retrograd cholangiopancreatography (search for "ERCP") and usually also removed during the procedure.