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I had the same problems after my gallbladder was removed last December. It started about 3-4 weeks after it was taken out. I would have to race to the bathroom every time I ate anything at all and my BM’s would be yellow diarrhea or just straight up water. It wouldn’t be one trip either, I would have to go 4 or 5 times in an hour or two. I would be afraid to eat anything in the mornings for fear of having to go while driving on the way to class. It got almost debilitating. There were times I had to pull over to stores and stay at the bathroom until my stomach calmed down. One time I had to stay at a Rite-Aid for an hour because of this, I bought Imodium just to be able to go home and I seriously considered buying Depends for the car ride. I never wanted to leave the house.I dealt with this for about 2 months and then I saw a GI Doctor and was diagnosed with bile salt diarrhea as an after effect of loosing the gallbladder. He said 5-10% of people get it after having the gallbladder removed and most peoples’ bodies adjust themselves after a year or two, although some don’t adjust. He gave me a cholesterol medicine, Cholesthyramine, in powder form to control my stomach, since it would bind up bile salts. I later switched to a pill form called Cholestipol. They work really well for me and I have only had one case of diarrhea in about 4 months. I do have to look out for constipation, but I consider that a lot better than the alternative.
“I WISH YOU LUCK, I HAD MY GALL BLADDER REMOVED 6 YRS AGO, I STILL
SUFFER FROM UNCONTROLLABLE DIARRHEA, I HAVE BEEN ON EVERY MED ON THE MARKET. RECENTLY I FOUND A XRAY REPORT IN MY CHART AND IT SHOWS THE CHOLECYSTECTOMY CLIPS ARE STILL PRESENT ALONG WITH A
RING LIKE METALLIC DENSITY OVER MY RIGHT ABDOMEN. THE OPERATION REPORT STATES THESE CLIPS WERE REMOVED??CAN YOU FIND OUT IF THEY REMOVED THESE CLIPS NORMALLY???? I WONDER WHY NOONE QUESTIONED THE METALLIC DENSITY ALSO. IS IT CUZ DRS DONT WANT TO QUESTION ANOTHER DRS WORK.”I have the exact same thing, pain on my right side, bra wire hurting my side and needing to lay on my side. I was given a medication called nortryptiline for nerve damage, try it, it helps. Good luck
I have been “recovering” from my lap chol for 10 weeks now. My pain is similar to what everyone is saying the upper right abd and rib area. It limits me from doing anything including working as it is illegal for me to take narcotics at work. I have been working with my surgeon and we have decided to run yet more tests… This time looking for a developed “tumor like mass” that may have developed from a cut nerve ending. This is removable with another surgery. I cant answer whether this is the cause for sure or if the removal of the mass and cauterizing of the nerve ending means pain relief. I do know that my “easy 4-6 week recovery” has kept me from working for 10 weeks. In my experience if your doctor is unwilling to help you find and fix the problem then get another doctor! Some surgeons will try not to take on patients that have had surgery from another surgeon epically those who work together in the hospital setting. You must know that it is your RIGHT to change doctors and get medical treatment. No one should have to live with chronic pain post operatively, this is crazy! Everyone deserves to have their quality of life back (minus the fatty foods) after such a “simple” surgery. In the medical setting those who get things done are the ones who respectfully demand the problem be solved. Good luck to all.
“I had my gallbladder out 1 year ago. I walk 3.4-4 miles EVERY DAY and eat healthy,my husband and I eat VERY healthy. Good fats, lo carb, lean chicken and turkey, NO red meat. I don’t eat fast food, that would poison my body and still have gained 26 lbs. It’s a shame, that I am trying so hard to lose weight, joined Weight Watchers and nothing is working, so that fortunate poster above
should consider herself/himself lucky. Possibly they are under 38 years of age and 40 had not hit yet! Watch out then!”had looked up medical websites about after effects of gallbladder removal…so I knew about the dumping symptom; rapid trips to bathroom; gas…what I still don’t understand is the weakness and fatigue that gets so bad I feel I could pass out…IF I don’t take blue green algae and an all-food type iron pill. I’m definately going to try digestive enzymes. The surgeon never forwarned me about any after affects, except that I could die in surgery…that was, just, so nice of him…I’ve had three kids, so labor was pretty darned awful, but the gallbladder attack I experienced would’ve made me kill my husband had I not been writhing and throwing up on the way to ER. It is hell, period. So, feeling 100% better after surgery, except for expected surgical pain and recovery…was not ready for (dum dum dummmmm….deer in headlights – OMG – get to toilet now syndrome. I was frightened by the bile (orangey) colored, watery waterfall of WTF on occasion. It’s like anything else in life…we learn to live around it…I take pepto pink pills when I go out on occastion. Like I said, the only thing that worries me is the feeling I might pass out or die from weakness…when I don’t take algae and iron. I honestly don’t think nutrients are getting into my system. This site at first was eye-opening and then comforting and pretty hysterical. For those suffering…if it scares you – see your Doctor, but if your symptoms match all of ours, well, take comfort in that you’re not alone and an infected and enlarged gallbladder will bring death. Don’t wait. Gallbladder pain won’t go away until it’s out…it may come and go, but it will get worse…and it’s very dangerous (according to my surgeon – you know, the “you could die” DR.) – See more at: http://www.poopreport.com/Techniques/food_for_toilet.html?page=2#sthash.gcGWorFd.dpuf
I also had mine removed after developing Pancreatitis. I have GERD, among other stomach problems, and have nausea and occaisonal vomiting too. I take 40 mg. Previcid and alternate between Nexium and Zantac. No relief yet. I was told that I might have to deal with this for the rest of my life. I would also welcome any suggestions!
“I have had my gallbladder removed December 2011 and enduring a year and a half of illness and multiple tests. Pathology reports came back as a chronic infection. It is now a year and two months later, I still have really bad diarrhea on a daily basis along pain in my lower right side and dizziness and faintfeeling and weakness and tirenedness. Nothing seems to help (medication, diet changes etc.) Plus I have this weird discomfort in the right side of my groin area
”I had gallbladder malfunction and atresia starting at age 14 which was misdiagnosed for 10 years. Finally doctors found it and removed my gallbladder; immediately after surgery I began having malabsorption problems and am now being tested for Celiac.
I completely understand what you are going through. I hope you’re still posting to this site – please let me know if you are still suffering the nausea. I had chronic nausea before my GB surgery for a month and a half or longer; test after test revealed nothing but a low functioning GB. Out of desperation I opted to have the surgery and now wish I’d tried to figure out some other way to rid myself of the nausea, which I totally understand is one of the most miserable feelings on the planet. I was on Zofran and Phenergan to help with the nausea but Zofran actually stopped working for me after awhile. I have lost 30 pounds in 4.5 months due to the nausea and difficulty eating. I still have no appetite but finally – 2.5 months post surgery – some foods are starting to look appealing to me. For some reason my nausea has subsided but I don’t trust my body anymore and know it could come roaring back at any time. My biggest problem at this very moment is chronic burning pain all across my abdomen (below stomach area and from left to right side and even my back). it feels like I’m on friggin’ fire! It’s worse when I am sitting, less severe when standing, which tells me there’s something going on in the intestines or areas near where the gallbladder once was. As so many have posted here my surgeon has all but stopped returning my calls I’m trying to rely on an otherwise very thorough GI doc who has proven he knows very little about post GB surgery issues! I have managed to get my surgeon to see me tomorrow – but I think I already know what he’s going to tell me to do – take meds that won’t work. I’m going to push hard for more tests – sonograms, even endoscopy and colonoscopy AGAIN – it will be the second ones in four months!! just to make sure I don’t have something worse brewing they’re hoping to ignore. QUESTION: I’m confused about your having another HIDA scan. What will that show once the gall bladder is out?
“Well, I have almost hit the four month mark now since the surgery. I have actually had a few ‘good days’ since my last post, but more bad days then good, unfortunately.
I find if I eat something (without knowing what my reaction will be) and it doesn’t agree with me, it can put me down for 2-3 days and again I am totally worthless.
Back pain is still almost a daily thing here, loose stools are still there, and stomach pain is also around most of the time (like I am trying to digest acid). My Liver still has days it swells and is very irritating (even though all tests show there isn’t a problem, yea right?) Although the heart burn has subsided almost completely now. I am closely watching everything that I eat, and totally stay away from any ‘trigger’ foods that I know will start this painful recoarse all over again.
This has probably been the worst 5 months I have ever experienced in my entire life.
Thankfully, those few good days are keeping me hopefully that I will be able to get through this at some point and continue on with a semi-normal lifestyle.
I still continue to hear my doctors words that I will be ‘good as new’ within a few weeks after surgery! BS, if this is good, I don’t even want to know what bad is?
I feel so bad for those younger than I, and those raising small children while dealing with this. I can only imagine what you are going through.
Thankfully, I have a very understanding husband who realizes there are days when I will be totally worthless and accomplish absolutely nothing, as I deal with this pain and upset it causes. Hang in there, maybe in another couple of months, things will start improving for you. If they do, you will treasure those ‘good days’ and I just keep hoping for the day when the good days outnumber the bad ones.”
I had my gall bladder removed 43 years ago. I have suffered pain in the upper right quadrant of my abdomen since that surgery. I also had additional surgery on my large bowel years later because of diverticulitis. So now I also got to experience continuing pain in my lower left quadrant of my abdomen. The pain in the area of my former gall bladder gets so severe that I feel I might pass out. It comes and goes. I have seen some aggravation of this pain when I turn or bend a certain way, but I also get this pain if I eat fatty foods. Beats me. I’ve been told I have adhesions which no surgeon wants to touch. I actually feel there’s a growth or lump in that area. I’ve had cat scans and MRI’s that show nothing unusual in that area. I’ve had barium x-rays too and nothing shows up. I feel comforted by others on this blog. But this is driving me crazy. I feel somewhat immobilized especially since the worst attacks were while I was shopping at Target. Help!
i had my gallbladder removed in november 2004 i also have problems digesting food. i have to stay on a stright diet no fatty foods and no spicy foods also..if you find any answers to this problem let me know..i have been sick every since i had my gallbladder removed..plus i was sick before.did your friend have gallstones?was that the reason she had hers removed or was she like myself my gallbladder quit working.just to let you know she is not the only one with this problem. i hope she gets to feeling better and myself too.
i came on here to see if how i was feeling was normal after my gall bladder removel which was 10 months ago and the letter i saw was yours with exactly the same symptons as i am feeling.After a meal i need the loo after a piece of chocolate or cake i need the loo but the worst at the moment is the tiredness and no energy thats why i came on because it was worrying me what was causing it so i thought i would just see if it could be anything to do with my gall bladder removal.i was pleased to see that it seems to a normal symptom after the removal.not sure wether ive got to change my eating habits .when i first came out of hospital thought it was great because i couldnt eat a lot before i was full. but now my appetite is back to normal with me just trying to eat a bit less chocolate and crisps. I can have a good day go for a swim and 15 mins in gym then the next day i just want to sleep all day i would just love to not feel so tired. I am 64 yrs of age. thank you for your information. from guest x
“I had my lap chole 3 years ago and experience identical side effects that the above author states…
So far I just deal with the pain… Told my primary care physician that it continues on and instead of referring me to specialist, he ordered an xray of my rib to see if it is “”fractured””. One has to wonder why these complications that are so prevalent post op seem to go undiagnosed and without proper course of treatment. At this point, I think I will try to see a colo rectal surgeon suggested by another author.
It’s nice to know that these “”phantom pains”” are real even though physicians continue to ignore or discount.”
