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Uncontrolled diarrhea after gallbladder removal surgery: Any advice?

Posted by JerryP @jfperrone, Aug 22, 2020

After a very painful event I had surgery to remove my gall bladder. Surgery took 2.5 hours. Follow up seems ok except I have uncontrolled diarrhea. I am living on imodium . I am weak as a baby with no aid in sight. The doctors offer no real help except telling me what to eat or not. Any similiar experience or advice.

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cherawgirl | @cherawgirl | Sep 8, 2023
In reply to @thisisabattle "Hey! I've been struggling with digestive issues for a year. (mucus in stool, pain in epigastric..." + (show)
@thisisabattle

Hey! I've been struggling with digestive issues for a year. (mucus in stool, pain in epigastric area, diarrhea just after waking up, nausea, burping all the time, everything increases after fatty meal) I had stomach endoscopy, colonoscopy, test for parasites, bacteria, candida, they checked my liver, thyroid.. and they finally found a lot of sludge in my gallbladder, my surgeon suggested to me that I should remove it becuase it might be a root of my all digestive issues. I agreed.

I had my surgery 7 weeks ago and my digestive health is worse than before. I often have epigastric pain (it's probably my stomach) especially in the morning (when my stomach is empty), my stomach makes loud noises like gurling after every meal, even when I wake up in the morning the first thing I hear is my stomach. Sometimes I get diarrhea after meals it can happen at any moment and it's urgent so I'm now scared about leaving my house or go somewhere by public transport.

My doctor told me to wait because my body is still adjusting to a new situation to not having a GB, but I don't believe him. I did read a lot of horror stories of people who has been struggling with diarrhea for many years after GB and it can be lifelong issue. Please be honest with me, it's possible that my body will adjust and these symptoms will dissapear over time? I can't live like that.

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I had similar issues. Took years to get Dr. to do stool test that revealed Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficient (EPI). Digestive Enzymes have changed my life. Good luck, prayers for you to get relief.

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1 reply
thisisabattle | @thisisabattle | Sep 8, 2023
In reply to @cherawgirl "I had similar issues. Took years to get Dr. to do stool test that revealed Exocrine..." + (show)
@cherawgirl

I had similar issues. Took years to get Dr. to do stool test that revealed Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficient (EPI). Digestive Enzymes have changed my life. Good luck, prayers for you to get relief.

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Thank you! do you mean elastase stool test? I'm so happy that you feel happy and healthy now! that's great!

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1 reply
cherawgirl | @cherawgirl | Sep 8, 2023
In reply to @thisisabattle "Thank you! do you mean elastase stool test? I'm so happy that you feel happy and..." + (show)
@thisisabattle

Thank you! do you mean elastase stool test? I'm so happy that you feel happy and healthy now! that's great!

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Yes, Fecal Elastase.

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debra54 | @debra54 | Sep 9, 2023

It gets better in time but there are meds they can give you and a diet to follow..

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donnabe | @donnabe | Jan 11 10:32am

I am new to this site joined because of this conversation. The last post I see is 2023. Fast forward to this year 2025. Is this conversation closed. Would like an update date from @thisisabattle. Did you find a protocol that worked for your specific issues?

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mef51 | @mef51 | Jan 12 10:07am

I had horrible diarrhea after my gall bladder removal. What works for me is one serving of Metamucil mid morning, and 2 tablets of colestipol (prescribed) mid afternoon. You need to take the colestipol 1-2 hours after your other meds, or 4 hours before your other meds. Your pharmacist can help you with that. If I (rarely) feel a diarrhea episode coming on I take 1/2 an Immodium AD and it stops it. This method has changed my life for the better! Good luck!

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2 replies
donnabe | @donnabe | Jan 12 10:07pm
In reply to @mef51 "I had horrible diarrhea after my gall bladder removal. What works for me is one serving..." + (show)
@mef51

I had horrible diarrhea after my gall bladder removal. What works for me is one serving of Metamucil mid morning, and 2 tablets of colestipol (prescribed) mid afternoon. You need to take the colestipol 1-2 hours after your other meds, or 4 hours before your other meds. Your pharmacist can help you with that. If I (rarely) feel a diarrhea episode coming on I take 1/2 an Immodium AD and it stops it. This method has changed my life for the better! Good luck!

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@mef51, thank you for the feedback! Sometimes medication with diet works for me most often not..fats seem to be the problem. Cholestyramine and multiple immodiun don’t help if I have eaten something to cause the FLUSH. I was hoping to be able to treat/cure/heal the cause instead of treating the symptoms (one can hope). Might need to try colestipol. So glad that you found a protocol that is working for you and that you are willing to share with others!!

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jkarmazin | @jkarmazin | Jan 13 9:56am

Have you been tested for EPi?

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donnabe | @donnabe | Jan 13 6:12pm

@jkarmazin No I have not been tested for EPI. Crohn’s in remission- lactose intolerant. EPI never mentioned since prior episodes of diarrhea was from IBD. According to 2020 colonoscopy no signs of Crohn’s and asked why I still had diarrhea was told diarrhea was probably IBS. Eat fiber. Able to control with immodium. Then had gallbladder removed and the FLUSH is unstoppable.

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jkarmazin | @jkarmazin | 6 days ago

If you want to see if you think you have it try taking OTC pancreatic enzymes and see if you feel a little better. That is what I did and then I asked to be tested.

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