What may help with soft stool since my cholecystectomy years ago?

Posted by redletterday @sfe431, Feb 20 4:24pm

I had my gallbladder out 17 years ago. I have had fat dumping, loose stool with "sludge" and gastritis due to bile in stomach. Metamucil powder helps a bit better than Citrucel tablets but still nothing consistent. Reducing my amount of fat and sugar doesn't help. I have Hashimotos and am on Synthroid, Osteoporosis and on Calcium citrate. Fiber wreaks havoc on the absorption on my meds and supplements. Any advice on plan to make it all work and reduce my toilet paper use !

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Feb 21 12:51pm

Hello @sfe431

I am sorry to hear of all of the uncomfortable symptoms you have had related to your gallbladder surgery. As you mentioned, the surgery was 17 years ago. I'm wondering whether these problems have been ongoing since your surgery or are more recent.

You might also be interested in taking part in this related Connect discussion group titled, How Do I Eat After Digestive Tract Surgery (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/how-do-i-eat-after-digestive-tract-surgery/). In this group, you will meet others who have had gallbladder surgery as well as other extensive surgeries of the digestive tract. These types of surgeries can often cause problems with eating and digestion.

Has your GI specialist offered any suggestions that might help with these ongoing problems?

redletterday | @sfe431 | Feb 22 2:36pm

Thank you ! Symptoms have been ongoing since the surgery. I have managed them in different ways throughout the different stages of my life. After the surgery I was put on Cholestramine to reduce the bile acids and it cannot be used long-term as it affects bone density. Really fiber has been the only other thing suggested. Thanks again for your suggestion about posting in a different discussion group. It seems like all these issues just morph together at some point. Ugh .

Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Feb 24 3:21pm

In reply to @sfe431 "Thank you ! Symptoms have been ongoing since the surgery. I have managed them in different..." + (show)

Hello @sfe431. Having overly soft stool and needing to use a ton of toilet paper is not fun. Leads to plunging!

I had my gallbladder removed when I was around 40, but I did not have any symptoms afterward. I realize this is not the case with everyone, however.

I'm guessing you are attributing the soft stools to the cholecystectomy due to the timing of this symptom arising? Does your doctor think they are connected? Does your doctor think that any of your medications could be contributing to this symptom?

redletterday | @sfe431 | Feb 25 9:51am

During a bad bout of diarrhea from a fatty meal of buttermilk pie and cream of leek soup, I had chest pains into the wee hours of the night. My terrified husband insisted I go to the ER. With the mention of my age and chest pains, the team descended upon me with IVs and heart monitors. It was not a heart attack as I insisted it wasn't and when they gave me a thick dose of lidocaine, the spasm abated. The attending doc said " no more Imodium !" And as I already knew " treat the fat dumping with fiber." Fiber does help but it does bind to everything else I take -Calcium for my osteoporosis and my Synthroid ( wont absorb) for Hashimotos so everyday is a bothersome maneuver to make it all work ! I will be seeing a board certified GI soon for a scope and hopefully a blood test/fecal test for BAM -Bile Acid Absorption.

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