Post-cholecystectomy or gallbladder removal surgery

Hi, @lindseysandquist - just wanted to mention that I've moved your post and its responses here to this larger existing discussion on post gallbladder removal so that you could meet Mayo Clinic Connect members talking about a similar topic, such as @lesmac @cierrarae18 @dlb123 @kb2014 and others. Hoping they might recognize the pain you are describing that occurred after your gallbladder removal that doubles you over and makes you dizzy.

Did your doctor think that the symptoms you've experienced related to the gallbladder surgery, or that they were unrelated? Have you considered getting a second opinion, if you are not ready for an exploratory surgery at this time?

@lindseysandquist I'm wondering since you've had so many abdominal surgeries if scar tissue is causing your problems. Have they done an MRI on your abdomen to narrow the cause down? Possibly a trapped nerve? Are you on any medications for the gastroparesis? Any PPI's for your 'silent' GERD? I agree with your decision to avoid yet another abdominal surgery and create more scar tissue. Any history of endometriosis?
I think imaging w/MRI would be beneficial since it's more diagnostic than a CT scan. A Gyn consult would possibly help. I hope you get some answers soon! Sounds like it's really impacting your quality of life.

Gallbladder removed by laparoscopy in 2018. Due to gallbladder being infected had to ho thru course of antibiotics weeks prior to surgery. On day of surgery surgeon discovered it was still infected and had to work a long time to get gallbladder removed. Since removal of gallbladder have days when I have to rush to bathroom (sometimes don’t make it). Guts hurt after those episodes and it drains me.

Recently was diagnosed with pneumonia and had to go thru 2 rounds of different antibiotics and 2 rounds of steroids. During that time I did not have issues with rushing to the bathroom. Now that courses of antibiotics are complete my symptoms have returned. Could all this stem from having an infected gallbladder at time of removal?
What can be done to get back to enjoying life without having to be concerned about bringing extra clothes and wipes for accidents.

I DO understand your plight. I had GB removed in ‘85 due to stones. Consider asking a GI (which I am NOT) to test you for BAM: Bile Acid Malabsorption. For me, I already had diarrhea due to Crohn’s. But maybe BAM exacerbated it. Good news is that my surgeon suggested trying cholestyramine powder (brand name Questran, and others). Originally created to lower cholesterol, was found to bind excessive bile. Whatever the original reason, I asked my GI about it, who commended the surgeon’s advice. Within TWO days, I was having “normal” movements WITHOUT diarrhea. And so forth for 40 years. Twice a day powder mixed with juice. If I forget a dose (rare) I usually pay for it the next day. But getting back on schedule sets all well again. For a “normal” person to take this, someone without disease-induced diarrhea, a likely side effect is constipation. For other possible side-effects, read the label or ask a GI doctor. It likely saved my life. Again, ask a professional. I receive NOTHING for this personal suggestion. Good luck.

[Sciarretta G, Furno A, Mazzoni M, Malaguti P. Post-cholecystectomy diarrhea: evidence of bile acid malabsorption assessed by SeHCAT test. Am J Gastroenterol. 1992 Dec;87(12):1852-4. PMID: 1449156.]

Thanks for sharing your experience & knowledge. Appreciate any suggestions:)

Help. I am drowning (feels like literally), and everywhere I turn I am not getting help / answers. For the last two years (since 2023-24) I have had digestive issues. It started while I was in American Samoa (2019-2024), and had severe (projectile both ends) food poisoning twice (activated charcoal saved my life twice), several infections (bug bites) and a severe blood infection to the face / head (Staph/MRSA) that was eating my nose / face, and nearly went full sepsis (ER at LBJ on island, Jan. 2024, which was kind enough to give me Hospital Pneumonia on top of it all).

Flew back (Mar. 2024) to the (united) States, California, still weak, trying to recover, but started gaining weight (I am plant based diet since 2008, no drugs, no alcohol, no caffeine) and was breaking out on upper arms and upper thighs. This went on for a while, and I could not figure it out, as diet had not changed and I eat pretty consciously healthy. Bowels started swapping from constipation to diarrhea. I had no PCP (Primary Care Physician) or insurance all this time.

Fast forward Nov. 2025, I end up at parents Kaiser (Roseville) ER and they did EKG (normal), blood work (normal), urine (normal), right shoulder x-ray (for a continuing other issue I still need physical therapy for, nothing broken, which I already knew, it needs an MRI), and they said "IBS" gave me anti-nausea (Ondansetron 4mg), anti-pain (Ibuprofen) prescription and sent me home.

3 days later, symptoms go from bad to worse and pain and nausea increases. At same Kaiser (Roseville) ER, I beg for an abdomen CT and Ultrasound, and they find Gall Stones and ask me for ER (overnight) surgery for Gall-Bladder removal (which I had no real other options at the time), and consented. Overnight stay, and other than physical surgical (laparascopic 4 stab wounds externally) pain, I felt slightly better.

3 or so days go by and all the symptoms are back with a vengeance, and I was told I would feel better afterwards, and there was nothing ever said, by anyone about the first misdiagnosis (IBS), or post-cholecystectomy syndrome (PCS), or BAM (Bile Acid / Salts Malabsorption) or BAD (Bile Acid / Salts Diarrhea), or Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction, or anything else. I never received an email or phone call from the surgeon (or anyone) at Kaiser (besides billing). I went back in after so many days (a week?; 3rd time) and they did another abdominal CT, and found no left over stones, and no blockages, and sent me home with sorta the same meds (Reglan 10mg, this time) and Acetaminophen (500 mg) and keep saying "IBS".

I was back in a 4th time to Kaiser (Roseville, ER), same same symptoms, pain, nausea, headaches, etc. Pain med and anti-nausea, and sent home.

I went in a 5th time (all within 3 months, Nov-Dec (2025)-Jan (2026)) and this time the ER physician did nothing for the increased pain in abdomen, or nausea, and threw me out, tossed me to the nurses who wheeled me (in a wheelchair due to nausea), weeping uncontrollably to discharge and spent a night in pain, sleeplessness. I formally sent in a complaint, and two disputes (for original misdiagnosis, &c.) The only thing I received was that they got the complaints (been 3 months now).

Ended up getting under BlueCross Medi-Cal, and going to Sutter (Roseville, ER) on a 6th visit, and they ran some of the same tests, and recommended to a specialist (Gastroenterology), and pain med and anti-nausea (Ondansetron 8mg). They refused to take me as a patient as they were taking no more enrollments.

Ended up at Mercy San Juan (Carmichael), now for the last 3 ER visits (that's 9 ER visits) since Feb-Mar 2026. All of the same symptoms are present nearly daily, fiery headaches, extreme nausea, head pressure, eustachian tube clicking, like fluid in my ears, echoing, abdominal pain, bloating, distension of abdomen, hot / cold sweats on occasion, hard to breathe due to swollen abdomen (forced / labored breathing), tiredness, weakness, depression, constantly feeling of illness like going to throw up, but no vomiting (yet), and swapping from constipation (meds?) to diarrhea, sleep is a mess, do not feel comfortable, like nerves irritated, hard to stay still, head also feels like a constant 'alarm' is going off behind (not in) ears (not tinnitus).

I have had a recent colonoscopy (about a week ago) by a specialist Gastroenterologist, whom I never really got to talk to (maybe 5 minutes?).

Diet is two meals a day, light to medium, no flesh, no spicy, and relatively simple. Try to walk a bit after each meal. Help. Please. This has been ongoing for months at least if not years.

So sorry for your suffering…abdominal surgery can temporarily disrupt nearby muscles and nerves….may take awhile to heal…i got help from osteopath and gentle PT…. Also, careful diet and hydration help…wishing you better days asap !

nycmusic: So so very sorry for what you are going through. My goodness. My heart goes out to you. I, too, suffered from gallbladder removal. Looking back I wish I had tried harder to get the stones out instead of the gallbladder as it has caused issues. I'm happy to say, though, that my body is settling down from that surgery which was about 3 years ago. I suffered from BAM (bile acid malabsorption). The result from that condition (which was easily diagnosed simply from the actual look of yellow urine in my stool) (which is also called dumping) caused me weight loss as well, a total of 28 pounds. Now, I started taking cholestyramine for that for about 8 months. I found out after researching it that the sucrose in the lemon-flavored one caused my 'ibs' to trigger and also developed a cavity and also found out that the aspartame in the orange-flavored one can cause cancer of the liver. I then switched over to acacia fiber and have been taking that ever since. Not only is it a 'bile binder' but it regulates the sugar and has been regulating BMs for me. Also, it's a prebiotic so it helps to feed the good bacteria.

Unfortunately, as I've discovered since I was diagnosed with SIBO and IBS, that's what the doctors tell you when they don't know what's wrong. They're 'symptoms' of something that's seriously wrong and it's up to us to find out what. I used the transitional medical doctors simply for testing and diagnosis. You may want to get allergy 'patch' tested by an allergist if you can. That may help shed light on the subject especially since you mentioned you've been suffering with breakouts. Part of your problem was the gallstones but that may have led to other issues such as possibly bile acid malabsorption. I just kept trying to eat good fat and ate probiotics and prebiotics to help nurture the good guys along. I admit it's been a very slow process. I kept a journal to help me see what foods may have been triggering the ibs.

Much of the treatment you've been receiving is most likely your problem (I'm not a doctor) although I do realize you didn't have a choice due to the severity of the conditions you suffered with. I recognize some of this from my own experience. What I mean is that you been taking antibiotics and pain killers (NSAIDS) both of which are a main contributor to killing off of the good bacteria in your gut. I highly recommend some reading for 'gut health'. When I was given antibiotics for an infection, the nurse at CVS recommended Florastor. The probiotic, S. boulardii, in Florastor is highly recommended for use after antibiotics as is L. rhamnosus GG. IBS and SIBO can cause severe abdominal pain. As for headaches and nausea, possibly die-off symptoms. You may want to check into that. That's from your body releases toxins.

I just had an idea. Have you ever been checked for parasites? I sure am hoping some of this will help you. You are suffering so very much. I'm hoping they do something with traditional medicine that will help us much more than offering us their 'professional guessing games'. Sorry, but that's how I feel. I find it amusing that they can tell what's wrong with a vehicle by sending a code but they misdiagnose us at the drop of a hat.

Check into reading material. Get blood tested for anemia? Many blessings are being sent your way. Please keep in touch and let us know how you're doing. Your success stories may help someone else no matter how trivial.

msb18: I've had no such pain following my gallbladder surgery.

@hopeseeker22 - Just wanted to put my two cents in about taking the cholestyramine powder which is often prescribed for this. I, too, took it for about 8 months. After that it didn't seem to work for me. Or maybe it was before that and I just didn't realize it. I developed what they call acquired sucrase and isomaltase deficiency syndrome (ASID) and the sucrose in the lemon-flavored one triggered my ibs. Also, I discovered after researching this product that aspartame was in the orange-flavored one which can cause cancer in the liver. Oddly enough, the packaging itself doesn't even mention that aspartame is in it. Another thing to mention is that you need to be really careful with how you take it. Even though I was extremely careful I still ended up getting a cavity from it. I decided after about 8 months to substitute it with acacia fiber and have been taking that ever since. So much better! Omg. It regulates your system. I no longer have bile acid malabsorption. I'm able to gain weight now. Gained 10 lbs back from a total loss of 28 lbs since I became ill. It regulates your cholesterol and blood sugar and it's also a prebiotic for the probiotics which I currently take. This is one of the best moves I've made and the cost is comparable. The only I can say is that I'm really disgusted of the dangers of this product.