Post-cholecystectomy or gallbladder removal 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.

Hi All - I've had IBS-C and CIC most of my adult life. Managing my bowels rules my world. However, I had found a pretty reliable rhythm until an emergency cholescystectomy a little over a year ago. Now my stools are always soft, hard to move, and meager at best unless I take magnesium oxide, which is not optimal. Laxatives make me cramp, Miralax is worthless, and magnesium oxide (which at least does work for a day) is complicated by the fact that I have hyponatremia (low blood sodium) which necessitates fluid restriction to manage. I feel like the ultimate catch-22. The one thing that works is something I can't take very often lest I put myself in the sodium danger zone. I'm so frustrated by all this, and it's transcended a health issue to now become a lifestyle issue. We have a two-week road trip coming up in October and I'm already obsessing over how I will manage my bowels during that time. I'd almost rather not go. Any ideas? TIA!

@wisewoman10 Have you tried getting your fiber from foods?

@linda82 I get a ton of fiber from foods - morning soaked chia seeds, oatmeal, berries, walnuts, kefir, lunch cottage cheese with Lentils and Zoe 30 sprinkled on, sometimes a salad, dinner of things like grilled salmon, quinoa and green veggies. I actually may get too much fiber. I know that too much can be as bad as too little.

Hi All - I've had IBS-C and CIC most of my adult life. Managing my bowels rules my world. However, I had found a pretty reliable rhythm until an emergency cholescystectomy a little over a year ago. Now my stools are always soft, hard to move, and meager at best unless I take magnesium oxide, which is not optimal. Laxatives make me cramp, Miralax is worthless, and magnesium oxide (which at least does work for a day) is complicated by the fact that I have hyponatremia (low blood sodium) which necessitates fluid restriction to manage. I feel like the ultimate catch-22. The one thing that works is something I can't take very often lest I put myself in the sodium danger zone. I'm so frustrated by all this, and it's transcended a health issue to now become a lifestyle issue. We have a two-week road trip coming up in October and I'm already obsessing over how I will manage my bowels during that time. I'd almost rather not go. Any ideas? TIA!

@wisewoman10 sounds like you doing that right by what you eat! But, agree that is a lot of fiber! I just had my gallbladder removed last week due to a huge stone. I had only one day off loose stools. I just started putting fiber and fat back in diet and have had good BM's
I do know your anxiety on travel!

@linda82 you are so fortunate, and that gives me hope! I think the gallbladder surgery was the frosting on the cake as it was my fourth laparoscopic surgery in my life, so I have lots of adhesions and detours that my colon has to make. Just trying to work with it and not obsess - easier said than done!