Uncontrolled diarrhea after gallbladder removal surgery: Any advice?

@ken82 - You are correct. We should take notes on information found here referring to your condition and then discuss it with your doctor.
Doctors are different-
One type may hide ignorance by denying anything is wrong with you and even recommend therapy for anxiety.
Another type will admit that they are not really up on what you ask and leave it at that or prescribe something different.
My type of doctor reviews your records to see what findings there are already, if tests have not been ordered and what specialists have reported. This doctor will also admit he/she does not know enough, but will make phone calls or similar with experts to get a better picture of the illness and possibly then refer out as well as schedule follow up so patient doesn’t get lost in the system.

@jfperrone

I've been reading your post about post-gallbladder surgery problems. How long ago was your surgery? Here are some diet recommendations that you might find helpful. This is from the Mayo Clinic website, https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/cholecystectomy/expert-answers/gallbladder-removal-diet/faq-20057813.

Also, as @ken82 suggested you might discuss this problem with your doctor (or his nurse) through My Chart.

Have you kept a food journal to see if there are any particular foods that increase diarrhea?

I usually educate myself before I go to the doctor. I even bring articles and the research I have done. I had stomach problems with typical symptoms of gallbladder disease for years but because the doctors would not be able to find stones or any other cause, I was diagnosed with IBS. Last year I was talking with a friend and she said to ask the doctor for a Hida test. After they did this test, the doctor found that my gallbladder was working at 13% of normal. Do not ever hesitate to do your own research and advocate for yourself. In fact, when the doctor was going to do the endoscopy I asked him to test for H.pylori and Barret's esophagus. He told my husband I come very well prepared for the medical visits:)

I had emergency surgery to my gallbladder as well back in 2014. The whole thing was plaque with complications from beginning to the present. That included contracting C-Diff while I was on strong antibiotics to treat one of the other complications, an infection. I was in the hospital for an extra two weeks just for the C-Diff. Every time I have to take an antibiotic, and I have to take them as a preventative measure because of my artificial heart valve, I can see the early signs of a reoccurrence of C-Diff. Most people don’t know they they may be carrying a C-Diif colony that’s being kept in check by the person’s immune system. It might not ever become active and the person never knows that it’s there. A weakened immune system regardless of the cause is the signal for that colony to become active. It doesn’t have to be full on to cause diarrhea. In fact it’s common while you take any antibiotics. I think that if you haven’t been tested for C-Diff yet, you should ask to be. C-diff can be deadly!

If you have C. Difficile, Immodium will make you much sicker. Have the cytotoxin test, its the gold standard for detecting C. Diff. Florastor is the probiotic yeast that fights it and you can take it while taking antibiotics. But to fight C. Diff, will need strong antibiotics like Vancomycin. A family member had this 4 times. A Mayo doc ended up giving them Rafaxamin and that had no side effects and really helped until they could get a fecal matter transplant. Have a trusted love one help you research this. It sounds so odd but it is a lifesaver. Never give up. You deserve good health.

Hi Everyone, My husband had his gallbladder removed 5 years ago. His gastro doc put him on Colestipol 1GM and said to take one tablet at noon and 2 if he still had the diarrhea. That doctor recently retired and his replacement has continued the treatment. It seems to work. If he doesn't take it, he gets really bad diarrhea. Good luck.

It's probably bile acid malabsorption. Is your stool yellow? Try taking psyllium.

not yellow at all. More like brown mud. Sorry for being so explicit.

I too had trouble with diarrhea. It started a year after it was removed. I tried everything. Finally I took a powder mixed with water and drank it. It was called cholestyramine resin brand olestra. You can only get it by prescription. I took twp packets twice a day and then cut back to one a day, along with a good 50 billion urgent care flora probiotic that you have to refrigerate. It was gone before I finished the first box, never to return......it is worth a try for anyone who is still having that problem.

Thanks for the info. I just saw my Gastro. Doc and he made the same recommendation. pharmacy just called, it's ready.