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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gwenrn74 | @gwenrn74 | Feb 2 7:54pm

In reply to @donnabe "@mef51, thank you for the feedback! Sometimes medication with diet works for me most often not..fats..." + (show)

Have you tried a low fat diet ? Fat digestion begins in the gall bladder, so if you avoid fatty foods and fat, you will have less diarrhea. We are too quick to do surgery in the USA. My cousin had appendicitis in Japan. He was given a course of antibiotics and decades later, still has his appendix. Go figure.

isadora2021 | @isadora2021 | Jan 29 11:11pm

@jfperrone That sounds dreadful.

My sister had hers out some years ago. No problems. One of her daughters had hers out recently on an emergency basis. No problems. I had mine out as part of cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC as part of my treatment for stage 4 appendix cancer. No problems.

It sure sounds like something else may be going on here.

I saw the possibility of c-diff mentioned. That’s the sort of thing you may need to look into. I didn’t get it but I have been shocked how many people do get c-diff in hospital as a result of surgery.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/c-difficile/symptoms-causes/syc-20351691

ksdm | @ksdm | Jan 28 10:57am

It's possible that you caught "C-diff" in the hospital. Get it checked out.

biga282 | @biga282 | Jan 28 8:39am

In reply to @marman101 "That is not normal. You need to ask more questions. I had in and out surgery..." + (show)

I had mine out a few years ago 2014. No more greasy steaks or hamburgers. You really have to be careful with your diet. Cheese has a bit of grease/fat in it. Homemade Mac & cheese will make it happen too. Good luck 👍

marman101 | @marman101 | Jan 27 8:48am

In reply to @jfperrone "I have read the comments from a number of others who had their gall bladder removed..." + (show)

That is not normal. You need to ask more questions. I had in and out surgery and I felt good until a few days later and the dam busted and been busted. I had the surgery in 2016. It has qotten worse. No long trips or eating out far from home. I get no answers. But, a tube in your body aaks for more detail.

mef51 | @mef51 | Jan 20 7:49pm

Yes, I take two colestipol tablets at one time daily. They are very hard for me to swallow. I use a pill cutter to make several small pieces. Has anyone tried the powder form? It sounds like it is a bit more expensive.

carol228 | @carol228 | Jan 20 7:11pm

In reply to @mef51 "I had horrible diarrhea after my gall bladder removal. What works for me is one serving..." + (show)

Hi to all, I had my fb removed also, and the only thing that helps me is Colestpol, (and staying away from fat)but taking it is a real nuisance, because I take a lot of meds. But, it’s better than diarrhea! Good luck to all!!

cheryl46 | @cheryl46 | Jan 16 10:07pm

In reply to @donnabe "@jkarmazin No I have not been tested for EPI. Crohn’s in remission- lactose intolerant. EPI never..." + (show)

Normally with bile salt diarrhea s/p cholecystectomy Colestid ow Questran does the trick.
However with EPI it is definitely related to diet. No fiber, no fatty foods and from there every patient is different.
I would recommend a 72 hour high fat stool study to check for fat in the stool to rule out EPI.

cheryl46 | @cheryl46 | Jan 15 8:34pm

Colestid, cholestyrine are the best for bile salt diarrhea post gallbladder removal