Uncontrolled diarrhea after gallbladder removal surgery: Any advice?

my friend had the same after her gallbladder surgery. Her doc gave her Colestipol which she said worked really well and stopped the diarrhea she experienced.. She only took 1/2 dose until the diarrhea subsided then she quit taking it. She said she is OK now. I think I am facing a gallbladder surgery myself but all the testing isn't done yet and I am terrified. Set to have a HIDA test on Dec 29.

I had a HIDA test. They insert a substance that tests your gallbladder. It is not painful but it is a bit uncomfortable as it produces the same symptoms you should feel if your gallbladder is not working properly. They found my gallbladder was working at 13%. I have not had any side effects after the surgery, but I used to suffer from constipation (another side effect of a malfunctioning gallbladder) and the surgery has regulated it.

oh dear. I have just been told I will probably have to have my gallbladder removed. I know 2 people who have not complained of diarrhea but people are weird when it comes to talking about their poop. I am scheduled for a HIDA scan. I don't know what to expect and I am getting pretty scared actually. I am going to read up. Any info would be appreciated.

I had all the tests and then some, including the HIDA scan. My doc's waited to long ( along story) I finally went into surgery under emergency conditions. My gall bladder at that point was infected and gangrene. All I can say is "if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck" well you get it.

well, I am very nervous. I have just been diagnosed with an enlarged gallbladder, no stones. I had 2 ultrasounds, a CT and lots of lab and I have had my first gastro MD - video. Appt with him in person in Jan. I learned of all this after 3 days of excruciating mid abdominal pain. I have been forever plagued with chronic constipation but more so in the last few years which I attributed to the many highly emotional and traumatic events that occurred in my life plus confinement in a tiny apartment with one bathroom with a relatively new husband of 7 years. I'd always lived in a larger house with 2.5 baths -was married previously for many years to a man who did not surveil my every move. ( we are addressing this/ he is still learning). In any event, I now have this gallbladder thing, the new MD called last night to say he was going to order a HIDA test. I am not familiar with that so I'll look it up. Now after reading all the posts except for the one posted by genocurt, I am more nervous. I have never eaten a lot of fats, never been overweight, have always exercised - I have done my part to stay as healthy as I can. I have lost 5 lbs in the last 5-6 months which for me is a lot given the fact that I never in my life lost weight without trying. I will have many questions for him now thanks to all of the posts and I am so grateful for the honesty here.

hmmm. I don't think so. I'll try it but I am so tired of being with that label. I tried Compassionate Friends and just being in the room with so many people who had the same profound grief was too much for me. I felt all that pain "climbing on". It is like a horror movie. I tried therapy with someone who had experience the death of a child and my best friends daughter recently hung herself. My first husbands cousin lost both her children and she could barely speak for a very long time. What a horrible thing. We are just everyday people. I am an RN, retired now thankfully, braindead almost. I will say that I am cautious about how much I share because it freaks people out and they don't know what to say. There is nothing to say and nothing to do except face forward and not die. That has been my experience. I thought after Jeff died (the first of the domino cycle, if I just don't die I will get to the other side). Tim died of a heart attack at age 40 attributed to broken heart syndrome since he lived with his father and was in his "care". His dad died just 2 days before. Very sad. My biggest trouble is migraines from hell, daily ones. Unrelenting. My doctor upped my topamax and so far today it hasn't come back. Again, the same. I so whatever I can. Fortunately I have a great doctor who gets it that these migraines are second to labor pains in the level of pain. I have had them for years but nothing like the unmanageability that they have become. I suppose it has stacked up. A person can stand only so much. Interestingly, through all my gallbladder tests, CT etc, the doc stated that everything inside me looks very clear and clean. A priest told me after Jeff died, "You will never have to hurt this bad again."
Maybe I can give the Grief/Depression/Anxiety thing a go just to see. I am in most of the time which is not my strong suit. I remarried in 2013 on Xmas Eve then moved from Oklahoma City to New York City. I am so grateful. This man is crazy about me and he does so much. I was glad to be here and have a place I lived when my own condo in OK burned down. As soon as we built it back into a beautiful modern place I sold it. I never lived in it again. Maybe you can see a piece of why I don't talk much about what happened. It all runs together in to a big glob.

@donnacarp You are seeking appropriate care but you are dealing with an enormous amount of grief and loss. Below I have linked our Grief and Loss group. You may want to take a look at previous and current discussions or post a new discussion if you aren't finding exactly what you are looking for.

- http://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/loss-grief/

Connect is a place to give and get support.

Would you also be interested in the Mental Heath and/or Depression and Anxiety groups?

Fortunately my therapist is just that. I am also in a group which I really like. Nothing really helps when it comes to the loss of a child and in my case 2 of them. I learned after the first it is a matter of getting used to living without him. I am not there yet with the second son. One good if there is such a thing is that my daughter has let go of her meanness. I mean real meanness and bullying. My first husband of 17 years (father of all 3) died 2 days before son #2 and it seems it took his death before she could "come to". I can't say that I fully trust that she will not bite anymore and I certainly tread lightly since she too has lost much but maybe now she can recover herself. I know this isn't exactly the purpose of this GI blog but our body system is all connected. thanks everyone

I think you would greatly appreciate the therapy you would get with a therapist that specializes in trauma. You have had more than your share.

I had a 3 day run of excruciating pain last week that turned out to be my gallbladder. I went to the ER. It seems my gallbladder is enlarged without any stones, a few cysts in my liver. All my lab was within normal limits except lipase so I'll find out about that when I see the GI doc on Monday. The pain passed. I know not to eat fats and I haven't had pain since then but very little appetite. I had been losing weight thinking it was because I had cut out sugar as best I could and began to come as close to vegan as possible and also I had experienced a big weight loss when my first son died then again when my husband died. I graze around on food and take in what I am able focusing on foods with nutritional benefit and fiber since I am always plagued with constipation that nothing really helps. I have had short periods of BM regularity/normality and it sure is nice to go daily then my body goes right back to a form of "distress" which is what it feels like to me. This has gone on for years and I have blamed it on the traumatic life I have had since 2007 and before. I have been through the death of 2 sons, 2 husbands have died, my home has burned completely, both parents died, backing before 2007 one of those sons was unable to be found for 12 years while husband #2 had cancer. I always thought my body was reacting and it likely was. The very beginning of my GI symptoms was way back. I remember the exact day in 1982 when I was 29. I was with my sons second grade class on a trip to the zoo. I ate an apple. I felt doubled over with pain the size of that apple in the center pit of my stomach. That is the son who died in 2007 when he was 32 y/o. So I ask myself which is which? Mental, emotional, physical? It has all come downhill to physical which is a piece of cake compared to the grief. (and yes, I do have psychological help - the question I am always asked)