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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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terriann | @twinkie23 | 6 days ago

I had diarrhea after almost every meal after my gall bladder removal. I had numerous tests to rule out all the potential diseases. Cholestyramine has completely controlled the diarrhea if I take it on a very regular basis, once a day. It has changed my life!

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donnabe | @donnabe | 6 days ago
In reply to @jkarmazin "If you want to see if you think you have it try taking OTC pancreatic enzymes..." + (show)
@jkarmazin

If you want to see if you think you have it try taking OTC pancreatic enzymes and see if you feel a little better. That is what I did and then I asked to be tested.

Jump to this post

Did they help you?

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1 reply
jkarmazin | @jkarmazin | 6 days ago
In reply to @donnabe "Did they help you?" + (show)
@donnabe

Did they help you?

Jump to this post

Yes, that’s why I asked for the test!

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cheryl46 | @cheryl46 | 5 days ago

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

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cheryl46 | @cheryl46 | 4 days ago
In reply to @donnabe "@jkarmazin No I have not been tested for EPI. Crohn’s in remission- lactose intolerant. EPI never..." + (show)
@donnabe

@jkarmazin No I have not been tested for EPI. Crohn’s in remission- lactose intolerant. EPI never mentioned since prior episodes of diarrhea was from IBD. According to 2020 colonoscopy no signs of Crohn’s and asked why I still had diarrhea was told diarrhea was probably IBS. Eat fiber. Able to control with immodium. Then had gallbladder removed and the FLUSH is unstoppable.

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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.

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carol228 | @carol228 | 3 hours ago
In reply to @mef51 "I had horrible diarrhea after my gall bladder removal. What works for me is one serving..." + (show)
@mef51

I had horrible diarrhea after my gall bladder removal. What works for me is one serving of Metamucil mid morning, and 2 tablets of colestipol (prescribed) mid afternoon. You need to take the colestipol 1-2 hours after your other meds, or 4 hours before your other meds. Your pharmacist can help you with that. If I (rarely) feel a diarrhea episode coming on I take 1/2 an Immodium AD and it stops it. This method has changed my life for the better! Good luck!

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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!!

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mef51 | @mef51 | 2 hours ago

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.

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