Gall Bladder Removal and Food?

mynameiscarrie

Just FYI, this may be TMI, but I want to get some input. I wasn't sure where to put the thread and since it has to do with food, I put it in this category.

I had my gallbladder removed in 2008. Since then, at least once a day, I eat and immediately have to go to the bathroom. It's painful, sometimes I get cold sweats, I shake, and it's just a miserable experience. I thought it was due to fatty foods, but it's not. Anything can set it off.

My question is: has anyone else had their gallbladder removed and had these symptoms consistently? If you got rid of them, how?

At first I thought it was normal since the gallbladder isn't there to help break down bile, but the further away from the surgery I get, the more I'm starting to think it isn't normal.

Also, FWIW, I know this isn't a medical forum. I'm not opposed to going to the doctor but I figured I'd try to get some input before spending money on a co-pay.

FireOpalCO

I've had my gall bladder removed in 2010 and don't have that issue any more. I had something similar to what you are describing put it predated the gall bladder surgery and continued after it.

I used to have a problem with "eat a meal and rush to bathroom" until I started eating smaller more regular meals, slowed down my eating, and most importantly, consistently meeting my fiber and water goals. I think my intestine was overreacting to the presence of new food, which is why I was having diarrhea like symptoms including a burning pain. I haven't had an incident since.


I would ask how quickly are you eating and are you consistently meeting your fiber goals?

rejectuf

My wife had a very bad experience with food after having her gall bladder removed. We tried so many types of diets, eliminating foods, smaller meals, etc. Some of it helped slightly but not enough.

Two things helped her immensely.

The first was peppermint oil. Take a capsule or two with every meal. This eliminated symptoms for most normal meals. Some heavy meals still had effects, but they were lessened.

The second was what finally had her feeling 'normal'. Her doctor prescribed Welchol, which is a cholesterol drug but is sometimes prescribed off-label for IBS. This worked wonders for her, however it also had the unfortunate side effect of weight gain. She now has to restrict her calories and exercise more than she had in the past, but I think it's worth it.

mynameiscarrie

I've had my gall bladder removed in 2010 and don't have that issue any more. I had something similar to what you are describing put it predated the gall bladder surgery and continued after it.

I used to have a problem with "eat a meal and rush to bathroom" until I started eating smaller more regular meals, slowed down my eating, and most importantly, consistently meeting my fiber and water goals. I think my intestine was overreacting to the presence of new food, which is why I was having diarrhea like symptoms including a burning pain. I haven't had an incident since.


I would ask how quickly are you eating and are you consistently meeting your fiber goals?

I usually don't eat too fast... I eat a good amount of veggies so I think I'm ok with fiber? For me, I had HORRIBLE pains in the upper abdomen (like passing out pains). After I got it removed, now it's in the lower abdomen. My husband always jokes that he loves paying for food I don't even eat (because I eat it and immediately have to go to the bathroom). I usually eat a lot of smaller meals because I like to snack. I'll try to drink more water consistently and see if that helps!

mynameiscarrie

My wife had a very bad experience with food after having her gall bladder removed. We tried so many types of diets, eliminating foods, smaller meals, etc. Some of it helped slightly but not enough.

Two things helped her immensely.

The first was peppermint oil. Take a capsule or two with every meal. This eliminated symptoms for most normal meals. Some heavy meals still had effects, but they were lessened.

The second was what finally had her feeling 'normal'. Her doctor prescribed Welchol, which is a cholesterol drug but is sometimes prescribed off-label for IBS. This worked wonders for her, however it also had the unfortunate side effect of weight gain. She now has to restrict her calories and exercise more than she had in the past, but I think it's worth it.

I'll have to look into the peppermint oil! Thanks!

jbee27

You've had this happening once a day for 6 years, and haven't ever spoken to you doctor about it?? Go to the doctor, this is definitely not a normal side effect.

I had mine out in August 2013, and I've had zero issues. One or two bad "stomache ache" type pains after I ate an exceptional amount of fatty foods (road trips/vacation), and that's been it.

rejectuf

You've had this happening once a day for 6 years, and haven't ever spoken to you doctor about it?? Go to the doctor, this is definitely not a normal side effect.

I had mine out in August 2013, and I've had zero issues. One or two bad "stomache ache" type pains after I ate an exceptional amount of fatty foods (road trips/vacation), and that's been it.

Digestive issues are actually a well known side effect of gall bladder removal. And I can say that for years, my wife had doctors basically just shrug their shoulders. I'm not sure about the OPs experience, but after awhile it's easy to give up.

sympha01

I had my gallbladder out in 2009 and had a similar experience, but without the pain and chills. Just eat breakfast => poop explosively. It didn't matter WHAT I ate: could be fatty food, could be nonfat, could be carby, could be low carb, didn't matter. In fact, sometimes it would be triggered by a cup of coffee (with cream). I don't have that problem now, and I THINK the reason is that I eat on a much more regular schedule than I used to. Like, that problem was always much worse if I ate breakfast super late or skipped breakfast and I don't do that anymore.

My mom, on the other hand, had her gallbladder out in the 80s and she STILL has that problem. Again, correlation is not causation but my mom is VERY guilty of eating on an irregular schedule.

mstripes

Had mine out in 1998 or 1999 IIRC. No issues at all like you describe. I can eat whatever I want, whenever I want in in the quantities I want or rather wanted since I have changed my eating habits. Beer, ice cream pizza or ribs does not matter.

sympha01

You've had this happening once a day for 6 years, and haven't ever spoken to you doctor about it?? Go to the doctor, this is definitely not a normal side effect.

Nope. This is super common, just not universal. Doctors tend to shrug their shoulders about it. I told my doctor and he was all "yeah, that happens to a lot of people." The only thing about OP's description that I personally would be troubled by is the pain and chills, if that goes beyond the normal amount of discomfort from chronic explosive diarrhea.

mynameiscarrie

You've had this happening once a day for 6 years, and haven't ever spoken to you doctor about it?? Go to the doctor, this is definitely not a normal side effect.

I had mine out in August 2013, and I've had zero issues. One or two bad "stomache ache" type pains after I ate an exceptional amount of fatty foods (road trips/vacation), and that's been it.

I guess cause the doctor said it would be normal at first so I didn't really think anything of it until I realized recently that it had been 6 years lol. You're right though. I think I'm kind of at the point like "OK, it HAS been 6 years... Why is it still happening."

mynameiscarrie

You've had this happening once a day for 6 years, and haven't ever spoken to you doctor about it?? Go to the doctor, this is definitely not a normal side effect.

Nope. This is super common, just not universal. Doctors tend to shrug their shoulders about it. I told my doctor and he was all "yeah, that happens to a lot of people." The only thing about OP's description that I personally would be troubled by is the pain and chills, if that goes beyond the normal amount of discomfort from chronic explosive diarrhea.

"Chronic explosive diarrhea" is about right lol but yeah, its always accompanied by pain. Not always chills, but sometimes I'm doubled over because it hurts. Then I stand up and I can feel whether or not the episode is over or if another wave is coming. If that makes sense? It's weird explaining it like that.

macelmer

You may suffer from something called "Bile Salts Diarrhea" which is an uncommon but well recognized complication of gallbladder removal surgery. You see, your liver makes the bile that digests the foods you eat. Normally the gallbladder holds this bile until it is needed. When the gallbladder is removed, the liver has to make more bile with no place for it to be stored; and the increased amount of bile can be too much to be reabsorbed by the intestines where the excess bile spills into the large intestine and acts like a laxative.

I had my gallbladder removed in 2005 and I currently take a drug called Colestid, 2 one gram pills every morning one hour before breakfast. Another drug commonly prescribed is Questran or Prevalite, which is a packet of powder that gets mixed with juice or water one hour before a meal or before bedtime. These drugs help soak up excess bile in the intestines. It doesn't help me 100 % because I also have Crohn's disease but if I do not take the Colestid pills, I am on the toilet more than ever.

It would not hurt to call your PCP or even make an appointment with a gastroenterologist. Six years is long enough to deal with a condition that can be controlled with medicine.

sarkrush

I had mine taken out a year and a half ago and I'm still struggling with the food then straight to the bathroom issue, been to my doctor and he said theres not too much he can do. Dairy mainly triggers me, but sometimes even fresh fruit and veggies can set me off. It sucks!

joepage612

My friend had her gallbladder removed and she said anything with seeds gave her problems. She did not have diverticulitis. She said after her gallbladder surgery anything with seeds did it. and by seeds i mean what is inside tomatoes or strawberries or raspberries. all seeds. not just sunflower seeds etc.
If you get cold sweats from this you should go to the doctor. That is bad.