I agree with you in what you say as being your main gripe. I'm just over 2 years now since my removal op.
I too have that awful pain on my right hand side. And problems with my stomach and other symptoms that are basically like have the flu permanantly.
I have a post operative mass in my gallbladder site. They don't know what it is, possibly a gallbladder remnant. I'm awaiting surgery early next year.
You couldn't make it up!
Are you still on site.
looking for some input on acid reflux and bile diarrhoea and nausea. Two years post cholecystectomy
Hi Ann I found psyllium husk powder great for the bile diarrhea. The pills are not as affective as the powder. Also digestive enzymes can help with reflux and the bile diarrhea too. Ginger capsules can help with nausea too. I tried all the meds at the time and they didn’t help and I didn’t like the side effects. I’m sorry your still suffering 2 years on. You poor thing. If you have any questions give me a shout. Take care
Thank you for your information. My main problem is twofold. Horrendous pain like a stone stuck inbetween shoulder blades wakes me at night a couple of times a week. Other days i feel nauseous but no other symptom, other days i get the bile acid diarrhoea.then i might get a good day then it all starts again. Basically there seems to be a problem in upper area some days, and lower area others. Dr gave me omeprazole but it makes me feel awful.
If i tookmthe powder for the acid diarrhoea daily would it constipate me on the days i am having a normal,movement? If i take digestive enzymes will that stop the intermittent centre back pain?
i am at a loss as to the right thing to do.
i have either the bile acid diarrhoea or the pain centre back. Never both at same time, and sometimes days inbetween with no symptoms, or nausea.
What medicarions do you use and is it for upper or lower symptoms?
Did you have the surgery and has it helped?
Short version: you have too much acidic liquid in your intestine. eat rice! Immodium saves lives!(and slows digestive system allowing food to catch up to dumping bile). Cholestramine binds bile to a solid(but needs dumping when there's too much stored on intestinal walls). Activated charcoal stops bloating and eliminates toxins. METAMUCIL IS THE ABSOLUTE BEST THING YOU CAN DO!!!(it makes liquid into gel and makes everything normal). Probiotic yogurt drinks are also helpful. DO NOT DO CALCIUM SUPPLEMENTS! YOU WILL DEVELOP HEART PROBLEMS.
Explained version: I have had extreme difficulty after my gall bladder removal years ago. I became quite the expert on dealing with the symptoms and I hope this information helps anybody who might need it. First off, understanding what's going on in your intestine now that you don't have a 'bile gate'. There's not enough to break down lots of fat but there's always a trickle that adds liquid to your intestine and colon and causes diarrea. First step to felling better. Eat lowfat for a while. Duh, you know this part, but of course it is very important. Eat rice!! It blocks you up and helps with diarrea too. Next, Imodium is your best friend! It slows your digestive system giving food and liquid a chance to bind and catch up. Imodium is excellent in a pinch and you can take a good amount per day without consequence. Cholestramine powder is also great because it binds bile to the intestinal walls. Theoretically, you can use the bile later and it won't constantly dump. But you will occasionally have to dump the excess storage(so I've found).
Next is Metamucil. PROBABLY THE REAL LIFE SAVER HERE. I take it every night before bed. If you see what it does in water, it does the same to liquid in your intestine. It clears everything out everyday and I haven't had a problem since. Some people say that calcium supplements help with diarrea. The reasoning is that only 40% of the calcium gets absorbed and the rest becomes waste and clumps liquid together. I did this for 6 months taking twice the daily recommended dose. It helped a bit, however, I began to have severe heart palpitations because too much calcium causes clogs in blood stream and calcium build ups in the heart. DON'T DO THE CALCIUM TREATMENT!! Lastly, activated charcoal works wonders too. It stops bloating and neutralizes toxins as well as stopping diarrea. (Don't forget to add probiotics to your diet) I take a swig of highly populated yogurt drinks daily. One of my doctors also told me that the 'tube' where your gall bladder was connected to will eventually create a ball like end and store bile like a call bladder does. This takes time. It all takes time so be patient! I live a completely normal life now and a year ago I was afraid to go to the corner store and back. I was going to the bathroom up to 20 times a day and had severe panic attacks if I left the house. Now, I'm going to France next month
hi!!! almost 2 years post surgery and i want my gallbladder back i have pain, severe bloating and EVERYTHING i eat bothers me i have horrible gas (belching) constantly sucks
Sorry to hear this. I am now almost 7 years post-op and still having symptoms, to the extent I have recently had a colonoscopy and CT colononoscopy which were both normal. Have a look at Sphincter of Oddi discussions within this forum as this may help. I am having to accept that this is my way of life now but it is so limiting. I have constant pain in my right side, radiating to my upper back and sometimes the pain is worse than the gallbladder attack which resulted in the removal. Eliminating foods helps, knowing which ones trigger the pain and symptoms. Hang on in there but keep seeing your GP to ensure you have had all bases covered. It’s an uphill struggle.
Hi,
I had my gallbladder out 3 years ago and have been suffering from these attacks as well. Been to my doctor had scopes and ultrasounds and they keep telling me nothing is wrong. I have tried probiotics, digestive enzymes and all kinds of things. So far I find yogurt works. My attacks happen if I don’t eat a small snack. I vomit bile. just like a cat. It is so painful, I shake and sweat. Feels like when my gallbladder was doing its thing. I thought I was going crazy.
I’m 11 months po. I have these flare-ups too and just can’t figure out what causes them I can go for weeks feeling fine then suddenly my stomach explodes with diarrhea, nausea bloating and pain. I also get daily headaches, mouth ulcers and eczema at the same time and am assuming that this affects the immune system. (anyone else?)
I cant pinpoint what causes the flare up as I follow the same diet- gluten free, low fat, no meat, little dairy and it usually works well for me.
Why is it that during these flare-ups I always wake up with stomach cramps and then the urgency for the toilet? I’m wondering, after all my reading, is it because the bile continues to drip constantly from the liver all night with no food to mop it up? is that how it works? if I eat something immediately, would that help?
I also thought along those lines, eat small amounts often to keep up with the constant bile dripping. I thought it worked. And I can feel fine for a few weeks and then another flare-up arrives. A complete mystery to me! I’ve also tried digestive enzymes and probiotics but I have no idea if they actually help or whether during that period of time I would’ve been fine anyway during the flare-up nothing seems to help.
I just wish I could find the reason, if there is one! Or at least a medication that would help. I’m going to try psyllium husk powder now.
ive also been suffering with terrible constipation so i take stool softeners, mirilax, and daily probiotic sometimes my stomach will swell amd i literally look pregnant well just this weekend everything must have started working at once oh my lord its been terrible i need to see gastro specialist but just cant afford
I cant afford it either! I’m on South Africa and it’s very expensive
I’m also very bloated now and I’ve been so careful with my diet but during a flare-up it seems everything causes pain. I’m really getting tired of this.
Hi,
That’s how it is for me. I thought I had found a way to manage it then it would go all sideways again. I stopped taking supplements and now I just always have a yogurt on hand. If I feel an attack coming on I quickly eat a yogurt and that seems to calm whatever is going on. I also drink alot of water. I also make sure to have a water bottle. Sometimes that will calm it until I can find a snack. Even if it’s just a couple of crackers. Trial and error has been easier than going to my doctor over and over for him to tell me nothing is wrong and me being upset and frustrated.
Hi Treezy,
I am sorry to hear about the pain you have been having. I had my gallbladder removed last December and everything was fine until about 2 months ago. First I developed a small bulge on my stomach just above my navel and after going to the GP she has said it is an incisional hernia but has referred me to the hospital in August just to have it looked at. But worse than that, I have developed pain where my gall bladder was. It feels sore to touch and sometimes after a meal it feel tight on the right side. I have mentioned it to the GP but she doesn’t seem worried about it. I had a ct scan in March and all was fine so no idea why I am now getting this pain. It is worrying me. Does anyone know if this is normal?
Thank you
Hi
I don’t know if you’re still suffering. I live in Canada, from the UK. I had my gallbladder removed in 2005 after three trips to the ER. Third time my doctor phoned me personally at home. Told me to to get to the hospital as my Lipase enzyme results were off the charts! The doctor put me on a starvation diet for 3 days to get my levels back to normal. Followed by surgery for removal, Getting to why I’m replying to you is that over the years and through suffering as you and many others are, I luckily came upon my own cure. I have my blood work done as a matter of routine. After a few results came back with higher levels of Cholesterol than my doctor liked, I reluctantly agreed to go on a low dose statin. It had a positive effect on my stomach. Prior to taking statins I experienced sudden bouts of bile dumping. My own GP was happy with my feedback that statins have had this result and wanted to try it for other patients. I now take 10 mgs of Crestor daily. I have had no more pain or issues since I have been taking it. I hope this helps.
I feel your pain (all the time!) I am back to square one with my symptoms but when you are a woman in your 50s, you have to ensure that there is nothing else going on. I have just had all my blood work done again (normal), have a scan next week and I’m currently off Lansoprazole so that I can have an H pylori test. If these are all normal I have to go for an endoscopy. I am now getting central upper epigastric pain (tender to touch), right sided pain and now going around to back. I’m also constantly tired and all my muscles ache. I just want someone to say “Oh, here’s the problem and we can fix it” I think that will be a long time coming. Keep on at your GP or health professional (not easy at this time, I know). I also have to question whether stress plays a part in my symptoms but again, we can’t keep making excuses about real pain that is quite debilitating. Hope you feel better soon
Interesting. Cholesterol is responsible for stones forming so I can see how this would work. My cholesterol was within normal limits so I can’t see how I could push for a statin, but definitely something to keep in mind. Hope you continue to stay well
What a relief to discover this forum. I can relate to most of the posts, not so much the diarrhea. The pain, nausea,constipation, foul smelling stools. I am 10 yrs post op, these symptons started 2 yrs ago. 5 yrs ago was diagnised a stone in the bile duct, l was delighted!!!, thought l had cancer. In last 2yrs l have been hospitalised at least 6 times, very bad episodes, pain right side radiating under ribs into chest and lower back and sometimes. l don,t know were the pain is. l am shivering, vomiting etc l am hospitalised due to raised Liver enzymes. When all this began 2 yrs ago l actually developed Sepsis. l guess l am lucky to live in the U.K, and under the care of a brilliant GP and hospital consultants, there have been several. I have had every scan, blood test, other tests. Had an ERCP in the beggining, but hey l am still suffering, try to live a normal life, difficult, l loved my holidays abroad, but worry re insurance now, how would it be if l had a bad attack in another country, scary. Have had a letter recently from current consultant, after an admission to hospital during lockdown. She has deduced l have this syndrome, have a phone consultation next week, l cannot do anymore than l am, been eating fat free, no alcohol etc for the 2 yrs have lost 2stone in weight, my family really worry about me. I try and stay positive make the most of the good days, just had a bad one and want to cry. Don,t tell my family anymore just get on with it. nothing anyone can do, maybe l will UP the YOGURTS, best wishes to you all.