I think my missing gallbladder is the problem

Since my surgery I have been plagued with going to the potty anywhere from 15-20 times a day.  I am miserable because of it and I rarely get any sleep.

Because of odor problems I thought I might have C-Diff and started taking VSL 3 probiotic and it helped a lot.  But still I would get the go-go's and liquid poo all of the time.

Recently I spoke to some people who have had their gallbladder removed minus any Weight Loss surgery.  After the removal they said they became severly lactose intolerant and couldn't eat many green leafy veggies, etc. .  They also have problems when they eat too much oil in their food with oil slicks,etc.  And because of the severe lactose intolerance,  they had odor problems and gas and diarhea.   I had my gallbladder removed at the time of my DS and my Dr never told me about the side effects after it's removal.

I started taking lactaid tablets everytime I eat even the smallest amount of anything with lactose and it has helped immensely.  I have noticed that lettuce and spinach wreaks havoc on me and when I cut back on eating the oily foods I am much better.  I wish I knew this and I would have approached things from a different perspective when I eat.  So much for the bacon and foods slathered in butter.  

I don't know if over time I will recover from my missing gallbladder but now I have to worry about getting my vitamins, protein, water in plus be extremely careful with lactose, greens and oily foods.  This is getting complicated but I have to go on living.

Anyone else with these same issues with a gallbladder removal and did you eventually recover from these food intolerances.  Or are they lifelong.  If I knew,  I may have elected to keep my gallbladder.

Thanks...Bonnie 

So let me get this right - you had your surgery almost 2 years ago and:
1.  You've never done an elimination diet to figure out what your triggers are for the bathroom issue?
2.  You thought had c-diff but didn't get an rx for an antibiotic?
3.  You're just recently figured out that your lactose intolerant, after almost 2 years?

I don't really think that your missing gallbladder is your issue.  MANY DS peeps routinely have their gallbladders removed with their DS and are NOT having the bathroom issues...I think that your issues are food related.  The issue of fat absorption is not with your missing gallbladder - it is your DS.  That is how it is designed, you only absorb about 20% of the fats you eat.

You may find with cutting back on fatty foods, that if you do so drastically, that you will soon have the opposite problem you are having now - not being able to go.  I have to ingest and INSANE amount of fat, stool softeners, miralax, and magnesium oxide to be able to go regularly.

What other things have you tried to deal with the bathroom issue?  Have you spoken with your surgeon regarding the issue?  If this has been going on for almost 2 years, what is the state of your labs?

Yes..it has taken me a while and with eliminating everything but the right thing.  I really haven't been in for follow up for a while because my surgeon has relocated and I moved.  I have been looking for a follow up doctor.  It has been through reading the forum that I thought I had C-Diff.  I have been eating mostly protein, few carbs and drinking my water and going nuts trying to figure out why my body isn't functioning like other DS'rs.  When I called Dr. Husted after my surgery about 6 mos out, his advice was to up my probiotics.  I was taking Primal Defense Ultra and even with a lot more it wasn't helping.  I just figured this was what I had to live with.

I knew I was lactose intolerant after surgery and avoided the protein drinks but I didn't realize how severe my intolerance was.  I read about C-Diff only through this website and decided to avoid the Flagyl until I weeded out every possibility.  Advice on the site was to do that.  The probiotics helped VSL 3 and now with the amout of lactaid I am consuming I think I am getting myself in order.

But I have been way out of whack even compared to other DSr's on my bathroom habits and I wondered if something else was contributing to the problem.  Yes you are right about the fat not being absorbed.  I know that...but I noticed that when I ate a little more than normal..my intestinal track was like fireworks.  After talking to patients of gallbladder removal I have lessened my consumption of fat and it has helped dramatically.  I know a lot of this is DS but I do believe my gallbladder has accentuated my problem extremely.

After avoiding carbs to the extreme and eliminating just about everything...this is what I have deduced.  I do need to go to someone for aftercare (if I can ever find someone) and be sure everything is in order.

Thanks

Bonnei

 
Bonnie,

I had my gallbladder out when I had my DS, too.  I have not had diarrhea issues like you have, though.

I am now more lactose intolerant - and take "Digestive Advantage for lactose intolerance" every morning.  It works for me...and I don't have to 'take something' (like Lactaid) every time I eat/drink something with lactose.  One per day and I'm good!  :-)

IF you have C-Diff the probiotic is not going to clear it up.  You need to get checked for it - and IF you do have it, take a round of Flagyl (a strong anti-biotic).  

Probiotics are great - I take "Primal Defense Ultra" (one per day).  I no nothing about "VSL" brand, though.  There are differences in the brands... some are 'better' than others (IMHO).

A diet too high in fat - even for us - can cause diarrhea problems.  You still need to get in fats.... your body needs them since we malabsorb such a high percentage of what we consume.

Have your tried an "elimination diet"?  Get back to bare bones....just protein....for a few days and see if that helps.  Then add ONE new thing every few days to see if there is something (other than spinach and leafy greens) that is triggering your diarrhea.

You sure shouldn't suffer like this!  It can be dangerous to have diarrhea - especially for extended periods of time!

Please - first things first - get your doc to test you for C-Diff....then go from there. :-)

Julie

I had constant loose stools and I still have my gallbladder.

I had to make sure I was taking Calcium Citrate with NO magnesium (basically a dose of milk of magnesia each pill!), stay away from all sugar, eat fiber and take a very good probiotic (I use Primal Ultra Defense). That got me down to about 3-6 semi firm stools a day. I have NEVER restricted fats and never will. It is bad for our health.

The gas and smell still plagued me though, so I started Flagyl and now that's gone too.

You may be onto something there. I remember years ago reading the possible symptoms of gall bladder removal and thinking that it may indeed contribute to some of the problems people have after DS surgery. Of course, not everyone has those symptoms after gall bladder removal just like not everyone has the same problems after the DS. Could be that for you the combination of gall bladder removal and the DS caused you to have more problems than most. 

I too had my gall bladder removed and my symptoms after the DS were typical, but not severe. And it indeed has improved a lot over the years. I suspect as you learn to adjust your intake of trigger foods and as your system continues to adjust to the surgery, your problems should lessen.

Almost every DSer has their gall bladder removed and we are not having those issues. It's not normal and you need medical intervention. I'm surprised your anus hasn't fallen off with DHR for 2 years straight. It's probably a blood pulp right now, begging to be put out of it's misery.

Scott

I had my gall bladder taken out over ten years ago.  When I did I began to have the digestive track instability.  I couldn't eat out at all without having to find a toilet in a rush before I could get home.  Most of the time is was several times before I got home.
However, since my ds surgery this problem has went completely away.  I no longer have to go after eating out and I eat out alot.  And when I eat out I eat nice fatty stuff. :D  I rarely have to have a bm while in public.  Before it was a normal occurance for me. 
This is my experience.  It doesn't mean it works that way for everyone.
Kathy

Bonnie-
My surgeon, Dr., Margaret Inman routinely removes the gall bladder for all her DSers, as a prophylaxis against gallstones. I had bathroom issues early out, the first three months, but it wasn't because of my gallbladder

What kind of protein do you use? I went into surgery lactose intolerant, and came out SUPER lactose intolerant. It got me re-admitted 48 hours after discharge, hooked up to an IV, NPO (nothing by mouth) to get re-hydrated. If you are very lactose intolerant, regular whey protein will run all of your fluids out, and you will become very, very sick...very, very quickly! My LI has calmed down nicely, and I don't have anywhere near the issues I had early out.

My surgeon, Dr. Inman, recommended whey protein isolate. It is processed differently from regular whey protein, so the lactose that is abundant in whey is greatly reduced. I use NOW Sports unflavored whey protein isolate, but it is available form many companies. Syntrax Nectar Medical is an unflavored whey protein isolate. Nectar comes in great flavors, too! (no, I'm not on the payroll!) Unflavored can be mixed up not only as a custom-flavored shake, you can add the powder to soups, stews, sauces, gravies, etc, to increase the protein content.

I did a two week course of Flagyl at the time I was having difficulty. Cleared right up. Also, I discovered that if I got lax (pardon the pun) with my calcium, I would go liquid.

If you love salads. like I do, try eating only the baby lettuce mixes that come in the bags, instead of Iceberg (head) lettuce and Romaine. Butter head lettuce might work, too, as long as you take out the hard white fibrous rib from the leaf. Even when I was a pre-op, when Romaine worked its way through my gut, I thought I was gonna die!

This stuff is just what worked for me...this is one of those YMMV (your mileage may vary) issues.

I had my gall bladder removed shortly after my c-section. I have rarely had solid stools since (and it was 4 years between that and my DS). I also couldn't eat lettuce...heck it wasn't until I started taking Protonix that I could live with my stomach. (I now take it twice a day.) I couldn't, and still can't seem to eat pork much since it came out. There are a few other "triggers" too. It seems to affect everyone differently though. My 81-year-old grandmother had hers out, and she has had no side affects.