Diarrhea after gallbladder removal??

How many of you who have had your gallbladders out have this problem? I've had some "issues" on and off for a few months that I'm still not sure if it is lactose intolerance or gallbladder problems. Definitely having gallbladder type pain and my doctor thinks that I have gallstones. I'm having an US on the 2nd. Anyway, on reading about this I'm finding that an awful lot of people have chronic diarrhea after having their gallbladder removed. My mom has this problem because she takes metformin and I've seen her quality of life having to live with this. Not a lot of fun, yk? So, the potential of having this side effect really scares me. I just don't think I could deal with having the runs for the rest of my life. Not to mention that it doesn't sound healthy at all to have that.

I had my gallbladder out during my RNY. The only time I've had a problem was when I ate some really greasey onion rings. If I'm eating correctly, I don't have a problem. Has your mom told her doc about the problems with the metaformin? There are other drugs available that don't have that side effect. I was on it for a while and felt absolutely horrible. I think getting hit by a truck would have felt better!

She hasn't *but* my mom isn't all that great about taking care of herself. She's gotten blown off by doctors about other stuff before so she just doesn't bother anymore. Eventually she's got to go get a new prescription so I'm hoping she tells them then. I couldn't live like that. I'd be climbing the counter demanding a solution. lol!

I noticed no changes after my gallbladder removed. My GB was removed a few months after WLS. I didn't do well with metformin. Was switching from insuln but metformin tore my digestion up. I just stayed with the insulin til I didn't need meds anymore. Good luck, Kathy

My doctor told me to expect diarrhea for about 4 to 6 weeks after gallbladder surgery as all the sludge and such get out of the system. And I had the problem for about 2 months and then it slowly went away. I have no problems now. My gallbladder surgery was almost two years ago. Melissa

yep, welcome to the world of bowel problems. It will get better after a year...no kidding, a year. If you take some acidopholus, it will help because your body is getting used to all the bile being dumped in, and also the new way you are earting. I have a bile duct blockage now that I have to have surgery for, and also adhesions and internal hernias, so I have to go in and have a hole put into my old stomach and then a scope put into the bile duct, and deal with all that. You will be fine, but go to Whole Foods or some health food store and get some acidopholus, you have to take it for a while before it kicks in...about 1 month. Take care, you will be better off without a non working gallbladder now! Deb

Yikes! Ok, so with this diarrhea you get...sorry for the TMI but is it just loose or is it like you have to live by the bathroom for a year? Is it only right after eating or is it random? And did any of you have bowel problems on and off after your gallbladder went bad? Because I do sometimes now and I'm thinking it is related to the gallbladder but I'm trying to figure out if that will get better or worse after a gallbladder removal. If it gets work I'm thinking welllll maybe gallstone attacks aren't *that* bad..are they? I'll probably sing a different tune the next time I have an attack though, huh? lol! Anyone heard of flushing gallstones or tried it? Apparently there is a naturopathic thing you do with a tincture (I forget the name...Gold somethingerother) for a couple of weeks and then flush out the stones with olive oil and lemon juice. I'm thinking of trying it. I mean the worst that can happen is a stone gets stuck and I have to run to the ER to have my gallbladder removed ASAP...which I'd have to do anyway if I didn't attempt the flush just scheduled instead of emergency, right? Same procedure and everything.

Hi Tiffany, was just cruising these boards and saw your post. I had my Gallbladder removed in 99' and had a lot of problems with diarrhea. My doc explained to me that since your gallbladder is gone there is nothing there to store the bile you produce and it goes through you like a laxative. Keep in mind my diet was less than perfect and I would have more trouble with fried foods. I still have problems off and on. I notice problems if it's been a long time since I've eaten and say I have a Starbucks Frapp. (pre-RNY here) It's pretty much liquid bile coming out. Sorry if TMI! Don't worry about it so much, there are things they can give you for it. My doc put me on Cholestyramine, it's a cholesterol med that is like metamucil. You dissolve it in water and it was Strawberry flavored. It really worked. I don't have enough problems with it now to even worry about taking anything. It depends on what you eat and if your post RNY then you should be okay. Good luck to you!

Tiffany, Shanna hit the nail right on the head. It is primarily straight bile coming out, along w/ some BM. I've had this problem since I had my gallbladder out way back in 1992 (6 wks after I had my first baby!). I had to go through surgery on a Tuesday to clear duct blockage and then had to wait til Friday to have the gall bladder out. The problem still happens to me now, 14 yrs later, but seems to happen pretty randomly...not always after I eat fatty foods. Just as apt to happen even after I've had salad or anything else. It's not *horrible*, but you just need to be aware and ready...just in case! Usually after one or two episodes, you're probably done for the day. Christine