Question:
Should I see a Dr. for intermittent abdominal cramping post-gallbladder removal?

I had my GPS 12/04. I had no problems. I had my gallbladder removed 6/05 after only 1 attack. A month or so after my gallbladder removal, I ate a few Great Value brand ruffles chips. My stomach immediatly began cramping. It did this for several hours. I tried to eat something else (better choice than chips) after and it started again. I figured it was probably related to the recent gallbladder removal and didn't eat anything until mid-day the next day and everthing was fine. Several months later, I tried the chips again with the same thing happening. Ok -no more Great Value chips for me (ruffles brand has never done that to me). I have not had it happen to me until about 3 weeks ago. I was in the hospital with pneumonia. I had just started eating again. My sister brought me some bacon, which I have about 3 days a week for breakfast. I ate about 3 slices, everthing was fine. A couple hours later, I ate another slice. I immediately began having severe stomach cramping. It seemed to move with the bacon as it digested in that it started between my rib cage and ended up cramping from there all the way to about my waist line. Needless to say I didn't eat anything for about 18-24 hours. They gave me some Lortab wich really did not help the cramping that much, but did make me sleep. Last Wednesday, 2 weeks out of the hospital, I ate about 2 roasted new potato slices (some grease and too much black pepper for my taste). Immediately my stomach began cramping. This was at 11AM. I finally went home around 2 pm because it was still cramping so bad. I tried to eat the next day and it came back. It never really went away, but was just a nusiance type pain. Oh yeah, my abdomen was tender tothe touch while cramping so bad. I decided to see my PCP. He was not there, so I saw the CRNP. She order u/s of pelivs and abdomen, drew blood, urine and I had to do a stool sample. Everything came back normal. The cramping lasted from Wed through Sat. She had given me bentyl to take 4X a day. It helped some, but I had another severe case Sat. at the mall. It actually started before I ate anything it was just not bad. Then I ate 2 chicken nuggets from chick-fil-et and 1 waffle friy and it started. It eased off in about an hour or so, and nothing has bothered my stomach since. My U/S and labs came back ok. She put me on an anti-fungal med and an antibotic that treats stomach infections better. I don't think this is what it is, but I am taking it anyway. I was low in potassium while in the hospital. I don't know whether to just wait until I have another attack and call my surgeon (who has not had very good bed-side manner post-op) or if I should call them now. I feel it is just a result of eating the wrong kinds of food after having my gall bladder removed. The only other thing is that I am running a low-grade fever. I have been I think since April when I had bronchitis. but it is hard to tell since I have had strep and pneumonia since that time. Do you seem to get sick easier post GPS? Sorry for the novel, but I wanted to give as many details as possible and would appreciate any ideas.    — bkinman (posted on June 5, 2006)

June 5, 2006
First off, don't be relying on the Q&A for actual medical information. All anyone here can do is offer opinions and personnal experiences. Sounds like you have identified the fact that fatty foods give you stomach cramps. This happens to alot of us who have had our gallbladders out. (I had mine out in 1983.) So you know what to stay away from. If you are unsure of why you are taking any meds, you should speak to your PCP until you do understand why. Hopefully you are seeing somebody for the strep/pneumonia anyway. If you can't resolve the cramping, seeing a specialist (gastroenterologist) might be the next step. Hope your feeling better soon.
   — LisaHillsinger

June 5, 2006
I have to agree. This is only my advise. All the foods that have made you sick are high in fat. The gallbladder stored that or helped. You have the normal post op gallbladder sx. Yes when you are loosing weight in a fast form your immune system is down a bit. That is why you need to be on top of your vits and so forth. And even if you are doing that, you still might be getting sick. It is the luck of the draw. Could it be dumping??? Keep a food diary so you can track when it happend and what caused it, That is my 2 cents worth good luck
   — T. Rosario

June 5, 2006
You defiantely need to see a doctor. Sounds like you have H-Pylora which is an infection of the stomach lining.
   — Deborah Joyner

June 5, 2006
Seems to me that you dump from fat and grease like most of us do but that it's taken you several times of doing so and several thousands of dollars in tests and you still don't "get it". Add to that that you've had your gall bladder removed...and you are someone who simply should stay away from high fatty/greasy foods.
   — psychobabble35

June 6, 2006
I agree with the other posters, because you no longer have a gallbladder you cannot eat high fat and greasy foods without dumping, best bet is to stay away from them. You don't mention if you are sick after eating lean protein or veggies. It might be best just to eliminate fatty and fried foods from your diet, you stomach will feel better and it wont impede further weight loss or contribute to regain. If you get sick after eating low fat/non fried foods, Call the doctor ASAP. YOu may still be recovering from pneumonia and bronchitis, be easy on your body, and make sure to get enough rest, fluids and healthy food. I honestly don't think you had a stomach infection, especially if your labs and stool samples were normal, be wary of taking antibiotics and antifungals if you don't have clear evidence of infection, it could make you sicker and contribute to you having drug resistant infections, so that next time they may not have any antibiotics able to treat your infection. Antibiotics are very hard on the stomach they make alot of people sick, even those who never had WLS. I hope you can find answers and feel better
   — goldroses

June 6, 2006
I appreciate all your responses. I am also inclined to believe it is the fatty foods due to the gallbladder removal. However, I do not believe it is "dumping" in that it is only severe cramps, never any diaherrea, heart racing, nausea or anything else. As I stated I did go to the PCP. Only because it lasted more than a day and twice in one month. I have only had 4 episodes from 6/05 - 6/06. I elected to go ahead and take the medication and then if I have another episode prior to my next appointment with my GB surgeon, I will either make an earlier appt., or make and appointment with a gastro. Thanks again, you guys are great. BTW - even though I do not eat as healthy as I should, I do not eat those types of foods all the times. However, those are the only things that have affected me that way. Great Value Chips 2 times. Bacon 1 time (although I do eat it about 3 X a week, and roasted potatoes 1 time)
   — bkinman