If you read enough IBS personal stories – and, I would venture to say, I read more IBS personal stories before breakfast than most people do in a lifetime – you quickly realize that there are many shared IBS experiences. From the fear of public accidents to obsessions with our diet to battles with our ridiculously unfeeling colleagues, I’ve read the same experiences over and over again for years and years. This is awful, of course, but also a little comforting, as you begin to learn that your pain is not yours alone, and many other people know just how you feel.
What I haven’t learned, unfortunately, is what causes IBS, because for every IBS patient there is a different story. Some of us get IBS right out of the blue, as if from nowhere. Some of us have surgery and suffer from that point on, some get food poisoning and then IBS, some take antibiotics and blame their broken bowels on that…there’s no one route to IBS.
But one thing that did strike me one day when I was reading through all of these stories was how often IBS sufferers talked about their gallbladders, and, more specifically, the absence of their gallbladders.
The gallbladder is a little internal organ that basically stores bile acids that come from the liver. People often have it removed, and you can live perfectly happily without it, except that without the gallbladder the bile has nowhere to go. And guess what? The bile is then shoved into the intestines instead, and that causes diarrhea, and that, I’m afraid, leads to a diagnosis of IBS.
Now, the wonderful thing about ‘IBS’ (I’ll explain my quote marks in a second) following gallbladder removal is that there are specific medications to control the diarrhea that results. Questran, Colestid and Welchol and are all used for this purpose, and often produce fantastic results.
So what’s the problem, if this portion of IBS sufferers can be so easily treated? Well, the problem is that doctors sometimes don’t even mention that the diarrhea could be related to the gallbladder removal, and just diagnose IBS. And even when they do think that the gallbladder removal has caused the problem, they STILL diagnose IBS.
Why is this daft? Well, obviously it’s daft first and foremost because anyone with no gallbladder needs access to the drugs I have mentioned. But it’s also daft because, to me, bile-related diarrhea is clearly NOT IBS.
If we diagnose bile-related diarrhea as IBS, then morphine-related constipation is IBS too, as is diarrhea caused by having half your colon cut out during surgery. In other words, any vague condition that causes gastrointestinal symptoms is IBS, even if we know exactly what the cause of those gastro symptoms is. That seems crazy.
Now, please don’t think that I have any less sympathy for my gallbladderless readers, because your symptoms are just as tough as anyone else’s. And I’m not about to to stop accepting stories and treatment reviews from people with bile-related ‘IBS’, partly because there are so many of you, and partly because patients often don’t realize that bile is the cause of their problems until they do some reading.
But it does seem like a strange situation when someone with a diarrhea-causing liquid flowing through their body is considered to have IBS – you might just as well drink a gallon of laxative in the morning and then diagnose yourself with IBS. Seems to me it would make as much sense!
are the sign of IBS similar to gallbladder symptoms? How do you differentiate the two ?
Hi Linda – I would always check with your doctor if you’re worried about your symptoms, there are a lot of different conditions which can cause IBS-like symptoms so it’s important to get checked out if you’re concerned.
I had my gallbaldder removed 6 years ago and started getting the urgency situation straight away after eating certain foods. THis wasnt too bad but now it has oincreased and msot mornings I have loose stools.I am fine the rest of the day!
I wish I could HAVE loose stools again. Before my gall bladder surgery, I had diarrhea almost every day since I was old enough to remember (I also suffered from lactose intolerance). Since the surgery, for the last two years, I’ve had to resort to taking laxatives every day just to go to the bathroom so I can get room in my stomach to eat or I can’t eat (I lost almost 100 lbs because of this…which is sort of great and sort of not so great; it was in the span of three months and caused other health problems). What confuses my doctors is that when I go, my stools are still runny as ever! It’s just like the muscle that alerts me to go is no longer functioning, and taking laxatives kick-starts it.
I wish there was help. I eat a diet high in fiber and drink nothing but water. At this point in my life, I have no hope left, and I’ve been to the brink of suicide because no one can help me, it seems.
I was just wondering if I would be dropping in weight due to the removal of my gallbladder? When I had my gallbladder I had very loose stool right after I would eat. I lost almost 30lbs in a very short time. Now with the removal of my gallbladder (little over a week) the same thing happens, depending on what I eat. I was on a very stricked diet before my gallbladder pain began, and have started back again trying to loose the remaining weight (60lbs). With the removal will it help or hurt my weight loss? Thanks for your reply.
Kimberly
Hi all, this message is for Ruth. Please don’t despair. What you have is quite common and we’re all working together to solve the riddle. As ridiculous as this may sound, try to approach our problem as a scientist would. Try to understand what is happening to what part of your body/our bodies. I have/had your symptoms. I call it constipated diarrhea. You’ll see that phrase in previous posts. I feel it in my ascending and transverse colon aka the large intestine. And it does affect appetite for some reason. The large intestine doesn’t seem to be absorbing the water the way it should and those nice gentle rhythmic motions that move the digested food along are also off. So all I get is unproductive cramping. I’ve found a way of manually pushing the contents along through a massage technique. But this is somewhat demoralizing, as is taking laxatives. And air gets trapped as well and has to be massaged along. It’s a stop gap measure.
I’ve found some relief through diet and supplements. Pumpkin seeds, raw fish, 100% sprouted bread, vegetables, some fruit, some dairy, some vegan cookies and 400mg of magnesium (citrate, glycinate or amino acid chelate) at night. And I try to take advantage of mornings when our gastro-colic reflex is strongest. I’m not perfect but better.
You’ll get there too. And hopefully we can all learn from eachother. I go back and forth between thinking its allergies, yeast, not enough good bacteria, too little enzymes. So I try to treat all. Avoid the foods I’m allegedly allergic to, avoid sugar (yeah right) that allegedly feeds the bad yeast, eat raw foods (like sushi) that digest themselves because without cooking the enzymes stay intact. Lastly I eat fibrous foods that feed the good bacteria…hopefully. I’ve been doing some homework on probiotics and it seems that infantis, planatarum and rhamanous are good for IBS so I’ll try those one at a time.
Now you go forth and conquer! If not for yourself than for the rest of us who can really use your assistance.
Keep us posted. Sharon
RuthW
hi i had my gallbladder out 14 weeks ago and for the first week i seemed to be doing fine then I got an infection inside my tummy three loads of antibiotic later and my tummy was a mess. I ended up on nexuim motillium antispasmodics all for acid and bowel problems. I even had to take 8 satchels of movicol to kickstart and clean out my bowels, then switch back to two to three everyday just so I could go to the toilet. I was very dismayed and sore and really bloated. I went to get some pepperment oil from holland and barret to help with spasms, when I took an atack of acid reflux. so all that was to hand was organic licorice. I eat this and low and behold I have found something that not only stops the pain but it also helps my digestive track. I have been taking four to five panda organic comfits before each meal, and it is working for me I can’t beleieve that organicc licorice could have done this. I looked up on the internet and it helps all sorts digestive problems inflammation soothes the linning of the bowel I was amazed. I have just bought some organic root teabags so I will let you know how I get on with that. I would make sure it is panda organic licorice as there is no additives in this fat free and koisher. there is also bars and plain licorice but i love confits so i buy them. I hope this helps someone else as I was crying all the time and things are slowly getting better for me. why do doctors not tell you things like a wee bag of licorice could help your digestive problems, instead of letting us suffer. also when we have no gallbladder we cannot digest fat so get lecithin fat emiulsifier I got tripple action it was on special. it also help breaks down your food making it again easy for your bowel. I take it when I feel i need help but my friend takes it everyday and she would not be without it. also if you have trouble with constipation eat a banna it helps. Also stay away from a high fibre diet it does more damage to your irritated bowels. you want food that is easy to digest smooth and not too tough. also stay away from broccoli cabbage calliflower. go on a low fat diet it helps alot. no oil fish cod or haddock is fine as they are dry fish chicken baked pottatoe side salads ect. light vegatbles soups no peppers or hot spices, you might find bread being a problem too try burgoen its same price as normal bread but it is made with soya because it has seeds and things in it tastes the same as bread.wheat is very bad for your bowel it irritates it. you get that bread in every supermarket and farmfoods.stay away from red meat as your bowel does not digest this most white meats are fine, natural bio yougurts are good too for soothing the bowel. make sure dairy does not give you a problem though don,t eat cheese it will start a flare up. well this is all I can think of at the moment le tme know how you get on. take care regards Heather
I had my gallbladder removed 11 months ago. Two months after my surgery my problems began. I started to get an upset stomach with diarreahea or constipation – like everytime I relieved myself the stomach belching would start and cramping. I also feel like a sore stomach. I never had these problems before I had it removed. Never had a stomach problem in my life. My doctor kept saying it was a virus because it would happen twice a month. I started to have some test done in April and I went to an allergist first to test for food allergies which I had none. Then I went to a gasterologist he thought it was stone left behind so I had a MRCP – no stones, then I had blood test hployria, liver enzymes were normal, thyroid is normal, complete physical everything is fine. I had an endoscopy and they found non specific gastritis which was nothing. So now I am having a colonoscopy to rule out IBS or anything else. Basically this doctor has told me to try John Hopkins after this because I might have Post Colonscopy Syndrome or SOD. Which they may do very little for you. Now I am on Welchol and this is my 6th day. I was doing ok and feeling pretty good and no sign of diarrhea my bowel movements are solid now. Last night I had a bad night – I heard all kinds of noise in my stomach and it felt like spasms and sore stomach. Then I had to go to the bathroom and I had to settle my stomach down. Today I had sore stomach in the morning which latest till 1:00 p.m. The only thing I had was some nuts and some rice. This happens to me every two days. It has gotten worse and I guess because I obsess about it so it makes it worse. I have anxiety now. I thought it was a bile problem and I thought the Welchol would help with everything but the sore stomach is the worse. Now I am back to square one – I need to function everyday with two kids and now I feel so handicap. I eat a low fat diet and I have lost 60 lbs and I have 100lbs to go will the weight loss help? My doctor said it wouldn’t make a difference. I exercise and go to a accupuntist. Is there light at the end of the tunnel or am I doomed for life?? Help!
Maybe you have a protein or fiber problem? Protein is known for causing stomach pains, especially if you aren’t used to it. Also, never drink carbonated beverages. And try a product called; Activia; try it every day for a month and I guarantee it works. Because if you truly have IBS, which is an irregular movement in the digestive system, that yogurt should help regulate it. BUT I MUST STRESS DO NOT DRINK CARBONATED BEVERAGES.
My IBS-D developed like a thunderclap in 1991–while I was at work. In 8 mos I lost 65 lbs, and I spent the better part of 7 years dealing with dehydration and malnutrition.
I had my gallbladder removed in 1995. I was finally able to re-introduce veggies and meat into my diet (I had been living on the ‘white diet’–rice, chicken breast, toast, etc.), and flares from IBS-D were greatly reduced…for a while.
Over the past 4 years, I have dealt with severe diarrhea after eating on a daily basis, and my guess is that my liver is simply producing more bile on a continuous basis. I greatly increased my use of Lomotil and Imodium, with little effect.
Several days ago, I urged my physician to prescribe Questran for me, after I’d researched the medication online.
I have not flared ONCE since starting it.
I’m so happy I could cry!
Is anyone up for an experiment???
A one month experiment? I would like to really (really really) stick to a nutrient dense, hypoallergenic (no such thing exactly) IBS friendly diet – based on all that we have learned from eachother.
For me that means pure clean water as my only beverage and not the two dozen bottles of white tea I have in the frig that I love with all my heart or that weekly java chip frappucino. No food that has been processed, so not even my sprouted grain bread. Just seeds (pumpkin for me), egg yolks but not the whites (supposedly I’m allergic to eggs but it’s the white that contains the protein that causes the allergies), wild caught fish and free range beef – all undercooked for me. Can’t do that with chicken or turkeyever!! And just about any fruit or vegetable except the ones that we know we can’t tolerate – like icebeg lettuce for me.
In other words, if our pre-historic ancestors didn’t have access to it 100,000 years ago then it’s off our list as well. I’m debating about salt,pepper, olive oil and vinegar (and even chewing gum) but should probably give even these up for the one lousy month. Plus, it’s my understanding that 100,000 years ago fire wasn’t wildly used to cook food yet. So I guess some raw vegetables are in order.
Add some sunshine everyday and for me magnesium and calcium at night only because I think our soil is of such poor quality that the fruits and vegetables grown in it are lacking in these minerals and probably other ones as well.
Then we check in with each other every week and share all the gory details.
By the way, someone once told me why doctors remove gall bladders. Because they can. If they couldn’t then they would find another way. Don’t hear about doctors removing livers or pancreas’ much do you.
Anyone with me???
Sharon
There is a new pill called: Digestive Advantage: IBS.
Try it out, it certainly can’t hurt anything. I’m on my third day and I have been using the restroom a lot with it, but that’s a sign that it is trying to do something. Even if it doesn’t work for me, it might for you. At walmart, I got it for less than $8. It says you can take two, but only take one. Trust me. I am a bigger but active guy with a severe case of IBS, and one is almost too much. So let me know how it goes. I will pray for you. And Sharon, that sounds like a good plan. If this doesn’t work I may have to try that.
Hi Kimberly – I’m afraid I really don’t know whether it is usual to lose weight after having your gallbladder removed, I would definitely check with your doctor about this symptom.
does anyone have advice for me??? i had my gallbladder removed 6 months ago (2months after my daughter was born) they say i got gallstones from being pregnant well about 2 months after i had it removed i started to get really bad diarrhea somedays i dont have it but other days i get it usually after i eat i dont know how to controll it…. does anybody have any advice on what i could do to help it??
Hi Alesha – did you read my blog post at the top of this page? It’s all about diarrhea after gallbladder surgery and the medications that can be used.
Hi Tim. I think you’re on the right track.
The god of GI problems here in Chicago explained to me about gut bacteria and he actually compared it to a group of people. He said “you know how sometimes a group of people can bring out the very best or sometimes the very worst in eachother”? Well yes I said. He thinks the same thing holds true for the bacteria in our gut.
How the heck anyone is ever going to figure out the amount of each bacteria it takes for all to get along is beyond my comprehension. But I’m willing to give Digestive Advantage a shot if it works for you.
Please give it at least a month. If it doesn’t work and you’re desperate try saccromycees boulardi. It’s a type of yeast and has had success with diarrhea according to the articles on it.
I’m more of a bloated, crampy, tired, allergic, pee alot (interstitial cystitis) kind of person. So there’s something besides IBS going on with me. I’m working on it one miracle cure du jour at a time.
Keep us posted. Sharon
Hi Everyone,
For the last 14 years I have had aweful stomach and upper GI problems. Similar to what you have all experienced. I have had 3 stomach surgeries (not for weight loss) but to help fix all of my (issues) , after the 4th surgery (gall bladder) I didn’t feel any better to be honest I felt worse. However, my friend recommended me to take a specific allergie test. Come to find out all the foods that are suppose to be good for you. (I am deathly allergic to) So with IBS, GI and stomach problems, this was added to the list. I am now eatting even healthier then I was before and for the first time in my life I actually haven’t had (stomach problems) If anyone would like to no the name of the test just let me know. I no how depressing and saddening this is so I will help pass on anything info I have to people.
I had my gallbladder removed last week and have already shed close to seven pounds.
I also found that I can eat more things now.
I had chronic cholescystitis. I’ve read that most people have acute.
I feel so much better; I feel I’ve been suffering for years without knowing what the problem was until now.
I think each individual is different because it depends on your over-all health and lifestyle.
In other words, I feel that better candidates for recovery after surgery depends on their lifestyle choices both pre and post.
I have always tried to excercise and eat a low fat high fiber and lean protein diet.
I believe this is helping me to get back on track so fast.
Also, I haven’t experienced really bad diarrhea, but some loose stools.
I hope I’ve given somebody out there some hope about having gallbladder surgery.
By the way, I wasn’t a typical candidate as they found no stones.
Thanks everyone!!
I saw this post a few weeks ago when I was desperately searching for some sort of solution to my digestive problems. I’ve been a morning IBS sufferer for most of my life, but with my gallbladder out last fall, my problems have just been increasing. I wanted to share what I’ve discovered.
There are medications, as the author of the post pointed out, for basically absorbing the bile in the intestines. But there is a natural alternative that has been working like a charm for me so far – calcium. Much of the supplemental calcium we take gets dumped into our intestines instead of helping our bones – where it does a lovely job of absorbing that excess bile salt apparently.
This post I stumbled on explains it very well: http://www.ibstales.com/happy_tales_one.htm
If you’re like me, and don’t want to be on a drug for an undetermined period of time, give it a try. On a side, note, I do still have morning stress IBS – but at least I can go out to a restaurant again!
Hi Alicia. May I know the name of the test you took? I know that I’m partly allergic to milk (my throat swells up and if I eat too much of it my stomach hurts), but I really don’t know what else causes this problem. Anything carbonated will hurt me, and even gum (because it causes air bubbles in your digestive tract). But even water will cause my stomach to hurt. I also have inflammation of the eyes, and acid reflux disease.
HI my name is Lisa. I am twenty and had my gallbladder removed at sixteen. I had many gallstones but am upset because I was never told that they could be removed and not my entire gallbladder! I realize that they removed it because I had so many stones but the after effects were wrose than the ones before! I am suffering from etreme IBS because of the removal of my gallbladder. It makes me absolutely miserable every day. I was told by many doctors that there is nothing I can do to ease the pain and embarrassment of this problem. I was wondering if it was possible to get a gallbladder transplant. I know this sounds rediculous and dumb but honestly I feel like that’s the only thing that could possibly help me. I’m desperate!
Hi Lisa – have you tried Questran, Welchol or Colestid?
Hi , I have been suffering with loose stools and diarhea for at least 6 months now.Also breathlessness , and an ever constant understated pain just under the right hand side of my my rib-cage. I have been to my doctors for the past couple of months and had quite a thourough set of bloob and sample tests. All test results have been fine. I have also had chest and back X-rays as I have had a sever bout of coughing on a small number of occasions ,
also , I often have SEVERE back pain , lower right of my back . This pain can only be described as agonising ,.. it completely freezes me on the spot and seems to drain me of every last bit of energy in my body . The pain often comes a day or so after physical exercise , but also if I am sat or stood in one position for a while . The latest is ,… I am due in for a flexible sigmoidoscopy , which I dont mind as although propobably not comfortable , I am keen to get to the root cause of this . Are these syptoms similar to anyone elses? , is there a simple diet change of anything else that can help ?
I had my gallbladder removed and the nightmares began. I was going to the bathroom 8 to 12 times a day and pretty much diarrhea most of the time. And when I had to go, I had to go now. It messed up my life in a huge way.
I’ve tried all kinds of things, calcium, vitamin D, iron, pepto, fiber pills, metamucil, immodium anything that I’ve read thats supposed to work. At this point my insides were totaly messed up.
I then got on cholestyramine and that helped with the urgency but not as much with the frequency. I was going about 6 times a day (rather than 8 to 12) being on the cholestyramine and I had a little more time to get to the bathroom.
I came across a website where this guy recommends cholestyramine (which I still take) and also offers an ebook for diarrhea relief. I wound up buying it, (I was willing to try anything at this point) the information wasn’t rocket science but there were 2 things in there that helped me tremendously. Glad to say I have 1 or 2 bowel movements a day when I thought I’d never feel normal again.
Robert, what were the two things in the e-book that helped you?
I am so glad I decided to do some research this morning. Thank you for this blog and for all the replies. I have had IBS for over 30 years, and been completely disabled from it for about 9 years. However, I had my gallbladder out in early November and my IBS has changed from alternating to mostly diarrhea in the last month, and dumb me never connected it to the loss of my gallbladder. I have been miserable and now have some hope. Will call my doctor on Monday to ask about the drugs you have mentioned here. Had I not found this site, I would have gone on attributing this new phase strictly to IBS, so thank you all.
I had my gallbladder removed due to multiple stones that was 7 mos. ago, since then i have experienced muscle spasm, i had my cervical thoracic xray and found out that i really do have muscle spasm, i also experience pain on both sides of my lower rib cage. My pain was more on muscle pain and nerve pain after my gallbladder operation, i’ve been with 2 neurologist and found nothing wrong, my calcium, potassium are ok, even the thyroid function test was ok, all my blood test results were ok, fbs, sgpt, creatinine etc. are ok, right now i have pain above my navel area that seems to be a little bit inflammed, my family med said that i have a noisy stomach and was a given a medication, what seems to be my problem, pls. help.God bless .mariel
Mariel, do you have constipation or diarrhea? If there are no gastrointestinal symptoms then it’s unlikely to be IBS.
hi i had my gallbladder removed nearly 2 years ago but the past few months i have felt pretty bad after i eat nearly everyday i feel bloated and like i am going to pop sometimes the feeling is in my chest and that’s scary but i know it’s just bloating and now last week halfway through a meal i can feel the food going down and so i stop eating , i have been to my gp and he as said i have ibs and gave me tablets but they don’t seam to be helping at all but he as arranged another scan , does any1 have any idea what could be wrong and how i could help myself not feel so bad and tired when i feel bloated it don’t really hurt just mostly uncomfortably but it’s getting me down
I had my gallbladder removed 13 years ago. I was 8 years old it was due to a giardia parasite. It ate at my organs/ovaries and such. My large intestine was covered in scare tissue. It cause my gallbladder to fail. It was removed and every day there after I have had what was called IBS. Mainly the issue I had was foods I had eaten from the previous meal would pass through my bowls when I would get ready to eat my next meal. a bite or two I was in the restroom having bowl movement. Example: I ate breakfast used the restroom from dinner, ate lunch would use the restroom from breakfast. Sometimes its normal, depending on my stress levels determines if there is diarrhea or not. Sometimes it can be very painful (as though someone is holding my organs and twisting them in to binds). If I have to go I have to go. After I had my daughter the pain could be described such as that. Very similar to labor pains, I have to heavy breath and calm myself if there is not a bathroom in site. I have only had 2 accidents that I used the restroom on myself. Going through school with this was hard even at jobs it is difficult I used to have to get notes for my teachers to let me have that extended time to use the restroom when needed. Every where I am sure to know where the nearest restroom is. Also there are many Diet medications I cannot take it causes stomach crampling, I ended up in the hospital once due to taking diet supplements. Another issue I had was when ever I drink, I cant drink much or im drunk. All I can say is I know I am not the only one out there but I have to say I sure do feel alone when Im the only one running to the restroom in the middle of my meals.
message for Tony. jan 8th, just wondered what the medication (2 things) were that helped u, as i too suffer severly from ibs-d, and would love to be free ,or a lot better than i am now
i think people don’t live perfectly fine after their gallbladder is removed doctors don’t tell you i had mine removed in 1998 i have not had normal digestion since you really need all you body parts that God gave you for everything to work right
Hi, I had my gall bladder removed about 3 years ago. I’ve had strange problems for the past two years with having diarrhea shortly after eating fatty foods, sweet foods, spicy foods and pretty much any thing with caffiene in it. I tired for a whole year to become a vegetarian and it worked wonders for me. But then I missed my chicken. After another year of testing out foods. I found my trigger foods and began to avoid. I can eat Chicken, Turkey, Pork and Tofu. No Beef though I think the fat is pretty high in it and it totally messes me up.
But yes I was told by my doctor that I had mild colitis. But I don’t think that was the case. But he refused to listen to me and just gave me meds with out even recommending a change in my diet. Which is where I’m at today. Thanks for posting this article! I hope you don’t mind me following you now!
Wow, it seems there is a lot of grief out there over this, but also a lot of hope… I had my gallbladder out a few years ago after a few years of mis-diagnosing that resulted in ridiculous weight-loss & a lot of pain. Yes I suffer from IBS now (never did before!) but have managed to put on some kgs and control it to some extent. For me, caffiene & related drinks are the biggest trigger (coffee, tea, decaf, peppermint tea) as is eating too soon after waking, and too much dairy/wine/fat/sugar. Interestingly pectin is also a trigger (cucumber & apples). I have found Metamucil (1 tsp a day in water), probiotic supplements, echinacea and Vitamin C to be helpful if not taken in the morning. Vit D & B-group deficiencies are also implicated with IBS & depression (might help some of you feeling down with all of this?). Also try gentle yoga/stretching. Oh, and post-operative shingles tends to recur whenever I’m run-down – pain along nerve-paths with or without actual lesions, most commonlyfor me along right side (front &/or back) of torso and under lungs – might account for some of the pains a few of you have mentioned in those regions? Good luck everyone – remember to above all enjoy those little moments of joy, the grass growing, sunshine, love and laughter…
I don’t have a comment but a question. I recently had my gallbladder removed, 2 days later I was back in the hospital with severe stabbing pains in my right side. They feel I had nerve damage during surgery. When in the hospital, I was given morphine which did nothing to stop the pain! Does anyone know why that is?
Hi Kim I had the same thing, turned out to be shingles (see my last post) which was EXTREMELY painful. I was given all sorts of diagnoses including nerve damage until the correct one – turns out its quite common due to post-operative stress on the body & immune system. But of course, that was my case – yours may not be the same…
Hi Sophie
May I ask what does IBS stand for?
I had gall stones and hernia in December 2009 removed. 2 months ago I started getting pains obeve my right heel, I cannot put my foot down in the morning and cannot sleep facing up because my heel gets very sore.
A week ago I started getting chest pains, pains in the right hand side below the breast and right shoulder blabe pain. today I have started coughing and I feel my ol;d symptoms are coming back except the vomiting. please help
Pinky
By the way I have constant constipation no matter how healthy I eat. I drink 2 litres of water per day withouth fail. I am having an appointment with the Sergeon next week
Pinky
wow interesting stories! and so many similarities to mine. I am 24 and have been sick for 5years now! had my gallbladder out at 20 after 2years of investigation and thought all my probs would be solve, i coped with the loose bowel movements and horrendous cramps for 1year after gall bladder removal and decided to go back to the doctor. after 4years of investigation i still don’t have an answer but they are swinging towards pain prodominant IBS, i get these horrible cramps – which i have named attacks – that occur and i cannot stand, walk or sit normally as it is too painful – exhaling makes it even worse so i end up having anxiety attacks. feeling like this is doing my head in and have lost my “life” over it! i get irritable all the time as am always sleep deprived and very frustrated at lack of diagnosis. i have a lot of vomitting also does anyone know if that has anything to do with IBS?
plus get major chest pains also – that becomes scary at 24 but have been told it could be anxiety but i am thinking it is the pressure that is on my abdomen
Jessie, very similar story to mine. I am also 24. I had my gallbladder taken out two years ago after suffering attacks for four or five years (the last year was especially bad) and have had serious problems ever since the surgery.
Almost every day now, I have problems either right after I eat, or if I wait too long before eating breakfast. Seems like I can’t win either way.
I get bad abdominal cramping and sharp pains, nausea and sometimes vomiting, and extreme bowel urgency and loose stools. When it happens, it is sudden and it is unignorable.
I have been to my doctor twice since the surgery and they diagnosed me with duodenal ulcers the first time and then basically shrugged and wrote me off the second time.
I also experience a lot of anxiety over it, especially when travelling. It is a four hour drive from my small town to the city and there are not a lot of bathroom break opportunities.
Hi Kalli, thanks so much so good to know i am not the only one – not that it makes you ‘Feel’ any better.
I am the same docs have pretty much written me off, i am going for a capsule endoscopy in couple of weeks and if that is clear then they have decided to stop investigating and are ‘guessing’ it is pain prodominant IBS as they said i can’t have IBS if i have vomiting.
I have been to doc so many times to get anti nausea injections as pill form doesn’t work cause i can’t keep it down!
Starting to worry about my teeth now too as when i vomit it is bile, or a white foam substance. Everytime i go to the doc they say oh you must be pregnant – if i got a dollar for every pregnancy test i have done in last 5 years i swear i would be a millionaire!!
Just doesn’t seem fair for this to happen being so young.
I also have nausea sharp pains vomiting and the bowel urgency and sometimes the oposite – constipation.
Seem to also be worse at night when i lay flat in bed – cause i have a constant ‘bubble’ feeling in between where your rib cage meets and this gets very uncomfortable. Do you have anything that makes you feel better? what are Duodenal ulcers??
Thanks Jessie
PS Kalli mine is daily also however have been known to have times that it lays ‘dorment’…. soooo frustrating as don’t know what to do to feel better!!!!
Duodenal ulcers are the same thing as stomach ulcers (lesions in the tissue of your stomach) except they are found in the duodenum. After my gallbaldder surgery, doctors performed an ERCP on me to see if I had any stones trapped in ducts, and that’s when the discovered the ulcers. I tested negative for the ulcer causing bacteria h pylori, so the doctors said I probably got the ulcers from the stress of my gallbladder surgery.
I had a gastroscopy about a year ago and they told me that my duodenal ulcers had healed so there is “no reason” for me to be feeling this way. They did not seem to be inclined to investigate any further and I did not push the issue.
I also get the constipation, but I don’t vomit so frequently. I feel really nauseous, but I’ve never had a very strong gag reflex. I can also go for days and sometimes up to two weeks without symptoms, but I don’t act any differently during those times, so I don’t know why it comes and goes like that.
I am worst the first few hours after I wake up (this is when the IBS-like symptoms really assert themselves), but also feel uncomfortable when I go to bed.
For me, it feels like a ball of pressure is jammed right in my middle, in the place where my ribcage meets. It feels sort of like a cross between nausea and acid reflux, but it’s too high to be nausea and too low to be acid reflux, if you know what I mean.
I was given multiple pregnancy tests before I got my gall bladder removed because I was “too young for gallstones” and gallbladder problems were “impossible” for someone my age. The doctors completely discounted the idea for so long until they gave me an ultrasound to shut me up and it turns out I was right about gallstones all along. (My mum also had gallstones and recognized all the symptoms immediately.)
I think the struggle to be heard about my gallstones and other health problems has disillusioned me about the healthcare system, because I haven’t really pursued this issue as strongly and I should be. Every time I go to the doctor, they make me feel like a completely hypochondriac. I start to question myself about my symptoms and usually go home feeling like I wasted everyone’s time.
OMG! i can’t believe this it is like talking to myself! basically everything you describe is me! i know exactly what i mean same thing with me they said i was too young for gall stones after two and half years of going to doc (like twice a month) they finaly got me to have ultrasound also to shut me up (told me i wouldn’t have gallstones) and what do you know i had them. my mother also had them. I also had test to check all ducts and that was all ok (of course) i have now been referred for councilling as they think i am making my symptoms worse by ‘getting worked up’ like i keep trying to tell them i am like this because it has been five blooming years and they can’t find out what is wrong with me. i am finding councilling a waste of time as she is trying to figure out what happened in my life to make me feel the way i am feeling – but wont listen to me IT’S MY HEALTH IT FEELS LIKE IT IS TAKING OVER MY LIFE! I feel the same when i get out of doc i think what a waste of money and time. I get that sick/nausea in mornings too – am not a breakfast person usually but have started trying to stomach food to make me feel better – sometimes works sometimes doesn’t.
I also can go a couple of weeks with no symptoms and also don’t change ANYTHING it is a total mystery.
the way you described that pain where your ribcage meets up it how i have been trying to explain it – can get so bad that i get a very tight chest almost similar to slight heart attack symptoms to the point that i get numbness and pain in my left arm! I know exactly what you mean – strange thing is, is i had a gastroscopy and a hiatus hernia was found – so was told i had gastro reflux, however i did a barium meal and that conflicted with this so now have that diagnosis taken away. I want something that when i feel like this it takes away all the pain but nothing works, have tried anti spasmotics and tramadol – neither worked however if i go to doc and get pethadeine it knocks me out and stops the pain for a few hours.
I am trying to get docs to sort it but they say “they can’t find prob” i just keep thinking that if i was 50years old would you be doing more of ‘those’ tests to check?? i feel like i get brushed off all the time and also am very angry at healthcare systom as to me this is ridiculus…. so there is nothing you can have/do that helps your pain? i have so much time off work and don’t want to start studying as am too scared i will miss out on study if i get sick which unfortunately is inevetable.
Nothing I have tried works so far. I was prescribed anti-spasmodics and some strong antacids, but neither of them are effective.
Sometimes eating something like bread or pasta helps. I find that fruits and vegetables make my IBS-like symptoms worse, so I tend to avoid them. Not very good for my health, but I also can’t spend all day praying for death in the bathroom. lol
Mostly I just wait for it to go away. Sorry I can not be of more help.
me either! have been on Tramadol (quick release) and they did nothing, have been on a few different anti-spasmodics and some stong antacids myself once again to no avail.
lol totally understand i haven’t found my ‘trigger’ foods but haven’t tried going off vegetables or red meat yet… maybe that will be my next trial! grrrrrr soooo frustrating…. thanks Kalli
can you tell me about colestid as i have been on it for nearly two years and hospital and doctors have not checked up on me to do tests to see if i’m ok i believe the test are for triglyceride and cholesterol, i had my gallbladder removed at 20 years old , and all my life i suffered chronic diarrhea and was told it was all phycological to do with my childhood abuse. i did some studying on the net to see what it was. and learned of how many people have this problem from after the surgery. the trouble is the colestid does work but i feel it is affecting my health i feel dizzy sickly achey bones and a terrible itch which is driving me insane is this the medicine that is causing these symptoms, i also find if i cut my self i don,t seem to heal proparly either i have a graze on my leg and it still is here 6 months later.hope you can help with some advice. as i feel i’m always fobbed off at the doctors.
I can relate to alot of the IBS sufferers. I have IBS C& D and also had my gallbladder removed 11 years ago ! I developed all the problems after the removel of the gallbladder, never did anything about it till 2 years ago when I had a colonoscopy and a endoscopy and thats when they ruled it as IBS C & D I had to retire early due to the IBS and I am only 45 I go through bouts of it daily , the mornings are the worst ! I have gained weight from it, lost weight , am tired all the time, in pain all over my torso and lower back, I am sick and tired of being sick and tired ! To top it all off I am also menopausel that started at age 40 !
I have tried everything from good food and excercise to not eating much of anything, nothing truely helps , it seems to have an adverse reaction to everything i eat, one day what I eat is fine, thinking YAA that was ok no pain and what not an try it agin another time and WHAM! it hits its like this for me and food all the time ! I feel as though I am never right but wrong again were food is conserned !
Before I had my gallbladder removed I was throwing up in a bucket and sitting on the toilet at the same time for a week and couldnt even keep water down , lost 10 pounds in that week. I had to be on antie biotics for two weeks due to it was infected and twice the normal size a gallbladder should be and was ready to burst as I was told and I had a 6.4 mm stone blocking the bio duct ! and couldnt have the surgery till the infection was gone cause it was to dangerouse to do After it was removed I suffered for years with digestive disorder, bowel disorder and pain problems ever since . I am sure that all of this is what has caused my suffering now with IBS C & D
I was told I have IBS C & D why am I reading the term for this as IBS A ! does IBS ( A ) mean alturnating between the two, constipation and diarrea ! Cuse either way thats what I suffer from !
I had my gallbladder about nine months ago. I thought I was loosing my mind because 20 minutes after I ate I would have severe cramps and very liquid diarrhea with am oily yellow appearance. I work in the medical industry and no one I asked had any idea. it would happen most often when I ordered out as oppose to cooking at home, even when I are healthy foods like sushi or salad or steamed chinese food. I started eating no processed foods low in fat and calories and just plain healthy and less stress and lost some weight and have not have diarrhea for a month, going from daily diarrhea. Good for thought. No pun intended.
I been suffering for 5 years, in and out of emergency rooms.Every test under the sun , extremely unwell, bed ridden, diarrhea almost every 2 day, cramping, bloating and all of the above.A mother, always healthy then I just got struck down. Some days it feels like theres no light at the end of the tunnel. So reading all your stories , I dont feel alone.Its hard to smile and pretend like normal and no-one understands the pain and unwell body you feel every -day.I look to you all for help and advice. I will check in regularly. Im gald I found this site.HOPE!
Hi all, Im 28 and had my gallbladder out 2 years ago….since the operation it seems I can only hold 1 meal in me at a time. It is SO difficult at work, I have to run out of my kindergarten class to run to the bathroom within 20mins-45 mins of eating a meal. Can you imagine travelling around Egypt on a bus without a toilet in remote desert places where there are no trees to go behind. OMG. nightmare experience! I have massive stomach cramps right after I’ve eaten and feel relieved after using the bathroom….it makes eating a less enjoyable experience thats for sure! And SUPER awkward on dates!
Also another weird side effect I noticed after the gall bladder removal was that I could drink as much alcohol as I liked for about 12 months and woke up feeling fresh as a daisy…this hasn’t happened since I was a teenager!! After about 12 months, my body decided to feel the affects again, and now alcohol causes the same effect as a meal.
sucks bigtime. I am beginning to agree with the philosophy of carbonated drinks…. Thank you for all your posts out there in cyber-space…i feel like Im not alone in this socially awkward experience!
I’m 27, and have suffered from “IBS” since I was 14. I just recently had my galbladder removed (3 weeks ago) and I thought my IBS was bad, but having no galbladder is REALLY bad.
My IBS is anxiety triggered (which it’s hard to find many, of any doctors to understand how that works) so in my personal experience, doctors who have no “real solution” or can’t give me a medical condition for what I have, just call it IBS.
You would think with as many people who suffer from IBS, there would be more medical knowledge on the reasons causing it. I have noticed though, that with no galbladder–that bile produces different types of bowel movements, then with just IBS alone.
It’s definitely a frustrating thing to live with!
Amy F—
Girl, I’ve been there! I’ve always wanted to be a teacher, but the fear of not being able to use the restroom (because someone has to stay with the kids) has prevented me from doing it!
I’ve had many experiences (like yours on the bus) and it’s really hard thing to live with, b/c people really have NO idea what we’re going through!
I can’t go anywhere that doesn’t have a restroom, and going on vacations are nearly impossible.
Hi All! I’m going in to have the gallbladder removed on the 30th. I’ve had IBS-C (constipated) for about 9 years now. I have to say that the thought of looser bowels after the surgery does excite me! Woot! Bring it on! I’m kidding. Nervous as hell. i can’t live with the gallbladder attacks, but I got a feeling I may not be able to live happily without it either. Been reading everyones stories and tips so I can be prepared in the event I have any of these conditions after the surgery. Wish me luck and thank-you so much to all of you that have shared your experiences.
Hi, anyone been pregnant and had IBS? just still not sure if i have IBS but am 4 months preg and have managed to get morning sickness back again (i think it is morning sickness – i have a lot of vomitting with my suspected IBS anyway) please help be very interested to know if this is the baby making me sick or if it is my suspected IBS?? thanks Jessie
Il ive outside of US and in my country they take gallbladders by the millions a day. They would not even think of medicine. Just laser surgery, fast and cheap and there you go: diarrheia all the days of your life. Unbelievable! And what is worse, doctors IGNORE when you mention the (obvious) relationship between the surgery and your (loose) intestines – I have no stress, no problems, nothing, just I have no gallbladder and now I have loose intestines – horrible! You cannot travel, (( used to be a tour guide) you cannot visit anyone, you cannot eat any sweets, you cannot live away from a bathroom.
I had my gallbladder removed when I was 17, and just turned 20 and now I was diagnosed with IBS due to my gallbladder removal. I understand how hard it is to get doctors to realize that you’re not crazy. I just went to the ER because I was having so much pain due to IBS (the pain was comparable to pains from gallbladder attacks), and the ER doctor just told me I was young and was trying to get attention. But I finally got a new regular doctor who listened and who actually found the problem, IBS.
Not sure if anyone checks this site regular, but I have a question – I am 34 years old, and have had constipation predominant IBS for about 6 years. It’s mostly stress related, I lost my last job because of it and my boss at my job now is none too happy with my attendance (but the bathroom is too far away, some days I just can’t make it). I think there should be a ‘checklist’ of the digestive system working properly, and only after doctors eliminate all of the things working right, then they will diagnose what is wrong. MY drs just tell me that I have a spastic colon and give me pills that don’t do a bit of good. I’ve never been happy with the diagnosis of IBS, that’s just a label they place meaning ‘No idea what’s wrong, but it’s bowel-related so we call it IBS’. Flat out quackery. Anyway, I have had a couple of gallbladder attacks in the last month, and the ultrasound confirmed stones. I want to believe that my trouble all this time has been my gallbladder not releasing bile properly, and that having it removed will ‘reboot’ my system and all will be right with the world. Is this completely absurd? Most of the stories I’ve seen here (and elsewhere on the web) removal of the GB can lead to symptoms commonly diagnosed as IBS, but not many stories about people with stress-related IBS having their GB’s out and whethere it fixed the problem or made it worse….
I had my gallbladder removed 11/2 year ago and I have been miserable since then. I had gallstones and my gallbladder was 3 times it’s normal size when they removed it, but I felt so much better with it than without it. Before I could digest my food, now it’s hard to digest, I have bloating, I had diarrhea off and on ( not anymore) and I have the sciatica down my leg. After studying and reading about it, I realized that the problem was not the gallbladder but the bile.
The bile get sluggish and it creates gallstones. So you have to address the bile, keep the bile thin. I take supplements to thin the bile like A-F Betafood from Standard Process, then I take digestive enzymes, HCl betaine and lecithin (that helps break up fats). I still have the cramping in my liver but at least I don’t have diarrhea anymore and not too much bloating. You just have to learn to live with it but I recommend not to take your gallbladder out but to address the bile instead.The bile is the problem.
Thanks. Suzanne.
Not sure if anyone else has had a similar type issue. I had my gallbladder out March 2010. I healed fine on the outside but was infected internally, that was taken care of. But I get palpitations after eating. I intially went to the ER because I thought I was having a heart attack but they ran all the tests and I was fine. I still get them on a regular basis. on occasion racing pulse. Some days I dont want to even eat at all but then I get shaky all over my body. We dont have insurance right now so I cant do anything medically until we are able. Any suggestions on foods etc that might help or anyone else had this problem. Would really appreciate any help
Sophie
I am wondering if anyone has communicated to you if after having their gallbladder removed, if they weren’t given these medications you mentioned, and received the diagnosis of IBS and were treats as having IBS over long periods of time, did any of them develop further problems with say the liver? Or hormonal issues or even autoimmune disorders?
I had my gallbladder removed 7 yrs ago. I mostly had vomiting, and pain, diarrhea was present, but not as bothersome as after the surgery. Over the years I have been very animate in telling doctors, I did not have these problems until they removed my gallbladder. For 4 years no one would give me a diagnosis of anything. Then 3 yrs ago a GI doc decides it’s IBS. I have never been totally convinced of this. However, they treat you for what they diagnose you with. I have found no relief in any treatment they have given.
I too started researching, I had wondered if maybe there was something else going on. I have research liver problems. I have looked at hormonal issues. With hormones I was able to find a number of them that work with you digestive system. There are even some that are suppose to work with the gallbladder, my question, that no one can seem to answer is, if hormones are being produced to work with an organ and that organ is no longer there, what happens to them? What effect does that have on ones digestive system.
I have had some elevated levels on blood work before that may point to kidney function, which in a couple of CT scans there were cysts found on or in the kidney. I have found also information that said you can actually have cysts in the liver as well. Just wondering if you have seen, heard, or may know of anyone who actually ended with with issues like this.
For now I am through with GI doctors. I really don’t know who would be best to see at this point. I have scheduled an appointment though with a internist with hopes of maybe looking into those elevated test levels. These test have come back at least 4 times that I have been able to find in the medical records I have been able to get copies of.
Had my gall bladder out November 10th 2010. It has been an awful recovery. I have had IBS, hiatel hernia and problems with reflux since the age of 12 I am now 32.
I was so limited before the surgery in what I could eat now I am even more limited! I still get bad pain in the upper right quadrant of my stomach and the bad stabbing back pain. I do have good days but it’s been a little over 3 months now and I am still can hardly eat anything and still having so many bad days of pain. The diarhea(bile dumping) has gotten better, Now it only happens like twice a week as suppose to 7 times a day but thats the only thing that has gotten better.
I am struggling with being so depressed and anxious and alone. The surgeon said that I should be better in a couple of weeks and he doesn’t understand why I am still having problems. I am not going back to him again. My Gastro says it can take 3 to 6 months to heal and I need to be patient but some days I feel like I am going to lose it!
I would love to connect with others who are going through the same thing and share helpful things etc. If anyone would like to email me to discuss recovery further please do at jaimehollander@yahoo.com.
Things I can eat:
avacado
yams
white breads, crackers
honey
baked potatoes
talapia
that’s basically it.
taking clonapen at night and percosett once in a while when the pain is excruciating. I work everyday so I can’t take anything while I am at work! It’s so hard!
sending love and healing to you all!
Kim – I can’t remember anyone saying that they had the problems you mention to be honest, although of course I do read lots of stories so sometimes things get a little blurred! Mainly though I hear from lots of people who have had their gallbladder out and then find that their doctors are baffled as to why they have ‘suddenly’ developed diarrhea.
I am glad I have company but am sad to read so many stories. Just want to say that for those who are experiencing pain in the area of the missing gallbladder and possibly around to the back on the right side – sometimes like the old gallbladder symptons- please investigate Sphinter of Oddi issues. I learned about it through Johns Hopkins but information about it is available on the web.
Leuke site!. Er zijn nog weinig goede sites over dit onderwerp te vinden.
Weten jullie hoe dit komt?
Ben blij met jullie toevoeging!
Ik kan helaas geen bookmark aanmaken naar ibstales.com in Firefox.
Groetjes Barbara
Hi,
I have had my gallbladder removed, I have duodenal reflux, gastritis and IBS symptoms. Lately has been a real struggle with diarrhea. Went to my dietition, she suggested trying the FODMAPs diet which helps eleminate fermentable sugars from your diet (sugars that trigger IBS events). Trying to establish how much fat I can tolerate is another issue I am dealing with. By eleminating some of these problem foods has settled things down a bit.
Thought this might help those who are struggling too.
Hey fellow GI sufferers, I will spare you my disgustingly long story…short version though, I did have my gallbladder removed about 10 years ago, was ok for the most part, just more sensitive to stuff with occasional diarrhea… the past year has been a nightmare! Lots of diarrhea, my new gi doc and I think I had a bacteria or parasite that just ripped up my insides. Whether thats the case or not I do not know, and we’re still in the process of trying to solve the problem. However, all that being said I have started taking VSL#3 a high dose probiotic (its very expensive though). And Librax for spasms and anxiety…the librax does seem to be helping with the anxiety and calming my gut a bit, and helping me sleep. So, even though I am not great, I hope these things are useful for others as well.
vakantiehuis – um, pardon me?! Don’t speak that particular language I’m afraid! It sounds like you can’t bookmark IBS Tales in Firefox though, and I tried it and it worked fine, so can’t help with that, sorry.
Be aware, you might get a vitamin deficiency from cholestyramin or Welchol. It helped somewhat with my misery with yellow loose burning stools.
But Welchol gave me a vitamin deficiency so bad my gums were bleeding. The gums stopped bleeding after I stopped taking it.
Then I discovered taking psyilium fiber in water twice a day did the same thing without vitamin deficiencies resulting. The next relief was finding that I could take psyilium capsules instead of forcing down the thick psyilium in water.
The happy final solution was finding out that a dairy free diet fixed it all. No drugs. I’m almost constipated. It is a relief to have solid stools.
Thank God for my accidental discovery.
Try a dairy free diet. It might work for you too!
I’m sorry if you’ve covered this already–I couldn’t find anything that repeated my experiences.
I’ve had IBS since I was 25 (now 54). I also had horrible periods which were heavy & carried IBS abdominal cramping & diarrhea as well. Things got worse as I got older. I had 2 pregnancies when I was IBS-symptom free.
I began treatment for depression around 15 yrs. ago. I’ve had all the regular IBS meds & continue taking hyoscyamine, librax & imodium as necessary.
I had a hysterectomy in 2005 & for the first time in 18 yrs was IBS-symptom free. That lasted until about 18 mos. ago when I started getting what I thought was IBS again. A terrible disappointment. I also had lapband surgery in 2007 & was okay for awhile.
Then 8 mos. ago I began having a new kind of pain in my back in the lower right-side. Also dark urine & yellow eyes & skin. After several MRIs & blood work I had my gallbladder removed; when they went in (laproscopic surgery) they saw the lapband was infected so they removed it, too.
I felt kind of okay for 2-3 months (other than having had major abdominal surgery, etc.), but in Nov. I started having really hideous IBS AGAIN, disgusting, more frequent & more random than w/former IBS episodes.
I’m back to planning EVERYTHING about my life around my bowels again. I’m so depressed & hopeless. I disappoint my daughter on a daily basis as I have to change plans on an hourly basis. I only teach 2 classes/week & have had to cancel classes occasionally.
Can you help me? I’ll do whatever I have to in order to get my life back. My daughter deserves this; my husband & son deserve this; my students deserve this; & I deserve this.
Sorry to go on so long. I’m crying as I write this. Thanks.
Hi Becky – I’m really sorry to hear about everything you’ve been through. IBS alone is so tough and you’ve had to deal with so many other things as well.
I hope you will understand that I can’t offer medical advice – I am just an IBS sufferer, and I’m not qualified to advise people on an individual basis, especially when there are medical problems involved other than IBS itself.
From a purely general IBS point of view, I can say that there are lots of reviews of IBS treatments on this section of IBS Tales: http://www.ibstales.com/treatment-reviews.htm and there might be something there that could help you. Of course I would always check with your doctor about any new supplements etc to see whether they are suitable for you.
I really hope that your quality of life improves soon and things get easier for you. Best of luck.
I had my GallBladder removed 2 years ago and ever since then i have had trouble (diarreah, cramps, shooting pains and heartburn). Iv taken imodium, changed my diet and even had a Colonoscopy to see if there was something wrong. The surgeon wasnt the most pleasant man and thought i was too young to be having such procedure so seemed to just fob me off. I am convinced i have IBS and it is so embarrassing! i have to make sure there is toilets near me when i eat or if i am going a walk i need to know where the nearest one is! i am 21 years old so you can imagine that this is taking over my life!
I think i will try Questran and if that fails Colpermin Tablets. If these dont work then looks like i will just have to suffer some more!
Hi guys. I had my billboard taken out a week ago and so far so good, I seem to be the opposite of everyone. I have had IBS for to many years to count. It would be weeks before my bowels would open. The pain was unreal! Since having the surgery im going everyday comfortably and its heavenly! I really hope it continues but a little scared from what youre all saying. Fingers crossed for you all that you find what works for you! xxxx
Hi,like many of you I suffer from ibs after gallbladder removal.I had a cyst in the gallbladder.In hindsight it should of been drained rather than the removal.Not one doctor has admitted to the ibs being related to the surgery.I believe they are not living up to their hypocratic oath to heal,rather it seems like an old boy’s club cover up.
There has been no referral or solution.Just oh it must be ibs”Yes we find that very difficult to treat”
The most help I’ve gotten is through a naturopath.A detox followed by probiotic’s and of course the resticted diet.Mostly white,but this can change depending how good I feel.Raw vegy’s and red meat and of course fat are no no’s.
Besides the physical pain and the love-hate relationship I have with my toilet it’s the extreme anxiety I have when the bowels are at their worst.It’s a feeling of fear that rises up from my bowels that sends me to my bed curled up in a fetal position.I’ve come to know this is another cue that I need to poop.All the normal feeling’s for a bowel movement are replaced by pain or this extreme fear/anxiety feeling.
After reading all the other stories I’m guessing that until the med.profession take this seriously there will be no answers,just a quest for relief from us poor suckers who had blind faith that the right thing was surgery.My best to all of you.May the gods of intestinal relief help us all.Keep up the quest and share info. because that’s all we have.
Although, I feel most of your pain… I still have my GB, but am having symptoms related to GB disease.. I too suffer from IBS, neither C or D, just IBS… I’ve tried OTC supplements, and although I feel they help somewhat, I’m still strapped to the general location of the nearest bathroom… there are days that I have felt rather good, on those days I’ve taken Psyllium husk capsules 1.6 grams twice a day with meals, I think that the Psyllium husk has had the most benefit in my situation… I also take Omeprazole 20mg one per day, I haven’t taken it for too long, but I did feel a bit better after starting it… I also started a probiotic, which I did not see much difference, then again it’s difficult to come to a concrete conclusion as my GB started acting up prior to starting the probiotic… I also started taking a digestive enzyme, I also could have sworn that it made me feel better, but again can’t come to a firm conclusion as it was around the time that my GB started acting up…
I would say if you haven’t already, you should give a fiber supplement a try, something that will help bulk your stools, I find that if I take Psyllium Husk regularly I only have to go to the bathroom 3-5 times per day, rather than my excessive number of times… in regards to my diet I also find that if I eat Oatmeal in the mornings for breakfast it too helps with my bowel movements the next couple of days, in my oatmeal, I include 1 tbs of grounded flax, and 1 tbs of grounded almonds… I’ve noticed that the next couple of days I only have to visit the cra**er twice in the am and once or twice in the pm…
something that I did not see on this forum, are the foods that are consumed regularly.. for me I would say it’s a low fat diet, most of my foods are either FF or LOW or Reduced in fat, I guess if I end up getting my GB removed, then I will have to start from scratch and see what foods my guts don’t agree with
… I will probably add lecithin to my supplement regiment…
On a side not, I have had IBS all my life, since I can remember in grade school, my principle thought I was just trying to get out of school, they didn’t believe me, NO ONE!!! not till adult hood a did my doctor “KP” believed and diagnosed me…
If someone who isn’t taking psyllium husk (fiber) would like to try an experiment and begin taking fiber and share their results with us, I think would be a good start into figuring out a strategic approach to this debilitating issue…
Hi,
THANK YOU!!! For the first time I feel validated! I too was fine up until I had my gallbladder removed. I developed gallstones with my first pregnancy and had it removed about 2 months after the birth of my son. From this time…my diet has been a nightmare! I have to watch what I eat for fear of running to the bathroom in pain from gut aches and bouts of diarrhea. Initially my surgery physician said the diarrhea would subside…well that was in October of 1993—–guess what, never happened. When I travel, I don’t eat until we arrive to our destination and I know we are done for the day, when I work, I wait until dinner to eat (I’m a teacher and can’t just excuse myself from my class of 26 kiddos)…I even have to be careful drinking water as sometimes(I don’t know why) can give me serious cramping. My family thinks it’s sometimes all in my head…I’ve had doctors tell me try metamucil or different fiber products…don’t work…I even had 1 doctor that prescribed an antidepressant….I am not crazy and I did not fill that…..!!!! I also think I am so out of shape because I am unable to maintain a normal diet, therefore I am absolutely starving when I get home and snack and then eat dinner…I make very unhealthy choices. Thanks to all of you who have shared. I am going to bring this up to my doctor on my next visit!!! God Bless!
Hello.
My husband started having problems about 5 years ago. His primary care provider originally in 2008 suggested that his symptoms sounded a lot like colon cancer and refered him to a general surgeon for a colonoscopy and esophagogastrodueodenoscopy which showed to be only gastritis and swollen esophagus. He was put on omeprazole which did not help. In 2009 his surgeon decided after a hidascan that his GB needed to come out since then his problems have only gotten worse. He has had upper and lower scopes done and a small bowel follow through. He has seen a different PCP and a GI specialist. He is to the point now nothing stays down. He has severe diarrhea a lot of the time with blood in it and vomits frequently after eating which commonly has blood in it as well. He has tried pro biotics, cholestiramine, zofran, librix, fiber suppliments and diet changes nothing has seemed to help. All the doctors have wrote us off and when we call if he is having problems the will say well check with his GI doctor who will say check with his surgeon who will say check with his PCP who is the one that told us to check with his GI doc. Anything will help and I am so sorry you all suffer so much I hope we can get to the bottom of this and get you all some relief.
Sincerely Denyse
I had my gallbladder removed in 2001 and promptly started my …er… tummy troubles. I brought it up to my doctor and was told he had never heard of that and it definitely wasn’t related. It wasn’t until I learned of so many other people who had the same near sudden onset after having their gallbladders removed that I realized that my doctor hadn’t a clue what he was talking about.
I too began having severe symptoms about 1 month after gallbladder removal. It has been 1 1/2 years now and I am on some medicine for my stomach, but it is only through research and virtually living at the health food store that I have regained some of my life back! I take aloe vera juice, enzymes, major 80 billion probiotics, fennel, ginger etc. Before I added all of these, I wasn’t able to leave the house and the doctor thinks I’m crazy when I tell him this occurred after gallbladder removal!!
I’ ve had my gallbladder removed about 5 years ago and thought hey this will make me feel better. It did not. For about a 2 year period post-surgery, I had dealt with pain in my upper mid-abdominal area. I was told that I had IBS and ovarian cysts. Luckily, I had a GI physician as an associate and he found that I had Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction and performed a sphincterotomy. He then put me on several different meds, which I later took myself off of them (i know, stupid.) and pretty much played russian roulette with this GI problem. A few days ago, I developed severe stomach pain and went to an urgent care center doctor and he gave me levsin. It only takes a little bit of an edge off my pain. I’m sitting here in the early morning in severe pain, thinking what should I do???? I just took 2 tabs levsin under my tongue. I don’t want to run up a humongous bill in the ER and get nothing done…HELP!
Hi Jo Anna – I’m sorry to hear about everything you’ve been through. I really think though that it sounds like you need some proper medical advice that can consider all of your medical history and comes from qualified doctors. I really hope things improve soon for you!
Hi,
I had my gallbladder taken out in March of 2007. Prior to that, whenever I ate a meal rich in fat, I would double over in pain. That happened gradually in my life until surgery. Before surgery, if I were to stand for long periods of time after eating, I would start to have pain in the gallbladder area. Diagnostic testing was performed, and it was determined that I had an ejection fraction of only 12 percent. The gallbladder was removed, and for a little while, if I were to eat a fatty meal, I would run to the bathroom about 20 minutes later with loose stools. I solved this by greatly reducing the amount of fat in my meals, and I also started taking Caltrate 600+D. It worked until around Christmas of 2009, I had a really, really awful bout of stomach flu that lasted about 10 days. I lost about 20 pounds in 14 days, and when I finally got out from being under the weather, I found that I need to do additional stuff to reduce or eliminate the loose stools: Fibercon. So, I’ve been taking the Caltrate and the Fibercon, and I get nice, daily, normal stools. I still avoided the fatty meals. Somewhere along the way, I discovered that this wasn’t always enough, so I started eating high-fiber granola bars. The FiberOne bars were too much for my bowels, so I switched to Snackwells bars, and the combination of Caltrate, Fibercon, and the Snackwells is 99 percent effective for me! I noticed that if I forgot to eat the granola bar for two days in a row, the loose stools returned, despite the Caltrate and Fibercon being taken. Not sure if this would help, but give it a try! If the “holy trinity” of Caltrate, Fibercon, and Snackwells is no longer enough, I would have to adjust, but for now, I am knocking on wood that this would be it for a while.
i just had my gallbladder removed dec.6th 2011. my dr said the infection was pure white and the gall was 3times the size of normal. i have diabetes also. she (dr.) had to cut on my liver. i would like to know how serious this is for my body and how long it will take for healing? i am know concerened about the diahreh problem which my dr. never mentioned. please respond as now i am confused and anxious. hope you can give me some answers. i don’t want to sound like a baby, but please help. thank you for your time. i don’t feel like i can even grive or relax and i DO NOT have any help or support.
Hi Linda – what did your doctors say when you asked them about this? I’m just an IBS sufferer I’m afraid, I can’t advise on medical issues.
I had my gallbladder removed about 8 years ago. I never experienced my constant and annoying diarreah until I came off the Methadone medicine I was on, during that entire time. I have been off of the Methadone for 1 year now, and have had constant (daily) diarreah. Ive complained about it to my doctors here constantly, and they said it was my body adjusting to the absent of the medication. Its actually getting worse instead of better. Do you have any suggestions, links, anything that I can bring to the attention of my doctors that might help me? I do symphatize with the misdiagnosis of MD’s, as I seem to be misdiagnosed everytime I go. I just want this to STOP..It has truly interferred with my life, and I am in constant pain daily. Any Help on this matter would be so greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Hi Allikat – from what you say it sounds like it wasn’t the gallbladder removal that was the trigger for your problem, but the methadone, and I’m afraid that I don’t know anything about methadone withdrawal. I hope things get better for you very soon though.
I have had IBS for the past 26 yrs, with all the symptoms, last year I had my gallbladder removed and really wish I hadnt. I know have bile reflux [bile backing up into the stomach from small intestine] acid reflux, I suffer from terrible nausea pain and all the ibs problems. All my GP says is I will have to live with, I have seen two gastro specialists but both said the same thing all IBS when I explained I didnt have the upper gut problems before my gallbladder op they look at me as if I come from another planet.I did read in the paper about a new treatment called the smart pill to digagnose ibs but treatment is only private at the moment not on nhs.Its like heaven finding this site, my heart goes out to everyone with IBS.
I had my gallbladder out in 1975, and it has been a horrible situation since. As a few of the others have said, I could be in the bathroom anywhere from 8 to 16 x a day. My only salvation has been Questran, and I take an Imodium (I use the CVS brand gel pill, works quicker) along with the Questran … or I could not leave the house. I still have issues, I gave bathroom mapping as they call it so I know exactly where it is, if needed; because if needed, its immediate. If I am going out to supper, I know I have to start sipping my Questran for hours before, just to prepare OR I am in the bathroom before the meal is finished. I lose no weight over it. I eat small meals, try to eat fiber, limit my caffeine and fats as well. But try to go on a diet by eating salads or fresh veggies to munch on or God forbid an ONION and I am done for the day. Would not wish this off on my worst enemy, but considering what others go through… ie: cancer …. I think I can handle this running to the bathroom 6 or 7 times a day for a few more years..
hi i had my gall bladder out in may 2011 shortly after i was going to the bathroom 8 to ten times within a hr of eating the pain i felt was like someone was kicking me in my stomach i coundnt eat and go to work i ended up googling thanks to google and diagonzied my self with i.b.s and seen what mediciation would work well now i am on Questran, and ia m so happy to have my life back i lost 3 sizes when i was sick nobody understands i am so happy i found this site my heart goes out to everyone of u i wish u all the best
About 3.5 years ago, I had my gallbladder removed. I suffered from terribly explosive, painful diarrhea from about 2 – 3 months post op. I went to the doctor, and IBS was diagnosed, but the medication made my stool even less solid, like water. The problems persisted, until we made a rush to the E.R. thinking I was having a heart attack. The symptoms were diagnosed as anxiety related. The E.R. doctor asked me if I had been having severe diarrhea, and when I asked why, he mentioned my magnesium level was low. He prescribed magnesium and told me to stay away from caffeine and ciggarettes (I was a pack-a-day smoker), so I tried, with no luck, until about a month later when I found out I was pregnant. I started prenatals, quit drinking caffeine, stopped smoking and suddenly my bowels were back to normal and very healthy. My child is 6 months now, and I just recently started drinking a little coffee in the mornings again, and every now and then a soda, and I’ve been lazy about taking my vitamins, and my bowels are gradually getting looser and more frequent. Also, If I go for an extended amount of time, like, all day until dinner without eating, I have very loose, urgent bowel movements right afterward and sometimes I don’t even get done eating before having to go. My question is this: what does Magnesium have to do with it? Could this be just some type of deficiency from the diarrhea? My problems didn’t start back until I started missing my vitamins and drinking 1 cup of coffee in the mornings and every few days one soda. And why, if waiting too long between meals, does the diarrhea return? Does that mean there is an excess amount of bile because it is pumping all the time? In that case, would grazing (eating several small meals) all day help the issue also by keeping the bile busy and not building up? Also, the pain associated with my bowel movements is nothing like it once was. Now, I can tell if I’m going to have a loose stool by hearing my stomach churning before hand, so I have a heads up before having to find a restroom. Also, this may seem gross, but my movements are never “formed”, even when they seem healthy, they never look normal. They are more squared than round. I have a 4 year old that doesn’t like to wipe, so I see what normal looks like every day. Is it just because they are looser due to the bile?
I dont know if I have a gallbladder problem but for years I have been going to the dr because of pain just under my rib on the right and pain in the middle of my chest. Also a bloated belly .i asked for a xray cos I thought it could be my rib bone but there was noothin there. But now for the past 6 weeks I have had pain in my shoulder on my right .i have suffered with heartburn and intergestion for years.do u think I could have a gallbladder problem .i also have either very very loose stools or I am constipated. Thank you for reading.and I hope u all well soon x
I found out I had helicobacter and not gallbladder problems unless I find out after my meds for helicobacter. The sighns are just the same so I would say if your not and its not your gallbladder ask to be tested for helicobacter.