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gallbladder out!

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Posted 10/6/2005 7:13 PM (GMT -6)
Hello,

I haven't posted in quite some time. I thought if maybe I stopped obbessing about it that would help.  wrong.   I finally did all the tests and to make a long story short I had my gallbladder out 8 days ago.  My GI doc said it may help w/ my C because people tend to have more bm's after the surgery.  I guess alot of people get D after.  I had to take mag citrate to get my bowels moving after day 3.  Then had about 2 days of D.  Now the past few days have been fair.  I have bm's but never really complete.  I'm still having the bloating which drives me crazy.  I'm not sure if it's from my bowels or from the surgery itself.  It almost still feels a bit swollen and I guess they put carbon dioxide in your abdomen during surgery which may take some time to go away confused .  I was wondering if anyone else experienced this?  Should I give it some more time since it's only been a week?  I'm hoping its not the IBS.  I was really hoping this surgery would fix things.  Anyone know about the carbon dioxide gas???  I have my post op appt with the surgeon on Monday. 

I need to catch up with the posts!

Posted 10/6/2005 7:31 PM (GMT -6)
Hi runningrd, welcome back!
I still have my GB so I can't help you, but I'm sure someone will be along shorty.
I hope you start feeling better soon.
**HUGS**
Posted 10/6/2005 9:03 PM (GMT -6)

Hey Run!
This is totally normal.  I had my gallbladder out about two months ago and even I - the diarrhea QUEEN - was constipated for almost two days.  The drugs totally messed me up!  I even had to have a freakin' catheter placed for two days because the drugs messed with my bladder as well.  I felt out of sorts for about a week, then started improving.  My abdomen was sore like I'd done too many sit-ups and I felt gassy and icky for a while.  I felt like they had inflated a balloon in there! 

I think you will very shortly begin to feel better.  I hope so - I know exactly the miserable state you're in, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone!  Before my surgery, I had biliary colic and was vomiting with intense pain every few days, and that was awful - now I have none of it, so I definitely consider the surgery a success.  I really hope you start feeling better soon.  Keep us updated and let us know if you have more questions!

Posted 10/6/2005 9:47 PM (GMT -6)
I agree. My DH had his gall bladder out 6 years ago and was constipated because of the meds after surgery. He doesn't have any D issues now but did have them for about 6 months after the surgery. He now gets more of the urgency D if anything now but he doesn't have two many problems. I have never heard of the surgery though to treat constipation... that sounds a little extreme to me but I guess your doc had his reasons. I would say give it some time, your body is still healing. Surgery always takes its toll. Take care and get plenty of rest :)
Posted 10/7/2005 6:51 AM (GMT -6)

Thanks for all your responses :-)

They didn't take out my gallbladder to treat constipation.  They found stones in the ultrasound.  The symptoms I was having from that were the nausea and pain in that area.  My Doc thought it may just be an added bonus to the surgery that it may help with my constipation issues.

I guess I will get more answers on Monday when I see the surgeon for follow up.  I actually feel a little better today.

Thanks again!  It always helps to know what others have experienced.  However we are all individual and will have different responses to treatments I guess. 

Take care all.

Posted 10/7/2005 6:56 AM (GMT -6)
Hi run,
Oops, I feel awful I misunderstood that. Yes, if you had stones it is better to definitely have taken them out. :)

I'm glad you are feeling better... please keep us posted on your follow up

Take CAre
Posted 10/7/2005 7:11 AM (GMT -6)
HEY! I HAD MY GALLBLADDER OUT 7 YEARS AGO. I WAS CONSTIPATED AND COULD HARDLY GO EITHER. I ALSO HAD SO MUCH GAS IN MY STOMACH BECAUSE OF ALL THE AIR THEY INFLATE IN YOU. THAT'S WHAT CAUSES ALL THE PAIN. IT'S NOT ACTUALLY FROM THE REMOVAL OF THE GALLBLADDER. I HAD PROBLEMS WITH DIARRHEA BAD AFTERWARDS. NO MATTER WHAT I ATE, I COULD BARELY MAKE IT TO THE BATHROOM. I HAVE FRIENDS THAT ARE THAT WAY NOW. THEY HAVE TO MAKE SURE THERE'S A BATHROOM CLOSE BY WHEREVER THEY EAT AT. GOOD LUCK! THE PAIN DOES GO AWAY. I WENT BACK TO WORK AFTER about TWO DAYS. IT WAS DIFFICULT BUT IT PASSES. YOU WILL JUST HAVE TO WATCH WHAT YOU EAT. YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EAT THINGS BEFORE THAT YOU CAN'T EAT NOW. YOU WILL KNOW.

Posted 10/7/2005 9:18 AM (GMT -6)
Wow, I guess I was the only one who didn't end up constipated afterwards. Not that I recall, at any rate. I was out of work a week, came back one day and missed the second day because I was at home with diarrhea again. I had it a lot afterwards (of course I had it a lot beforehand too). I have come to the conclusion that my gall bladder wasn't messed up, my liver is--it produces way too much bile. Of course, there's nothing they can do about the liver (that I know of) and the liver was certainly making the gall bladder hurt horribly, so I'm not sorry it's gone, but I still have the bile problem. I've been doing pretty good lately with a combination of Welchol and calcium supplements.

Here's something I have learned first hand and my mother (a nurse) cofirmed it: low-fat diets cause constipation. The problem with eating more fat to have less constipation for us post-gb people is that we don't digest fats very well and they can lead to gas cramping and, more often than not, diarrhea. So you may need to adjust the fat in your diet to find your balance. After surgery it can take 6-8 weeks (or longer) for your guts to adjust to the levels that they will retain most of the rest of your life. For instance, after my surgery I had to avoid pork and red meat for a month because it made my diarrhea worse. After a month, though, I was able to add it back in. I still go through periods of time, though, where I can tolerate caffeine and other times when I can't. I've finally resigned myself to no more cokes.
Posted 10/12/2005 8:56 AM (GMT -6)
Hi...I am new here, i hang out with the Crohnies but i wanted to tell you that i had my GB out 14 yrs ago and was plagued with D up until 2 months ago when they finally diagnosed me with Crohns.......if it helps you that is great...

Posted 10/12/2005 9:26 AM (GMT -6)

Eyesoffire, thanks for sharing.... You are always welcome here in the IBS forum.

Sorry it took so long for you to get a diagnosis.  There has got to be a way for us to improve our medical system. ???

Take care.  :-)

Posted 10/13/2005 5:09 PM (GMT -6)
Just wanted to let you know that shoulder pain is also associated with this surgery. That will go away if you have it now. Its from the CO2.
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