What life is after gall bladder removal?

I had my gallbladder out 10-24-07. I don't recommend those surgical centers. I had my surgery at 8 am and by 10 am they sent me home. I was in the ER 3 times since then with a pain they can't figure out. I've had an angio gram and my heart is fine. I had an endoscopic procedure because they thought my esophogus was spasming. It came back fine. I've had 2 cat scans. They came back fine. Finally my family doctor said I could be having phantom pain. He said not everyone bounces back after losing an organ. I lost 22 lbs. was afraid to eat because of the pain and full feeling. I also wasn't sleeping more than 3 hrs. a night. My family dr. gave me a drug called Klonopin(in the valium family) I'm eating again and sleeping 8 hrs. If I have any pain I take a half one and a whole one at night to sleep. I'm starting to feel like my old self. You do feel alone when drs. run tests and tell you there's nothing wrong, but you still have pain.

Hello,

I had my gall bladder removed in July 2007, 4 weeks after giving birth to my wonderful daughter.
I was on a diet three months after the lap. surgery (the doctors told me so). I still don't eat a lot of beef, fried food, eggs, but i eat everything. I don't eat spicy because I still breastfeed. I experienced diarrhea after meals first month after surgery, but it is ok now.
I must say I don't have particular problems, but I know I will always watch what and how much I eat.

Hello,
I am a 36yo male who had my gall bladder removed 8 yrs ago. I had severe adomnial pains from a series of passing gall stones. Having it removed relieved me of all of my pain. Life after surgery has been pretty normal. You do need to watch your diet though afterwards. I found if I eat alot of greasy foods it passes right through me and have diareha. So eat a more healthier diet with lots of fiber.

Here here adclose2003!!!! Loved your response on telling people things will not in fact always be fine and dandy after the gb surgery! If it is or was, trust me: be blessed; but for the few who endure these symptoms days, weeks, months and years, we aren't so lucky!! For me it has been 15 years since I had the laser gb surgery and not even a week later my life has not been the same. Going on a gluten free diet doesn't or isn't always the answer, or dairy free or red meat free or low fat or no fat or any of these combinations together. I have done all of these. I have been gluten free for years now and my symptoms still exist, I don't eat fast food, have all but given up dairy, I only drink water, sometimes flavored but you have to be so careful with those as well, no soda or pop, no popcorn, no chocolate, very few vegetables and fruits are tolerable anymore, especially apples. I'm not saying these don't work for some, just not all of us. Sometimes I go weeks living on jello and water when the pain is severe and the weight drops off like crazy. I once lost during a bad episode, and this was documented by my doctor, 13 pounds in one weekend from Friday to Monday. It's true about the sudden weight loss! I don't eat at work on my breaks for fear that I will have to go to the bathroom in a matter of minutes and it has happened numerous times in the past. The pain is very real for some poeple and doesn't go away after time and sometimes gets worse. Sometimes it feels like I am in childbirth labor the pains are so bad but my doc doesn't know what to do for me anymore so I haven't gone back in months. I also endure lethargy, or days I just want to sleep or I'm so tired I cannot function, anemia, vomiting, almost constant dizzy spells, rib pain, kidney pain, back pain, pelvic pain, loss of concentration, slurred speech, headaches, fainting spells, heart palipitations, fevers, blurred or double vision in my left eye, diarrhea all day every day and much more I haven't listed. This has gotten progressively worse in the last 5 years and unfortunately I don't see an end or a good one in sight unless I find the right doctor and they find out why all of this is happening but until that day I take it day to day and hope tomorrow is better than today. Sorry this became so long. If you came out of gb surgery with no long lasting effects: you're blessed!! If you didn't: good luck, and know there are others out there with the same problems and symptoms as you!! Take care!!

I just had my gall bladder out 2 weeks ago. I had no pain at first then a week to the surgery I had the same exact pain I originally had. I have had lots of diarrhea and up until finding this website thought I should just watch my diet more. I have lost 10 lbs in 2 weeks because of nausea, vomitting, and diarrhea. Had they informed me of these side effects, I still would of had the surgery. I just would of been more prepared for the side effects. I am trying to attend college and am very angry right now to find out that the diarrhea may never end. I cannot attend if I have that problem. If your husband's doctor thinks it should be done at least ask every question you can think of regardless of the way it may sound. I asked no questions before mine was taken out and now I really wish I had. I am unable to eat spicy, greasy, fried, too sweet, caffeinated, dairy, or fruit and vegetable foods. I am unsure what to eat right now but I pray it is more then bread and water. I wish you and your husband the best

I had my gall bladder removed about 8 weeks ago and I feel perfectly fine.

I felt terrible for months before the surgery. I had started experiencing dreadful pain in my upper abdomin and tenderness under my right ribcage. I fixed my diet by eliminating most of my fats and it worked wonders as I lost plenty of weight. The disease was predictable. If I ate an overly fatty meal before bed time then I would be up all night with severe pain. Unfortunately the last fatty meal I ate kept me in constant pain for several days and so I had to have emergency surgery.

As I said before, I feel wonderful now. Keep in mind that thousands of people have this surgery and feel fine. That is the reason you never hear from any of us on these forums. It's the ones that have complications that tend to write. This gives the false impression that there will be unpleasant complications following surgery. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Tell your husband not to worry. Freedom is just around the corner.

I totally agree that some people have gallbladder surgery and have a great life afterward. I'm not saying that this isn't possible, but for the rest of us who aren't so lucky, we live with this pain and the complications. Within a week I was back in the surgeons office with the same pain as I had before the surgery. He was clueless!! And I've basically had the same pain ever since. It's been 15 years now so I'm thinking maybe there was something else going on besides the gallbladder. How many people get pancreatitis after an ERCP that your doctor orders for you, and trust me, you do not want that! You would think after a simple test you would come out the same as you went in but so many people endure this not so lovely illness as a side affect. I'm done with doctors. The pain and symptoms are a part of my everyday living and I go from day to day and go by how I feel but I still work full time and take care of my family, but I also endure this c**p as well and somedays I feel wiped out but I still go on because this isn't going to get the better of me. After awhile you can live with the pain or you get so used to it, it becomes a part of you and you deal with it!! But after that being said kudos to all the people who have the surgery and feel great afterwards and have no problems but be well rest assured there are a few of us out there that do not fare so well. It's amazing how many people have this pain but have no answers from their doctors. Oh and don't worry about my hubby, he's outta here!!! I think we post on these forums to prove this pain exists and we want answers as to why and if you need this type of venue then that's what they are here for!! I'm glad you are feeling great!!!! I hope you stay that way and don't have any more problems!! Take care!

I have some information here that may help so many of you. I did a lot of research to find out that there is potential help!

I suffered from gall bladder disease for 14 years before a massive stone formed and was finally found. I was schedualed for surgery right from the ER and I thought "yippe! Life is going to get so much better!" I was so wrong!

Like so many of you I endured food intolerance, bloating, diarrhea within 10-20 minutes of eating anything, and intense depression related to feeling ill all of the time. I am uncertain of my own condition but I now know that chronic diarrhea can lead to potassium deficiency which can be a serious problem that can contribute to so many other heath problems. Dehydration is bad enough but when you don't have the electrolytes you need for your cells to transfer the fluids you do have you can become very ill. Potassium deficiency can cause thyroid and kidney problems too.
You may benefit from a blood test and supplements if you have low potassium.

I was reading on another board about these problems people face and someone recommended the drug Welchol. Knowing nothing about it I looked it up. It's classified as a Bile Acid Sequestrant. The drugs are used to reduce bad cholesterol but can help people who suffer from excess bile salt diarrhea related to gall bladder removal. There are three types of BAS drugs but I've read that Welchol has worked the best for many people and doesn't cause gas like the others. However, if you try it and have problems with gas or constipation you may have to work with your doctor on trying a different dosage or a different kind.

I will be going to my doctor as soon as possible to try welchol first.

If you want to know more about Bile Acid Sequestrants go here...

chemie.de/lexikon/e/Bile_acid_sequestrant

I hope very much that this information can help anyone who reads or posts here. I wish you all good health and happiness!

Hello, I am scheduled to have my gallbladder removed tomorrow. The thing of it is, all the post op problems that everyone has been posting, is what I am experiencing now. I take 3 bites of ANY food, and my stomach distents so far I look like I'm 7 months pregnant. I'm 22 and 125lbs, I should not look like that. I also experience extreme diarrhea, to the point that I was buying box of imodium every 3 days to aleviate the symptoms. I don't have a lot of pain, but I think that is because I am diabetic (type 1) so i have a high pain tolerance, plus I am currently taking klonopin and it makes me very numb. But the bloating, gas, diarrhea, and extreme irritability is getting the best of me. So I'm having my gall bladder removed to hopefully destroy these symptoms. But I wonder, when I had an ultra sound, there was only a minimal amount of sludge present. I also had a HIDA scan, and I emptied at 60% which is quite normal. The only things that have come back irregular was my gastric emptying test which showed I was 48% slower than I should have been, and I had increased liver functions (this was partially due to a horrible bout of mono). I'm in college, and on spring break. I resume classes 4 days after my surgery, am I going to be able to make it or should I be e-mailing my professors now? Also, I mentioned before that I am diabetic... How am I going to be able to balance insulin, a clear liquid diet for a couple days, and the effects of the surgery on my pancreas? I mean, I'm already working with a 1/2 boat on that organ, I'm just really scared about all of this. I'm afraid that the surgery is going to make life harder than ease the irritants. I'm just a little tired of stealing my grandma's depends at night because otherwise I wake up with a mess (God willing). I don't want to live my life that way, but it seems that I've done everything short of a colonoscopy. I'm on an Rx right now called lomotil that seems to help with the diarrhea as long as I keep my diet low fat, and reduce my milk drinking to only 1-2 cups a day (which is hard because I work at Starbucks). I guess I'm just looking for a little support and some good news? It all won't be bad will it?

PS: to the person who wrote the long note about 2/10 people suffer from side effects, etc. You copied and pasted that from another website, and that is a copyright infringment without giving proper parenthetical citation. Just to forwarn you, if they catch you, you're looking at a pretty hefty lawsuit, that kind of information is not to be reproduced and stated as your own work.

I had my gall bladder removed by keyhole surgery, 9 years ago and I feel everyone is different after. The doctor said there would be no difference he WAS WRONG IN MY CASE. I have to avoid fatty and spicy foods and anything acidic, such as lemons tomatoes and sadly champagne. If I dont I have the most cronic acid reflux and this can go on for hours, it can be so bad as to lead to a headache, god it hurts. Thats the downside, the upside is less intake of stuff thats bad for you, I am sure that I am fitter and have a lower cholosteral level as I am forced to make more sensible choices because if I dont I will be punished with the pain of the acid. Best Wishes Andrew

hi i had my gall bladder removed on boxind day 07 its the best thing ive done.I suffered with gall stones for 2 years i lost 6 stone so i could have key hole surgery as soon as i woke i was encouraged to eat a normal diet i had no problems at all.The only discomfort i had was the air they pump in to you which left me with painful shoulders for a few days. Thats it for me i recomend the op to anyone you only ever hear the horror storys about it or i did well mine was and is fine

Dont do it unless you change your diet first and still have problem after a few months, unless its an emergency. Had mine done 8 months ago and have been miserable since. Same problems plus feel so bloated with distended stomach that makes me sleep on my back. Do that for a while and you sleep poorly, which makes for overall bad health. Constant feeling of fullness and yawning. Diet is more restricted. Miserable.
Top it off by learning there was nothing wrong with my GB ! IDIOTS !
Dont know what the problem was before or now. Feel like c**p !

gall bladder stores bile, some water is sucked out by GB, which make a concentrate, when you eat you get a squirt of the concentrate. Without it you only get a trickle of regular strength bile, which causes problems for many people. Higher rates of colon cancer as well.
Surgeons go to school to learn surgery. Thats what their interested in and thats what there taught. Thats what they do, and thats what they get paid to do. They are businessmen and thats their business is. Some are honest and some are not. Dont believe all they tell you.

I can completely sympathize with all of you that suffer from this. I had my gall bladder taken out April 14, 2005. Just a few days afterwards, I started suffering from severe cramps and diarrhea within 10-15 minutes after eating. It now happens to me with just about everything I eat. I have tried to learn my trigger foods, but can't. I can eat a hamburger one day and be fine, eat another one the next day and be in the bathroom for 20 minutes doubled over in severe pain with hot flashes and feeling like I am going to faint, sitting on the toilet with my head between my knees! I don't go out to eat unless I am coming straight home. Sometimes I don't make it home. I've had to stop on the way and run into a bathroom somewhere. I wake up and dread eating. I have not had a solid stool in 3 years. I have been embarrassed several times having to try and explain why I was in the bathroom so long at someones house. I currently have no insurance and can't afford the expensive medications like welchol and questran. I also have a very strong family history of colon cancer, which I have read that having a gall bladder removal can up your chances of getting cancer. I work from home, so I don't have the job issues others have, but I have to make sure I know where a bathroom is at all times. I can eat something in the morning and have diarrhea all day from it. To all of you suffering, I hope and pray you get better, but so far mine has gotten worse.

I was just in the hospital for a gall bladder attack. They kept me for 6 days to control the pain. I couldn't eat for the first 3 days then they introduced clear liquids then a fat free diet. I couldn't have surgery then because I am 7wks pregnant. I am still on a fat free diet and they want to do surgery after I am 12wks.
After reading these posts I am getting a little scared. I would love to be able to eat normally again but I know that may not be possible. What are some of the questions that I should ask my surgeon. I am going to be seeing him on Friday. Thanks for any help.

Hi, my wife had her gall bladder removed several years ago, and almost immediatly her weight doubled, and she has been unable to get rid of it. She has chronic diarrhea, which is only eased through high doses of codeine- not very desirable! Despite heaps of tests and examinations, the problems persist.
The gall bladder was removed because of abdomimal pain, which did not go away after the surgery! No cause of the pain has been found. Can anyone help with th e weight/diarrhea problems? Please?