Hi I am new to this board 2 months ago i had my gallbladder removed and lately I have been having sharp pains in my upper abdomen where my gallbladder used to be. I also have been having gas pains and diarrhia mostly after meals. Is this normal or could it be a serious problem? I would really appreciate some help.

Thank You

Susan

i had my GB removed june 26th 2003, and i'm having those same problems.

i've been told that it could be H. pylori, or IBS.

the thing is i also get it on my left side occasionally, which is more IBS.

since having my GB removed, nothing has changed. i still have the heartburn and pain and indigestion after meals. this is leading my to believe that i have IBS, which after reading many posts i've found it is very common among women with no GB's. the symptoms for gallbladder problems and the symptoms for ibs are extremely alike. because of this many doctors assume it is only the GB to blame when it is really GB and IBS.

try searching for websites about the symptoms of IBS. that could be what we have.

hope i've helped,

alicia

It sounds like IBS. I have suffered with IBS since 1989.I would go and see your doctor just to make sure it's easy to treat but you will need to cut things out of your diet.After a few attacks of IBS most people know what food stuffs are causing the problem i for one will never eat curry again.

I read a lot of messages on another IBS board and it seems that there is somewhat of a connection between IBS and gallbladder problems. Some people say that there IBS caused gallbladder problems but I believe more see the gallbladder removal causing IBS. W/o the gallbladder, bile isn't stored but goes straight to your intestines and it will be more than usual. Some people's bodies may not be able to adjust to the excess bile and that is when the IBS kicks in. That's my $0.02!

If you're suffering from explosive, urgent diarrhea especially after meals, you could have a condition called bile salt diarrhea, which is easily treatable with medications called Questran or Colestid. I suffered with this condition for 5 years until finding this board, and I have been on Colestid for a year now with formed stools and only occasional diarrhea due to my IBS-D (which I've had for 20+ years). Yes, you could just have IBS, but it's more likely bile salt diarrhea if you have light colored or yellow stools, urgent and/or explosive diarrhea occurring shortly after meals. My diarrhea problems became much worse after GB removal than before. Do a web search of "bile salt diarrhea" and see what you find. The site www.gihealth.com (http://www.gihealth.com) is also helpful.

Good luck to you - see your doctor to see what treatment may be available to you.

Katie G

Thank You guys for replying Im wondering if it is IBS or Bile Salt diarrhia would that explain the sharp pains I have been having where my gallbladder used to be?

Thank You

Susan

You said sharp pains what kind,burning ,achy,gnawing,shooting,sore,which?

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hi, just went to the GI for the same exact problem.I have had a egd and a colonoscopy both back in may.THe doc put me on cholestrymaine or something like that.Its a drink that was first given to help lower cholestral it absorbs the excess bile in the stomach so it digest properly which gives you a formed bm.
If your doctor hasn't already done so you should have had your common bile duct checked by running the dye through it to make sure it isn't scarred shut.I was told that it was rare that it happens and they checked mine while they were taking my gallbladder out and what would you know mine was plugged up.I had to have a ercp done by a gasternologist and he went down my throat with a scope thing and opened it back up and my chest pains cleared up.You can also have bile that is refluxing up into your esposgus like i do and this causing gastrics .I also found out that i had a hiatal hernia and that it can make the reflux problem seem worse.
My doctor has me on prevacid and the drink stuff,the drink stuff comes in a powder and its orange flavored ,not to bad.

I would say there more like shooting stabbing pains, it feels like im having another gallbladder attack. Is it possible to still have gallstones left even with my gallbladder removed?

I had those pains, also, after my gallbladder was removed. Felt like it was still there! My surgeon ordered ultrasound and barium enema; upper GI; and everything was normal.

It's been five years now, and I don't notice it much at all anymore unless I have ice cream or something rather rich or fatty that is hard to digest.

I still have bouts of diarrhea from time to time, and I think that's diet related too or just nerves; more nerves lately http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/dizzy.gif. Most of the time I'm just fine, but it was a bit of an adjustment for my body I think.

I had my gall bladder removed 2 years ago. I have experienced the same pains on and off for these 2 years. Since I am under tremendous stress, I went in for an endoscopy to see if I had ulcers--suggested by a General Practitioner. When I told the Gastroenterologist my symptons, he said, "you don't have ulcers. you have gall stones left in your bile duct!" Didn't know it was a possibility, but when you have the gall bladder removed, they don't necessarily remove stones in the duct. I now have to have an ERCP done to remove the stones--hoping that will get rid of all the symptons! Oh, and since my gall bladder was removed, yes, I have explosive diarrhea after eating--thought it was normal since my two sisters experience the same problem after having their gall bladders removed.

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Tami