Hi,
About a year ago I started having really bad diarrhea, pain and stomach cramps. I went to the doctor and he said I had to have my gallbladder removed. Since then the diarrhea, stomach cramps and pain have gotten even worse! I had to quit my job and I have barely been out of the house for 5 months! I am miserable. It doesn't seem to matter what I eat or if I even eat at all. I have a burning pain in my upper abdomen, very bad cramps in my lower abdomen and very explosive diarrhea with undigested food, and mucous in it everyday (sorry to be so descriptive). I spend half my time in the bathroom and the other half feeling terrible. I've been back to the doctor and he said it could be excess bile salts after removing the gallbladder. But I was feeling terrible before the gallbladder removal and worse after I was wondering if anyone knew of another condition I might have with these symptoms and also does anyone have any advice that might help with the diarrhea, and pain? I started taking benefiber this week and am hoping to see results soon. I was on Questran but it seemed to make me worse. I need to get this under control, I have to get a new job ASAP because I am running out of cash. But I can't seem to make it out of the house long enough to go to interviews. I need help! anything you could tell me would be helpful! thanks so much.

I guess my first question is have you consulted with a gasto doc and/or colon doc? I had my gallbladder out a long time ago, don't remember being bothered by those symptoms. Lynn

I have an appointment with a gastroenterologist in july, but that is a while from now. They said something about it maybe being IBS but I've looked into IBS and alot of the symptoms are different from what I have so I'm not sure what is wrong! My docs keep brushing me off saying that I can wait until all the tests are done but I am in so much pain and the diarrhea is so bad I feel like a prisoner to whatever this is! :confused:

Oh my Gosh you sound just like me. I had my gallbladder removed December 28, 2006. Since then I have had the severe diarrhea and can not leave my house. I never know when it is going to hit. I went to my doctor and he prescribed two different meds that did not help at all. He also told me the same thing about the Bile salts. He also told me it could take up to a year to corrrect itself. Who has a year to deal with this. I go see a gastro doctor this coming Tuesday. I am hoping for some answers. I just wanted to say that you are not alone. I know just exactly how you feel. Best of luck to you.

Thanks for the support! Let's hope that when a year is over it corrects itself! but I gotta go back to work soon but who's going to hire someone that spends most of their time in the bathroom? I hope the GI doc helps you, keep me posted on what he says maybe we'll have the same thing and I can tell my doc what to look for in the tests! Good luck at the docs!:)

I had TERRIBLE gallbladder pain and diarrhea last year. After everything I read and disagreed with the stupid doctor and took the route of a "functional medicine" doctor. He treated me with "frequency microcurrent" and tested my stomach acid. Turned out I had very low stomach acid. Low stomach acid means your body cannot break down fats well, so the gallbladder has to pump more bile. When it runs out, VIOLA gallbladder pain and inflammation.

At first, I just ate lemons with every meal, especially fatty meals. but it was bad on my teeth. So now I take a product called Metagest from Metagenics. It is stomach acid, along with Spectrazyme (also from Metagenics) stomach enzymes. Within a week I was better.

Here are some of the other symptoms I had:
1. Pain after fatty foods or large meals
2. light colored stool
3. often diarrhea
4. could not sleep at night except leaning on my right side

I hope this helps. Remember in a pinch, 2 shots of lemon juice can work wonders on the pain.Good luck all.

will that help if you've already had your gallbladder out?

yes, it would help. If you had low stomach acid, then the acid pills would help tremendously, might even completely relieve your pain. The product I use, Metagest by metagenics contains HCL (acid) and Pepsin, which helps digest animal protein.

Sorry it has taken me awhile to respond back. I went to the gastro doctor last Tuesday and was happy with the appointment. I have to go for a colonoscopy on the 26th due to my mother having had colon cancer 10 years ago. He feels all of my problems are from the Gallbladder surgery but needs to be safe and check it out. He did put me on Questran for the diarrhea and I must say after 5 days on it I feel like a normal person again. I do not get the bad cramps and have not had diarrhea in two days. Which is good for me considering I was going 6-10 times a day. I am actually been hungry today. i told my hisband that I feel like eating all day. I have lost some weight so I am not to worried about eating to much. I hope you have good luck with your appt with your gastro. Best of Luck to yoy!