Maryinpa
06-20-2009, 12:42 PM
I've been reading about PCS , the post gallbladder surgery syndrome, and it doesn't sound too promising that having the gb out will necessarily resolve my problems, only give me a new set.
What do you know about this syndrome?
It's making me reconsider having my gallbladder out because if it's only going to give me problems, there or not there, what is the point?
What do you know about this syndrome?
It's making me reconsider having my gallbladder out because if it's only going to give me problems, there or not there, what is the point?
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Titchou
06-20-2009, 04:07 PM
A very small percentage of people have problems with diarhhea when eating fatty or greasy foods after having their gb's removed. My surgeon said about 1% of his patients experienced this.
I think the key is to stay fat free as long as possible after surgery so the bile duct which is left to regulate the injection of bile into your digestive track has the opportunity to come online slowly. That way you don't overtax it in the beginning and it eases into operating properly.
I'm 4 years out and the only time I have any issues is if I eat a lot of salad several days or meals in a row. The roughage can be hard to digest.
Outside of that, you should be fine. It's been 4 years for me and I'm very glad I had mine out. No pain any more.
Of course, you are welcome to keep yours and try eating fat free the rest of your life so you don't have any attacks. Not knowing how badly damaged your gb is already, it's sort of hard to say if that would even help. A friend's father refused to have his out and it eventually ruptured. I decided it was worth a case of diarrhea every few months to have mine out.
I think the key is to stay fat free as long as possible after surgery so the bile duct which is left to regulate the injection of bile into your digestive track has the opportunity to come online slowly. That way you don't overtax it in the beginning and it eases into operating properly.
I'm 4 years out and the only time I have any issues is if I eat a lot of salad several days or meals in a row. The roughage can be hard to digest.
Outside of that, you should be fine. It's been 4 years for me and I'm very glad I had mine out. No pain any more.
Of course, you are welcome to keep yours and try eating fat free the rest of your life so you don't have any attacks. Not knowing how badly damaged your gb is already, it's sort of hard to say if that would even help. A friend's father refused to have his out and it eventually ruptured. I decided it was worth a case of diarrhea every few months to have mine out.
ZoeGirl
06-20-2009, 05:57 PM
WebMD says 10%-40% have PCS, I've read 20% on other med sites. I believe it's most common in those who don't have stones but have a non-functioning GB.
I think if you have a problem with stones your only answer is to remove it, but if it's non-functioning with no stones I would think hard/long about it.
Mine was removed 12/07 for 0% EF (didn't function at ALL) and I've had more problems since. It's hard to say if keeping it I'd be better off, who knows. As more time passes the episodes get further apart but I do have set backs (a week of symptoms instead of one episode on occasion).
Read up from reputable med sites.
I think if you have a problem with stones your only answer is to remove it, but if it's non-functioning with no stones I would think hard/long about it.
Mine was removed 12/07 for 0% EF (didn't function at ALL) and I've had more problems since. It's hard to say if keeping it I'd be better off, who knows. As more time passes the episodes get further apart but I do have set backs (a week of symptoms instead of one episode on occasion).
Read up from reputable med sites.
KellyCz
06-20-2009, 09:32 PM
Hi,
I had my GB out 6/2008, and I had a gall bladder that was not functioning but no stones were present. I have the diarrhea associated with the excess in bile salts. If I had it to do over, I would have never had my GB out. I got the 1% thing too....and MAN, after doing research, I wish I would have never had it out. I have cerebral palsy, so it is very hard for me to be dealing with this issue. I have had a lot of embarrassing situations arise. I have recently received a prescription for questran powder, and hopefully that will give me some relief. I want my life back. Both my PCP and GI who gave me the powder say that I should start to see improvements relatively quickly. One can only hope!
I had my GB out 6/2008, and I had a gall bladder that was not functioning but no stones were present. I have the diarrhea associated with the excess in bile salts. If I had it to do over, I would have never had my GB out. I got the 1% thing too....and MAN, after doing research, I wish I would have never had it out. I have cerebral palsy, so it is very hard for me to be dealing with this issue. I have had a lot of embarrassing situations arise. I have recently received a prescription for questran powder, and hopefully that will give me some relief. I want my life back. Both my PCP and GI who gave me the powder say that I should start to see improvements relatively quickly. One can only hope!
gigi11
07-25-2009, 11:12 PM
I am also those 1% - I should have kept my gallbladder - what a mess I have now - my life is ruined!
missyb57
08-28-2009, 09:27 PM
I had my GB out in 2003. I did have a problem because the surgeon cut a nerve and I had very bad pain for a long time, but it eventually just went away and I have not really had any problems sine that until June of this year.
Suddenly I developed diarrhea and upper abdominal pain and became unable to eat solid foods because of the awful cramping they caused when I ate them. So for the past 3 months I have lived on Jello, Yogurt, Applesauce. I have lost 47 pounds since June 1st.
I have had every scan and test known, colonoscopy, endoscopy, CT scans of abdomen, chest pelvis, bloodwork and all of them come back negative.
Finally my drs have said that they think it is PCS. They tried me on the Questran but it has Aspartame in it and that is a major trigger for my Migraine headaches. It did stop the diarrhea after just 2 doses, but I simply can't live with those horrible headaches. Then they tried Levbid for the stomach cramping, and it helped with that, but it affected my eyesight so I can't take that either. So right now I have nothing to help me with the the stomach pain and cramping so I am still unable to eat solid foods yet. The drs are still looking for a drug that can help and I hope they find something soon.
Suddenly I developed diarrhea and upper abdominal pain and became unable to eat solid foods because of the awful cramping they caused when I ate them. So for the past 3 months I have lived on Jello, Yogurt, Applesauce. I have lost 47 pounds since June 1st.
I have had every scan and test known, colonoscopy, endoscopy, CT scans of abdomen, chest pelvis, bloodwork and all of them come back negative.
Finally my drs have said that they think it is PCS. They tried me on the Questran but it has Aspartame in it and that is a major trigger for my Migraine headaches. It did stop the diarrhea after just 2 doses, but I simply can't live with those horrible headaches. Then they tried Levbid for the stomach cramping, and it helped with that, but it affected my eyesight so I can't take that either. So right now I have nothing to help me with the the stomach pain and cramping so I am still unable to eat solid foods yet. The drs are still looking for a drug that can help and I hope they find something soon.
gigi11
08-29-2009, 06:41 AM
I had my GB out in 2003. I did have a problem because the surgeon cut a nerve and I had very bad pain for a long time, but it eventually just went away and I have not really had any problems sine that until June of this year.
Suddenly I developed diarrhea and upper abdominal pain and became unable to eat solid foods because of the awful cramping they caused when I ate them. So for the past 3 months I have lived on Jello, Yogurt, Applesauce. I have lost 47 pounds since June 1st.
I have had every scan and test known, colonoscopy, endoscopy, CT scans of abdomen, chest pelvis, bloodwork and all of them come back negative.
Finally my drs have said that they think it is PCS. They tried me on the Questran but it has Aspartame in it and that is a major trigger for my Migraine headaches. It did stop the diarrhea after just 2 doses, but I simply can't live with those horrible headaches. Then they tried Levbid for the stomach cramping, and it helped with that, but it affected my eyesight so I can't take that either. So right now I have nothing to help me with the the stomach pain and cramping so I am still unable to eat solid foods yet. The drs are still looking for a drug that can help and I hope they find something soon.
I use Welchol in a pill form which is just like Questran - it absorbs the bile and you have no diarreahea. I do great on it. I got a few headaches at first but then they went away. Have you tried probiotics? I use those as well.
Suddenly I developed diarrhea and upper abdominal pain and became unable to eat solid foods because of the awful cramping they caused when I ate them. So for the past 3 months I have lived on Jello, Yogurt, Applesauce. I have lost 47 pounds since June 1st.
I have had every scan and test known, colonoscopy, endoscopy, CT scans of abdomen, chest pelvis, bloodwork and all of them come back negative.
Finally my drs have said that they think it is PCS. They tried me on the Questran but it has Aspartame in it and that is a major trigger for my Migraine headaches. It did stop the diarrhea after just 2 doses, but I simply can't live with those horrible headaches. Then they tried Levbid for the stomach cramping, and it helped with that, but it affected my eyesight so I can't take that either. So right now I have nothing to help me with the the stomach pain and cramping so I am still unable to eat solid foods yet. The drs are still looking for a drug that can help and I hope they find something soon.
I use Welchol in a pill form which is just like Questran - it absorbs the bile and you have no diarreahea. I do great on it. I got a few headaches at first but then they went away. Have you tried probiotics? I use those as well.
KellyCz
09-03-2009, 02:17 AM
I was wondering, I take a lot of other medicines: Baclofen, Prevacid, Pristiq, Norpace, Atenolol and Synthroid and the GI who gave me the Questran (didn't like it) said that was the only thing he could give me because of all the other medicines. I asked about Welchol and he said that because it was a pill, it would bind all the other pills I take and make them not work properly...But as long as I separated the Questran from my other meds by 2 hrs. I should be ok...Do you think it is worth asking if I could do that with a pill??? Using the Questran is very limiting because it is not as "portable" as a pill would be. What do you think?
KellyCz
09-03-2009, 02:22 AM
[QUOTE=missyb57;4066759]
Finally my drs have said that they think it is PCS. They tried me on the Questran but it has Aspartame in it and that is a major trigger for my Migraine headaches.
That must be why Questran gives me migraines......Because I get them too and any artificial sweeteners like aspartame give me headaches too. What is the difference between the Questran and Questran Light? Is the Questran light the same medication minus the aspartame?
Finally my drs have said that they think it is PCS. They tried me on the Questran but it has Aspartame in it and that is a major trigger for my Migraine headaches.
That must be why Questran gives me migraines......Because I get them too and any artificial sweeteners like aspartame give me headaches too. What is the difference between the Questran and Questran Light? Is the Questran light the same medication minus the aspartame?