Re: diarrhea after gallbladder surgery - Gallbladder Message Board

fiber · 01-19-2003, 12:33 PM

Hi, my husband had his gall bladder out and he still suffers from chronic diarrhea. He doesn't want to take extra fiber and eats a lot of donots and white bread and candy. He also is fat around the gut. He has bad gas that really stinks and so does his diarrhea. We all need to leave the house! My question is what can he take to bind up the stools? I have heard of calcium pills. They are known to give constipation, so for him it should work, shouldn't it? Is it calcium carbonate? Is there anything else? He doesn't want to take drugs and doesn't want Metamucil.

Sarah68 · 01-19-2003, 03:41 PM

Why does he not want to take Metamucil? It is only a fiber supplement and will not hurt him at all and may even help him.

Yes Calcium is a good supplement, however, when you have a GB removal you can get what is known as bile salt diarrhea due to the bile hanging around in the intestines. Fiber and Calcium may not work and some people take Colestid to help, which is an anticholesterol drug, but can also help chronic diarrhea following GB removal.

I have to say that your husband really needs to take a long hard look at his diet as it is probably this that lead to the gallbladder problems in the first place.

You should try and get him to see some sense and help himself. If he won't take fiber and won't take other meds then there is not a lot else left to recommend.

Katie G · 01-20-2003, 08:18 AM

I agree 100% with what Sarah says. I'm living proof of chronic diarrhea following GB surgery - I cannot believe your husband doesn't want to help himself with this condition.

I've found relief with a combination of Metamucil wafers twice daily (they really taste good!), calcium supplements twice daily, acidophilus caps (for gas/bloating), and Colestid. I had tried fiber + calcium for a few months, but got minimal relief from diarrhea. When I added the Colestid (prescription drug), I finally had formed stools. I continue to take the calcium, fiber and acidophilus for bowel health.

This advice is the best we can offer your husband, but if he doesn't want to change his ways, there is little else you can do.

Good luck,
Katie G