Anyone else still have issues after gallbladder removal?

[Piggywaspushed]

I had my gallbladder out in September after years of undiagnosed stomach pains , often leading to cramps, nausea, cycles of constipation and bowel cramps and also vomiting.

Since having it removed I have had similar episodes, generally with a month in between. I am not as likely to vomit at least. Always strikes at weekends, usually night time. Recently though twice after slightly richer meals ( afternoon tea yesterday). This really has left me scared to eat or go anywhere and is affecting my mental health. Previous attack was 31 December so I was foolishly feeling optimistic.

GP sent me for another scan which I had two weeks ago and all was clear. I am wondering if I just need to put up with this misery now or alternatively what I should be pushing for.

Some of it seems to be linked to crazy hormones, too, and I just can't seem to get rid of menstrual cycles despite daily progesterone. I also spend ages agonising over drug combinations and worrying about this.

Am after advice or simply empathy. Currently sitting in a car workshop weeping with self pity.

Yes, me. Had mine out in 2022 and I'm still not right. I feel your pain so much and have no answers but I'm offering you a hand hold ❤

And me! They say you can eat a normal diet but I still can’t. I have to eat low fat, or I’m awake with stomach cramps. I can’t touch alcohol either.

Try eliminating various foods from your diet, especially anything fatty.

Thank you, fellow traveller.

I really hate fat so eat very little but yesterday was a cream tea. What meds do you guys take?

I take amitryptyline to help me sleep which helps ward off anxiety related attacks, but that can't be combined with many anti nausea meds. Apparently allergy tablets and Buscopan are a no, too.

I've been no alcohol for over a year now and low alcohol for about 5.

This constant deprivation is not how I saw my life panning out!

I eat very little fat also and have a particularly bland diet. I've left nearly all red meat alone too. I also dont drink alcohol, carbonated drinks or much caffeine either because that sets me off as well. It's not fun, permanently swinging between diarrhea and constipation. With the added constant nausea.
I try not to take medication because nsaid's give me agonising pain. That type of intolerance has a name but I can't remember it off the top of my head. It's supposed to be rare, I think but somehow I've managed to end up with that too.

Hopefully my reply will bump your post and some more posters might have ideas or helpful advice.

Yes, it's the nausea I find intolerable . I have a (dwindling) stockpile of fairly powerful anti nausea meds at least.

I take Esomeprazole twice a day.

I still have issues, I had my surgery in January 2020. But, after reading your post, I am so thankful that I don't have nausea! poor you.

My symptoms are slowly getting better (I think/hope) but are confined to stomach cramping and diahorrea if I eat anything too fatty as my first meal of the day. My first meal of the day is always lunch so I am confined to very dull lunches if I go out (which is a shame) or am at work. At home I eat and suffer the consequences but it isn't always terrible these days. I've just eaten a bacon and egg sandwich so am on standby .

I think you should be pushing your GP for a stool sample test. If you collect it when your symptoms at their worst, it might reveal bile acid malabsorption and there is a fairly straight forward medication for that, I believe.

I've thought about going down that route myself but finally find my symptoms OK to manage with taking preventative loperamide if I'm going to be out all day or want to eat a special meal at lunch time.

Yeah I still can't eat a lot of fat or have too rich or too much of a meal. It's not a bad thing really but hard when you're enjoying something and forget.

Nothing like those full on attacks though

Thanks for the info.

Diarrhoea is not my main symptom. Yesterday was quite unusual. I have GP appointment next Monday so hopefully he will suggest something beyond ultrasound scans.

I find it can be random things that set it off with various people. My friend can't have anything with codiene in it.

Diarrhea is common, as the biles constantly dripping now rather than being controlled by the gallbladder. It can have a laxative effect.

Well, as I said, if he doesn't suggest anything beyond ultrasound scans, ask for a stool sample analysis. It seems to be a fairly obvious step in gastro issues.

I did the FIT test recently but are there other things that doesn't find?