Two years ago I had my gall bladder removed. I was so happy at the time because I thought it would be the end of my chronic heartburn, diarrhea, vomiting, gas etc. (I was also diagnosed with GERD and a hiatal hernia as well, but I was given Prevacid for that,and felt good--for awhile.) Little did I know that it was only the beginning.

Six weeks after the removal my diarrhea was back, along with nausea and "dry heaves" every morning. I have been eliminating foods one at at time. First it was diet colas and all sugar substitutes, fried food and chocolate. Those weren't so hard as they aren't good for the heart and weight anyway. Then there was spicy food, red meat, cauliflower-family vegetables and citrus fruits. Then it was dairy products other than yogurt. Now I have weaned myself off caffiene. I don't have much else to give up. Fish, chicken, a few cooked veg and a few fruit, water or herbal tea and maybe two glasses of wine per week, some nuts and whole grain bread or cereal. That's about it, and I still have the same symptoms. I take a ton of probiotics, omega 3-6-9 and glucosomine, coQ10 and a multi.

It has effected my life big time. We rarely go out anymore, it's just not worth it. I am terrified to travel or even accept a dinner at someone's home. The mornings, as I see across so many posts, are the worst. I am still working but it is so hard. I get up early, don't eat and hope I will have had my 2-3 loose or diarrhea movements before I have to leave about 7:30. I will bring some yogurt and eat that at work about 10 or so and hope there are no accidents. I have started wearing pads because I am so afraid of spontaneous movements. Sometimes I can't even make it 10 feet to the bathroom, it is like there is always some loose, watery stool just waiting for me to cough or move and then out it comes (sorry for being graphic). So I feel like an old, incontinent lady wearing these pads but at least they give me some peace of mind that I won't mess myself in public.

Obviously, this is effecting me psychologically. I feel exhausted and depressed most of the time. My husband tried to be understanding. I mostly don't like to talk about it too much--I don't want to be all my bowels! It is such a waste to have to always be thinking about what to eat, what to try, how to cope, how to actually try to have a life. Someone else said that so much of her life is going by while she is in the bathroom--how true that is and it made me want to cry.

I am thankful that I found this forum. It's good to know I am not alone and I will try those things that have worked for others. It's frustrating that there is no key. For some, calcium has helped but not for others. Likewise probiotics, gluten-free diets, flavenoids etc. Some say take a lot of fiber, others say absolutely not. Probably no one has exactly the same cluster of issues and symptoms as anyone else and we are on our own to try to figure out what to do.

By: AliceD