[sabriel]

Hi all,Just wanted to ask if anyone who has or has previously had gallstones can help with this question.Previously I have been IBS-D, but since I was diagnosed with gallstones a couple of months ago I have also been getting some constipation.Has anyone who has or has had gallstones in the past experienced this?I am wondering if it is related, as it just seems odd that I have NEVER had probs with constipation before.Ta, sure hope someone has an answer, this prob is driving me crazy, as I can't think why else it would be happening. I have not made any changes to my diet or routine in the last couple of months or medications (come to think of it) and can't think of any other reason for it.Thanks

 

[RitaLucy]

Sabriel,I can't really answer your question but I just wanted to say that I have been a C-type IBSer for many years and I have a functional problem with my GB. I am seeing a surgeon tomorrow to talk about removing it and my GI told me that if I take out GB which he highly recommends I do that I will probably experience some D. I do think it is probably related because if you have stones the GB is not functioning as it should and not releasing the bile that is necessary.How have you been doing these days with everything?

 

[Auroraheart]

When I had my gall stones I actually had a lot of diareeah; that was pre IBS official diagnoses.

 

[sabriel]

Hi Rita,Basically, so-so. If I am ultra careful about what I eat I don't get too many gall attacks. I am lucky that they are mostly only mild to moderate when I do get them too. I still have almost 3 more weeks to go to my surgery date. Still, better than the 9 weeks I had to wait initially. I will be so glad when it is all over.Also the Diarrhea your doc mentioned that you may get after Gallbladder surgery, did he/she say if it is Bile Salt Diarrhea? I have been reading up a lot here about that and it seems about 5 - 10 percent of people that have gallbladder surgery do get it. For some it will stop on its own after a few weeks for some it does not stop at all and you need to take a supplement called Cholestryramine to bind the bile acid to stop it.I was actually talking to a friend a few weeks ago that had her gallbladder out about 3 years ago and she said that she had Diarrhea for a few weeks after her surgery. Of couse neither she nor I knew about Bile Salt Diarrhea at the time. But for her it stopped on its own.This BB has been really great, I would not have known about Bile Salt Diarrehea if not for it either. I actually asked the surgeon at my consult and he knew all about it too. Quite reassuring.I am hoping things will return to 'normal' for me after my surgery. I think constipation is almost worse than diarrhea! Mind you I don't really need the added complication of Bile Salt Diarrhea either, usually get enough of that due to the IBS and really how will I know if it is from the IBS or the BSD? Most confusing!Ah, well guess in the end I just have to wait and see I spose!Hope you get on well with your consult. Let me know how it went.Cheers then.

 

[hunter3000]

i never had constipation with my gallstones but if your gall stones was blocking the bile from getting out and breaking everything down,would that cause constipation?

 

[qheart]

I had my gallbladder surgery 18 years ago and within a week or two after the surgery, I started to have diarrhea(?sp), and have had diarrhea ever since, non-stop! I have tried prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, nothing has worked. I was tested by different doctors, they say they can't find a thing wrong. I have diarrhea all the time, but I have at times also been constipated, one time serious enough to see a doctor. Of course, everytime they say it is "viral", but I know better.I have been told by a few doctors that I had Irritable Bowel Syndrome, even though I don't remember being officially tested for this. I have all the symptoms/problems of IBS though and consider this to be the situation.But, I had not heard of this other deal listed above and need to do some checking into that. Maybe this is what I really have, not IBS. Who knows? All I know, I have had this for 18 years now, non-stop, and it mainly gets worse after meals, but can, and does, hit me at anytime it feels like hitting.Before I had gallbladder removed, I never had one single problem, and to be honest, I don't remember being either constipated, or having any diarrhea, I just remember being in major pain, especially after eating certain foods! I would be up half the night looking for something that would make me sleepy, etc....just so I could get some rest. When I finally saw the doctor and found out that it was my gallbladder, the doctor gave me some pain pills to take until I could have the surgery. Thank goodness!! I had one stone the size of a quarter, and two or three more the size of a dime, or larger.

 

[sabriel]

Hi Q,Just wondering if a doctor has ever checked if you might have Bile Salt Diarrhea?Just the fact that you say you never had any problems before your gallbladder surgery has me wondering. There has been a lot of discussion about Bile Salt Diarrhea here lately.Basically, if you start to get Diarrhea after gallbladder surgery and have never had problems previously this is likely to be the reason.Ask your doc about it next time you see him/her. If that is what it is you can take a product called Cholestyramine that will most likely stop the diarrhea problem for you.Try running a search here for gallstone topics. There have been quite a few and some even gave website addresses where you could get more information about it.Hope that helps some. Take care.

 

[Homebound]

Can't say that I got C after finding out about the stones. I carried those stones around for an extra year and I was D the whole time. Actually would have been a nice change to get a little C once in a while!

From what I've read a lot of people can have D problems all the way up to a year after the surgery. And if it lasts longer then that then I believe they consider that bile salt diarrhea. Unfortunatly it was a year for me on October 16th, and D still going strong!I'm having surgery on a rectal fistula on the 18th, so I've got a 2 1/2 week wait myself. Doesn't the waiting kinda drive you bats? Although some days I'm happy to wait, and others I just want to get it over with! I hope we both have easy recoveries!

 

[sabriel]

Hi Jen,I sure do know what you mean about the waiting! I think the waiting is the worst part of anything. Gives you entirely too much time to think about stuff.Anyway, I think the constipation problem has subsided somewhat. I had a bout of D again yesterday. I almost welcomed it! It was kind of like the return of an old friend!Not sure what you have been told, but from what I have read Bile Salt Diarrhea should resolve itself within 3 months of surgery if it is going to stop by itself. If it doesn't then you are supposed to try the Cholestyramine.But, if you had IBS or Diarrhea pre operatively then it is I think unlikely that removal of the gallbladder will do anything to change that one way or another. I still expect to have my IBS after surgery, I just don't want any 'extra' D due to the Bile Salts! Mind you, I don't really know how will be able to tell the difference!Down to a little less than two weeks to go for me now. I sure am crossing my fingers, toes and eyes about it though. A lady at work last week said two people she knows have recently had their surgery dates postponed. I sure hope that does not happen to me, I have my nails just about bitten down to the knuckles already!I will ask next week anyway (if postponment is likely), I have to go to the hospital for a pre-admission clinic on Friday the 8th Nov. I sure am praying there will be no delays. We are starting to get too close to Christmas. The hospital here closes down to all but emergency surgery for about 2 weeks over Christmas and New Year!Hope all goes well for your surgery too.Take care.