after gallbladder surgery?

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-03-2003
after gallbladder surgery?
11
Sat, 12-31-2005 - 11:36am
I have been trying to find information on gallbladder, and found this board! I hope you can help with this.
My friend's DS age 11 recently had his gall bladder removed. Tests showed that it was functioning at 30%, and there was a long list of family history, so the surgery was scheduled for just before Thanksgiving, thinking that the long break would give enough time for him to feel like going back to school. It was the laproscopic surgery.
He did pretty well, stayed overnite, and home the next day.
Well, he has had a terrible time of it. First, he had a red rash, maybe a reaction to medications, then some diarrhea, which I think is expected. He kept complaining of pain, and had anxiety about going back to school, since he had tons of homework.
It is now a month since the surgery. He continues to have abdominal pain which reaches up into his chest, he has nausea all the time, along with chills but not fever. The symptoms seem worse at bedtime and go until the middle of the night, and the nausea continues into the morning. Someone suggested that he just didn't want to go back to school before, but he has been sick over this Christmas break and didn't go to movies or shopping. His mom tells me that they have been eating low-fat.
She is planning to call the surgeon and see what he says. The pediatrician ordered complete blood work-up and a Cat scan, which both showed normal results.
Could this be some kind of post-surgery complication, or is this a common part of surgery recovery?
I really hope someone here can give some insight or experience.
Thanks so much,
colleen

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-03-2003
Sun, 01-01-2006 - 3:43pm

Hi again, can anyone help with this experience?

Thanks, colleen

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 01-02-2006 - 1:47pm

Hi Colleen - it could be that there is a stone left behind. Not to point fingures at the surgeon - but sometimes the stones can be well hidden in a duct and missed by even the best.


An ultra sound may or may not find it.


Is your friend's ds experiencing weight loss or is he able to maintain his weight?


All the best - please let us know how things work out,


Jo

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-03-2003
Mon, 01-02-2006 - 2:20pm

Hi Jo,
I am wondering myself about something that could have been missed. He wasn't diagnosed with stones before. He hasn't felt really "better" since the surgery, but maybe we are expecting results too soon. I don't think there has been much change in weight. His mom says he is nauseated almost constantly, but he usually has a big appetite.
From looking at webMD and other sites, it seems possible to have bile leaking, or possible duct injury during surgery.
I looked at previous posts here, and others seem to have mixed results after surgery too. It looks like the lowfat diet is really important too.
Thanks for your good thoughts,

colleen

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 01-03-2006 - 7:50pm

Hi Colleen - it certainly is wise for mom to keep on top of things.


The fact that there has been no weight loss is good.


I would be concerned about what he's been eating - particularly at this time of the year! No disrespect intended

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-03-2003
Fri, 01-06-2006 - 11:09am

Hi Jo,
This is a little update. The surgeon had told my friend that her son could have a normal diet after the surgery, so he was eating what he wanted at first. No wonder he was feeling so bad! Now, he is on lowfat and feeling a little better. He continues to have nausea with dizziness, so she called the surgeon, he referred her to Children's Hospital. So seems to be back to the drawing board there, but hope they can help.

Would the dizziness be a typical post-surgery response?

Thank you,
colleen

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Fri, 01-06-2006 - 2:17pm

Hey Colleen,


Jo gave you some really good advice.

 
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-03-2003
Sat, 01-07-2006 - 10:59am

Lynn, thanks so much for your answer! We have been starting to wonder if he is having psychosomatic symptoms to avoid school! His surgeon told his mom that it was "convenient for him to have chills without fever, and nausea with vomiting", in other words, nothing measurable. His pediatrician told her to make him go to school.
I kept him Thurs and Fri (yesterday) so his mom could get back to work, she is a single mom and has been off with him. Fortunately, her boss is very supportive. Thurs he felt great, Fri started off ok and then said he had stomach pain, followed in succession by nausea, dizziness, and headache.
Did you also have gallbladder removed? How long ago was that? Did you have other symptoms?

Thanks for the help,
colleen

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Sun, 01-08-2006 - 2:16pm

Hey Colleen!


Hope you had a good weekend!

 
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-03-2003
Thu, 01-12-2006 - 10:20am

Thanks for the encouragement. My friend has started her son on more lowfat diet, and he is drinking more water. He still has some symptoms, but is better. He even has been back to school every day this week! One day he felt bad, but she just told him he had to get dressed and try it. Childrens Hospital hasn't set up an appt yet, but she still wants him checked by them.
I really hope he is on a positive track.

colleen

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-14-2003
Wed, 01-25-2006 - 11:30am

I am so amazed when I read the stories of people having GB surgery and then still have problem and the doctors want to blame it on the things they do. Having your gall bladder out will caused the problems you are stating because of the bile that is now injected into the intestines because there is no sac (gall bladder) to store the acid until it is needed for digesting food. Can you imagine the distress of having this burning acid flowing in the intestines all the time and not having food in there to soak it up because you are afraid to eat because it only makes you feel sick to put food in your mouth. This is so common and after they put you through more test and find nothing they say you have IBS. What a shame.

The bile causes nausea, indigestion, buring pain, and loose stools or diarrhea and I just had a real sick feeling just taking a bite of food. My solution was found after 23 years of this and here it is and I hope it can help. Let me know if you need help getting the dose and timing worked out to help your friend. Email me if you like.

Here is the calcium information. I know it is a lot to take in but it may be will worth it to see if this simple solution can offer you the relief it has me and many others. You need to follow it as close as you can to get the best results. I know it sound too simple to work but it really does help a lot.

This is what has helped me for more than 7 years with almost daily attacks of urgent diarrhea after having my Gall Bladder removed. Calcium is known to be constipating so if you are that IBS type do not take it. All calcium is not the same. Here is the what and how to take the calcium information if you suffer from diarrhea.

Calcium is an OTC supplement we all do not usually get enough of. No Rx is needed to purchase this.

When you take calcium about 40% of the dose gets to the bones the rest is eliminated in our waste. The calcium goes to the intestines and soaks up excess fluids and binds them together and they are gotten rid of in our waste.

This is a process that can be continued by taking the calcium carbonate on a daily basis thus giving a more formed BM.

There is calcium carbonate which helps us with diarrhea and there is calcium citrate which is more easily absorbed by the body and gets to the bones but is not as helpful in controlling diarrhea.

A lot of the calcium supplements contain a 2 to 1 ratio of calcium to magnesium. Magnesium is not helpful for us with diarrhea only causing more in most cases. So, do not purchase this combination. It will only make things worse. Also if you are taking a multi vitamin with magnesium this may be a source of some of the problem if you are having diarrhea. Also for me vitamin A, C, and E seemed to cause me stomach upset. If you check this out your will see they too can cause diarrhea. It is better not to take a multi vitamin while trying to get the calcium to help.

The dose to take is different for everyone. I must take 3 a day one at each meal and it does not make a difference if I take it before during or after just take it regularly. Taking them at least 4 or 5 hours apart is also necessary so the calcium has time to go through the system and soak up excess bile and water. Sometimes, because of the long number of hours between dinner and breakfast it may be necessary to adjust your timing to taking one at bedtime with a small snack to get better results if you are a person who usually suffers from diarrhea in the mornings. I think the way it works is the dose you take prior helps with the current meal and the distress it may cause.

The most success has come from using any formula of calcium supplement that is like Caltrate 600 Plus with Vitamin D and Minerals in the purple and white box. This information is from the many users that have sent me emails and of the posters on the web sites I have dealt with. I hope this will help anyone wishing to try it and I am always here to answer any questions for you. I have a lot of feed back form many users.

You must also have some testing done to be sure you are not dealing with anything more serious. This is most important.

There are other things to consider. If you take any other meds check the side effects and also check with the Doctor or Pharmacist to see if taking calcium will interfere with your other medications and how you might take them. I know if you take thyroid meds it is important not to take the calcium at the same time but you can take the thyroid meds one hour before you take calcium or 4 hours after taking the calcium. The calcium will soak up the thyroid medication and you will not be getting the benefit from it. You should also look at the side effects of any other meds you may be on this can contribute to the success or failure of using calcium to help to control your diarrhea. You may also consider if you are constipated and taking calcium this may be the reason for your constipation. You can most likely switch to another form of calcium to relieve this also.

The only side effect is at the beginning of taking the calcium, you may have some gas or indigestion but this usually goes away soon after taking a regular dose for a few days as your body adjusts to the added calcium. For most it is about 3 days and it is important to start with the lower dose so you don't have the added distress and think the calcium is not helping but making you worse.

Starting with 1/2 tablet doses with each meal will lessen this problem and it may be enough to control the diarrhea attacks without making you constipated.

Constipation can be a problem so be careful not to take too much. It is safe for most of us to take 1800 mg a day as long as your body processes calcium correctly and you do not have some underlying problem. Check with your Doctor.

I had my gall bladder removed in 1976 and from that time on I had suffered urgent attacks of diarrhea. It is now known to me that is called Bile Salts Diarrhea. This happens to a good percent of people who have had their Gall Bladder Removed. I Went through a lot of test but nothing else could be found. I took many of the meds for bowel spasms and cramps over the years but nothing ever seemed to help. I started to take a calcium supplement to help prevent bone loss in later years and from the first day I felt relief. I was pretty much a prisoner to the bathroom or had to go without eating to be able to leave the house.

I must take 1 tablet with each meal and the diarrhea does not come back if I miss taking it I get diarrhea. It is a trial and error situation to find the right amount that may help you.

The way it works is the calcium carbonate it a binder and when you take it only about 40% of the calcium gets to the bones and the rest is gotten rid of in our waste. During that process it gets to the intestines and soaks up excess bile and water and helps give a more solid BM. Now that you have no gall bladder the bile fluid goes directly into the intestines and causes irritation and diarrhea. That burning yellowish color that you may see is the bile. The calcium carbonate soaks this up and no more diarrhea. It works great for a lot of us and you just have to take the calcium regularly and do not miss.

I started with Caltrate 600 Plus with vitamin D and minerals and it does seem to make a difference in the ingredients of calcium... This one seems to do the best job for most. You can buy other store brands of calcium with the same ingredients that work just as well but they need to have the same ingredients. I get Member's Mark Brand from Sam's Club you get 300 tablets for 8.99. I know Walgreens has their brand with the same ingredients and if you live in the UK Boots has been reported to have something similar. Let me know if you need more help. You won't be sorry if you try it.

I suggest starting with 1/2 tablet with each meal at first this may be enough to control the diarrhea if not in a few days up the dose to 1 tablet with each meal or any combination there of. The side effect is constipation so if you feel it coming on just stop taking it until you have a BM then start back on a lower dose. It is important to use a calcium that is as much alike as the Caltrate brand from the feedback I have gotten.

Let me list the ingredients:

Vitamin D 200 IU (The sunshine vitamin needed to help the body absorb calcium)

Calcium 500 or 600 MG (This should be calcium carbonate form) (Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body. It is essential for maintaining strong bones and teeth. Calcium is vital to muscle and nerve function, blood clotting and metabolism.)

Magnesium 40 MG (No more than this amount because magnesium will cause you to have diarrhea but because calcium is constipating the magnesium helps to counter act that effect) (Magnesium is essential to build bones and is needed for muscle function, energy metabolism, trans-mission of nerve impulses and to make genetic material and protein.)

Zinc 7.5 MG (Zinc is necessary for some metabolic processes, normal growth and sexual development, and proper immune system functions.)

Copper 1 MG (Copper promotes iron absorption and is essential to red blood cells, connective tissue, fibers and skin pigmentation.)

Manganese 1.8 MG (Maganese plays an important role in metabolism and is also needed to build bones and tendons.)

Boron 250 MCG. (Improves calcium and magnesium retention. Similar improvements can also be seen in Vitamin D deficient post menopausal females.)

There are other brands with the same ingredients so get something as close as you can. Then start with 1/2 tablet with each meal and in a few days if this is not enough to control your diarrhea then up the dose to 1 tablet with each meal. If you feel you are becoming constipated then cut back on the dose. You may have to stop the calcium completely then start back after you have a BM at a lower dose.

It has been working since the first day I started taking it July 1998 and as long as I take 3 a day (this is the amount I must take it may be different for you) I remain diarrhea free. No cramps, bloating or diarrhea. No stomach noises, gas or pain. If I should happen to have a case of diarrhea for who knows what reason it is very short lived and not the pain involved like before and this I am sure happens to even normal people. It is usually a one shot deal and it is over.

The dose you take with each meal is not the dose that is helping you at that meal it is the prior ones that have time to works their way through you system to soak up excess bile and water in the intestines.

It also works for those of you who still have the gall bladder.

Take Care,

Linda

LNAPENTS@netscape.net

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