Questions about the bowel movements

Webmommy

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Sorry I have questions about bowel movements but as I am reading through the forum the frequency of the diarrhea questions and/or comments seem to be popping out to me.

Are you having diarrhea because your gallbladder has been removed at the same time and you actually have the postcholecystectomy syndrome? Or is the diarrhea just a side effect from the surgery?

I am wondering just how bad it can get since I already have chronic diarrhea from having my gallbladder removed in 2016 and my GI doctor recently prescribed Welchol for it. But before that I was just taking Imodium when we ate out to avoid an immediate bathroom break. Is diarrhea a big component to the weight loss so much so that taking medications would interfere with weight loss? I've read where some of you are controlling it with iron and calcium supplements.

I'm a disabled SAHM so I can access my restroom easily but if my diarrhea were to worsen where I was incontinent it would be pretty demoralizing regardless if I'm simply at home. We are going to go have a consultation asap with Dr. Ayoola and I will ask him as well but wanted to see your thoughts first. Thanks.
 
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Except for the first 2-3 months following surgery, most diarrhea is a direct result of the food/fluid going in.

My gallbladder was removed 6 months post DS, unless I’m eating things my gut hates, I’m more likely to be constipated.
 
Except for the first 2-3 months following surgery, most diarrhea is a direct result of the food/fluid going in.

My gallbladder was removed 6 months post DS, unless I’m eating things my gut hates, I’m more likely to be constipated.

Why do you think diarrhea is the result of food and liquid going in? Is it because the channel is shorter?
 
Bear in mind that people who don't have bathroom issues aren't posting about them - so naturally you'll see more of the problems, and it'll be a skewed sample.

If I'm taking my vitamins, I'm usually fine and regular (first thing in the morning, twice in quick succession, then done for the day). If I eat a lot of carbs or skip my calcium, I will have different poo - looser, and sometimes oily. Also bear in mind that many people use diarrhoea to mean 'loose stools', rather than what a clinician would term 'diarrhoea'.
 
Bear in mind that people who don't have bathroom issues aren't posting about them - so naturally you'll see more of the problems, and it'll be a skewed sample.

If I'm taking my vitamins, I'm usually fine and regular (first thing in the morning, twice in quick succession, then done for the day). If I eat a lot of carbs or skip my calcium, I will have different poo - looser, and sometimes oily. Also bear in mind that many people use diarrhoea to mean 'loose stools', rather than what a clinician would term 'diarrhoea'.
That's a good point about the sample being skewed! Thank you! I feel less worried. The thought of diarrhea worsening is hard to imagine when it's bad already.
 
Most people on here have the opposite problem - the calcium blocks things up and need to take something to get things moving! But you can play over time with what works for you, and know what sorts of food choices lead to bathroom consequences, and which are safe to eat when you're out and about.
 
Are you having diarrhea because your gallbladder has been removed at the same time and you actually have the postcholecystectomy syndrome? Or is the diarrhea just a side effect from the surgery?

I am wondering just how bad it can get since I already have chronic diarrhea from having my gallbladder removed in 2016 and my GI doctor recently prescribed Welchol for it.

DISCLAIMER: TMI ALERT

I also had my gallbladder removed in a different operation subsequent to DS (to address cancer). For some time after that other non-DS operation, in which I also lost a good portion of pancreas and liver and was prescribed a drug, Creon, to better absorb nutrients, I suffered from painful, frequent bile salt/acid diarrhea.

The Bile salt/acid diarrhea was signficantly different from what I had previously experienced from DS. My DS stool included greater volume, softer, non-painful, but more colorful, and "floatier" stools than prior-to-DS. My DS stools mainly all resolved with an more urgent, longer duration than prior-to-DS morning bathroom trip and perhaps one in the afternoon.

I no longer need Creon and no longer have bile salt, so am back to DS-stools and it is very manageable. This is much better than postcholecystectomy syndrome.
 
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DISCLAIMER: TMI ALERT

I also had my had gallbladder removed in a different operation subsequent to DS (to address cancer). For some time after that other non-DS operation, in which I also lost a good portion of pancreas and liver and was prescribed a drug, Creon, to better absorb nutrients, I suffered from painful, frequent bile salt/acid diarrhea.

The Bile salt/acid diarrhea was signficantly different from wht I had previously experienced from DS. My DS stool included greater volume, softer, non-painful, but more colorful, and "floatier" stools than prior-to-DS. My DS stools mainly all resolved with an more urgent, longer duration than prior-to-DS morning bathroom trip and perhaps one in the afternoon.

I no longer need Creon and no longer have bile salt, so am back to DS-stools and it is very manageable. This is much better than postcholecystectomy syndrome.
Thank you for sharing! That's good to know. I saw on another post you said you had pancreatic cancer. Were you able to catch it so early because of the DS?
 
Thank you for sharing! That's good to know. I saw on another post you said you had pancreatic cancer. Were you able to catch it so early because of the DS?
It was caught by a radiologist conducting a CT scan for diverticulitis (acute infection), about 30 days post DS. Long story short, unfortunately that finding was not communicated to my surgeon so I found it myself when reading my own medical records about 6 months after that.
 
Immediately postop most have diarrhea. I took Imodium and carried a few chewables with me for a while. You will hear people say never trust a fart! The diarrhea doesn't have much to do with having or not having a GB. For most of us it's all about having shorter guts.

I had surgery in 2003. Usually I go twice a day in the morning and done. Not diarrhea. Now if I eat something I shouldn't or maybe have a lot of salad or broccoli I might go again in the evening. That's pretty typical for me. I had my GB out when I had my DS. And I was happy to get rid of it.
 
It was caught by a radiologist conducting a CT scan for diverticulitis (acute infection), about 30 days post DS. Long story short, unfortunately that finding was not communicated to my surgeon so I found it myself when reading my own medical records about 6 months after that.
Oh my! You saved your own life! It wasn't in the report or your surgeon didn't read it all? Glad you caught it early enough though.
 
Immediately postop most have diarrhea. I took Imodium and carried a few chewables with me for a while. You will hear people say never trust a fart! The diarrhea doesn't have much to do with having or not having a GB. For most of us it's all about having shorter guts.

I had surgery in 2003. Usually I go twice a day in the morning and done. Not diarrhea. Now if I eat something I shouldn't or maybe have a lot of salad or broccoli I might go again in the evening. That's pretty typical for me. I had my GB out when I had my DS. And I was happy to get rid of it.
I'm happy mine is gone too because it was painful and had stopped working loooooooooonng before I had it removed. I was lucky that it had scarred over itself rather than turning gangrenous. Diarrhea is still better than the pain.

I've seen the NTAF already and it's pretty funny. Someone should put it on a t-shirt.
 
I'm about 3 months post of and I have bowel movements 3-6 times a day. Typically I have one overnight and then two or three in the first couple hours after getting up then 1-2 through the rest of the day. Usually they are loose but not liquid. If I don't keep my fat intake up I get plugged up.
 
I'm about 3 months post of and I have bowel movements 3-6 times a day. Typically I have one overnight and then two or three in the first couple hours after getting up then 1-2 through the rest of the day. Usually they are loose but not liquid. If I don't keep my fat intake up I get plugged up.
I would be so aggravated to wake up in the middle of the night to use the restroom unless there was a pregnancy or infant involved. But the fat consumption and calcium to control it all is something that I am planning on remembering.
 

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