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What Causes Feeling Of Unwell And Passing Of Gas Post Gall Bladder Removal?
Question: I was sick for several weeks and had several tests done which showed up normal but after a CT scan they found I had gall stones. This was a complete XXXXXXX because I never had the normal symptoms or pain most people get. I had the gall bladder removed, doctor said it was inflamed and the stones were all bunched together on one end. My problem now is that I will feel good for a couple weeks then start to get some of the same symptoms I had before surgery. It used to be girgling, gas, etc but now that I'm off dairy products most of that has stopped. The most concerning symptom is that feeling of just not being well....feeling a little sad. The funny thing is that as soon as I pass gas I immediately feel great. Also, sometimes I'll feel warm in my stomach and when I have a bowl movement it feels warm coming out. This situation seems to be cyclical....feel good for couple weeks than sick for a week. Keeps repeating. Any idea what's going on with me?
Brief Answer:
Explained below...
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I have gone through your medical history carefully and understood your concern.
You have a personal history of gallbladder removal recently. Currently are facing episodes of alternating feeling good with feeling sick (girgling, gas, etc.).
If the surgery was conducted recently, I believe they have prescribed antibiotics. These can alter your intestinal flora, giving the sensation of gas or not feeling good. Candida overgrowth can also be another explanation. A culture of stool for candida will be helpful at this point.
Taking probiotics and anti-fungal meds (e.g. nystatin) can help restore normal intestinal flora and treat candida overgrowth respectively.
Simethicone can also ease abdominal gas. While, taking antacids after meal can ease stomach hyperacidity.
What worries me is the fact that such symptoms are not persistent but episodically. At this point, I need to know if the symptoms will relieve if you avoid spicy? chilly? oily foods? apart avoiding dairy products.
It seems to be irritation of your stomach due to use of any of these foods or drinks (like caffeinated drinks or chocolate or alcohol).
As a start you can run an abdominal ultrasound to evaluate the intrahepatic biliary pathways, pancreas and overall status of your bowels.
Then, upper endoscopy to rule out gastritis or ulcer and get them treated adequately.
Discuss this further with your doctor.
All the best!
Dr.Albana
Explained below...
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I have gone through your medical history carefully and understood your concern.
You have a personal history of gallbladder removal recently. Currently are facing episodes of alternating feeling good with feeling sick (girgling, gas, etc.).
If the surgery was conducted recently, I believe they have prescribed antibiotics. These can alter your intestinal flora, giving the sensation of gas or not feeling good. Candida overgrowth can also be another explanation. A culture of stool for candida will be helpful at this point.
Taking probiotics and anti-fungal meds (e.g. nystatin) can help restore normal intestinal flora and treat candida overgrowth respectively.
Simethicone can also ease abdominal gas. While, taking antacids after meal can ease stomach hyperacidity.
What worries me is the fact that such symptoms are not persistent but episodically. At this point, I need to know if the symptoms will relieve if you avoid spicy? chilly? oily foods? apart avoiding dairy products.
It seems to be irritation of your stomach due to use of any of these foods or drinks (like caffeinated drinks or chocolate or alcohol).
As a start you can run an abdominal ultrasound to evaluate the intrahepatic biliary pathways, pancreas and overall status of your bowels.
Then, upper endoscopy to rule out gastritis or ulcer and get them treated adequately.
Discuss this further with your doctor.
All the best!
Dr.Albana
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I was never given any antibiotics after surgery, only pain meds and stool softener.
Also, when I feel sick but then pass gas or burp all of a sudden I'm fine. It happens just that quick. Does this tell you anything?
I do know that eliminating dairy has stopped the girgling so that's good and yesterday I started using the Cholestryamine and have noticed a slight difference....more burping & flatulance and I feel a little better. Can you tell me what exactly does Cholestraymine do?
Also, when I feel sick but then pass gas or burp all of a sudden I'm fine. It happens just that quick. Does this tell you anything?
I do know that eliminating dairy has stopped the girgling so that's good and yesterday I started using the Cholestryamine and have noticed a slight difference....more burping & flatulance and I feel a little better. Can you tell me what exactly does Cholestraymine do?
Brief Answer:
Following answers to your questions
Detailed Answer:
Hi my dear,
Although you had your gallbladder removed, your liver is still producing bile to digest oily foods.
However, it will be difficult for your liver to digest foods especially at the beginning.
Avoiding those foods/drinks that will precipitate gas or indigestion problems can definitely resolve your problems.
For example: fatty/processed foods, high calorie foods/drinks, dairies should be avoided.
Cholestyramin is a bile acid sequestrant agent. In other words, it will help remove from your body the bile acids that are still produced by your liver.
This explains why you're feeling better.
However it is extremely important to be careful with foods/drinks you consume.
Hope it answered to your questions.
Dr.Albana
Following answers to your questions
Detailed Answer:
Hi my dear,
Although you had your gallbladder removed, your liver is still producing bile to digest oily foods.
However, it will be difficult for your liver to digest foods especially at the beginning.
Avoiding those foods/drinks that will precipitate gas or indigestion problems can definitely resolve your problems.
For example: fatty/processed foods, high calorie foods/drinks, dairies should be avoided.
Cholestyramin is a bile acid sequestrant agent. In other words, it will help remove from your body the bile acids that are still produced by your liver.
This explains why you're feeling better.
However it is extremely important to be careful with foods/drinks you consume.
Hope it answered to your questions.
Dr.Albana
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
If my symptoms are pretty much the same now as before they removed the gall bladder then what was the point of taking it out considering I didn't have any of the normal pain associated with gall bladder trouble? Was there any benefit to removing it?
Should the Cholestyramine be taken before or after meals or with meals? The directions just say twice a day, no mention of when. It does say a side affect could be constipation so would it be good to take a stool softener at night if I start having constipation?
Should the Cholestyramine be taken before or after meals or with meals? The directions just say twice a day, no mention of when. It does say a side affect could be constipation so would it be good to take a stool softener at night if I start having constipation?
Brief Answer:
Following answers to your questions
Detailed Answer:
Hi back my dear,
1. If they found stones in your gallbladder and you were sick that time, it means that the cause were the inflamed gallbladder and stones.
This explains why they took it out.
2. Your actual symptoms are temporary. If they did not take it out, more problems would spring out including pancreatitis or acute abdomen.
3. Cholestyramin should be taken with meal mixed with a glass of water while you are eating.
4. If you'll start having constipation problems, then can take a stool softener at night. There is no problem with that.
Hope it answered your questions.
Dr.Albana
Following answers to your questions
Detailed Answer:
Hi back my dear,
1. If they found stones in your gallbladder and you were sick that time, it means that the cause were the inflamed gallbladder and stones.
This explains why they took it out.
2. Your actual symptoms are temporary. If they did not take it out, more problems would spring out including pancreatitis or acute abdomen.
3. Cholestyramin should be taken with meal mixed with a glass of water while you are eating.
4. If you'll start having constipation problems, then can take a stool softener at night. There is no problem with that.
Hope it answered your questions.
Dr.Albana
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I feel better so apparently the Cholestyramin is helping and no problem with bowel movements so far but I still have some questions.
First, I see there are 11 refills for this med, is it something I will have to take from now on?
Second, if my gall bladder was inflamed and there were several stones (all gathered at one end), was bile still going through it or was the bile backing up into my intestines? Could that have caused irritation/inflamation elsewhere in my digestive system? If it did, now that my gall bladder is out will it just take time for the rest of my tummy/intestines to heal thus the reason for the Cholestyramine and bland diet?
I know I'm asking a lot of specific questions but even though the Cholestyramine is helping I'm afraid to trust anything permanently. I'll be more at ease if I know the reason for all the ups and downs. Thank you so much.
First, I see there are 11 refills for this med, is it something I will have to take from now on?
Second, if my gall bladder was inflamed and there were several stones (all gathered at one end), was bile still going through it or was the bile backing up into my intestines? Could that have caused irritation/inflamation elsewhere in my digestive system? If it did, now that my gall bladder is out will it just take time for the rest of my tummy/intestines to heal thus the reason for the Cholestyramine and bland diet?
I know I'm asking a lot of specific questions but even though the Cholestyramine is helping I'm afraid to trust anything permanently. I'll be more at ease if I know the reason for all the ups and downs. Thank you so much.
Brief Answer:
Following answers to your questions
Detailed Answer:
Hi back my dear,
I am happy to hear that you're better now.
Please find the answers to your questions in the following paragraphs:
- Cholestyramin is not used for long time, it is usually prescribed for a few days.
If everything will be OK, then no need for other meds.
- please take note that bile is produced by gallbladder and intrahepatic biliary pathways. It is then traveling to biliary pathways and secreting into duodenum where it is supposed to help in digestion of foods.
If there is inflammation or stones in the gallbladder,, bile is still being produced and secretes into duodenum unless, the stones are stuck into gallbladder and not letting bile to flow giving the symptoms you had.
If gallbladder is inflamed, you'd have pain as gallbladder shrinks while secreting inflamed bile.
Inflamed bile can irritate duodenal or stomach mucosa if there is reflux.
This is temporary until everything will be stabilized. Do not worry. Just be careful with food/drink you consume.
All the best.
Dr.Albana
Following answers to your questions
Detailed Answer:
Hi back my dear,
I am happy to hear that you're better now.
Please find the answers to your questions in the following paragraphs:
- Cholestyramin is not used for long time, it is usually prescribed for a few days.
If everything will be OK, then no need for other meds.
- please take note that bile is produced by gallbladder and intrahepatic biliary pathways. It is then traveling to biliary pathways and secreting into duodenum where it is supposed to help in digestion of foods.
If there is inflammation or stones in the gallbladder,, bile is still being produced and secretes into duodenum unless, the stones are stuck into gallbladder and not letting bile to flow giving the symptoms you had.
If gallbladder is inflamed, you'd have pain as gallbladder shrinks while secreting inflamed bile.
Inflamed bile can irritate duodenal or stomach mucosa if there is reflux.
This is temporary until everything will be stabilized. Do not worry. Just be careful with food/drink you consume.
All the best.
Dr.Albana
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I am doing better so the Cholestryamine must be helping I just hope I don't have to take it for the rest of my life. My doctor said I could try taking once a day instead of twice and see how that works but I'm a little afraid to do that, I don't want to stir things up again. What do you think, should I try once a day?
Lots of people I talked to who had their gall bladder removed don't have any problems so had for me to understand why my situation was so difficult.
Lots of people I talked to who had their gall bladder removed don't have any problems so had for me to understand why my situation was so difficult.
Brief Answer:
Go ahead and take Cholestyramin once daily without fear
Detailed Answer:
Hi back my dear,
I am happy you're doing fine. I too think as your doctor to reduce the daily dose of Cholestyramin from twice daily to once daily.
Try it without having any doubt or fear ad I'm sure everything will be ok.
Good luck.
Let me know how it goes after 1 week.
Dr.Albana
Go ahead and take Cholestyramin once daily without fear
Detailed Answer:
Hi back my dear,
I am happy you're doing fine. I too think as your doctor to reduce the daily dose of Cholestyramin from twice daily to once daily.
Try it without having any doubt or fear ad I'm sure everything will be ok.
Good luck.
Let me know how it goes after 1 week.
Dr.Albana
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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