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Suggest Treatment For Diarrhea Caused After Gallbladder Removal
Question: I HAD MY GALLBLADDER REMOVED ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO AND I HAVE HAD DIARRHEA EVER SINCE, I CAN'T EAT DAIRY PRODUCTS OR ANY GREEN VEG. OR A FOOD THAT IS GREASEY . WHAT CAN I DO . A DR. SUGGESTED I TAKE ALIGN, THIS HELPS BUT I STILL CAN'T EAT THE FOODS I MENTIONED, I HOPE YOU HAVE A SOLUTION FR MY PROBLEM.
Brief Answer:
Loss of bile
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for contacting HCM
You are concerned about not being able to eat certain foods especially food that are greasy because of diarrhea. This is a very common problem after having gall bladder surgery. The gall bladder is a storage area for bile and when you eat a meal, the bile is then secreted into the small intestine to help digestion of fatty foods. The bile is no longer available in large quantities after a meal once you have had the gall bladder removed. Therefore your ability to digest foods containing grease or fat is impaired. Instead of digesting these foods they pass right through you. Unfortunately, there are no bile supplements to help with these problem.
For some people I have tried using pancreatic enzyme supplements to help with digestion. Most are by prescription only like Creon. Your pharmacist maybe able to help you find other OTC supplements to help with digestion. These supplements have enzymes that begin digestion early in the stomach and small intestine and may help you digest foods you enjoy.
Another option I have used is to try Questran as a binding agent to help stop diarrhea. It is a medication used to reduce high triglycerides and has also been found to help chronic diarrhea. This is also prescription and maybe better tolerated than the align you are currently using.
Good Luck
Hope this answers your question. Please contact us again with your medical concerns and questions
Loss of bile
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for contacting HCM
You are concerned about not being able to eat certain foods especially food that are greasy because of diarrhea. This is a very common problem after having gall bladder surgery. The gall bladder is a storage area for bile and when you eat a meal, the bile is then secreted into the small intestine to help digestion of fatty foods. The bile is no longer available in large quantities after a meal once you have had the gall bladder removed. Therefore your ability to digest foods containing grease or fat is impaired. Instead of digesting these foods they pass right through you. Unfortunately, there are no bile supplements to help with these problem.
For some people I have tried using pancreatic enzyme supplements to help with digestion. Most are by prescription only like Creon. Your pharmacist maybe able to help you find other OTC supplements to help with digestion. These supplements have enzymes that begin digestion early in the stomach and small intestine and may help you digest foods you enjoy.
Another option I have used is to try Questran as a binding agent to help stop diarrhea. It is a medication used to reduce high triglycerides and has also been found to help chronic diarrhea. This is also prescription and maybe better tolerated than the align you are currently using.
Good Luck
Hope this answers your question. Please contact us again with your medical concerns and questions
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Answered by
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