Can a very infected gallbladder cause constipation or vice versa my brother is 79 and was sent home from the hospital with a drain tube which to drain infection from his gallbladder as they feel he is high risk for surgery. His heart doc told him two weeks ago that he is doing better than he has seen him do in 20 years. We have hospitalists in Iowa and our own docs are not involved these decisions. THey told him he would have to come back every 3 months to put in another drain tube. He is experiencing severe pain now from constipation. He drank an entire bottle of magnesium nitrate early today and still cannot go. What do you think?