I am glad all the test are neg. but why do I still have problem?

Nurses General Nursing

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Since gall bladder surgery 6 months ago I have had liquid stools. At first they were painless and I was told it would go away so I waited. Recently they became associated with colic like pain. I under went upper GI and small bowel series and today I had colonoscopy. Well everything is 99% normal. The radiologist did remark that the barium moved through my system at a very rapid rate but other than that everything is normal. The colonoscopy were so good that the GI doc told me I have a bowel he would expect to see in much younger person. He put forward couple of ideas. One is irritable bowel. Second is a very mild case of Chrones disease. He says that sometimes a mild Chrones case will escape detection even with all the test I have had. I thought he would not find anything toooo awfully bad because I have never seen any blood and I can control the symptoms by eating bland diet. All the things that are good for you like fruits, veggies and whole grains give my system fits. Been taking Robinal for 2 or 3 weeks and that helped a bit. Now he wants me to take Questran. Oh and yes of course he has suggested fiber but I have not tried it yet. I know this does not sound serious but it is one of the two reasons I flopped in my attempt to go back to work. The other reason was an Asthma flair up. Oh by the way test for lactose intolerance were neg.

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Specializes in ER, PACU, OR.

oramar,

unfortunately ibs and crohns are usually a result of all the tests being negative, and finding nothing. the crohns usualy to be the result of a genetic/auto immune issue.

the ibs i'm not really sure how they come about that one? i realy think it is dx based on not being able to come up with anything conclusive. i know......i speak from experience.

me :)

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Oramar,

I wish I new a definte answer for you. One thing I can think of is Malabsorption syndrome. It is a syndrome that causes an intolerance to gluten(found in many breads) and/or caused by pancreatic insufficiency. Beause the gallbladder increases the pancreas' release of enzymes x3, you may have insufficiency from your gall bladder surgury- this may be whats causing your GI tract to be a bit out of whack. Just a suggestion to your MD.

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Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

I had that too. My surgeon said it was due to bile continually leaking (due to no reservoir) instead of being secreted only when fats were being ingested. His solution was putting me on Questran which worked WONDERS. After about 2 1/2 - 3 mos he tapered me off and now I rarely have any problems. Put this idea to him. I don't believe it could hurt as long as you take it spaced apart from any meds that it may inhibit.

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Thankyou, for some very interesting suggestions, very helpful. PS: I knew I was spelling Crohns disease incorrectly, just to lazy to look it up. PPS: I was high as a kite last evening from the Conscious Sedation. They told me to go home and rest but instead I was bouncing around like a superball. Went to park and took long walk, family tried to talk me out of it, told them I would drive myself if they did not take me, they did it to keep me from getting behind the wheel. Then I came home and baked cookies and cakes and pies till midnight most of which did not turn out very well cause I was under the influence. Had three hours sleep and now am cleaning the house like a maniac. Any kind of anesthetic or sedation makes me aggitated as it wears off.

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I had my gall bladder removed a year ago this month (happy birthday to me!) I always had trouble with a "touchy tummy" before my chole... My mom was the same way, anytime we ate anything fatty or "heavy," we'd be fighting over who'd get to be in the bathroom first... :uhoh21:

After surgery, this was even worse! No fried foods, no fatty foods, (yeah, like I needed THAT stuff), no cole slaw, nothing that would go right through me... First they even had me do a course of Flagyl, thinking that might "fix me" (nope)... Aside from putting me through all those fun tests you mentioned (which I REALLY didn't want) there wasn't much else to do, so I went out on my own to find my own cure, forget all those tests...blech

I've eventually found lots of fiber, no fried foods, and keep imodium in my pocket seems to work for me. :D The one nightmare food, and of COURSE the one I'm always craving, is eggrolls! Don't let me near them, or you won't see me for the rest of my shift..hehe :chair:

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

My friend had a similar problem after gall bladder surgery. Her insurance wouldn't cover Questrin, which is apparently rather expensive, so her surgeon recommended regular doses of Metamucil or Citrucel to help bulk up her stools and make them a more normal consistency. It has helped her tremendously. Good luck!

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Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

Try these sites from Google. As for cost...I don't remember it being all that expensive...like maybe $30 a month....? Certainly cheaper than all the testing etc.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=diarrhea+after+cholycystectomy&btnG=Google+Search

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Don't worry folks, have good insurance, everything is covered. Boy I would like to feel better and go back to work. Just keep getting more bored and lonely.

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My hubby has also found relief with Metamucil or Citrucel (sp?)as it bulks up things...if he forgets it he has problems. Citrucel is less gas producing for him. Hope you feel better soon, Oramar...I can relate to sitting at home. No fun. :(

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I had a lap chole in October, and was told by my surgeon that it takes about a year for your body to adjust to not having a gall bladder. But I also had an endoscopy where they noticed inflammation from bile backing flowing into my stomach, which causes rapid transport. (For years before, they thought I had irritable bowel.) I was ruled out for every GI disorder know to man. Celiac sprue, Crohn's, UC, and someothers that the names escape me right now.

It has gotten better, but I still have bad days. I just make sure I know where the nearest bathroom is at all times. I also have a keychain that I carry Kaopectate tabs in. (I was told Kaopectate was better than the Imodium since Imodium is absorbed into the blood stream and Kaopectate is only absorbed by the GI tract.)

I hope you are feeling better soon!!! :)

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Just want to update this post. Have been on Questran for 3 weeks and am doing fine. Need to thank the Lord my test were all negative and the problem has been so easy to deal with.

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