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Can gall bladder removal cause IBS? I'm questioning everything now.

I'm 25 yrs old and ever since I was 14 I always cramped up when I ate really greasy foods or things like spinach and instantly had to run to the bathroom. As I got older, cramping and bathroom visits got worse. Finally my stomach would cramp so bad I'd be curled up and couldn't move without crying. Multiple ER visits and dr appointments and last May they decided taking my gallbladder out might help. It was septated. Since having it taken out, I have not had a solid bowel movement and cramping is still very painful. I have quit two jobs after soiling myself because I couldn't make it to the bathroom on time. I was fired from another after calling in because as soon as I woke up and ate breakfast, I was sitting on a toilet. Ive talked to my nurse practitioner about it and she has told me to take a probiotic and eat Activia. I already cut out spinach and deep fried foods. Pretty soon I'll be eating yogurt and tuna fish out of a can while sitting on the toilet. Please tell me whether this could be the answer I've been looking for???

  1. Hi QuestioningItAll! Thanks so much for taking the time to submit this question. I'm so sorry to hear how long you've been struggling! You're not alone in this. We've heard from so many community members about the impacts that IBS has one's work life. Regarding your gallbladder, we have a great article that explores links between gallbladder removal and IBS here: https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/clinical/gallbladder-removal-ibs/. There's still more research to be done, but we've heard from others that their IBS symptoms occurred after gallbladder removal.

    I also wanted to share an article with you that explains more about a widely used diet among the IBS community: the low FODMAP diet: https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/ibs-diet/. I hope this helps. Please feel free to come back here anytime for support! - Chris, IrritableBowelSyndrome.net Team Member

    1. I had my gall bladder removed when I was 18 for Similar reasons. My life has been a living night mare since then. Pain, nausea, cramping, etc. I will say when I eat healthier it does help but here lately nothing has helped

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