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IBS Worse After Cholecystectomy

linda1465's avatar image

By linda1465

2 min read

I’ve had mild IBS all my life, but it never actually affected my life. I was having mid tummy pain on and off so my doc had an ultrasound done. They found sludge in my gall bladder. Although I had had only 2 bouts of gall bladder colic in the last 10 years it was decided it was best to remove it. No stones. Both my GP and GI doc said it shouldn’t change my life. Well, I had it out about 4 years ago and it has been down hill ever since.

I think the cholecystectomy has exaggerated my IBS tenfold. First problem was the urgency. If I had to go, I’d better get to a toilet FAST. Embarrassing to say I had a few accidents while shopping etc. I had to learn the signals my body was sending when I needed to go. I was having lots of back pain, so I went on an antidepressant medication called Pamelor, (10mg) a low dose since I was not depressed. It has been known to help nerve pain. Well, low and behold, my IBS symptoms practically disappeared. So I felt fine for a few years, then I had to stop it as it was causing my heart to palpitate.

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Boy, then the IBS kicked right back in but worse. I would have one sweaty, painful, crampy awful day....5-10 trips to the toilet. This would be followed by 2 days of really normal, almost hard stools. Then it would start all over again.

Now it seems I have mostly difficult days....the more fruit and veggies I eat, the worse it is. Here’s what I’ve tried, to no avail:

  • Getting off coffee
  • Taking digestive enzymes
  • Watching fat intake
  • Watching dairy
  • Taking Benefiber in water every night
  • Eliminating diet carbonated drinks

Nothing has got me back to even semi normal......I have not been able to really identify foods that cause a flare up. My life is very affected as I am worried about going out sometimes, and forget any trips to the Amazon or Africa.

(My doctor said the reason I was better on Pamelor was because it is mildly constipating.). But I think it calms the gut too.

Anyway, that’s my ugly story. Still searching for relief, but I will say I wish I still had my gallbladder!

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