What problems can you have, when you do not have a gallbladder or bile duct?

Question

I have had both of them removed and also a part of my pancreas.
I have been getting sick lately, like my food is not digesting.. My mouth goes dry, too and I want to pass out--until I throw up and/or go until I have diarrhea. Can anyone help? Thanks

Answer 1

I can help!!! I too had my gallbladder removed and all my food went right through me. The reason this happens is that your liver produces bile (a green liquid substance that helps your body to digest fats). Once the liver produces the bile, it stores it in the gallbladder. When you eat a meal with fat in it, the gallbladder squirts out as much bile as your body needs to digest the fat from that meal.

Your liver still produces bile regardless that you have had your gallbladder removed, however now it has no where to store the bile that it is producing. So what happens is, once the liver produces the bile it goes straight to your lower intestine and sits there in a pool. Once you eat a meal, it hits the pool of bile (which is more bile than is necessary to digest that meal) and you have diarhea.

Being the research queen that I am, and doctors being as useless as they are (because no doctor was willing to acknowlege this problem or offer me advice, even though EVERYBODY I have ever talked to that has had their gallbladder out has had this problem), I have found the antidote.

You must take Calcium suppliments every day. I find that the calcium carbonate works better than calcium citrate (although I have heard the exact opposite, you have to find what works for you). Calcium once digested becomes like a powdery chalk which absorbs the excess bile sitting in your lower intestine. If you do this, you will never go through this again. I take two 600 mg tablets every morning and this works for me. You have to play with the dosage for yourself to see what works. If you take too much calcium you will become constipated, so once you find your dosage stick with it.

I was very happy to come upon this question and that I was able to help you. I promise you that this works. Good luck!

P.S. They sell a very large bottle of calcium carbonate at Walmart and it lasts me a long time :)

Answer 2

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Cholangitis is an inflammation of the common duct, and it may also be caused by a bacterial infectin that has crept back up from the small intestine. It may also be the result of the gallstones themselves, and was futher irritated by the surgical procedure itself. There are other tests that can shed better light on the situation, things like endoscopy that a doctor can do to check out the duct from where it enters the small intestine. That is something that really does require a specialist, one that probably isn't available there where you are. If they can't locate a blockage, the next most likely treatment will be antibiotics to clear up a possible infection in the duct system. She probably has either a primary or secondary biliary cirrhosis, which can happen when the duct has been blocked or narrowed and inflammed for some time. It's not unusual to see that in a patient that has had gallstones for some time before the surgery was performed. I think it would be a good idea to see the specialists down in Philly, if for no other reason than to save your sanity. Given your mom's age, and most recent troubles, it's more than like she has just reacted poorly to the gallstones and procedures and it will clear up given antibiotics and time for healing. But I'm not an expert by any means, and still think it would be a good idea to consult one down at U of Philly. Used to live down in Tobyhanna myself- and if I or a member of my family had a problem, that's where we would head.

Answer 3

Go see a doctor. If this continues then you will end up severely undernourished and unhealthy. It may or may not be related to the removal of your gallbladder and bile duct but you definitely need to get checked out. Answers here are probably not going to be a big help to you.

Answer 4

Could depend on how long ago you had the cholecystectomy. Diarrhea and nausea are a part of the postoperative process. It would help to know what it is you eat that causes your symptoms, what your diet is. In any case, this is something you should report to your gastroenterologist or primary doctor. There's no way you can be diagnosed or treated online.

Answer 5

Are you eating high fat meals? High fat meals make it harder for those of us who are lacking a gallbladder/bile duct. Sounds like something is not working correctly. Contact your doc to find out what steps you need to take to correct the situation.

Answer 6

Diarhea, Incontinence, Stomach aches to name a few