Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Re: Anyone here had their gallbladder taken out?

Hi Meg,
I debated about whether or not to respond to your questions, because I don't want to unneccesarily worry you, but on the other hand..."forewarned is forearmed" as they say.

I had my gallbladder out 7 years ago. After the surgery I had a lot of digestive problems, but my surgeon said that it would take at least 6 months for my body to adjust to not having a gallbladder.

After several months, I didn't have as many problems, but over the years I've continued to have problems and they have gotten worse. My gastroenterologist had these words of wisdom for me, "Doctors will tell you that you can live without a gallbladder, and you can. What they don't tell you is that it can alter your digestion and can be problematic."

I know that some people never have a problem after they've had their gallbladder removed. Hopefully, you'll be one of them. (My mother never had a problem after those initial first months.) I, unfortunately, wasn't that lucky. Heather's book suggests that IBS can be caused by stomach trauma and surgeries. Now it doesn't help that after my gallbladder was removed, I had another six abdominal surgeries, but I now believe that my IBS was caused (or at least aggravated) by my seven surgeries.

I firmly believe if I had known that this could happen to me, I would have been so much better off. For years I couldn't figure out what was wrong with me. My doctor kept blaming all my problems on the removal of my gallbladder. Now I realize that if I had been "on the lookout" for IBS, I wouldn't have been so miserable for all these years because I would have known how to prevent the attacks.

You are in a much better position than I was because you're so well-informed. I think you need to try not to worry too much because it will take several months for your body to adjust to life without a gallbladder. However, if things continue to bother you after several months, your knowledge of IBS will help tremendously.

Be patient with your body...it needs to heal!

Hope this helps!
Barb

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