Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhy It HappensPossible ComplicationsWhat to EatPain ManagementMedicationsFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Why It Happens
Possible Complications
What to Eat
Pain Management
Medications
Frequently Asked Questions
Diarrhea aftergallbladderremoval is a common experience. In fact, chronic diarrhea—often defined as three or more watery stools per day that last for a month or longer—is something that up to a quarter or more of all people who have acholecystectomy, or gallbladder removal surgery, will experience.
For most people, diarrhea following cholecystectomy will get better with time, but it can be a slow and frustrating process.
This article looks at the causes of chronic diarrhea after gallbladder removal surgery. It also explores how diet, lifestyle changes, and medications can help control symptoms and possible complications of chronic diarrhea.
Tom Le Goff / Photodisc / Getty Images
Why Gallbladder Removal Causes Diarrhea
There are several reasons why people have chronic diarrhea after gallbladder removal. The first has to do with the function of the gallbladder itself and what happens when the organ is removed.
Because of this, the intestines are overloaded with bile that cannot be properly reabsorbed, referred to as bile acid malabsorption (BAM). Excess bile, in turn, draws abnormally high levels of water and salts from the bloodstream into the intestine, causingbile acid diarrhea.
For most people, diarrhea is an annoyance rather than a serious medical problem. For those who undergo cholecystectomy, the symptom can become persistent and lead to chronicdehydration.
Chronic dehydration is when your body uses more fluids than you take in on an ongoing basis. As a result, your body is forced to function with less water, putting strain on organs like the kidneys and circulatory system that work to keep the body functioning normally.
This can lead to complications like:
When to Seek Medical Help
What to Eat to Improve Chronic Diarrhea
To help combat diarrhea, many healthcare providers recommend theBRATTY diet, which stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, tea, toast, and low-fat yogurt. Theprobiotic bacteriain yogurt may help to improve symptoms of diarrhea.Supplementing your diet with high-fiber foods may also bring relief.
Fiber is important because it adds bulk to your stool and may help firm it up.If you find fiber to be helpful in slowing your episodes of diarrhea, you may consider supplementing your diet with over-the-counter products likeMetamucil (psyllium).
Just be careful not to overdo it with the fiber, and drink plenty of water to avoid the opposite problem:constipation.
There are certain foods you should also avoid if you have acute or chronic bouts of diarrhea following cholecystectomy:
In addition to a low-fat, high-fiber diet, eat smaller snack-sized meals six times per day rather than three big meals. This can help you avoid overloading yourgastrointestinal tractwith foods that it may not be able to properly digest.
Mananging Pain of Chronic Diarrhea
While you are waiting for diarrhea after gallbladder surgery to improve, you may experience pain, discomfort, or burning in and around the anus. Diarrhea contains both bile and stomach acid, both of which are very irritating to the skin.
Consider the following tips for personal care to improve comfort:
For people with diarrhea after gallbladder removal, this medication can also dramatically reduce the severity and frequency of diarrhea. It is available in an artificially sweetened “light” version for people with diabetes. The medication comes in a packet and is taken as a drink after being added to water.
Milder cases of diarrhea may benefit from over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medications likeImodium (loperamide)orPepto-Bismol (bismuth subsalicylate).
Summary
The removal of the gallbladder eliminates the organ that is meant to store and regulate the secretion of a digestive fluid known as bile. Chronic diarrhea is common after gallbladder removal surgery (cholecystectomy) due to the unobstructed flow of bile into the small intestine. However, for most people who develop bile acid diarrhea, the condition usually resolves within a year.
A Word From Verywell
Diarrhea after gallbladder surgery is both common and troublesome. If you or a loved one is experiencing this complication after surgery and are unable to control it, your healthcare provider my refer you to agastroenterologist, a medical specialist who deals with chronic diarrhea and other digestive tract disorders.
Frequently Asked QuestionsAfter gallbladder removal, diarrhea can last a few weeks or longer. Some people who undergo gallbladder removal surgery may experience chronic diarrhea, which is defined as having abnormal stool (watery or loose) that persists for over four weeks.Learn MoreChronic Diarrhea Causes and ConsequencesNo. Changes in stool frequency and consistency are normal after this surgery, but blood in the stool could be a sign that something is wrong. A healthcare provider should be contacted immediately.Learn MoreAn Overview of Gastrointestinal Tract Bleeding
After gallbladder removal, diarrhea can last a few weeks or longer. Some people who undergo gallbladder removal surgery may experience chronic diarrhea, which is defined as having abnormal stool (watery or loose) that persists for over four weeks.Learn MoreChronic Diarrhea Causes and Consequences
After gallbladder removal, diarrhea can last a few weeks or longer. Some people who undergo gallbladder removal surgery may experience chronic diarrhea, which is defined as having abnormal stool (watery or loose) that persists for over four weeks.
Learn MoreChronic Diarrhea Causes and Consequences
No. Changes in stool frequency and consistency are normal after this surgery, but blood in the stool could be a sign that something is wrong. A healthcare provider should be contacted immediately.Learn MoreAn Overview of Gastrointestinal Tract Bleeding
No. Changes in stool frequency and consistency are normal after this surgery, but blood in the stool could be a sign that something is wrong. A healthcare provider should be contacted immediately.
Learn MoreAn Overview of Gastrointestinal Tract Bleeding
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Del Grande LM, Leme LFP, Marques FP, Ramos AT, Ramos PT, Souza FA.Prevalence and predictors of changes in bowel habits after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.Arq Bras Cir Dig. 2017;30(1):3–6. doi:10.1590/0102-6720201700010002Farrugia A, Attard JA, Khan S, Williams N, Arasaradnam R.Postcholecystectomy diarrhoea rate and predictive factors: a systematic review of the literature.BMJ Open. 2022 Feb 17;12(2):e046172. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-046172.Schiller LR, Pardi DS, Sellin JH.Chronic diarrhea: diagnosis and management.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol.2017;15(2):182-93.e3. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2016.07.028National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of diarrhea.Guarino A, Guandalini S, Lo vecchio A.Probiotics for prevention and treatment of diarrhea.J Clin Gastroenterol. 2015;49 Suppl 1:S37-45. doi:10.1097/MCG.0000000000000349Zhao R, Wang Y, Huang Y, et al.Effects of fiber and probiotics on diarrhea associated with enteral nutrition in gastric cancer patients: A prospective randomized and controlled trial.Medicine (Baltimore). 2017;96(43):e8418. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000008418Altomare DF, Rotelli MT, Palasciano N.Diet after cholecystectomy.Curr Med Chem. 2019;26(19):3662-5. doi: 10.2174/0929867324666170518100053International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.Anal Discomfort and How to Deal With It.U.S. National Library of Medicine, DailyMed.Label: Questran-Cholestyramine Powder, for Suspension.Farrugia A, Attard JA, Hanmer S, et al.Rates of bile acid diarrhoea after cholecystectomy: a multicentre audit.World J Surg. 2021;45(8):2447-2453. doi:10.1007/s00268-021-06147-8Additional ReadingDigestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse.Diarrhea.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Del Grande LM, Leme LFP, Marques FP, Ramos AT, Ramos PT, Souza FA.Prevalence and predictors of changes in bowel habits after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.Arq Bras Cir Dig. 2017;30(1):3–6. doi:10.1590/0102-6720201700010002Farrugia A, Attard JA, Khan S, Williams N, Arasaradnam R.Postcholecystectomy diarrhoea rate and predictive factors: a systematic review of the literature.BMJ Open. 2022 Feb 17;12(2):e046172. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-046172.Schiller LR, Pardi DS, Sellin JH.Chronic diarrhea: diagnosis and management.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol.2017;15(2):182-93.e3. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2016.07.028National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of diarrhea.Guarino A, Guandalini S, Lo vecchio A.Probiotics for prevention and treatment of diarrhea.J Clin Gastroenterol. 2015;49 Suppl 1:S37-45. doi:10.1097/MCG.0000000000000349Zhao R, Wang Y, Huang Y, et al.Effects of fiber and probiotics on diarrhea associated with enteral nutrition in gastric cancer patients: A prospective randomized and controlled trial.Medicine (Baltimore). 2017;96(43):e8418. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000008418Altomare DF, Rotelli MT, Palasciano N.Diet after cholecystectomy.Curr Med Chem. 2019;26(19):3662-5. doi: 10.2174/0929867324666170518100053International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.Anal Discomfort and How to Deal With It.U.S. National Library of Medicine, DailyMed.Label: Questran-Cholestyramine Powder, for Suspension.Farrugia A, Attard JA, Hanmer S, et al.Rates of bile acid diarrhoea after cholecystectomy: a multicentre audit.World J Surg. 2021;45(8):2447-2453. doi:10.1007/s00268-021-06147-8Additional ReadingDigestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse.Diarrhea.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Del Grande LM, Leme LFP, Marques FP, Ramos AT, Ramos PT, Souza FA.Prevalence and predictors of changes in bowel habits after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.Arq Bras Cir Dig. 2017;30(1):3–6. doi:10.1590/0102-6720201700010002Farrugia A, Attard JA, Khan S, Williams N, Arasaradnam R.Postcholecystectomy diarrhoea rate and predictive factors: a systematic review of the literature.BMJ Open. 2022 Feb 17;12(2):e046172. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-046172.Schiller LR, Pardi DS, Sellin JH.Chronic diarrhea: diagnosis and management.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol.2017;15(2):182-93.e3. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2016.07.028National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of diarrhea.Guarino A, Guandalini S, Lo vecchio A.Probiotics for prevention and treatment of diarrhea.J Clin Gastroenterol. 2015;49 Suppl 1:S37-45. doi:10.1097/MCG.0000000000000349Zhao R, Wang Y, Huang Y, et al.Effects of fiber and probiotics on diarrhea associated with enteral nutrition in gastric cancer patients: A prospective randomized and controlled trial.Medicine (Baltimore). 2017;96(43):e8418. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000008418Altomare DF, Rotelli MT, Palasciano N.Diet after cholecystectomy.Curr Med Chem. 2019;26(19):3662-5. doi: 10.2174/0929867324666170518100053International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.Anal Discomfort and How to Deal With It.U.S. National Library of Medicine, DailyMed.Label: Questran-Cholestyramine Powder, for Suspension.Farrugia A, Attard JA, Hanmer S, et al.Rates of bile acid diarrhoea after cholecystectomy: a multicentre audit.World J Surg. 2021;45(8):2447-2453. doi:10.1007/s00268-021-06147-8
Del Grande LM, Leme LFP, Marques FP, Ramos AT, Ramos PT, Souza FA.Prevalence and predictors of changes in bowel habits after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.Arq Bras Cir Dig. 2017;30(1):3–6. doi:10.1590/0102-6720201700010002
Farrugia A, Attard JA, Khan S, Williams N, Arasaradnam R.Postcholecystectomy diarrhoea rate and predictive factors: a systematic review of the literature.BMJ Open. 2022 Feb 17;12(2):e046172. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-046172.
Schiller LR, Pardi DS, Sellin JH.Chronic diarrhea: diagnosis and management.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol.2017;15(2):182-93.e3. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2016.07.028
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of diarrhea.
Guarino A, Guandalini S, Lo vecchio A.Probiotics for prevention and treatment of diarrhea.J Clin Gastroenterol. 2015;49 Suppl 1:S37-45. doi:10.1097/MCG.0000000000000349
Zhao R, Wang Y, Huang Y, et al.Effects of fiber and probiotics on diarrhea associated with enteral nutrition in gastric cancer patients: A prospective randomized and controlled trial.Medicine (Baltimore). 2017;96(43):e8418. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000008418
Altomare DF, Rotelli MT, Palasciano N.Diet after cholecystectomy.Curr Med Chem. 2019;26(19):3662-5. doi: 10.2174/0929867324666170518100053
International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.Anal Discomfort and How to Deal With It.
U.S. National Library of Medicine, DailyMed.Label: Questran-Cholestyramine Powder, for Suspension.
Farrugia A, Attard JA, Hanmer S, et al.Rates of bile acid diarrhoea after cholecystectomy: a multicentre audit.World J Surg. 2021;45(8):2447-2453. doi:10.1007/s00268-021-06147-8
Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse.Diarrhea.
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