Has anyone ever taken Welchol? For after gallbladder removal issues.......

[marshallandcartersmo]

Sorry folks, I didn't start it today. Honestly, DS had a soccer game this morning and I was scared to try it!!! The bathrooms are a LONG way from the field.
I'll start it tomorrow for sure, there are plenty of bathrooms at my church.

I'll report back!

 

[cherylp3]

I also had problems. I recently modified my diet, since then I have not had many issues.

 

[CrazedDisFan]

Can I ask some questions? I am currently suffering from what I think is a classic gall bladder attack. I have moderate pain in my upper abdomen and behind my right shoulder blade. I have what feels like indigestion much of the day, whether I eat anything or not. The pain is moderate to severe and is present most of the day. I am seeing the doctor tomorrow, because frankly 3 weeks of this pain is ridiculous.

My main question is.. how were you stomach problems prior to the surgery? I ask because in the last month I have had multiple bouts of what could best be described as explosive. They are bad. I tried goign to IKEA a few nights ago and well if you've ever been in one of their stores you know the bathrooms are not easily accessible. Let's just say there was running involved.

If you had the problems before surgery, did they get worse? I amthinking that I can tolerate the pain, but I won't be able to work if the bathroom problems get worse after surgery.

 

[mtblujeans]

I didn't have bathroom issues until after the surgery. I did have symptoms such as you describe for my gallbladder problems, tho'. I had my surgery a long time ago and my doctor could not diagnose the gas, cramping, etc. I had after the surgery. He called around to other doctor friends to ask their patients' experiences before he had me try the Metamucil and then the Questran. I think it would be safe to say that you won't know what will be normal for you until after you have the gall bladder removed, unfortunately.

 

[Desnik]

I had my gallbladder removed about 3 years ago and have been suffering ever since. After seeing a GI and having every test done to rule out anything major and researching like crazy and trying everything my Dr. gave me I have diagnosed myself!LOL

It is called Bile Salts Diarrhea. Here is a better explanation from a GI website:
"Bile is a thick yellow fluid made by the liver. It helps you digest the fat in your diet. Between meals, liver bile is stored in the gallbladder, a little sac beneath the liver. When you eat, the gallbladder squeezes and releases the stored bile salts into the small intestine to help with digestion. After food is digested and absorbed, the bile salts are reabsorbed at the end of the small intestine and recycled to be used over and over again. When the gallbladder is surgically removed, the liver must make more bile salts, and more are released between meals beca use there is no place to store them. The increased amount of bile salts can sometimes overwhelm the small intestines' capacity to reabsorb them. The excess spills over into the large intestine, or colon, where bile acts somewhat like a laxative, leading to diarrhea."

Now I never had bathroom issues before my surgery. I had "attacks" from the gallstones for about a year and just thought nothing of them until they became so painful it would make me vomit! The pain was mostly in my back and chest.

After the surgery I spent most of my life in the bathroom. I have had to completely change my life and my diet. No soda, nothing fried, no fast food at all. I have to eat close to home or not leave the house right after I ate because I would need to run to the bathroom. There is no way to know beforehand if this will happen to you. They have no idea how or why it happens to certain people and it is something like 15% of the population that has this surgery has this side affect. You could have it forever, or it can go away completely or come and go.

I found out about some relief from a message board. It is simple and can be bought at any pharmacy. It is Caltrate 600 D Plus (purple container) I take half a pill once a day before I eat. It has helped me so much. Now I only take half a pill because I became constipated from 1 whole pill. Why does it work? Well, because the calcium soaks up excess fluids in the intestines. Here is a list of the ingrediants, you can buy the store brand pills just make sure it has these ingrediants(this is from the internet):

Vitamin D 200 IU (The sunshine vitamin needed to help the body absorb calcium)

Calcium 500 or 600 MG (This should be calcium carbonate form) (Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body. It is essential for maintaining strong bones and teeth. Calcium is vital to muscle and nerve function, blood clotting and metabolism.)

Magnesium 40 MG (No more than this amount because magnesium will cause you to have diarrhea but because calcium is constipating the magnesium helps to counter act that effect) (Magnesium is essential to build bones and is needed for muscle function, energy metabolism, trans-mission of nerve impulses and to make genetic material and protein.)

Zinc 7.5 MG (Zinc is necessary for some metabolic processes, normal growth and sexual development, and proper immune system functions.)

Copper 1 MG (Copper promotes iron absorption and is essential to red blood cells, connective tissue, fibers and skin pigmentation.)

Manganese 1.8 MG (Maganese plays an important role in metabolism and is also needed to build bones and tendons.)

Boron 250 MCG. (Improves calcium and magnesium retention. Similar improvements can also be seen in Vitamin D deficient post menopausal females.)


To the OP, yes I have heard of that med being perscribed and if you do a search for Welchol along with writing bile salts diarrhea you will get a ton of info on it.

Good luck!

**I am not a Dr or anything I am just posting this info because it has helped me and I hope it could help others.

 

[bookgirl]

Very informative.

I had my GB removed in 1994. I have no idea what you guys are talking about.

I have the normal kinda of intestinal activity. Somedays normal, somedays one extreme or the other.

I never even realized there could be an effect after removal of the GB.

Maybe it's because I drink a lot of milk (skim) and eat dairy and the calcium is taking care of the excess bile. I do sometimes have what feels like a sour stomache (not indigestion or reflux but a unsettled feeling kinda like a mild GB attack) and I usually have a glass of milk or some crackers to take care of it.

I do have reflux and have my entire life for which I take Zantac OTC. Maybe that is helping.

Maybe I should go look at this online. Never even thought about connecting surgery 12 years ago with any things today.

 

[mtblujeans]

Excellent research, Desnik!

All those years ago, my doctor told me my problem was that my digestive tract could not handle the extra bile that would have normally gone into the gall bladder but I didn't think to ask more questions because there was so much going on at the time! Your research makes sense to me in my situation.

In these past couple of weeks, I have discovered that taking a higher does of calcium and some other vitamins do make me feel better so I have been experimenting with dosages. This thread is very, very timely for me.

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

OP here---

What a great thread this has turned out to be! And thanks so much for the info Desnik!

That's interesting about the calcium, but I'm a huge milk drinker/cheese eater. If I ate any more calcium I'd turn into a cow. Maybe I could try a calcium pill though if this doesn't work..........

Well, I started the Welchol today. I only took one pill before breakfast (dr. suggested 2 but I'm a pretty small person) and nothing happened. Which is a good thing in our case!

However I'm not sure today can be a real test study. I took it around 8:30, then by the time I got myself ready for church, then DS's ready, we ran out the door w/o me eating. So I didn't actually get to eat until 12:30, and that wasn't much either. Tomorrow I'll take it and exactly 30 minutes after I eat (like Dr. suggested) I'll eat my normal bowl of cereal.

I am a little concerned this might stop the "going" completely and it'll "erupt" at a bad time ......especially since I have a board meeting Tuesday morning.

Feel a little odd updating people on my "going", but hey---it's in the name of science, right??

 

[Virgo10]

This thread has been most helpful. Now I have a question. For nearly 3 weeks I've had the going problem. Well beginning on Thursday everything stopped. Now, if I didn't know my gallbladder was gone, I'd think I was having an attack. Obviously it's not as bad as the attacks were but the mid rib cage area both front and back is, or let's not be coy, gassy.

The only time it goes away completely is when I lay down. First thing in the morning is good for maybe 10 minutes or so but once I start moving around, the gas sets in. It's like I've gone from everything being in over drive to having my digestive system come to a halt.

I'm really glad I've got this doctor's appt. coming up on Tuesday because this is really uncomfortable.

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

This thread has been most helpful. Now I have a question. For nearly 3 weeks I've had the going problem. Well beginning on Thursday everything stopped. Now, if I didn't know my gallbladder was gone, I'd think I was having an attack. Obviously it's not as bad as the attacks were but the mid rib cage area both front and back is, or let's not be coy, gassy.

The only time it goes away completely is when I lay down. First thing in the morning is good for maybe 10 minutes or so but once I start moving around, the gas sets in. It's like I've gone from everything being in over drive to having my digestive system come to a halt.

I'm really glad I've got this doctor's appt. coming up on Tuesday because this is really uncomfortable.

Ah!! I never knew a thread about "going" would be so informative for me. I'm just glad to know there are others like me out in the world. DH doesn't get it, and my 2 friends that have had their gallbladders out aren't having my problems.

Anyway, Virgo10--do you think your new found non-going problem has something to do w/your pains?? That's what my guess would be. It's odd, the days that I don't have the "going" problem, I feel so blah and gassy.....

 

[Virgo10]

Ah!! I never knew a thread about "going" would be so informative for me. I'm just glad to know there are others like me out in the world. DH doesn't get it, and my 2 friends that have had their gallbladders out aren't having my problems.

Anyway, Virgo10--do you think your new found non-going problem has something to do w/your pains?? That's what my guess would be. It's odd, the days that I don't have the "going" problem, I feel so blah and gassy.....

I'm hoping that's what's going on. I've been up for nearly an hour this morning and so far, so good. No gas pains. I'd much rather have the going problem. At least it happens and that's it, not like the gas pains which yesterday lasted all day long.

I'm thrilled, in sort of a sad way, that there are other people who've got this condition. Until this thread started, I didn't know what the heck was going on.

Doctor's appointment tomorrow. I hope he'll have some suggestions.

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

OP here, reporting on "going". Second day of Welchol, I took one this morning about 45 minutes before breakfast, (one yesterday morning too) the result-----nothing. No normal going, no "OMG find me a bathroom now" going. We'll see what action tomorrow brings.........

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

I'm hoping that's what's going on. I've been up for nearly an hour this morning and so far, so good. No gas pains. I'd much rather have the going problem. At least it happens and that's it, not like the gas pains which yesterday lasted all day long.

I'm thrilled, in sort of a sad way, that there are other people who've got this condition. Until this thread started, I didn't know what the heck was going on.

Doctor's appointment tomorrow. I hope he'll have some suggestions.

Please ask him/her what they think about Welchol. I'm interested in other professional opinions!

 

[OhMari]

This thread has been most helpful. Now I have a question. For nearly 3 weeks I've had the going problem. Well beginning on Thursday everything stopped. Now, if I didn't know my gallbladder was gone, I'd think I was having an attack. Obviously it's not as bad as the attacks were but the mid rib cage area both front and back is, or let's not be coy, gassy.

The only time it goes away completely is when I lay down. First thing in the morning is good for maybe 10 minutes or so but once I start moving around, the gas sets in. It's like I've gone from everything being in over drive to having my digestive system come to a halt.


I'm really glad I've got this doctor's appt. coming up on Tuesday because this is really uncomfortable.

I was sick all summer and they took out my gall bladder. I felt really good after surgery, but as the next day progressed and I started eating again, I felt worse than ever. I went back to the hospital, and they found the valve leading to my small intestines was spasming. I had to go to a special hospital and have the valve sliced opened to relieve the pressure. They also found a small gall stone sitting in there too. They did this procedure through an endoscopy. So sometimes removing the gall bladder isn't enough.

I blame my gall bladder disease on my estrogen patch I wear. 20% of all estrogen patch users develope gall bladder disease.

Can anyone find the gall bladder link that you guys were talking about?

 

[Virgo10]

Please ask him/her what they think about Welchol. I'm interested in other professional opinions!

I'm just back from the doctor. I mentioned both the Wechol and Questran. He only mentioned that he felt Wechol was not the right drug for me because of some of the side effects such as muscle pain. Even before I had my GB out, he felt I might have had issues with IBS and put me on the prescription form of Zantac. The disappearance of my symptoms from the last several weeks, coordinated with me starting to take that drug again. Whether or not it was a coincidence, I guess I'll never know. I am going to continue taking it and see what happens.

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

I'm just back from the doctor. I mentioned both the Wechol and Questran. He only mentioned that he felt Wechol was not the right drug for me because of some of the side effects such as muscle pain. Even before I had my GB out, he felt I might have had issues with IBS and put me on the prescription form of Zantac. The disappearance of my symptoms from the last several weeks, coordinated with me starting to take that drug again. Whether or not it was a coincidence, I guess I'll never know. I am going to continue taking it and see what happens.

Thanks for the update. I hoped he answered the rest of your questions for you. I haven't had any muscle pain as side effects, I'll watch for that.

Onto my personal update of "going". (I still can't believe I'm doing this online)I did NOT take the Welchol today, because frankly my "going" issue as completely stopped. Completely. So I'm hoping if I don't take it today I'll get some action and I'll no longer look and feel 4 months pregnant. So who knows about this Welchol stuff. It seems to work, maybe a little too well?? I might adjust my diet a little (maybe pick up some Raisin Bran or something) and try taking Welchol with more of a fiber diet..........to be continued.

 

[mtblujeans]

I know that if I take more than the 1/8 teaspoon of Questran, I can become badly constipated. This situation is very hard to balance, in my experience.

I have tried to greatly increase my daily dosage of water when I take the Questran, but I don't know if that really helps anything or not. I just haven't felt that I knew enough about what I am going through to make dietary adjustments.

 

[mtblujeans]

..........to be continued.

Any additional news to report?

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

Any additional news to report?

Sorry, but no. I haven't taken it all week. Have had "not going" problems, and I don't know which is worse. So I've decided to hold off on it for a few days until things get back to normal again (whatever normal is), then take 1/2 of one pill in the morning, instead of 1 whole pill in the morning. Started on a bowl of raisin bran yesterday and will have one today too. Hopefully by tomorrow I can start back on 1/2 a pill in the morning to see if that's better for me.

I did talk to a friend of mine who had her gallbladder out and was on Welchol for awhile, she said it did NOTHING for her, but when I told her my Dr. suggested 2 pills in the morning she said she might try that again. She was just taking one.

I guess on the positive side I've had no "OMG where is the bathroom" episodes, so maybe this Welchol does work and I just took too much of a dose for my size? We'll see.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Hi there! Thanks for the update.

As I mentioned, I am trying to do my changes thru diet. I cannot even look at cheese or it constipates me.

I have been eating healthy breakfasts, lunches and dinner. No "going" but having the opposite, not going enough. UGH.....