Why does diarrhea develop after gallbladder removal?
Diarrhea can develop in up to 36% of people who have had their gallbladders removed [1,3,4].
The bile, which is formed in the liver, is normally stored and concentrated in the gallbladder. After meals, the bile is squeezed from the gallbladder into the small intestine where it helps to digest fat. After gallbladder removal, the bile cannot be stored in the gallbladder, so it constantly flows into the intestine, even when there is no food in it, so it can irritate it and trigger urgent watery diarrhea [10].
What does green or yellow diarrhea mean?
When the bile travels through the intestine, the normal intestinal bacteria gradually change its color from green to bright yellow and finally to the usual brown color in the stool. After gallbladder removal, the bile constantly flows into the intestine and stimulates its motility, which makes the bile travel faster and appear in the stool in its original green or yellow color. Also, because of the increased intestinal motility, water travels through the intestine faster, less of it is absorbed and more of it appears in the stool.
NOTE: Green or yellow diarrhea can also occur in other conditions with increased intestinal motility.
How long does diarrhea after gallbladder removal last?
Diarrhea after gallbladder removal in most cases lasts for 4-8 weeks, but in some, it can become chronic and persist for several years [1,8].
How can you know if diarrhea is triggered by gallbladder removal?
In diarrhea after gallbladder removal, less bile acids from the bile will be absorbed, so more of them will appear in the stool, which can be detected by the 75SeHCAT test [13].
Rarely, a retained stone or stricture in the bile duct after gallbladder removal blocks the delivery of the bile into the intestine. This results in improper digestion and absorption of fats, which therefore appear in the stool and make it white, sticky and floating. This is called steatorrhea, which can be detected by the fecal fat test.
Treatment
The following drugs and supplements can help to control diarrhea after gallbladder removal [1,14]:
- An over-the-counter anti-diarrheal drug loperamide
- Bile acid binders:
- Cholestyramine (common side effects: stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, heartburn) [2,3,5]
- Colestipol and colesevelam (fewer side effects than cholestyramine) [1,2]
- Diphenoxylate and atropine [4]
- Blond psyllium – a dietary fiber supplement [6,7]
Probiotics may be moderately effective in controlling diarrhea in irritable bowel syndrome [11] and infectious diarrhea [12], but it is not clear if they also help in diarrhea after gallbladder removal.
Diet
To prevent or limit diarrhea after gallbladder removal [15]:
- Have small and frequent meals, so the bile will mix with the food and will irritate the intestine less.
- Eat foods high in slow carbohydrates, such as whole-grain bread, brown rice and low-sugar breakfast cereals, and foods high in protein but low in fat, such as skinless poultry and fish, like cod, grouper, halibut and tilapia.
- Do not drink liquids during or after but between the meals.
If you have diarrhea, drink enough water to replace the lost fluid. Drink as much as needed to prevent dehydration (thirst, dry, mouth, dark yellow urine).
Foods to Avoid
If you are experiencing diarrhea, bloating or excessive gas, limit [1]:
- Foods high in fats, such as oils, cheese, butter, French fries, potato chips, chocolate, lard, gravies, fatty meats (bologna, sausage, chicken skin) and fish (salmon, sardines…), pizza, hamburgers, pies and nuts [9]
- Foods high in FODMAPs (Fermentable, Oligo-, Di- and Monosaccharides and Polyols), except foods high in soluble fiber (oats, barley, legumes):
- Foods high in lactose: milk, yogurt, sweet stout, whey powder
- Foods high in fructose: apples, pears, mangoes, honey
- Foods high in sorbitol: prunes, sugar-free chewing gum, low-calorie soft drinks
- Spicy foods
- Caffeinated beverages: coffee, tea, cola, energy drinks
- Alcohol
- References
- Chronic diarrhea: A concern after gallbladder removal? Mayo Clinic
- Danley T et al, 2011, Postcholecystectomy diarrhea: What relieves it? The Journal of Family Practice
- Sciarretta G et al, 1992, Post-cholecystectomy diarrhea: evidence of bile acid malabsorption assessed by SeHCAT test PubMed
- Jensen SW, Postcholecystectomy syndrome, clinical presentation Emedicine
- Cholestyramine side effects Drugs.com
- Blond psyllium MedlinePlus
- McRorie, JW, Evidence-Based Approach to Fiber Supplements and Clinically Meaningful Health Benefits, Part 1, PubMed Central
- Gallbladder removal – laparoscopic – discharge MedlinePlus
- Yueh TP et al, 2014, Diarrhea after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: associated factors and predictors PubMed
- Farahmandfar MR et al, 2012, Post Cholecystectomy Diarrhoea—A Systematic Review SCIRP
- Cong D et al, 2013, Probiotics and irritable bowel syndrome PubMed
- Guarino et al, 2015, Probiotics for Prevention and Treatment of Diarrhea PubMed
- Vijayvargiya P et al, 2013, Diagnostic Methods for Bile Acid Malabsorption in Clinical Practice PubMed Central
- Bile acid malabsorption/diarrhea Patient.info
- I am looking for information on the foods that might exacerbate bile salt diarrhea HealthCentral
Had gallbladder removed almost 3 years ado. Sent home with clean bill of health
3 days. Later flushed to hospital & almost died from from septicemia.spent 2 months in hospital & rehab. Since then I suffer terrible diarrhea. I thanks Prevalite & helps a little. I wish I never removed it.It has changed my life for the worse & not getting any better
I’m starting to miss my gallbladder, I would have a monthly attack that I could tolerate the pain, since having it removed it has spawned 13 other issues from diarrhea to night fevers. I really wish I never got mine removed
I am i the same boat right now. I have two little kids and this is worse than having my gallbladder that didn’t function.
Would raisins in cereals, bread or rolls be a significant problem ?
I have had diarrhea ever since I had my gallbladder taken out as of about 3 years ago and so I maintain myself as in eating one meal a day but especially at night when I’m not having to go anywhere I try to keep my fluids up but that also causes me to have diarrhea from the fluids that I may drink and it is a concern of mine because of the medications I’m taking I’m worried that my body is not taking in what it should win I’m taking them what should I do
What do you drink? Water seems to be most appropriate in such case.
I have suffered with severe diarrhea after my gallbladder for years. I was way too embarrased about it and i didnt want to get diagnosed with anything because I wanted to enlist in the military. I have been having more normal bowels now after 11 years of suffering with it. I started taking probiotics in pill form 50billion tablets at first i would take 2 in the morning and 2 at night for a two weeks. After that i took one a day for maintenance and im relieved. I used to have diarrhea several times a day i would stress about long car rides, dates, or being away from a bathroom or at someones house. Because the risk of getting diarrhea. It seems to simple to be true but im telling you its a real game changer.
I have the exact same story! I’m going to try probiotics and see if it will help me! Thank you for posting this information Lauren!!
Same here since my surgery – suffered for years, had the up and down cameras which were inconclusive. Questran made me sick so couldn’t stay on it, do all they could do is try and bung me up, firstly Codeine which worked but after 6 months I decided it wasn’t good for me. Next it was Loperimide on prescription (Imodium) this worked well but again I didn’t want to stay on it, so been off it for three months but back Yo bad old days – hunting the Internet now for more natural/dietary solutions but feel it might be back to Loperimide until I get to see my GI consultant again – any suggestions welcome
There is a lot of anecdotal reports about effective diets on various health forums (like this one).
Common suggestions are to avoid:
– fried and spicy foods
– alcohol, caffeine
– foods high in insoluble fiber (green vegetables, fruit skins)
– milk
– foods high in fructose (apples, pears, mango, watermelon, honey)
To try:
– foods high in soluble fiber: oats, barley, legumes
– whole-grain foods
Had my gallbladder removed in 2009, it is now 2017. I started having diarrhea and/or upset stomach with 15 minutes, after everything i ate, after the surgery and it has continued that way all the way to today. I’ve tried several different diets and nothing seems to help.
Did you have a test that shows the amount of the bile acids in the stool and thus tell if your diarrhea is actually caused by impaired bile acid absorption due to gallbladder removal? Diarrhea after gallbladder removal can be also a part of irritable bowel syndrome.
Forgot to mention – I rarely drink milk. All I have to do is eat food and within less than 15 minutes I must get to the bathroom – gas pains and watery diarrhea.
Some general diet tips are described above in the article and I also shortly mentioned a low-FODMAP diet. In this diet you limit foods that commonly cause gas and diarrhea: milk, foods high in fructose (apples, pears, honey…). I’m not saying that this will help in your case. You want to experiment with individual foods and eliminate them from your diet one by one for 4 days and see if it helps.
You can also have a stool test for the presence of bile, which shows if diarrhea is caused by excessive bile in the stool or not.
Thank you for your response Jan. I am not lactose intolerant as far as I know. What is a lot FODMAP diet. I’ll try anything. Weight down to 103 pounds and only leave the house if I have a doctor appointment.
I am i the same boat right now. I have two little kids and this is worse than having my gallbladder that didn’t function.
Please notify me if this article is updated. Forty years after gallbladder removal, I am still searching for something that works. Doctor suggested Probiotics today, along with Benefiber and a dairy free diet.
Do you want to describe exact symptoms? Dairy-free diet can help if you are lactose intolerant (bloating/diarrhea after drinking milk). A broader diet called a low-FODMAP diet may be even better.