Any advice or experience would be appreciated. I am a 38 year old male. Since about 2020 I had terrible bowl problems, diarrhea multiple times a day, very inconsistent. So I assumed celiac (it didn’t always help), after 2 years the symptoms changed. I started getting very bloated after eating very little, then nausea and vomiting started happening. I went to a GI and after a multitude of test, he determined it was my gallbladder. So I had it removed about 3 months ago. Everything was fine, actually normal. Until the last weeks. I have had diarrhea multiple times a day and or thin/flat stools. That’s the only bowl movements I have. There are some days where I go 6-8 times a day. When I do go, sometimes it feels like I need to go again, but nothing comes out. I am concerned at this point something was missed or recently developed. Please help! All I can assume is the worst
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Colon Cancer Symptoms
After gallbladder surgery it’s common to get bile acid malabsorption (BAM) where the constant excess bile running straight into the intestines causes the diarrhoea, even more so if you are eating fatty foods. You could ask your GP about trying Colestyramine to see if that helps, for me it was an instant fix and despite me also having ulcerative colitis I’m now able to eat more or less what I like without any ghastly consequences !
currently I take ox bile, enzyme and liver supplements. None of that is seeming to make a difference. Also, even if I eat super clean my bowel movements haven’t changed. Regardless if I eat fatty greasy or super clean. These past couple of weeks have been a drastic out of no where change compared to the last few months
The side effects and extra bile acids in ox bile supplement may be the problem, you need less bile not more.
If you have BAM you likely need a bile acid binder (Colestyramine) which binds to the bile acids and reduces the fluid in the large intestine which helps the diarrhoea.
thank you for the feedback. I’ll definitely check into that
Have you had tests on colon like colonoscopy?
yes. I had quite a few test done, including a colonoscopy
It's good news that you got a colonoscopy when you had the battery of tests previously. I went through the same a few weeks ago - CT, colonoscopy, endoscopy, ultrasound, bloodwork, fibroscan. I checked all the boxes for symptoms of colon cancer (I thought). I was terrified. Plus, I have a history of colon polyps.
What I learned from the experience (after being diagnosed with: fatty liver, gastritis, dairy sensitivity, hemorrhoids, and a bad gallbladder - is that Google isn't a diagnostic tool, and that I'm not a good judge of clinical significance when it comes to my symptoms. I, too, thought I was having changes in my bowel movements (flat stools, straining - i.e. constipation) - but I was wrong and I scared myself badly for months.
If you have unexplained GI symptoms, go to your PCP. Get a referral to a GI. Do another set of scopes and some imaging. Insist on the scopes. You're going to be okay.
Do you have ANY autoimmune diseases? I had this issue while going through the gauntlet of testing. I am Hypothyroid with Sjogrens and Autoimmune Pancreatitis type 1. My doctors suspected colon cancer. All clear. It was Autoimmune Pancreatitis causing the symptoms you described. Inflammation in my colon was causing thin poop. I went gluten, dairy and sugar free and that helped for a couple of months, but then it hit again. I then added the low FODMAP diet and my symptoms went away, hopefully for good. Sibo was mentioned as well. The AIP type 1 was affecting my whole digestive system "liver, pancreas, stomach, gallbladder, colon, kidneys". I lost a lot of weight over the course of a year. 25 pounds in under 2 months. 60 pounds in 1 year. Now my weight is maintained.
Thank you for the feedback. How were you tested for Hypothyroid with Sjogrens and Autoimmune Pancreatitis type 1? I don’t have any autoimmune diseases that I am aware of.
Blood tests and biopsies. It was not a fast diagnosis. I was misdiagnosed for 7 years. I'm the one that demanded specific tests and had to doctor hop to get it done. My life long doctor screamed cancer cancer cancer. I refused to hear him. He sent me through torture with tests that made no sense to me. Repeated bone marrow biopsies, cystoscopy. I found a blood test of mine 7 years prior that had shown my TSH bloods were hypothyroidism. I began researching and started putting the puzzle together. I visited other doctors that wanted to order the same bone marrow testing. I refused. My health kept getting much worse. I couldn't no longer work. My money was running out. I found an elderly doctor and handed him my 7 years of blood work and said I want these specific tests ran. He ran them and it hit. Tsh, t4,t3, tpo antibodies, igg4 antibodies, saliva gland biopsy, pancreas biopsy. I had elevated absolute neutrophil white cells too which is typical in cancer, but the doctor failed to do his research as it also raises due to inflammation which is where Autoimmune Pancreatitis comes in.
I would ask for a sibo test followed by an igg4 blood test and a colonoscopy. Possibly a full complete blood test, or research sibo, autoimmune pancreatitis and see if any of those sound like you. They wanted to remove my gallbladder. I wouldn't let them. If I eat any fatty foods, gluten, sugar, dairy, I immediately go into a flare and have diarrhea or thin poop. The doctor wanted to put me on high doses of steroids. I refused those due to being autoimmune compromised. Those will trigger diabetes. I'm fighting this with strict diets and natural herbs. By strict diet, I mean very strict. It took several months of being strict before I began to heal. Onions and garlic will trigger a flare fast. I take digestive enzymes with every meal or snack as well. A colonoscopy will find a lot of issues. It isn't bad. I chose no sedation because I wanted to see on the screen what the doctor was seeing. The worst part of a colonoscopy is the prep drink.
I had full blood test done back in November, colonoscopy, endoscopy, CT scan, Hida scan & X rays. I’m wondering if something was missed or newly developed
Do you have a copy of your blood test? Even if the bloods show "in range", it doesn't mean that everything is in good working order. Vitamin D for instance. You can be in range, but on the low side and that will cause a lot of health issues. Hematocrit and Hemoglobin is another one. I look at blood tests like diagnosing vehicle problems. Many mechanics and doctors are parts cannon pros instead of hunting for the main cause. What seems to trigger your diarrhea? Is it right after you eat? With having to go that often, you have to be dehydrated as well.
If your colonoscopy was clear, I wouldn't worry myself over colon cancer. Sibo is usually detected with a breath test. An endoscopy can miss it. I would go hunting for all digestive related issues. Sibo, Crohn's, Colitis, etc. But a skilled GI would see Crohn's and Colitis with a colonoscopy and endoscopy. Don't assume that a GI knows their stuff. A GI is who misdiagnosed me for 7 years.
Hi Gloverin04,
Thanks for reaching out on Colon Cancer Connected. Your case is interesting and you’ve gotten a ton of good feedback. I agree with ICE187 as having a clean colonoscopy should rule out colon cancer. This is interesting and shows the fact that certain symptoms could be caused by a variety of different things. It’s just a matter of narrowing down and getting good answers.
Please keep us informed as to what you find out and the path you had to take to get those answers. There is some good information here concerning you and your symptoms. It would be interesting to see what was actually causing your issue. You may have to doctor shop to do that.
We do wish you the best in getting those answers.
Thank you,
~Tom, GCCA Survivor - Colon Cancer Connected Site Administrator.
Just a reminder - this group is here to offer support, share experiences, and offer our thoughts - but this is not medical advice, and you should always consult your medical professional(s). Additionally, for all emergencies, seek urgent medical care, never delay.
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