Gall bladder questions?

I had everything lined up with my WLS when suddenly my gall bladder began giving me extremely painful "heart attack" like symptoms.  My PCP gave me a sonigram and went looking for stones.... none were to be found.  So then he gave me an infraction test, which is where they put the glow juice in your veins and take a series of xrays to determine the gall bladders function.  Unfortunately the glow juice never reached my gall bladder, the technician performing the test waited almost an hour and still no gall bladder ever appeared on her screen.  Finally, she said this only happens when the bile ducts are clogged and gave me a shot of morphine to dialate the organ tissues thus allowing the dye to enter.  The test indicated that my gall bladder had 0% function, was horribly enflamed and had to come out soon.

This was kind of a good thing, because this allowed me to have both procedures at the same time.   Also while I was waiting for my surgery, I lost almost 20 lbs because I couldn't eat hardly anything without ending up writhing in pain.  So I had my RNY with a gall bladder removal and I'm finally beginning to eat solids.... but suddenly the past couple of days, I've gotten those "heart attack" like pains again.  Granted they are not nearly as severe as before, but they are definitely different than the pain of fullness in pouch and all too familiar to the pains I felt coming on with my gall bladder attacks. 

My question is:  Is it possible there is still some infection from my gall bladder giving me problems?  I have had diarreah steadily since my surgery and my doctor prescribed a CHOLESTYRAMINE POWDER that I must mix and drink twice daily to try and bind my stools together....(apparently cholestyramine has something to due with the gall bladder function and now it's missing).  Of course, I've been on this for over a week now and am still having the diarreah problems. 

Has anyone else had these kinds of issues with their gall bladder?

I had my gall bladder out several years back and I still sometime get the same pain every now and then. Mostly when I eat something that don't agree with my system. As far as the "trots" it has alot to do with the the things that your eatting. I've had mine out for going on 10 years and I still have to watch what I eat. But make sure that you keep yourself hydrated so you don't dehydrate

This is Dr. H.  You are not likely having symptoms related to the gallbladder itself.  But after the gall bladder is removed, particularly in cases where there were no stones, the small muscle that controls flow of bile from the liver to the small intestine will try to control bile flow much like the gallbladder, and then, depending somewhat on what you are eating (but not always so), you will experience a spasm that feels virtually identical to your old gall bladder spasms.  Patients sometimes ask me if their gall bladder can grow back:  NO!  But you may well experience frequent "spasms'' like this for the next 3 months or so.
The cholestyramine or "questran" is given to bind up the bile that is secreted by the liver into the intestinal tract.  Once the gall bladder is gone, the liver will send bile into the intestinal tract 24/7, and bile between meals is a pretty potent laxative.  Cholestyramine can bind up the bile and help prevent the "laxative effect" of the bile.  In the long run, once you are allowed tablets/capsules again, you can take colestid 1 gm. tablet twice per day instead, if you prefer.  Best wishes!  Phillip M. Hornbostel, M.D.

Thank you so very much!  At least I know this isn't in my head.  I was beginning to think I had phantom pains.  BTW, sure can't wait until I can take the tablets....the powder isn't pleasant!

Dr. Hornbostel:

Just wanted to say you are the BEST!  Thanks so much for checking up with the board every now and then.  We appreciate you and Margie for all you've done for us!

Debbie D.