Thanks for the advice on calcium! I never realised the connection before. I take calcium carbonate about three times a week and now realize that that on those days that I take calcium I don't have "bile salt diarrhea". I also appreciate the advice on trying nuts.
Some other things I've figured out to prevent the problem:
--Don't drink ANY fluids while eating a meal. Have water (non-carbonated only)/unsweetened juice/other fluids about 15 minutes before or 1/2 hour after a meal and always sip (don't drink down a whole glass in one go at any time). This has REALLY helped me, especially when eating in restaurants.
--Try giving up wine (and never have it with a meal). I can tolerate one small mixed drink (but only on occasion) but cannot have it with food.
--Try to reduce sugar, ESPECIALLY high-fructose corn syrup, as well as fat in your diet. I went on a low-glycemic diet a few weeks ago to lose weight and cut out all extra
Sugar (including cookies, candy, and sugary foods like cereal) and it ended my bloated stomach, gas, burping & other problems. It's hard to stick to but worth it. Look out for
Sugar lurking in supposedly non-sweet foods (like some bran cereals and most bottled salad dressings and condiments). I especially have a problem eating ANYTHING containing high-fructose corn syrup and have banned it entirely from my diet.
--See if any vitamins (other than calcium) that you take cause diarrhea. Many multi-vitamins make my problems worse (I have alot of trouble now with oily supplements like fish-oil, Evening Primrose oil and vitamin E which never bothered me before my surgery).
I spent 1/2 hour with my GP yesterday complaining that since my gallbladder surgery in May 2004 I have chronic diarrhea, gas, burping, acid reflux, fatigue and sometimes exhaustion. He told me that the surgery had nothing to do with it (the same thing my surgeon said). Reading this forum has been incredibly helpful, so thanks to all.
Also, my GP recommended I try taking supplemental 'bile salts' (in pill form or powdered and sprinkled on food) because my family history of gall bladder disease is probably caused by inability to process cholesterol.
Has anyone had any success with taking bile salts?