Yellow stool gallbladder or celiac

I’m curious as to the experience of anyone else who is on Zepbound and doesn’t have a gallbladder.
I had my gallbladder removed when I was 17 due to (what I now know what rapidly unhealthy) weight loss triggering gallstones. I’ve had to be careful in the 20-ish years since to make sure that I eat about the same amount of fat in a day—either too much more or less in any direction and things get unpleasant quickly.
I was tracking food intake with Zep, mostly to make sure I was getting enough protein and maintaining a healthy level of fat (because I’d read Zep can make people even more sensitive to fat). I needed to take a stool softener and up my fiber intake but was otherwise fine.
This last week, I ran out of Zepbound and about 9 days after my last dose, I had a terrible stomach ache—reminded me of back when I first got my gallbladder out, before I learned how to monitor my fat intake. I hadn’t eaten anything out of the ordinary, and didn’t overeat, but I was bloated and in a lot of pain.
I’m only on 5mg and don’t plan on going up anytime soon, and am just curious about anyone else who doesn’t have a gallbladder and has done on (or off) this med and what your experience was.

Hi guys! A bit TMI, but how are/were your stools with gallbladder dyskinesia (low EF)?
I have a hypokinetic gallbladder, my EF was 28% last October, when I did the HIDA Scan (during which bile reflux was also noted). I started to experience a bit of right upper quadrant pain (mild) only in the last three months, intermittently. But for the most part, the first symptoms that I have been experiencing since 2022 are gut related: mushy soft stool (alternating with a bit of constipation), yellow/orange/light brown stool, gut noises/gurgling, gas, bloating. And then gastric symptoms like indigestion, frequent belching, burning stomach (linked to the bile reflux).
I also have Ulcerative Colitis, but it has been in remission for the last 4 years and I can differentiate the symptoms caused by it from something else. More so because my blood and stool markers for inflammation are normal.
Last summer, in July, I did also a Fecal Elastase Test to check for EPI (exocrine pancreatic insufficiency) but the result was >500 (560), so it is considered normal.
I have a healthy diet: no processed food, no sugary things, no fried food, no dairy (only Parmesan here and there), no red meat (don't like that). I eat mostly lean meat and fish, vegetables, a bit of fruits, grains like quinoa and rice, sourdough and pasta (I live in Italy so wheat products here are excellent). I eat only healthy fats (mainly EVOO) and moderately, even though my tolerance has decreased in the last few months.
I'm still waiting to take the leap toward surgery mainly because here in Italy gallbladder dyskinesia is not commonly diagnosed or treated, so when I'll be less busy with my University, I'll contact a private surgeon, hoping to find an open minded one.
I would like to hear your experience, if you have/had similar bowel symptoms linked and caused by gallbladder dyskinesia. And also, for those who had surgery, how is your gut behaving now?
Thank you so much! Sorry for the lengthy post :)

32M, 5'6" 195lb Current Medications: Concerta, vitamin D, testosterone inj Had labs done 2 years ago that showed elevated LFT's, provider ordered abdominal US, which showed a small lesion. Jump forward to last month, recheck of LFT's still elevated so he wanted a repeat US. Repeat US showed growth in lesion and suggested MRI to rule out malignancy. MRI results just came through, waiting for doctor to call. Just posting to get others opinions on them in the mean time. Thanks in advance!
Will post scan results below, though I do not have access to images.
Most recent labs results with lab ranges in parenthesis,
Bilirubin, total - 1.2mg/dl (0.2-1.0); AST 49 units/L (<=37); ALT 100u/L (<64); hepatitis work up all negative
abdominal US: IMPRESSION: 1. Two hypoechoic masses in the liver with internal blood flow, the larger measuring 2.2 cm and increased in size since 2022 when it measured 1.3 cm. Recommend liver MRI with contrast to exclude malignancy. 2. Diffuse hepatic steatosis. Narrative US ABDOMEN COMPLETE 5/7/2024 1:02 PM HISTORY: R79.89 Other specified abnormal findings of blood chemistry COMPARISON: Ultrasound 7/26/2022. TECHNIQUE: Grayscale and color Doppler ultrasound imaging of the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, kidneys, spleen, IVC and aorta were performed. FINDINGS: Hepatic parenchyma is coarsened and echogenic consistent with hepatic steatosis. 2.2 cm hypoechoic lesion in the superior liver which is indeterminate, previously 1.3 cm. Additional smaller hypoechoic liver lesion is noted. The gallbladder is normal. There is no wall thickening, pericholecystic fluid, sonographic Murphy's sign or cholelithiasis. No intrahepatic or extra hepatic biliary ductal dilatation. Common bile duct measures 3 mm in diameter. Visualized portions of the head and body of the pancreas are unremarkable. Both kidneys are present without collecting system dilatation. The right measures 10.7 cm in length and left measures 10.7 cm. The spleen is unremarkable measuring 11.7 cm in length. The abdominal aorta is normal in caliber throughout. IVC is patent. No free fluid. MRI: Impression IMPRESSION: 1. Single focal hepatic lesion with indeterminate imaging characteristics. Atypical hemangioma is in the differential, though tumor is not excluded given interval increased size and atypical imaging characteristics (T2 hypointense rim, lack of peripheral puddling of contrast). Options would include continued surveillance versus ultrasound-guided biopsy. 2. Diffuse hepatic steatosis. Narrative MRI LIVER W WO CONTRAST DATE OF EXAM: 5/14/2024 7:09 AM. CLINICAL INFORMATION: Liver lesion. TECHNIQUE: Multiplanar multisequence pre and postcontrast MR imaging of the liver. Gadavist 9 mL intravenous, without complication. COMPARISON: Ultrasound performed 5/7/2024 and 7/26/2022. FINDINGS: Normal hepatic size and contour. Diffuse hepatic parenchymal signal dropout on opposed phase T1 sequence. Single focal hepatic lesion in the left hepatic lobe measuring approximately 2.3 x 2.1 cm (5/13). Central mildly hyperintense T2 signal with a peripheral rim of hypointense signal. Early hyperenhancement, with persistent delayed enhancement, and hyperintense diffusion signal. No biliary dilation. Unremarkable gallbladder. Normal spleen size, without focal lesion. Unremarkable pancreas. No adrenal masses. Unremarkable kidneys. Symmetric nephrograms without evidence of enhancing mass or obstruction. Unremarkable stomach and duodenum. Normal caliber small and large bowel. No focal areas of bowel wall inflammation. Moderate stool burden. No adenopathy or ascites. Normal caliber abdominal aorta. Unremarkable IVC. No acute osseous findings.

Hi, I am a 28F, 5’3, 180lbs, black, digestive issues for 8 months, diagnosed with low iron biliary dyskinesia, currently taking 20mg cipralex for anxiety, from Canada no drugs or alcohol.
I would like some help in understanding the results of my colonoscopy and endoscopy. I have struggled with digestive issues for over 8 months now, first diagnosed with biliary dyskinesia, but referred to GI because some symptoms Could not be linked to gallbladder. After my scopes the GI told me she thought it was H Pylori, but I just received my results and it says no H Pylori, and I would love some help in understanding the report And trying to understand what is actually wrong. Thank you!
Edit: I also tested negative for celiac from a blood tests
https://imgur.com/a/UR6Czsc

Stumbled upon this subreddit in my pursuit to find an explanation to my digestive issues that happened fairly over night almost 6 months ago. Ever since, I struggle with constipation, mostly in the form of incomplete BMs and bloating (pressure & hard lumps in my lower left abdomen). My mental state has also deteriorated quite remarkably (brain fog has been an issue for a couple of years now) but actual physical abdominal pain has been fairly limited.
Did most common tests (stool, blood, CT scan and colonoscopy). The findings were negative for celiac (by blood test) and "a few" sigmoidal diverticulas probably caused by "functional constipation". The prescribed solution to the problem was exercise, dietary change and fiber supplements.
Flash forward to now and I've been consuming 25-35g of fiber on a daily basis (incl. supplements) for months now and I would describe my diet as healthy. I also do a fair amount of exercise and I am nowhere near overweight (189cm & 75 kg) but symptoms persist. Throughout this time, I have been keeping track of my food intake but I can't detect an obvious culprit since symptoms are more or less always present.
I am consuming gluten on a daily basis (as in every single day, modest quantities though, mostly a piece after lunch and a piece for dinner), mostly in the form of homemade bread. Coming from a baker family, the potential prospect of a sensitivity haunts me but I am running out of alternatives and I am exhausted enough to start a week of GF food and I was curious as to whether it's reasonable to expect a change within that time frame?
Appreciate any feedback!

9 week old is exclusively breastfed and has yellow and seedy poops but a lot of the time they are mucusy and sometimes thinner. Baby is pooping daily or every other day, does not seem to express any major discomfort. Does spit up much more than my first did, we’re constantly changing her outfits, but it’s not massive projectiles or painful. Basically, none of this seems to concern my ped or any other type of professional we’ve talked to. The only thing that was called into question is the mucus in poop. Anyone experience this and have it be connected to their diet? I’m not trying to eliminate stuff if I don’t have to, but I’m wondering if it is connected and I could improve her stools/spotting up.

About a year ago, I started having a change in my bowel habits. I went from going 2-3/day with normal solid stool, to 8-20/day with loose/yellow/floating/mucous combination stool. No matter what I eat I continue to go straight to the bathroom. My stomach pains were unbearable at times and I have a constant fear of not making it to the bathroom on time every single day. I could not go out to eat with family. There was no eating before going anywhere. No trips anywhere, nothing. I finally went to the doctor about 3 months in. I went to my primary care to get a referral for a GI doctor. At my primary care appointment, they drew labs to check my white blood cell count, electrolytes, gallbladder labs, and even checked to see if my thyroid was causing any of this. Then they hit me with giving them a stool sample to check for C-diff… I am a nurse and knew what types of stool C-diff can look like, and i DEFINITELY know what it smells like. I knew I didn’t have it and I never turned in my stool sample. I just thought it was a total waste of time. My other labs came back normal, everything did. She referred me to a GI doctor and the earliest appointment was 3 months away. I waited and continued to try and deal with this completely awful new way of life. I changed my diet to absolutely no sugar, no gluten, no dairy, and high protein/fiber STRICT diet…. This of course did nothing for me. The time has come and I go to the GI appointment, finally. I went on to tell them all of my issues I had been having for the past 6 months. There was the stomach pain, change in bowl habits, constantly having to have a bowel movement, the cololook of the stool, and the 10 pounds of weight loss that had taken place since this has started. They checked the same labs on me as my primary care doc did, did an ultrasound of my abdomen/pelvis, and gave me a stool testing kit. I told them I didn’t have C-diff, but they wanted to check anyways. They also scheduled for me to have colonoscopy and an upper GI scope. The only problem was that the earliest possible appointment was 6 months away…. I begged for them to find a way for it to be pushed up because I had started becoming depressed, developed anxiety, and became a total recluse. I even started taking anxiety medication solely because of this. They said since my ultrasound was normal (other than extreme gas in my abdomen) and my labs didn’t reflect anything serious, they can’t move it up due to being so booked up. I drove home and cried the whole way home. I’ve never felt so defeated in my life. I took my stool sample items and threw them away. The only thought I had was, “what a waste of my time”. I thought nothing was going to be normal again. I had forgotten what even normal was. I decided to call my primary care doctor to see if she could refer me to another GI office. They did, and the earliest appointment was 3 months away…. Yes, another delay. I waited and waited. Still no socializing, staying home, going to work ONLY, barely eating, more weight loss, and now the presence of blood that started to appear in my stool…. Did I mention that I had been taking a box/more of immodium every month in order to be able to work my full time night shift ICU nurse job…??? Yep… not kidding, and every NP/doctor I had talked to thus far knew this… Finally, after 9 months I had my appointment with the other GI office. They again did the same as the other office except order an ultrasound. The only thing different was they told me that I would be priority over anyone on receiving a colonoscopy due to my s/s. They scheduled it 2 weeks away which was their earliest appointment possible at the time. I was so relieved it was unreal. I was finally taken seriously. They also said they MUST have a stool sample on me before I had the scope done. So i grabbed the supplies they gave me and went home to have a BM, placed it into the fridge (absolutely disgusting), and then drove it up to the clinic the next day. 3 days went by and I had a phone call. They called to tell me my labs came back normal, but that I tested positive for C-diff…… I couldn’t speak. I was in such shock and disbelief. They also called to tell me that they were canceling my scope and sending in 2 weeks worth of Vancomycin that I need to take 4/times. I cried and cried and cried. I just knew it wasn’t C-diff and they had gotten my samples mixed. I was so disgusted and angry at them for canceling my scope because I knew that would give me the answers that I needed to possibly get back to normal again. I got over it. Started taking the antibiotics, and stopped taking the immodium. My bowel movements decreased. Stomach pains went away. Blood stopped appearing in my stool. I was almost back to my old self…. Then after the Vanc was done and I had completed the prescribed course, all of my awful, no good symptoms I had before the meds… started again in full force. I have now lost 7 pounds in 3 days. I have not stopped going to the bathroom. I have very pale yellow colored stools. I now have 20 bowl movements a day. I have intense, not being able to even breathe stomach pains. And now a toilet bowl full of blood with a select few of those bowel movements. I called the GI office and they told me they are sending me in a 10 day dose of some other medication that I have yet to figure out due to this occurring today and the med not even being able to be picked up from the pharmacy yet. I am disappointed and mad. I can’t do this anymore. I can barely preform my job which takes ALL of my focus and energy and doesn’t share those things with anything. I have talked myself out of going to the emergency room every time, I guess that’s the nurse in me. I am miserable. I’m going to take these meds and if this doesn’t help I’m telling them I am headed to the emergency room and I don’t care what happens. I just will not let this be me for the rest of my life. I can’t do this another day. Please… can someone help me. I have had C-diff for a total of a year and only known I’ve had this for 1-2 months now. Please tell there is hope of getting rid of this. Anything is helpful at this point…. (Yes I take probiotics and prebiotics. Intake fiber. Even drink Kefer. I also eat yogurt with probiotics every day. None of this helps.) * I also have pictures of my stool that I did show each and every doc * - I know that is insanely weird but I just wanted to be take seriously…..

I recently have been “diagnosed” with IBS. I’ve been a nurse for 10 years, so I’m fairly medically savvy. I want to give brief med hx as I feel like it relates to my issue. I’m currently 33.
In April 2021 I was officially diagnosed with endometriosis after fighting for years to get surgery. It was so bad, I needed lysis of adhesions on my descending and sigmoid colon (this is important later).
Later that year, December 2021, I found out I had Grave’s Disease. A hyperthyroid disease that does make you poop a lot.
In August of 2022 I got sick with COVID after the 2 original vaccines and one booster.
For the past year or so, I’ve been dealing with awful BMs. They’re a type 1, on occasion a 2, on the Bristol stool chart and a loooooot of mucous and some times scant amount of blood. Blood in the stool, not when I wipe. No hemorrhoids. Every other month or so, I’ll get a horrible pain on my left side, there are insanely loud bowel sounds and then finally I’ll have the worst diarrhea ever. Lots mucous, very yellow, and the pain is so bad, all I can do is rock back and forth on the toilet, cry, and pray it comes out soon. Last time it happened was 4/1/24 and previous to that was in August of 2023.
I finally saw a GI and she just does an xray and tells me to take miralax and that it’s IBS constipation. The xray showed some stool in my ascending colon but that was it. I definitely am moving my bowels, even with the small stools, I still go multiple times a day. I can’t take miralax every day because it causes diarrhea, but I take it once a week just to get a day to move everything.
So here’s my question. Endometriosis can mimic IBS, I got an IUD placed 10/5 and that did cut down on how often the diarrhea has happened, but lately I’ve been having so much bowel/uterine/ovarian pain, that nothing helps and I don’t think it’s IBS. Doesn’t matter what I eat, anything can trigger it. Even IBS “safe foods” like low fodmap foods.
My thoughts are: I have scaring from surgery because of the location of pain, more adhesions have grown (IUDs just slow growth, endo has no cure), or COVID damaged my bowels.
I’m desperate and feel like I’m not being heard by my doctors. I just want to feel normal again. I got prescribed Bentyl for bowel spasms, but I’ve noticed no difference. Has anyone else experienced bowel habits like this? Do I really have IBS? I am too scared to leave the house or go out to eat because I’m afraid I’ll have the diarrhea. I’m terrified of crapping myself.

Ongoing burping and nausea
22F, 5’5, 130 lbs I’ve had GI issues since I was little (mainly gastritis that eventually cleared on its own in about two years), and since then I’d get mild discomfort and pain from time to time, which I thought it was just reflux and that would get better after taking Gavsicon.
The thing is - I guess it was triggered by a lot of stress in a short period of time, but one night a year and a half ago, after feeling the same pain and discomfort and after taking Gaviscon - the discomfort transformed into bloating and eventually belching.
After that night, for a few months, this belching would recur only once in a while, and it would only be annoying little burps after meals. Then, after every time I had to go on a trip (for which I guess I unnecessarily stressed myself again), these episodes would get worse and worse. I was diagnosed with IBS and given probiotics initially, which seemed to improve my burping (tho it didn’t go away).
But for three months now, it’s been a lot worse - I’d wake up feeling bloated and needing to burp (mainly smaller, unproductive burps), which would make me really nauseous and feeling like I need to vomit, but nothing would come out except for air; needing to burp profusely after every meal or drink (at first I tried following the FODMAP diet, reducing stuff like gluten and dairy and legumes, which helped a bit but not anymore), now I even struggle falling and staying asleep because of the pressure and nausea. My anxiety has skyrocketed, which I know only makes things worse, but I can’t seem to calm down because I constantly feel ill.
I don’t know how correlated it is to IBS itself, because only recently I started feeling pain in the abdomen (and I think it’s mostly related to gas), and even though I’ve noticed some changes in stool, again it is recent and BMs don’t seem to improve or worsen the other symptoms. I’ve also had a few episodes of hypersalivating and feeling a lump in my throat, but it’s not constant. I’ve been on PPIs for a month but didn’t feel any better.
It’s worth mentioning that I tested for celiac, H pylori, both negative.
Is it really just IBS, is it my anxiety? At this point I’m so desperate for an answer, because these symptoms have taken over my life, and I can’t even function properly 😭 Any insight would be appreciated, thank you.

In 2012 I suddenly out of nowhere started having severe gallbladder attacks (I didn’t know what they were though, I was a young adult and never had the pain before) to the point I couldn’t eat or stand straight. Then my eyes turned yellow and my urine was bright yellow, stools were white clay colour. The pain was so much that I got taken to hospital and they ran tests and admitted me because I was apparently severely dehydrated (despite drinking enough and eating enough) and my liver was on the verge of failing (their words). I was in hospital for a week. They did an ultrasound on day 4 (they waited this long because apparently they didn’t suspect gallbladder issues due to my age - they were testing me for hepatitis and aids instead.. obviously came back negative). The ultrasound showed nothing, so they said that they suspect gallstones but assume I’ve passed them now.
Left hospital.. stools were yellow off and on for months. Pain was intermittent for months. I’d have mini attacks. Had an ultrasound 4 months after the event and it shows some stones.
Issues seemed to go away.
Through the years since 2012 I’ve had the occasional ‘gallbladder liver’ ‘ache’ sensation in the correct region. Usually after I’d eaten things high in omegas or very oily fatty things. But it was once in a blue moon that it would happen, and I’d take apple cider vinegar and it would resolve the ache very quickly. So it wasn’t really a ‘bother’.
Recently however I’ve been having intermittent and random digestive issues.. my gut will start bubbling and feel weird and then I’ll go to the bathroom and my bowel movement will be super loose or diarrhoea, usually bright yellow. I’ve not noticed anything that actually triggers this, it just happens. The rest of the time my bowel movements are totally normal.
For about 1-2 years now, the upper section of my stomach has been distended/bloated/tight feeling. Sometimes I have to stand up because when I sit down I feel slightly breathless. Not sure if this is linked but I thought I would mention it.
Every time they’ve done blood work it shows my liver enzymes are normal.
I’m in the UK. What do you suggest I do?
I don’t drink, smoke, take any substances, etc. so I’m not sure why it’s happening to me?
Other symptoms are: Acne especially on my shoulders and back, often on my chin too. Adrenaline rushes for no reason. Tachycardia. Random nausea. Sometimes lots of belching or gas for no obvious reason but some food must have triggered it. Can’t eat mayo without feeling crap afterwards and my digestion being weird.
To add - I don’t feel any pain or discomfort at all when I get these digestive issues and stool issues..

tldr; Has anyone had DELAYED digestive side effects from HCQ? As in: side effects showed up suddenly after months of taking it without any problems?
Background: I started 400mg/day of HCQ (split into two doses) three months ago. I was lucky—and other than one morning where I forgot to eat before I took it—I never had any digestive side effects.
And I have seen huge improvement in my UCTD symptoms! It took a while to kick in, but I finally feel like I’m starting to get my life back.
Which is why it’s super frustrating that my digestive system has been a mess for the last three weeks. Terrible bouts of extreme diarrhea and cramping. Zero appetite. Nausea.
My PCP did a stool test to rule out an infection, and it came back clear. I already eat a pretty restrictive diet (no gluten, dairy, eggs or soy) because I’ve been tested and shown intolerances to those foods. Negative for Celiac (not that it matters because I’ve been gluten free for years now).
I really really really don’t want to “fail” this medication, because it is helping so much, so I’m hoping this digestive distress is caused by something else. But also: I have to start questioning everything in my life to see if I can improve my belly.
Thank you!

22F, 5’5, 130 lbs I’ve had GI issues since I was little (mainly gastritis that eventually cleared on its own in about two years), and since then I’d get mild discomfort and pain from time to time, which I thought it was just reflux and that would get better after taking Gavsicon.
The thing is - I guess it was triggered by a lot of stress in a short period of time, but one night a year and a half ago, after feeling the same pain and discomfort and after taking Gaviscon - the discomfort transformed into bloating and eventually belching.
After that night, for a few months, this belching would recur only once in a while, and it would only be annoying little burps after meals. Then, after every time I had to go on a trip (for which I guess I unnecessarily stressed myself again), these episodes would get worse and worse. I was diagnosed with IBS and given probiotics initially, which seemed to improve my burping (tho it didn’t go away).
For three months now, it’s been a lot worse - I’d wake up feeling bloated and needing to burp (mainly smaller, unproductive burps), which would make me really nauseous and feeling like I need to vomit, but nothing would come out except for air; needing to burp profusely after every meal or drink (at first I tried following the FODMAP diet, reducing stuff like gluten and dairy and legumes, which helped a bit but not anymore), now I even struggle falling and staying asleep because of the pressure and nausea. My anxiety has skyrocketed, which I know only makes things worse, but I can’t seem to calm down because I constantly feel ill.
I don’t know how correlated it is to IBS itself, because only recently I started feeling pain in the abdomen (and I think it’s mostly related to gas), and even though I’ve noticed some changes in stool, again it is recent and BMs don’t seem to improve or worsen the other symptoms. I’ve also had a few episodes of hypersalivating and feeling a lump in my throat, but it’s not constant. I’ve been on PPIs for a month but didn’t feel any better.
It’s worth mentioning that I tested for celiac, H pylori, both negative.
Is it really just IBS, is it my anxiety? At this point I’m so desperate for an answer, because these symptoms have taken over my life, and I can’t even function properly 😭 Any insight would be appreciated, thank you.

Hello, fellow gastrointestinally-dysfunctional people! I just got my colonoscopy done this morning, and I wanted to share some of my experience so the next scared sod that comes across this subreddit can clear their mind off things.
First off, I’m 23F - I know, quite literally half the age that is generally recommended for this procedure. But fear not! All I was doing it for was to confirm that there was nothing structurally wrong with my colon to confirm an IBS diagnosis. I don’t know if this is the norm everywhere or with every insurance policy (I’m US based), but thankfully mine completely covered the cost of the prep and the procedure, so I was all good.
Secondly, the worst part was, of course, the prep. Words cannot describe how disgustingly salty Gavilyte is, even with the lemon flavoring packet. But still - get that shit done!!! Drink it nice and chilled through a thick straw, hang out by the bathroom, and most importantly, finish it. Your stooling water will look neon yellow-green with next to no sediment present once done - that is normal due to the natural pigmentation of bile, not to worry! And if you’re on any prescription laxative medications like Linzess, then go ahead and pop that before you start the prep as nice little kickstart in cleaning your bowels.
Lastly, the procedure itself was fantastic! I’ve never been hospitalized and have had an amazing immune system, so it wasn’t until I’ve gotten my current insurance as an adult that I’ve needed to do any procedures. I previously experienced propofol for a dental surgery, and that waking process was less than ideal (I walked out of the recovery room because I couldn’t find my nurses. Don’t do that!!). However, my CRNA was very kind, and he even asked what drink I wanted when I woke up (ginger ale, the superior drink). The least pleasant part was definitely the propofol - I was damn near crying at how much it burned as it spread. Once again, shout out to my CRNA - he rubbed my arm so sweetly when he saw that I was freaking out and kept reassuring me that it was almost time to sleep. I woke up in the hallway on the way to recovery, asking my RN if I could go to the bathroom, and nearly all my anal soreness gone with a bit of hemorrhoid cream - thanks, team! A near painless procedure, indeed.
My post-op results came back negative for structural irregularities. I’m so happy to be on the other side of this, and rewarded myself immediately by eating a soft, bread pudding slice. Many thanks to my scope team, and many thanks to all of you reading who do this on the daily! Every nurse, tech, physician, etc. who participated in my care helped me through this so well that it felt like a well-oiled machine in the best way possible.
For you 45+ folks who are getting your screenings, or for anyone who’s on the fence about rescheduling, please don’t be scared - if this 23F healthcare workegrad student who hates getting jabbed herself can do it, then you can, too! Best wishes, and take care of your colon.

Hi,
I know I've been gluten sensitive my whole life, with sometimes very mild reactions, if any, to gluten. I recently had consistent diarrhea, and fatigue for several months and decided to see my doctor about it.
The blood test came back positive and now I'm waiting a month for a biopsy. Obviously I'm now avoiding gluten but my bloating is persistent and I'm having either ribbon-like stool or diarrhea.
At this point, I am freaking out. I almost definitely have celiac, as my father was recently diagnosed with Hashimotos.
I did a one-day fast after I heard the news, and went back to eating on Sunday, but my symptoms remain.
My mind immediately goes to the increased risk of cancer. All of this feels ominous and very wrong. No one should have diarrhea for this long. I am scared for my life.
How long does it take after a flare-up before things settle down? Is the ribbon stool or persistent bloating normal? Is there anything other test I can ask my doctor for while I wait for the endoscopy?

She said she was hiding that she had jaundice for a week because of her fatty liver and she fasted for a week to cure it?! She mentioned her stool was clay color and is getting better and her urine is sometimes orange / amber and how she’s always weak. I’ve been staying with her for a few days and I’m glad I am because she’s been saying she’s too weak to go out to get food. I told her to go to a doctor, but she said she’s fine, that she’s just peeing out her high red blood cells. She’s gotten skinnier than she has been and I thought her skin tone was fine. I was power washing outside today and she came out and was literally yellow like a simpson’s character. She’s been complaining about pain occasionally where her liver is. Frankly, I don’t know what to do or how to feel. I feel kinda terrified the possibility of her just dying. She doesn’t drink, but she used to have a beer a night when I was growing up. She was a vegetarian as well, she eats meat occasionally, but not too often. I’m not sure where to post this as I’m just venting my concerns and wonder if anyone has had a similar experience with family not wanting to go to the doctor or these symptoms?

Just a quick disclaimer: there’s some tmi details in this post about my experience with parasites and bowel movements.
A year and a half ago i was pretty paranoid that i had parasites so i started to take different supplements I purchased from Amazon which include:
-Paraguard -intestinepro pills (includes black walnut and wormwood) -diatomaceous earth -inulin
And some others like garlic, ginger, cayenne, and oil of oregano
Looking back, i was pretty paranoid and reckless about the supps i was taking and I’m not proud of how I went about things without medical guidance. I was experiencing weird symptoms like: teeth grinding, insomnia, stomach cramps, bad bloating, etc.
I went hard on the supplement for a few months, and i started to notice a lot of yellow mucus in my stool. Then, after about a month of taking paraguard 2-times a day, i passed something which i am sure was a parasite or tape worm. Basically i had a bowel movement, and lets just say what came out was pretty much dangling from my butt and reached the back of my knee. This had to have been a tapeworm right? It was like a foot and a half long and i had to pull it out.
I should also note that during the time I was “cleansing” my symptoms were a million times worse, plus my face was extremely bloated and fat, and i had a really horrible rash develop on my lower stomach in my gut area, which I’m assuming was a result of die off?
I’ve lost a lot of weight in my face after this happened, but my stomach still bloats like crazy whenever i eat, and I don’t really eat much throughout the day? So I’m wondering if I still have parasites. I want to see a gastroenterologist but I don’t have health insurance at the moment, and the last time I mentioned it to a gastro he was kind of dismissive toward me. I bought another paraguard but I’m just worried that I might damage my gut by using these products. I’m also a bit traumatized from the last experience and I’m scared about seeing more parasites in bowel movements.
Has anyone ever used these products before? And if so did you see results? Is it also okay to use things like paraguard occasionally throughout the year?

Hi there! I will try to keep this brief.
I (32, F) have been struggling on and off for the last seven-ish years with what I believe is gallbladder disease. My PCP referred me to a gastroenterologist (after suggesting it is merely anxiety, so yes.... I am searching for a new PCP).
I have an attack every 3 - 6 months, pain feels like a clenching/squeezing fist in the upper half of my abdomen, occasionally radiating to the right side of my back but more often just upper abdominal pain. Sometimes comes on randomly, but sometimes can be directly correlated to eating a large meal quickly, or having something fatty. Gastro seems hesitant because pain is "not after every meal, and would be upon every incident of eating if it was gallbladder related", and I can go many months without paying too much attention to my diet without a problem.
I have had - abdominal ultrasound, normal, no stones/sludge - CT scan (normal) - bloodwork panel - endoscopy (....discovered I have celiac, been GF for two years now which hasn't stopped this abdominal pain) - HIDA - EF of 83%
Basically after palpating my stomach, she looked down at me and said "Well it SCREAMS gallbladder so I can refer you a surgeon I like but he will most likely say no because your tests look normal".
I feel very stuck, and very much at my wit's end after years of this. Any thoughts or similar experiences?

Is it gallstones or is it CHS
I am at my witts end and have to go to the place i get all my answers now. I have been very unwell since October 2023 when i was hospitalised for a week for a supposed kidney infection (that was never confirmed) and then again from January 2024 till now, May 2024. I have recently been led to believe that it is gallstones, which makes so much sense as my dad, who has said this is the exact same pain he was in, had his gallbladder removed and hasn’t had a single issue since and so did his father. It just make so much sense that that would be the issue however it has been mentioned to me (by a fucking rude, condescending, rich boy doctor) that it might be CHS. I am a daily smoker for the past 3 years so i do fall into the category for it but i just don’t think my symptoms match enough for me to think it is this. my symptoms are
Extreme abdominal pain (right side under rib) 10/10 Extreme stomach spasms 8/10 Nausea / vomiting Acid reflux 8/10 Extreme pain in chest (feels like heart attack we) 10/10 Only feel relief in a boiling hot shower or hot water bottle on stomach I have had to wake up every (not a single morning since the beginning of january have i slept past 5.30) morning at 4am-5am and spend at least 3 hours in the shower. lost 25kg since beginning of January Don’t eat for 4-5 days at a time as i can’t keep anything down Extreme fatigue Confusion Body aches Night sweats Constipation (but this is only since i’ve been on painkillers)
Right now my first issue is when i say nausea it is more like i feel uncomfortable and the amount of pain my stomach is in combined with the extreme spasms make me feel as if i need to be sick. it’s in no way “uncontrollable vomiting”, which is the main symptom in CHS, and when i do have to be sick it is more because of how my my acid reflux is and it is just green/ yellow bile, and lost of it, no matter how much or little i eat.
My second issue is it just makes too much sense for it to be gallstones as i have EVERY SINGLE SYMPTOM down to a T. Put that together with the family history of it and the fact that i did have a very fatty diet before this issue makes for the dictionary definition of Gallstones.
I do however want to ask for some advice, if anyone has had either Gallstones or CHS, can you tell me when your options are. do you think it fits into one more that the other and what’s the next step.

I am at my witts end and have to go to the place i get all my answers now. I have been very unwell since October 2023 when i was hospitalised for a week for a supposed kidney infection (that was never confirmed) and then again from January 2024 till now, May 2024. I have recently been led to believe that it is gallstones, which makes so much sense as my dad, who has said this is the exact same pain he was in, had his gallbladder removed and hasn’t had a single issue since and so did his father. It just make so much sense that that would be the issue however it has been mentioned to me (by a fucking rude, condescending, rich boy doctor) that it might be CHS. I am a daily smoker for the past 3 years so i do fall into the category for it but i just don’t think my symptoms match enough for me to think it is this. my symptoms are
Extreme abdominal pain (right side under rib) 10/10 Extreme stomach spasms 8/10 Nausea / vomiting Acid reflux 8/10 Extreme pain in chest (feels like heart attack we) 10/10 Only feel relief in a boiling hot shower or hot water bottle on stomach I have had to wake up every (not a single morning since the beginning of january have i slept past 5.30) morning at 4am-5am and spend at least 3 hours in the shower. lost 25kg since beginning of January Don’t eat for 4-5 days at a time as i can’t keep anything down Extreme fatigue Confusion Body aches Night sweats Constipation (but this is only since i’ve been on painkillers)
Right now my first issue is when i say nausea it is more like i feel uncomfortable and the amount of pain my stomach is in combined with the extreme spasms make me feel as if i need to be sick. it’s in no way “uncontrollable vomiting”, which is the main symptom in CHS, and when i do have to be sick it is more because of how my my acid reflux is and it is just green/ yellow bile, and lost of it, no matter how much or little i eat.
My second issue is it just makes too much sense for it to be gallstones as i have EVERY SINGLE SYMPTOM down to a T. Put that together with the family history of it and the fact that i did have a very fatty diet before this issue makes for the dictionary definition of Gallstones.
I do however want to ask for some advice, if anyone has had either Gallstones or CHS, can you tell me when your options are. do you think it fits into one more that the other and what’s the next step.

Hi 25 M, 211 lbs, 5' 7", Omeprazole, ezitimibe, atorvastatin, hydrocodone-act, dicyclomine. Non smoke, previous biliary cholic due to chronic cholecystitis (confirmed by pathology) over last 6 months. Pathology came back as below:
PATHOLOGY CONSULTATION
Specimens A: GALLBLADDER
Clinical History Pre-op diagnosis: K80.20
Pathological Diagnoses GALLBLADDER; CHOLECYSTECTOMY:

• Chronic cholecystitis.
  
• Benign cholesterol polyp.
  
• Negative for dysplasia and malignancy.
  

Gross Description The specimen is received in a formalin-filled container, labeled with the patient's name, medical record number, and "1. Gallbladder." It consists of an intact club-shaped gallbladder that is 6.2 x 2.3 x 2.0 cm. The serosa is gray and smooth to tan-yellow and irregular. There is a 0.7 cm in length x 0.5 cm in diameter patent cystic duct (inked orange) that is closed by a white plastic clip. The lumen contains green viscous bile, with no discrete stones within the lumen or within the filtered formalin. The mucosa is green-brown and velvety with a wall 0.3 cm. There is a 0.4 x 0.3 x 0.2 cm yellow papillary polypoid excrescence 4.2 cm from the cystic duct margin. Representative sections are submitted, to include the entirety of the excrescence. The cystic duct margin is submitted en face (A1,Mx,1b). MCB/als
Operative report came back as below:
Procedure:

1. Robotic assisted laparoscopic cholecystectomy
2. Intra-operative cholangiogram
3. Indocyanine green administration (Firefly)

Indication for Procedure: 25yM who was seen in clinic for evaluation of MEG/RUQ pain. EGD demonstrated gastritis and RUQ US demonstrated a distended GB with a 4 mm stone. Robotic cholecystectomy was recommended. Informed consent was obtained before proceeding to the operating room. Surgical Findings: Critical view obtained, IOC negative Surgeon: None Specimen Removed: Gallbladder Estimated Blood Loss: 5 cc Anesthesiologist: Type of Anesthesia: General endotracheal Drains: None Complications: None Description of Procedure: Five mg IV ICG was administered in the pre-operative holding area. The patient was then transported to the operating room table in supine position. Pressure points were padded and sequential compressed devices applied to the bilateral lower extremities. General endotracheal anesthesia and peri-operative antibiotics were administered. The abdomen was prepped and draped in a sterile fashion and a multi-disciplinary time out was performed. A Veress needle was used to gain access at Palmer's Point. The abdomen was insufflated to a pressure of 15 mm Hg. An 11 blade was used to make a right mid-clavicular incision adjacent to the umbilicus and an 8 mm robotic trocar was inserted into the abdomen through this incision using optiview technique. Intra-abdominal inspection did not reveal any injury. Three additional 8 mm robotic trocars were inserted into the abdomen under direct visualization, all through incisions approximately one handbreath apart along the same horizontal access. An angiocatheter was advanced into the abdomen through the left subcostal Veress site to allow for cholangiogram later in the procedure. The patient was position in reverse trendelenburg with the left side down and the DaVinci robot was docked. The gallbladder did not appear acutely inflamed. The stomach, small bowel and colon were not overtly inflamed, no adhesions or bowel / colon distension was noted. No liver lesions noted. The gallbladder fundus was retracted cranially with a Prograsp forcep and the infundibulum retracted laterally and inferiorly with a Caudiere, thus exposing the triangle of Calot. Hook cautery was used to clear the anterior and posterior peritoneum and the cystic duct and cystic artery were circumferentially dissected. The critical view was obtained. Firefly mode as used to confirm biliary anatomy. A clip was placed distally on the cystic duct and a ductotomy was made proximal to the clip using scissors. An arrow catheter was advanced through the left subcostal angiocatheter into the cystic duct via the ducotomy and a cholangiogram was completed which demonstrated free flow of contrast through the common bile duct into the duodenum without any filling defects. The common bile duct and cystic duct were very narrow throughout. At this point the arrow catheter was withdrawn, two clips were placed proximally on the cystic duct and the duct was ligated at the ductotomy site. The cystic artery was similarly ligated with two clips proximally and one clip distally. The gallbladder was removed from the liver bed using hook cautery. Hemostasis was confirmed. The gallbladder was placed in an endocatch bag and the DaVinici robot was undocked. The endocatch containing the gallbladder was removed from the peri-umbilical port site which was then closed with multiple 0 Vicryl sutures on a suture passer The abdomen was desufflated and the trocars removed. Thirty milliliter(s) 0.25% Marcaine was infiltrated into the incisions which were then closed with 4-0 Monocryl subcuticular suture and Dermabond. The patient was extubated and transported to PACU in stable condition.
Surgeon noted that my ducts were very narrow, could this be a stricture that is still causing my pain? How long should I reasonably expect to have the pain in my right side when I breathe in while in recovery? If it does not go away after a while, should I anticipate an ERCP/stent situation? Feedback much appreciated.