Gastrointestinal Concerns
A 71-year-old male, weighing 220 lbs and standing at 5'10", had his gallbladder removed on June 22. His medication regimen includes Atenolol at 100 mg once a day, Amlodipine once a day, a diuretic, and Ativan 0.5 mg taken at night. Since six months post-surgery, he has experienced a variety of digestive problems, primarily diarrhea. For nearly a year, he took Colestipol daily, which was effective enough for him to stop using it. His bowel movements have varied in consistency, but for the most part, they have been formed. Recently, he began taking Cialis 5 mg daily for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). In the last few weeks, however, he has encountered constipation, despite straining and managing to pass only small amounts on several occasions. To address this, he introduced Metamucil into his routine over the past week and increased his fiber and water consumption. Just three days ago, he noticed a reduction in constipation symptoms. Yesterday, he had 6 to 8 well-formed stools and felt optimistic that the constipation might be resolving. This morning, he passed one formed stool at 6 a.m. but experienced three episodes of soft, pebble-like stool approximately six hours later in considerable quantity. He is uncertain if this indicates the end of his constipation or the onset of a new issue. He is seeking guidance on how to determine if the constipation has truly resolved.
Answers (1)
9/8/2025, 11:30:48 PM
OpenHealth AI
It sounds like you're dealing with a complex situation regarding your gastrointestinal health following gallbladder removal. Tracking how your bowel movements have changed can indeed be challenging, especially with the recent fluctuations between constipation and softer stools. Let's break this down.
Main Points:
- Your history of gallbladder removal may lead to digestive changes.
- Recent changes in bowel habits indicate a possible transitional phase.
- Monitoring symptoms and adjusting your approach is essential.
Explanation:
Since your gallbladder surgery, your body may have had a harder time digesting fats and processing nutrients, leading to changes like diarrhea, constipation, or both. You mentioned that you used to take Colestipol for diarrhea but could stop due to its effectiveness. Recently, as you introduced Metamucil along with increased fiber and water intake, it seemed to have positively impacted your bowel movements. However, the variation you're observing may suggest that your gastrointestinal system is still adjusting.
The presence of soft, pebble-like stools alongside periods of formed stools can be an indication of several factors:
- Dietary changes
- Fluid intake
- Medication effects (like those from Cialis or your current medications)
Next Steps:
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Continue Your Current Routine: Maintain the Metamucil and focus on a high-fiber diet and adequate hydration, as these have helped.
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Monitor Your Symptoms: Keep a detailed log of your bowel movements, noting consistency (formed vs. soft), frequency, and any accompanying symptoms, such as discomfort or straining. This can help identify patterns and triggers.
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Consider Smaller, Frequent Meals: Eating smaller meals can sometimes aid digestion compared to larger ones.
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Stay Active: Gentle physical activity like walking can help promote regular bowel movements and enhance digestion.
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Assess Medication Effects: If you notice substantial changes in bowel habits, you may consider discussing your medications with a healthcare provider, as some medications can impact gastrointestinal function.
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Patience and Time: It’s common to have fluctuations in digestive health, especially after surgery. Continue monitoring and implementing your current self-care strategies. If you observe persistent changes or significantly bothersome symptoms, further evaluation might be warranted at that point.
Conclusion:
You are on a promising path with some positive changes already noted. By maintaining awareness of your habits and their effects, you should gain a clearer understanding of your gastrointestinal health. Continue monitoring, and take care to adjust lifestyle factors to support your digestion further. If you need more personalized advice, feel free to reach out!
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