hi nsmith,

I was wondering how you're doing, sorry it's not pleasant

The gallbag is basically just a storage receptacle for bile, which is produced in the liver. As you know, the function of bile is to break down fat in the digestive tract into long-chain fatty acids, which are then absorbed from the small intestine into the bloodstream, transported to the liver where they are further processed into ketones, shorter chain fatty acids, etc, etc, etc ...

When the gallbladder is removed, the common bile duct is surgically connected to drain directly from the liver into the small intestine. So, instead of there being a "squirt" response to the presence of fat in the gut, bile is trickled into the intestine constantly. Bile is very, very irritating. Many laxatives, including the "natural" herbals, work by stimulating bile production ... the excess bile in the fecal material irritates the colon causing it to spasm and a B.M. results.

People who have chronic diarrhea conditions, Crohn's disease, colitis ... or good ol' influenza virus, where the stool is rapidly transported through the intestine .. will experience the raw burning anal tissue as you are. It's not due to "acid" from eating protein. The problem is due to the bile from your liver being constantly trickled into the intestine AND NOT HAVING ENOUGH FAT PRESENT TO ABSORB IT.

Conversely, if you eat a large fatty meal, there may not be enough bile trickling in to deal with what has been consumed. Hence a "fatty", possibly greasy stool.

You will find eventual relief if you eat smaller, more frequent meals that always contain moderate fat .. olives, raw unprocessed nuts, avocado .. meats, cheese, eggs with the yolks, tuna w. mayo etc, etc. Fiber, especially from vegetables, fruits, legumes and nuts (not bran or grains ) will also be helpful.

Desitin is wonderful ... Zinc is very soothing and healing for the skin, plus it also contains cod liver oil, which is rich in vitamins A & D, which are also healing a beneficial for the skin. Penaten is similar, and more pleasantly scented

Hope you feel better soon

Doreen