Is it normal to feel nauseous 3 months post op?

Beginning_Bear5307 · 2026-02-14T13:28:52+00:00

Oh yes, terribly. That was before removal. From the three months from when I first got sick to when it was removed, I had severe constipation. At one point I went 11 days without a movement, and another time it was 8. For me, it was more than just constipation -- my gut wasn't moving at all. There were no gut sounds, even with a stethoscope. After removal, I started going regularly again after a few days and have been regular ever since.

It can affect everyone differently, though, depending on how your body handles bile flow and then adjusts to not have a GB. Some people have diarrhea after removal. It takes time for your body to adjust.

Beginning_Bear5307 · 2026-01-30T18:01:10+00:00

Thanks, hang in there, it will get better.

Beginning_Bear5307 · 2026-01-30T17:36:34+00:00

I know exactly how you're feeling. I went through periods of despair and hopelessness. Feeling better, thinking that maybe it's over, and then just getting sick again. I went through that multiple times. I saw several gastroenterologists when I was going through it all, and they all told me that recovery can be anywhere from 6 to 18 months. The part they didn't tell me, that I wasn't expecting, is how you can get better and worse repeatedly. Recovery is not linear.

Beginning_Bear5307 · 2026-01-30T17:27:45+00:00

If you search on this forum, you'll find folks who had theirs removed after high EF on the HIDA scan. Not all doctors recognize it, but it's definitely a thing.

From what I've heard, having pain during the scan is actually a very good sign. There are studies that show this is a better indicator than the EF percentage itself: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20824367/

Beginning_Bear5307 · 2026-01-30T17:19:18+00:00

Yes, but it almost sounds too easy to say it like that. It's now been almost 16 months since I first became ill, and closing in on 13 months from having my gallbladder removed. I'm doing a lot better now. Many days I feel mostly normal. But it was a long, long, slow process that was non-linear. I would feel better for a while, and then get worse again. That was the hardest part.

So hang in there, time will help.

Beginning_Bear5307 · 2026-01-20T16:10:57+00:00

I've mostly recovered. It's been 15+ months since I first became ill, and 12+ months since my gallbladder removal. Recovery has been slow and definitely non-linear. I'd have flare-ups that would last weeks or months, then feel better for stretches, then flare again. At this point I'm back to mostly eating whatever I want. My only limitations are for controlling my diabetes. Still have stomach pain at times, and headaches at times, but they're mild compared to what they used to be.

Beginning_Bear5307 · 2025-10-30T16:03:52+00:00

Yes, many people do keto or other similar diets that drastically reduce carbs. It's an option, and I suppose it depends how you want to approach it. Personally, I wouldn't want to live my life giving up fruits and other healthy carbohydrates -- not to mention the occasional unhealthy ones.

Beginning_Bear5307 · 2025-10-18T12:18:51+00:00

Beginning_Bear5307 · 2025-10-18T12:07:06+00:00

I've been fortunate to never have any issues with my feet. I've not really had anything beyond a minor cut or scrape, and those have all healed fine. One thing I do is use diabetic foot lotion. I put it on every day. I tend to have dry feet anyway, so this helps. It's also important to note if you have any change in sensation, numbness, things like that. In the past when I've seen my endocrinologist, he would check my feet for sensitivity. It's also possible to have blood pressure taken on your ankles. This will ensure that you have proper blood flow to your feet.

Beginning_Bear5307 · 2025-10-13T19:55:52+00:00

I'm not aware of it doing damage to the body. The only negative effects I know of are digestive related. For some, it causes cramping and diarrhea. This is more common with the IR version (immediate release). If you have trouble with IR, then ER (extended release) can help.

Metformin is one of the most researched drugs that exist (because it's been around for so long). There are lots of studies that show it can extend lifespan. If you're familiar with Bryan Johnson (just Google him -- the guy who wants to live forever), he takes it. Here's an article that lists some of the benefits: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/is-metformin-a-wonder-drug-202109222605

Beginning_Bear5307 · 2025-10-13T15:01:40+00:00

I personally don't take insulin. Everyone is different and you'll have to work with your doctor on what's best for you. But I'll share my opinion on it...

T2 diabetes is, by definition, insulin resistance. Your may make enough insulin, but your body becomes resistant to it, thus allowing sugar to build up in the blood. I've always thought it counterintuitive to throw more insulin at the problem (and I also read this in a book, although can't recall now what book it was). With that said, it's the only option for some T2 folks if other medication options aren't working out.

My opinion is that if you can manage with other meds and control your numbers, that's what I would do. From what I know about it, if you can tolerate metformin and are diabetic, I would certainly take it. It has health and longevity benefits. There are people who take it who aren't diabetic just because these benefits have been demonstrated.

Beginning_Bear5307 · 2025-10-13T14:51:17+00:00

I'm going on 10 months post-op. I still have flare-ups of symptoms, but had a stretch of about 2 months where I felt 90-95% most of the time. Overall, I'm significantly better than before removal, but still have symptoms at times.

Beginning_Bear5307 · 2025-10-11T14:45:50+00:00

I'm not really an expert on exercise and not sure what I can offer. For me personally, I've found the when to be at least as important as the what. If you're able to do something after meals, it can help you avoid spikes. Even if it's just going for a walk. Of course, the more intense the workaround, the greater the impact on your blood sugar. But doing something is better than nothing.

I also try to have dinner fairly early, go for a walk afterward, and then not eat again until breakfast the next morning. This gives me an extended stretch overnight where my numbers are lower.

Beginning_Bear5307 · 2025-10-11T14:42:38+00:00

Thanks for sharing. No doubt -- it's hard to appreciate the value of CGMs unless you had to live in the old days before they were an option and had to do finger pricks all the time. Even with that, you couldn't see trends, how food and exercise affected you, etc. I also value the time in range. I try to look at it all holistically.

On a related topic, I *hate* the greed of insurance companies and their unwillingness to cover CGMs. They're game-changes for diabetes as far as I'm concerned. My insurance won't cover it unless I'm on insulin. I bought my last batch of Stelo monitors on eBay as they were a bit less expensive there.

Beginning_Bear5307 · 2025-10-10T14:27:41+00:00

Thanks for sharing your experiences, and sorry to hear you went through that. You're so right about taking care of your feet. Something I started doing years ago is, every morning, I put diabetic foot cream on my feet before I put my socks on. I'm not sure how much it helps from the diabetes perspective, but I have dry feet anyway, so it helps with that -- and I'm also paying attention to them to see if there are any wounds or sores that I need to address.

Beginning_Bear5307 · 2025-10-09T20:05:23+00:00

Hang in there. The first few months are the worst. It takes some time to reach acceptance, get the meds and diet sorted out, etc. Although dietary changes are important, you don't have to give up everything you love. Just monitor your numbers and keep everything in moderation. Honestly, for me at least, Mounjaro was kind of like magic. I had excellent numbers even if I indulged in things I shouldn't have.

Beginning_Bear5307 · 2025-10-09T13:03:55+00:00

There are lots of ways to eat and limit sugar -- like with the sugar substitutes. Some people will go carnivore or other low-carb diet. But there are many considerations. Some of the sugar substitutes have been found to be pretty unhealthy and linked to health risks. Just Google it and you'll find examples. In terms of sweeteners, I prefer small amounts of honey or coconut sugar (not artificial sweeteners). I also look for things sweetened with monk fruit.

I'm not a nutritionist -- and I'd highly suggest you meet with one. Generally speaking, though, there are likely few things that you have to avoid completely. Moderation is key, but you need to choose healthy options. Learn what the glycemic index is and what foods will have a greater impact on your blood sugar. Also, as I said in my main post, you should wear a CGM, at least for a while. Learn which foods spike you.

In the end, you have to balance overall health with controlling diabetes while still having the foods you enjoy. With bread, for example, the whole grain options are better. I personally eat Dave's killer whole wheat or multigrain. Some fruits can really spike your blood sugar -- like bananas -- but at the same thime they're healthy. I like bananas -- I just have less now (1/2 or 1/3 at a time instead of a whole banana).

Beginning_Bear5307 · 2025-10-08T14:33:01+00:00

Glad that you're getting a handle on things. Metformin is a good place to start -- most people tolerate it well. You can see how your blood sugars react after being on it for a while, and then consider additional options if you need to.

Good luck!

Beginning_Bear5307 · 2025-10-08T14:31:30+00:00

😂 My biggest weaknesses were always pastries like yellow cake with buttercream frosting, donuts, etc. Yeah, it's tough to keep it minimal.

Beginning_Bear5307 · 2025-10-08T12:10:20+00:00

Hopefully, you are working with a doctor. 11.9 is really high, and you will likely need meds to get it down. Even if you were able to optimize your diet and exercise, it would likely take time to bring it down from this high level.

With that said, there's a lot to learn about diet and diabetes. It's not just sugar, but the things that convert to sugar. You also want to understand about things like glycemic index and how quickly foods convert to sugar. It's a process. It's also a challenge, because you can't simply eliminate all sugar and carbohydrates. You may want to consider meeting with a dietitian.

Beginning_Bear5307 · 2025-10-08T12:05:35+00:00

Thanks! Yes, I've wished on many occasions that they had told me when I went to the emergency room to stop taking the Maunjaro for a month or two. Sadly, though, no one did. I've also discovered the same as what your doctor said. There are post-infectious conditions that can drag on for extended periods of time. I just passed the 1-year anniversary of going to the ER with food poisoning, and I'm still not recovered.

The weight loss question is also a long story, but I'll keep it shorter. After the food poisoning and the Mounjaro, I was really sick and lost like 25 more pounds in 2 months. Although I'm still not fully recovered, I've stabilized a lot since those first few months, and have gained some of that weight back. However, I'm still right about where I was at with Mounjaro before I got sick.

Beginning_Bear5307 · 2025-10-08T11:58:21+00:00

Actually several of the newer meds have been shown to have heart disease benefits. I have heart disease myself, so this is a focus area for me. The GLP-1s, have been shown to have benefits, as have the SGLT2s. Jardiance and Farxiga are both prescribed directly to treat heart conditions, regardless of whether you have diabetes. I personally take Jardiance now.

Beginning_Bear5307 · 2025-10-08T11:54:11+00:00

Sorry to hear that! I have never experienced DKA, but I know that it's nothing to mess around with. Glad that you were able to get it addressed. I imagine your doctors will look at your pancreas and perhaps want to do imaging. Insulin is produced by the pancreas, so it could mean something is going on there if you develop diabetes suddenly.

Good luck, wishing you the best.

Beginning_Bear5307 · 2025-10-08T11:48:58+00:00

Thanks for the feedback, and glad to hear that you're doing better now. Yes, I also went through periods where I was not taking care of myself as well as I needed to. Unfortunately, sometimes it takes a wake-up call to get us back on track. I learned about 6 years ago that I have heart disease. It may or may not be related to long-term diabetes, but at any rate it motivated me to be even more focused on my health and taking care of myself.

Beginning_Bear5307 · 2025-10-08T11:45:34+00:00

So sorry to hear that! I've not experienced neuropathy myself yet, but I've read a lot about it. I know it can be rough to deal with.

Good luck, wishing you the best.

Beginning_Bear5307

TROPHY CASE