Question:

Surgical division of the vagus nerve, according to Webster’s 9th – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What the heck is a vagotomy??? I had two hiatus hernia repairs (nissen fundoplications), a vagotomy and a pyloroplasty 8 years ago and have had problems with diarrhea, bowel urgency, bloating and abdominal pain ever since. Two years ago, I lost 30 pounds without trying (couldn’t eat due to extreme nausea) and found out that I had a B12 deficiency. I also have low iron stores and am exhausted. Despite the fact that my bowel problem started less than a week after the vagotomy, my GI thinks that I have IBS and did not make any suggestions as to how I should control these debilitating symptoms. Today I was reading that questran in small doses can help to bind the bile salts and bring relief to people who have problems following a vagotomy. But I read other stuff indicating that questran can have unpleasant side effects or damage the intestine. Does anyone have any advice on either qestran or dealing with vagotomies? Many thanks. Sigrid

Response:

What the heck is a vagotomy??? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I had two hiatus hernia repairs (nissen fundoplications), a vagotomy and a pyloroplasty 8 years ago and have had problems with diarrhea, bowel urgency, bloating and abdominal pain ever since. Two years ago, I lost 30 pounds without trying (couldn’t eat due to extreme nausea) and found out that I had a B12 deficiency. I also have low iron stores and am exhausted. Despite the fact that my bowel problem started less than a week after the vagotomy, my GI thinks that I have IBS and did not make any suggestions as to how I should control these debilitating symptoms. Today I was reading that questran in small doses can help to bind the bile salts and bring relief to people who have problems following a vagotomy. But I read other stuff indicating that questran can have unpleasant side effects or damage the intestine. Does anyone have any advice on either qestran or dealing with vagotomies? Many thanks. Sigrid

Response:

I have been on Questran for the last 10 years with no side effects whatsoever! It may be different for you but it has been a blessing for me, no more diarrhea attacks, etc. Give it a try with your doctor’s permission of course. Kevin Wagner – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I had two hiatus hernia repairs (nissen fundoplications), a vagotomy and a pyloroplasty 8 years ago and have had problems with diarrhea, bowel urgency, bloating and abdominal pain ever since. Two years ago, I lost 30 pounds without trying (couldn’t eat due to extreme nausea) and found out that I had a B12 deficiency. I also have low iron stores and am exhausted. Despite the fact that my bowel problem started less than a week after the vagotomy, my GI thinks that I have IBS and did not make any suggestions as to how I should control these debilitating symptoms. Today I was reading that questran in small doses can help to bind the bile salts and bring relief to people who have problems following a vagotomy. But I read other stuff indicating that questran can have unpleasant side effects or damage the intestine. Does anyone have any advice on either qestran or dealing with vagotomies? Many thanks. Sigrid

Response:

Related Questions