gallbladder removal

[Annielecurie]

Hello, I had my gallbladder removed a week ago today (keyhole). Recovery from surgery has been an absolute breeze, other than I slept for 4 days solid; despite telling pre op nurse, anaesthetist, recovery and ward nurse that I have PA and B12 deficiency and reacted very badly to an anaesthetic 10 years ago so might need a top up. The pre op nurse recorded that I had iron deficiency so none of this was picked up. I’m ranting because this was clearly explained by me and should have been avoided. I was still sleeping when my husband collected me from hospital and it was such hard work getting dressed and walking to car from the ward. The staff were great who looked after me and I will be sending a thank you note to them, but it still stuns me that this condition is so serious and yet so misunderstood by medical staff.

Anyway, that’s not why I’m contacting forum members, I wanted to give context and highlight this is the second time I’ve experienced this after general anaesthetic, and wondered if anyone has experienced this.

I apologise for my negative post but I can’t eat anything. I’m a vegetarian and don’t eat eggs. I wasn’t given a diet/fact sheet when I was discharged from day surgery last week so have been googling but there is such differing advice. Every time I eat anything now, I have terrible upset stomach, stomach pains and feel nauseous and faint. I have to go to bed until I’ve stopped sweating and my breathlessness has calmed down. I know I have to have a low fat diet and everything has be under 3g of fat but I’m so confused. Has anyone on the forum had their gallbladder removed and how did you approach your diet afterwards? I’m back at work next week (from home until I can drive again) and want to make sure I get this under control as I won’t be able to just get into bed and sleep it off if I’m at work.

[MrsTuft]

I’d call the ward and tell them what you’re experiencing.

[Myoldcat]

Sounds tough for you. I had the same op in 2021 before being diagnosed with a B12 deficiency, but think I was already on the downward slide, as for the first time I reacted badly to the anaesthetic. The surgeon gave no dietary advice, but a great Eastern European nurse told me to avoid fats for a month if possible, then gradually reintroduce. I've been able to eat most fats since then. However, I did have bad stomach pain immediately after the op and was put onto omeprazole by the surgeon. I now think it may have been PA related gastritis/low stomach acid suddenly worsened by the anaesthetic. I came off it asap (probably around a month) although had to juggle the dose to avoid rebound effects. I would advise some digestive support in the form of supplements previously mentioned, and things should calm down soon. Wishing you a good recovery.

[jenny1106]

I had my gallbladder removed many years ago and have eaten anything I want since then with no stomach problems at all

[MoKayD]

Without a gallbladder to control it, bile is now just dumping straight into your stomach. I had my gall bladder removed about 10 years ago and it took a few months for everything to work itself out. For the first few months I tried to eat frequent small meals. Large, fatty meals would quickly send me to the bathroom.

[Espeegee]

I had my gall bladder removed 40 years ago and there was no advice at all about diet. I've not experienced any stomach issues and have often wondered why people are advised to avoid fat if they don't have a gall bladder. That said I have since wondered a few times if the reason I can't Lose weight is somehow tied in to not having a gall bladder and I have read a paper on it which suggests there is a link. That said I recently tried both gastric enzymes and bile salts but had no result with shifting the pounds at all. Diet is very important and you could and probably ought to eat eggs, they are one of the most complete foods there is.

[Enuffisenuf]

The wind can take a while to settle down, and can be very painful. I couldn't fasten the top button of my jeans for 6 months because my tummy was full of gas. I wasn't B12d at the time I had mine out, but don't forget that you've had major surgery so I'd get a top up or two and be kind to yourself.I wouldn't stress about diet sheets. Avoid as much obvious fat, (creamy sauces, cheese etc) as possible for a while. I ate pretty much what I wanted really, and you need a certain amount of fat in your diet to be healthy. Introduce obvious fat slowly, and when you're not going anywhere. Even now after 20 years a coffee with cream can send me running to the smallest room sometimes.

[mickeymouse42]

there’s a condition called Bile Acid Malabsorption that can affect people who have their gallbladders removed. The main symptom is urgent diarrhoea. Bile acid is seeping into the colon.

If this continues, ask the gastroenterologist for a SehCAT scan which determines how much bile acid is being retained. It’s a short test. You swallow a capsule containing radio labelled analog bile acid and do a CT scan that shows the analog bile acid. You return a week later for a follow up scan and a radiologist determines what percentage of the bile acid has been retained; anything less than 15% is considered a problem.

The treatment for BAM is also low fat diet and where this doesn’t work, bile acid binders like colesevelam are used.