After Gallbladder removal.......

colgosling

Did anyone have to change their diet or eating habits? How did it affect you?

colgosling

Nobody huh! Suppose I will find out for myself soon enough.

simplyivy19

Sadly I was 18 when mine was remove for the first 2 weeks avoid grease after that take grease lightly. Everytime I have grease foods I have to run to the bathroom

mwilke

I actually began changing my habits before I had mine removed. I gave up soda completely about 1 month prior to having the surgery. And I avoided really greasy foods because they caused episodes. Since the habits changed before my surgery, I have not really changed anything else. I have just kept the same ones. I have had maybe one time that I felt really icky after eating something greasy. Hope this helps you a little!

nermal6873

Had mine out just under 2 years ago. Didn't make any changes to my eating habits. Gotta say, having it removed was definitely worth it! Gallstones are the most unimaginable pain EVER! Good luck with your surgery!

skt001

I have found that I can't eat lettuce without having some type of protein with it. I can't figure it out, but it never happened before my gallbladder removal.

cathylovestim

Nope. I asked my surgeon if I needed to avoid any specific food group/food and he said I shouldn't have to. I know people who have been sensitive to high fat contents in their foods or dairy but I've never had a problem. I have to say though that that was a little over 20 years ago (I was the first laproscopic gall bladder patient my surgeon had). I've been a vegetarian for over 7 years now and really limit unhealthy fats. I am also transitioning to a vegan diet.

Altruista75

Had mine out just under 2 years ago. Didn't make any changes to my eating habits. Gotta say, having it removed was definitely worth it! Gallstones are the most unimaginable pain EVER! Good luck with your surgery!

Same here!! Best thing I ever did. I put it off for 10 years and that was a mistake!!

Jacole18

I had mine taken out a few years ago, and I haven't noticed a huge change. Maybe more sensitive to greasy, fatty foods, but I think that's more from being healthier now than anything. Good luck.

addaline22

cabbage is my arch nemisis now. along with beef. and I can't drink like a fish anymore either

19bulldog60

i asked the doctor what I was allowed to eat following my gallbladder was removed. He said to eat what ever I wanted and if it hurt me in any way to not eat it again. Nothing bothered me. Before the operation, Orange juice or steak (grilled) or hotdogs all would make me sick. After the operation, I can eat all of those foods. I have found nothing has bother me since and that was 40 years ago.

Ninatoots

I had mine out last December 1st. I have not given up much, but to much fat can casue some problems.

morielia

I had mine removed earlier this year after more than 10 years of issues with stones. I didn't have to make any changes, but it's mostly been because my diet's always been pretty healthy and my stones weren't triggered by or as a result of a fat issue (it was a mineral issue). It was highly acidic foods or sodas that made my gall bladder angry.

People with fatty diets end up with really severe diarrhea after removal if they go back to what they were eating previously. Bad enough that there's actually pills that the surgeon may prescribe afterward. I think I ate bland for a few days, mostly because I was in wretched amounts of pain, and after that, I was back to normal. The very occasional fried food doesn't get to me at all. I think I ate a burger as my first meal after surgery.

NoMoreJellyRolls

I had mine removed may 2011. After Ive had it removed, ive noticed that certains foods, greasy, and fried foods makes me get diarrhea. But everyone is different

HypersonicFitNess

I had my gall bladder out and I will not eat out where the food is fried or full fat (KFC or say ice cream). I hardly ever eat fried foods or full fat foods; if I do I get a stomach ache. Remember your gall bladder produced the bile to digest any excessive fat and you no longer have it so you will wind up with a stomach ache (diarrhea or nausea, some may throw up but I do not, but then I try to stay away from those foods).

I eat lots of raw vegetables and fruits (I've heard people say they couldn't but I think that's bull); the only raw vegetables I have problem with is raw onion or green bell pepper (red, orange and yellow bell pepper I can handle).

colgosling

Thank you everyone for replying. For some reason I am very nervous about this surgery although I have had others in the past for unrelated issues.

I think my dad was told to stay away from Pork, peanuts and limit dairy, not that he does! I have heard so many different stories I just wanted to get a feel from you lovely people.

LLRider

"The gallbladder is a sac that stores bile made by the liver in between meals. After a meal, the gallbladder squeezes the bile it has stored into the intestine. In the intestine, the bile mixes with food and fat. Bile is important because it helps with the digestion of fat and its transfer from the intestine into the body.

When the gallbladder is removed, bile made by the liver can no longer be stored between meals. Instead, the bile flows directly into the intestine anytime the liver produces it. Thus, there still is bile in the intestine to mix with food and fat. It is true that there is not as much bile, but there is enough to allow the digestion and transfer of fat. People who have had their gallbladders removed do not need to limit the fat in their diet.

The only clear side effect of removal of the gallbladder is diarrhea. This occurs in about 10% of patients. The diarrhea occurs because of the change in the way bile is delivered to the intestine once the gallbladder has been removed. Bile and the way it is delivered to the intestine appears to control the speed with which food passes through the intestine. Removing the gallbladder speeds up the passage of food and thereby may cause the diarrhea. There may be other reasons why the change in delivery of bile causes diarrhea as well."

from Medicine Net

Healthydiner65

My Doc said to eat what I wanted. Boy was he wrong! All the females in my family have had ours out and we all know where the nearest bathroom is at all times. Fatty meats, prime rib peanuts and beer. Make baseball games hard!

Healthydiner65

Your Dad is right but add beer!

ShrinkingShona

I had mine out 4 months ago after developing them during pregnancy. I didn't really alter what I ate, although I was used to eating basically fat-free after having them for nearly a year. I did find that on the few occasions I had something particularly fatening in the month following, I did feel slight nausea. My doctor said this was normal.

rudimae

I had my gallbladder out 20 years ago. The only thing that bothers me is if I eat a whole banana I'm doubled over with pain that feels like the gallstones did.

Glad you hear you are getting it taken care of. Trust me, it's better to get it done before it gets too bad. My wasn't diagnosed for years and years. They kept thinking I had an ulcer. When they did the surgery, they tried to do the scope but ended up having to cut me because it was so bad. But that was twenty years ago!! Even with the huge incision, I was thrilled. The pain from the incision was something I could understand and knew would heal. The pain from the gallbladded was so much worse!

jholmden

I had my gallbladder out at least 10 years ago and I have found no difference than before it was sick.

arickim

I ate the same things as I did before. I would have to run to the bathroom right after eating something bad for me though. Now that I am eating better and sometimes still have a few things not so good, but I don't have bathroom problems.

Lisha_R

I had mine out 5 years ago. I did have problems with Diarrhea for several months after. I did not notice any specific foods causing it. Thankfully that went away with time. My hearburn improved which was nice.

runbyme

I had mine taken out 31 years ago. No diet changes for me at all! No diarrhea or having to watch what I ate. Best thing ever! Gall bladder attacks hurt worse then labor and there's no sweet baby afterward! Good luck with your surgery!

krisrpaz

I had mine out almost a year and a half ago. It took about 6 months before I could eat normally again. Just eat normally and see what triggers any bowel problems. Mine was gravy, popcorn with butter, and any form of sausage. Besides that, I was fine. Now I can eat those things again with no problem.

Cameo530

When they did the surgery, they tried to do the scope but ended up having to cut me because it was so bad. But that was twenty years ago!! Even with the huge incision, I was thrilled. The pain from the incision was something I could understand and knew would heal. The pain from the gallbladded was so much worse!

Same thing happened to me! Only they said it was because my bile ducts were too small for them to see clearly with the scope method, so I have 5 tiny scars from them trying the scope and one larger scar where they removed it the traditional way. Like you, mine was nearly 20 years ago (17 actually).

Ever since I had mine removed, I've had loose stools more days than not and in 17 years I haven't been able to pin it to any particular foods. It's not diarrhea, just not solid either. Although as others have mentioned, too much grease can be a whole other story! If I were to eat something like McDonald's, I'd know I'd be needing the bathroom within about 15 minutes!

kacarter1017

Greasy foods don't work well. Things like Alfredo sauce or any kind of butter or cream sauce cause cramps and diarrhea- very quickly. I had mine out about 11 years ago, and it hasn't improved, but that's OK. I don't need to eat those foods. I've known people who have said they were able to train their bodies to accept those foods again, but I don't think that training sounds very fun!

momtokgo

I'm one of the unlucky few (I think my doc had said it was only 3% of people) that has chronic diarrhea, also known as "dumping syndrome" No matter what I eat, it goes right through. In the last 3 years it got worse and worse and worse, until it was after everything I ate. My doc put me on "binding" medication which helps immensly.

But my dad also had his out and can eat whtaever he wants, no issues at all. It depends 100% on the person.

shinkalork

Had mine removed in December 2011. I went into critical emergency surgery cause it burst inside me and I was poisoning myself.
(NOT FUN!) Anyway, took me around two months and I started martial arts again (with light contact etc).... I never changed much what I ate...My doctor said not to do so.... But not to act like an idiot. I didn't get sick yet...

The only two big big changes I've seen is...

1- I drink so much water it's crazy.... I can drink a 1.5l of water so so fast... It's probably to help my system diggest etc... I wasn't like this before my surgery...

2- When I'm working my abs...I feel weird.... Feels like my inner scars are pulled or something?...any idea?

losecandy

I had mine removed last month. I ate Progresso soup with beef or chicken and with either brown rice or barley. I drank diet ginger ale and a lot of water. I can't eat foods high in fat. I just tried brocolli today. I'll give cabbage family foods more time. I can't eat white pasta. I spoke to my dr. And was told I can resume normal eating habits. Dairy may give you problems. according to a web search don't eat: spicy, fried, white sugar/flour, baked beans, creamy sauces or soups, chocolate,pastries, lard type products, oils and gravies. It also suggested eating 6 small meals instead of the large meals. Avoid caffeine as it can hinder digestion. High fiber and gas pproducing foods be introduced to the diet slowly: whole grain breads, nuts, seeds, legumes, brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage.

I had my surgery done laproscopically with 6 holes. Normally the holes can be between 4 and 7 incisions. When I was sent home, they didn't give me any dietary instructions.
I had problems getting enough oxygen and the little sacs in the lungs collapsed. Breathing is hard.
Its been about 17 days since the surgery.

I trust your surgery goes well.