What happens after your gallbladder is gone?!

Hi, I had my gallbladder removed about 7 years ago. Prior to removal I was eating a diet very low in fat and like yourself I continued after removal for a short while. I then started to eat what I wanted, but I didn't go over the top at first. I kept portions small. Within 3 months I was eating just the same as I used to. There is nothing I can't eat, and it has had no impact on my weight after removal.

I too was worried at the time, but those worries were soon gone when I realised you can still eat what you want. I think you just have to take your time and not dive right in.

In for answers. I am meeting to talk with my surgeon about this on friday.

My experience was the same as the other posters...mine came out 7 years ago after having my first child - which I then found out was pretty common! I had no issues with food, and I was able to lose 40 pounds doing the old diet and exercise thing.

Sadly, I was also able to find those 40 pounds again! But it's coming off again slowly but surely.

It sure is hard not to worry, though, isn't it? I went through the same thing with that and when I had my Thyroid removed. Just rememeber, WebMD is not always your friend!

I will add though as far as my eating I haven't tried ALL the foods I am trying to lose weight so fried foods and super fatty things haven't been something I have tested because I am avoiding them for my health so I don't know if they would upset me to eat them.

had mine removed in january with no problems. like others i was up and walking for an hour a day within days of my operation. off pain meds within same amount of time (saving them for later!!!! lol) I actually get to enjoy fats and fried foods MORE, since they dont give me massive pains afterwards anymore. I have never heard that stone removal was an option, but according to my surgeon, my gallbladder was super sick and within days of busting. poor gallbladder, i treated it really bad for 48 years and then i think the sudden weight loss really threw it for a loop. it was like huh? whats happening?

I had my gallbadder removed 4 years ago and have not had any problems with what I can eat. I ate bland food for a couple weeks, but that was mostly just loss of appetite. I was back do light cardio after about 10 days and back to normal routine in the gym in about 4. I was actively losing weight at the time and didn't gain anthing back. I lost some in the week right after the surgery (it was when I hot my 100 pounds lost mark, very anti-climactic) and gained about half of those pounds back, but other than that, life as usual.

I was worried about eating spicy food, I read that people couldn't tolerate that as much, but I am still good

I had my gallbladder taken out October of 2002, I was 22 years old, and had a 4 and 2 year old. I was deathly sick, in a matter of 4 months (first attack to surgery), I lost 30lbs from being that sick. Day of surgery I weighed in at 96lbs. I had a very swollen gallbladder and liver as they found during surgery, and I had A LOT of stones, including several in my bile ducts (which were also very swollen).

After surgery, it took about a year to recover completely, but I had complications during surgery, and was anemic, so it took awhile for my body to get back to what it was before my first attack.

Eating wise, I was on a low fat diet for a few weeks after surgery, and that was because my body needed to learn how to process fatty foods again, without a gallbladder. After that, I went on a regular diet. Now I will say, some foods...you will run to the bathroom within 20 mins, wondering if your going to make it or not. But for the most part, you can pretty much eat what you want, as you did before your gallbladder went bad. I do, from time to time, have phantom gallbladder attacks. It has gotten better throughout the years (the first couple of years, the pain brought me right back to when I had my gallbladder). Typically I know what triggers the phantom attacks now (when I get too hot or hungry) so I can fix it before the attacks happen.

In 2004, I got pregnant with our third child, I was 128lbs (I am 5'2), so I was at a healthy weight again. However, at my 6 week post appt, after he was born, I was 146lbs (I only gained 24lbs during my pregnancy). So I had only lost 6lbs after my son was born. I didn't overeat when I was pregnant with him, I exercised, I was busy with a 6 & 4 year old. So needless to say I was baffled, because I had lost all my pregnancy weight, plus some with my first two (pre-GB surgery).

I have read from others though, that gaining weight, post GB surgery is pretty normal. So is having a bloated stomach.

For the next 9-10 years I gradually gained weight. Granted I didnt exercise, so of course gaining weight is going to happen. So I dont completely blame not having a gallbladder on that, gaining weight is my own doing from lack of exercise.

Fast forward to present time. I am now 34 years old, my starting weight 2/24/14 was 175lbs. I cut out soda completely, lost 5lbs within a month. On 3/24/14 I started Focus T25 Alpha, I am on W5D4 on that (tomorrow is my last day on Alpha, then I move onto Beta for the next 5 weeks). I am having a rough time losing the weight (I am currently going back and forth between 167-170lbs), but have lost several inches in the process. Bloatiness in my stomach is still there, not as bad, but its a slow process. Eating wise, hasnt changed throughout the years, I can still pretty much eat whatever, but again, certain foods will trigger a run to the bathroom within 20 mins.

Thats pretty much my experience with having gallbladder surgery, hope that helped.

I had gallstones last October and had to have my gallbladder removed as well. I gained back 20 lbs but just recently I was able to shed the last little bit of it that I had left. Just be careful with exercise! Don't overdo it.

I had mine out the day before New Years and I have had no issues. I actually feel SOOOO much better since it came out but I will admit I was very nervous. The weight that I have lost so far shown in my ticker has all been since it came out. Probably slower than most but I am also hypothyroid. I will totally agree w/ the previous post though.... The worst part for me was the gas trapped in my body. My shoulder hurt so bad and it hurt to breathe. Doesn't sound like a big deal until you experience it. lol. That lasted about 2 days though and then I was ok. The surgery and incisions itself were no biggie.

I had my gallbladder removed about 6 years ago and it did change how I had to eat. I can't eat most tomato based foods, pizza, spaghetti, etc. and I also can't eat chocolate without getting sick either.

I have a friend though that had he's gallbladder removed and he can't grapes.

It affects everyone differently.

I am looking at the possibility of having mine out soon, so I am glad you posted this and had so many responses. I am very nervous about it especially since I still don't know if it is happening yet. Getting the HIDA test in about two weeks.

Saving this to read, I'm getting mine out in about a month. I've heard mixed things, both my family doctor and the surgeon told me I'd be able to eat normal afterwards, but I'll probably re-introduce fatty foods slowly. And even if it doesn't get along with you right away your body may just need some time to adjust. For me, a lot of people in my family have had theirs out so it seems likely it's hereditary, but I'm sure my diet had a large contribution.

I was told the reason they take it out and don't just dissolve/break up the stones is because you'll just form new ones and you'd have to have a very strict diet. For now I'm just trying (not so successfully) to watch my fat intake. I've definitely noticed when it's really high I'm more likely to have an attack and they've progressively gotten worse so now I'm trying to be a bit more careful. I'm a bit worried about once it's gone, I'm hoping I can eat normal again but some people can't, most seem to be able to but everyone's different.

ETA: I don't know if maybe my weight loss has maybe contributed to me getting more stones or having the attacks as well, but I started getting the attacks around when I started losing weight but I guess there's not much to do about that and I'll probably never know for sure, but it's a good incentive to lose slowly.

I will totally agree w/ the previous post though.... The worst part for me was the gas trapped in my body. My shoulder hurt so bad and it hurt to breathe. Doesn't sound like a big deal until you experience it. lol. That lasted about 2 days though and then I was ok. The surgery and incisions itself were no biggie.

I had this also, I was very thankfully that they warned me of this or I would have freaked out and thought I had some other problem.

Oddly, I did not have this problem at all with the gallbladder surgery, but I did with my tubal ligation. It was truly horrendous, like an ice pick sticking me in the lung every time I lay on my side for weeks. I think my gall bladder surgeon was better and more conscientious and took the time to squeeze out as much gas as possible. It made a huge difference.

I had my gallbaldder removed in 2003 and have no problems with any fatty or spicy foods. Like other replies I have gained and lost wieght over the years but I contribute that to bad diet and lack of exercise rather than the surgery.

One thing I can't have any more though (and I miss it more than you can know) is a glass of wine!!!

the foods and drinks that are now off my list post-surgery are the more acidic ones - red wine went first but I was OK with white, a year or so later I couldn't even handle white wine but a glass of cider on a nice summers day was delicious, then cider jumped on the "no-no" bandwagon...grr.... I just get really bad pains as though the gall baldder and stone is still there.

For anyone out there now worried about me and my teetotal lifestyle, I can still drink vodka without any after effects. the problem is that it isn't socially acceptable to order a vodka whilst out on a midweek lunch with the girls, or to share a bottle with OH on a Friday after a hard week at work.

Too many fresh tomatoes don't sit well either, but funnily I miss them less!!! :-)