Food after gallbladder removal: what will I be able to eat/digest first few days?

yirara
yirara Posts: 9,941 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Yikes! The hospital phoned me this afternoon and cancelled my appointment for gallbladder removal in 10 days time. They offered a new date, this coming Monday at 9. :#

Apart from not being prepared at all I wonder what kind of food I should have at home. I can't eat a lot of protein-rich food without getting reflux, especially most dairy, meat without natural fat, and eggs. I can't digest fatty food properly anyway regardless of the gallbladder problems, and I don't like sweet too much. I'll either be send home the same afternoon or the next day. Don't have a car and the next supermarket is too far for walking or cycling after surgery I guess.

So far I bought a loaf of bread and put into freezer, made sure I have enough oats/fruit/skyr if I'm able to eat it, and tins of pea soup and goulash soup. But those might be too heavy to start with. A chicken/noodle soup maybe? Tomato soup? The annoyance with all those soups is some bread to go with it as it's too hot and humid. Bread basically starts rotting after 2 days at the moment.

Further info: I only have a tiny freezer (two small drawers), and my fridge is currently fighting with the hot weather and lots of condensation. Most things don't stay fresh for long. Readymade food is super expensive here, and also rather fatty.

Replies

  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,213 Member
    Are you having laparoscopic surgery?

    If so, mine was pretty much a non-event (though I admit that I don't react badly to anesthetics, as some of my friends do).

    The surgeon recommended that I follow a lower fat diet, and what I was doing with MFP already qualified for their description of that. I wasn't nauseated, so I could pretty much eat the things I'd been eating. And while exercise was limited (by doctor's orders, not pain), I could do the routine things needed to cook in the usual way, as long as I didn't lift big jugs or hunks of stuff (I think it was a 5 pound lifting limitation, initially, but it might have been 10, even).

    Everyone won't be this lucky, but I wouldn't necessarily assume you'll have big issues if it's laparoscopic.
  • apullum
    apullum Posts: 4,838 Member
    I was eating my typical food the day after I had my gallbladder out. They gave me biscuits and gravy for my hospital breakfast the next morning.
  • SolanineNightshade
    SolanineNightshade Posts: 38 Member
    No special foods or issues after mine, although eating fried foods in general, as a treat, does a number on me now.
  • kevont
    kevont Posts: 19 Member
    I think I ate crackers the first meal after my gallbladder was removed. After that, I went back to my normal diet and had no problems. You might want to stay away from fatty and spicy foods but honestly I was eating pizza the next day. Good luck with your procedure! You will probably feel much better Tuesday.
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,941 Member
    edited July 2019
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    Are you having laparoscopic surgery?

    If so, mine was pretty much a non-event (though I admit that I don't react badly to anesthetics, as some of my friends do).

    The surgeon recommended that I follow a lower fat diet, and what I was doing with MFP already qualified for their description of that. I wasn't nauseated, so I could pretty much eat the things I'd been eating. And while exercise was limited (by doctor's orders, not pain), I could do the routine things needed to cook in the usual way, as long as I didn't lift big jugs or hunks of stuff (I think it was a 5 pound lifting limitation, initially, but it might have been 10, even).

    Everyone won't be this lucky, but I wouldn't necessarily assume you'll have big issues if it's laparoscopic.

    Yeah. The info I received from the anaesthesiologist states that I might have problems swallowing for a few days and food might not pass properly due to the narcotics. The info I received also states that too much intestinal movement might cause pain, and that many people don't feel like eating at all for a few days and to get something light and delicious. Well.. that makes it clear :( I honestly have no idea what to get in. And considering it's nearly impossible to store fresh food at the moment (heat, humidity) I can't get too much.
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,941 Member
    SolanineNightshade wrote: »
    No special foods or issues after mine, although eating fried foods in general, as a treat, does a number on me now.

    I'm not worried about that as I've not been able to eat fatty food for the past 20 years or so. Guess that explains all the deficiencies I've been having, right? :s
  • cheriej2042
    cheriej2042 Posts: 241 Member
    I had mine out and no one told me to avoid any foods! Years later one doctor asked me if I could eat salads and I said yes. She said sometimes with gallbladder out it’s more difficult digesting salads.
  • lovesummers
    lovesummers Posts: 5 Member
    edited July 2019
    I had mine out 10 years ago. If I eat high fat junk food, or anything greasy, it upsets my stomach and gives me diarrhea. A bloomin' onion? Love it, but no way!!!!! I have found that in my last 3 months of eating healthy, I have had no issues at all. It's just high fat/greasy food does me in. Spicy doesn't bother me. Everyone is different. You will know. Best of luck!
  • rheddmobile
    rheddmobile Posts: 6,840 Member
    Do you have grocery store delivery in your area? Might be something to consider - here it’s ten bucks - which might be worth it so you don’t have to guess how you are going to feel in advance, and know you have options depending on your tolerances and cravings.
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,941 Member
    rheddmobile wrote: »
    Do you have grocery store delivery in your area? Might be something to consider - here it’s ten bucks - which might be worth it so you don’t have to guess how you are going to feel in advance, and know you have options depending on your tolerances and cravings.

    Nope, unfortunately not. Only when I order for a certain, fairly high amount of cash. And as I can't really store too much food (my flat is also small) it's a no
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,941 Member
    Back from hospital since yesterday afternoon. Must say that I felt better at hospital, but I don't really have a place to sit comfortably at home (well, not with four holes in my tummy anyway).

    Eating: hmm.. difficult. Bought apricots that don't taste good to me at the moment. My usual breakfast oats with fruit, skyr and raisins feels too dry to eat. I had microwaved spaghetti at the hospital that were perfect, but I don't have the energy to overcook fine pasta at the moment, nor the energy to go out and buy microwave pasta (plus it's storming and pouring down). I think I'll defrost a bread roll and eat chicken soup. Not sure yet what to eat later today. The idea of pea soup or bean stew sounds revolting. Basically: most food currently sounds yucky to me. Didn't expect that. Meh.

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