Medically Reviewed By William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS
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Short-Term Digestion Issues After Cholecystectomy
If you’ve suffered with troublesome gallstones, you know that eating fatty foods can trigger pain. Gallbladder removal solves that problem, but you may temporarily have some other issues with eating after cholecystectomy. Your gallbladder isn’t vital for proper digestion, but your body needs time to adjust without it. As you recover, you may have diarrhea and bloating after you eat fatty foods. Here are six tips on how to eat and what to include (and exclude) in your diet after gallbladder removal.
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1. Ease Into It
What you can eat right after surgery depends on your situation. Sometimes, doctors recommend liquids and soft foods. Other times, doctors let you eat what appeals to you. In most cases, you’ll find that soft, bland foods are easiest to digest. This includes foods like bananas, white rice, boiled potatoes, plain pasta, dry toast, and crackers. Gradually, you’ll be able to advance your diet and add more flavorful foods.
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2. Choose Low-Fat Foods
Your body will have problems digesting fat right after surgery. In a 'no gallbladder diet,' the less fat you eat the better. As you recover, you can gradually add more fat into your diet. Get used to reading food labels. Choose low-fat foods, and eat lean protein, such as skinless, baked chicken, turkey breast, and baked fish. Avoid fatty meats, greasy or fried foods, and foods with rich, creamy sauces. After a full recovery, you may be able to eat these foods in small amounts. Everyone is different. It’ll take a bit of trial-and-error to see what your digestive system can and cannot handle.
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3. Dairy Dos and Don’ts
Milk and dairy products are an important source of calcium, vitamin D, and protein. But this food group can cause problems after gallbladder surgery. To avoid upsetting your digestion, choose low-fat or fat-free dairy products like skim milk and low-fat cheese. Avoid whole-milk dairy products because the fat content can worsen diarrhea. On the other hand, low-fat yogurt with active, live bacterial cultures can help with your digestion.
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4. Increase Fiber Slowly
Fiber can help bulk up your stool if you have diarrhea, but it can also cause cramping and gas. This can add to your digestive symptoms after gallbladder removal. To help avoid this, increase the fiber in your diet slowly. Over several weeks, add fiber-rich foods, such as whole-grain breads and cereals, brown rice, nuts, legumes (beans, peas and lentils), and fresh fruits and vegetables.
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5. Stay Hydrated
When you have diarrhea after gallbladder removal, you need to think about hydration. Diarrhea can drain your body of fluids, vitamins and minerals. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water or vitamin- and mineral-enhanced beverages. Sports drinks containing sodium, chloride and potassium are a good option when you have diarrhea. Avoid alcohol and drinks with caffeine, such as coffee, tea, and soft drinks.
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6. Develop Long-Term Eating Habits
Most people get back to a regular, varied diet once they fully recover. But keep in mind it can take several days for your appetite to return and several weeks for your digestion to normalize. Sticking to a healthy, low-fat diet and eating small, frequent meals instead of a few, large ones may help you feel your best. If your digestion problems don’t go away, call your doctor. It could be a sign of a complication or you may need to take medicine to control your symptoms.
6 Tips on Your Diet After Gallbladder Removal | After Cholecystectomy
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December 28, 2021 | By Leyla Muedin MS, RD, CDN
Q: Is it harmful to ingest too much fat at one meal after you’ve had your gallbladder removed?
A: The gallbladder is essentially a depot for bile secreted by the liver. Bile is necessary for the emulsification, digestion, and absorption of fats. After eating a meal containing some fat, the hormone CCK (cholecystokinin) is released by the epithelial cells of the duodenum to stimulate contraction of the gallbladder to release bile. Bile shrinks fat droplets, allowing enzymes to more readily break them down.
Having had your gallbladder removed (cholecystectomy), there is no “depot” anymore for the bile to go. Therefore, a common short-term side effect after this procedure is diarrhea. And due to this, the common nutritional advice is to eat a low-fat diet. After some time, however, the body will readjust to living without a gallbladder and any diarrhea should resolve on its own or just occur occasionally at worst.
Eating a high-fat meal soon after having your gallbladder removed may result in diarrhea. This isn’t harmful, per se, except for losing some electrolytes with dehydration short term. But you should be able to return to a more moderate-fat diet (like a Mediterranean style diet, which is 40% fat) as your liver adjusts to regular bile secretion without a gallbladder.
Gallstones are a primary reason for cholecystectomy, and the primary risk factor for developing gall stones, barring any side effects of prescription medications, is a very low-fat or nonfat diet. When on such a diet, the gallbladder has little opportunity to contract at all. The bile housed there can sludge, crystallize, and eventually turn to stones. Ironically, those suffering from painful gallstones are advised to follow a very low-fat diet so the gallbladder barely contracts at all, or have their gallbladder removed.
I’ve had patients do very well on moderate fat to high-fat diets like keto—all without their gallbladders.
To your health!
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