Gallbladder removal: post-op diet and recovery

[TowelStripes]

Hi all

I'm having my gallbladder out Tuesday. Initially the consultant told me I could go back to having a normal diet afterwards but I've had a few people who have had the Op saying they avoid fats indefinitely now as well as high fibrous foods like kale, cauliflower and cabbage 🤔

I've googled and it seems to say avoiding high fibre foods initially post op and introducing these slowly is a good idea.

If you've had yours out, how was your recovery generally and what foods did you avoid? Did you have much appetite for the few weeks afterwards, and what did your eat?

Thank you!

I don't know. I'm waiting for my referal to go through so I'll watch with you.

How long was it from your referal to getting a date? If you don't mind me asking. My referal is marked as urgent, but the hospital says because of delays it wont even be looked at for at least 6 weeks. I have one stone, 2.5 cm.

My dm had hers out and I know she only followed the diet until hers was removed, I don't know if she did the right thing though.

I went back to a normal diet. I eat high protein, moderate fat and low carb though so fat is not an issue for me. You shouldn’t totally avoid fat, especially healthy fats because your body needs it.

If I am having something particularly fatty like a bunless bacon double cheeseburger I will take ox bile supplements while I’m eating otherwise I get dumping syndrome.

It’s been fine and the relief of knowing I’ll never have another attack I liberating. Last one I was blue lighted to hospital to get morphine because I was so delirious with the pain.

I went back to a normal diet immediately. I am a vegan so eat a high fibre diet anyway and have had no problems. I was hungry and ate a light meal after the op. Had no ill effects at all and very little soreness. Best of all, I can now eat ice cream without having excruciating pain afterwards. Best wishes for your speedy recovery.

I had mine done at 1.30pm was home before 7.00pm absolutely starving & ate a share of a portion of fish & chips. I never had any problems with digestion afterwards just mild diarrhoea for the first month, nothing immodium couldn't cope with.

Had mine out Wednesday and have been told normal diet is fine.

What I would say though is that in hospital and the days after you get given things like codeine or oramorph, as well as antibiotics and loads of other stuff all designed to constipate you so drink lots of water, have stool softeners available and take laxatives if you need them.

I had mine out almost 20 years ago - have eaten a normal diet since.

Had mine out about 3 years ago, straight back to a normal diet when I felt like eating again. The only thing I've noticed is the heartburn/acid reflux. Buy plenty of Gaviscon!

This is excellent, thank you.

I have been waiting a long time @kimlo. I was first diagnosed at the start of lock down, I think around April 2020. My date was originally beginning of July 2021 but pushed back to this week. NHS has set me up a private hospital, presumably because of the waiting lists.

I'm veggie but not a particularly healthy one usually although cutting out processed food and saturated fat , I've lost weight and am in a healthy BMI for the first time ever I think without counting calories.

@HalfShrunkMoreToGo, good tip thank you!

@cazzovuoi, the pain is like nothing else.

@mdh2020, ice cream and pizza are pretty top of the list for me of treats now.

Did people put on weight after having it removed?

that timescales awful. But kicking this can down the road actually suits me, only because I have a larger operation coming up.

Worth mentioning that I had mine out as an emergency, was admitted Sunday with severe pain and infected/inflamed gallbladder so I had a total of 5 days of a wide assortment of very regular pain medications 😂

Only one stone but it was a whopper

Yes, I think operations were just totally off the table for a large part of that and then obviously playing catch up so don't imagine it's similar now. Wishing you the best of luck!

Normal diet, I can't eat really fatty food like icecream - well I can but it needs Gaviscon. From people I know, how much it affects you diet wise varies, some people it will be not at all.

Post op make sure you have some laxatives in the house and don't overdo the codeine! You will have been given painkillers in the anaesthetic that make you constipated and trying to poo when constipated and stitches all over your abdomen is not fun.

Yes, I did put all the weight back on as I'd been basically eating fat free to avoid gallbladder pain and had lost loads of weight. Gained it all back

Don't plan to do much in the week after the op. I was bent double and in quite a lot of pain when moving about for the first week.
The relief of never feeling that gallstones pain again though.... indescribable!!

I sooo hope I get mine to keep 🤣

I'm setting up at my mum's with the kids so I don't have to do much at all for the first week. Phew.

I was hoping I'd loose the weight for good but I'm probably likely to gain it back too. The threat of the pain keeps me from ordering chips, cheese and desserts but without that threat, I'll most likely over indulge again

I had mine out about 6 weeks ago. The first few days were tough but after 10 days I was fine
You don’t need a special diet after but I didn’t fancy much the first few days.

Ps I didn’t keep mine. The surgeon lost count after 200 stones and it went to the lab for analysis