Diet after removal of gall bladder

how about a person without gall bladder? what is your diet advice?
(October 20, 2011)

Is eating nuts after gallbladder removal good?

What should be the nutrition after gallbladder removal?

Our bodies will be able to digest less amounts of fat after a gallbladder removal and you should change your diet to avoid leaving undigested fat that will cause bloating, diarrhea and gas. This is because the bile produced by the liver is collected in the gallbladder and released while eating to help in the absorption and breakdown of fat. When you remove the gallbladder, the bile is less concentrated and drains into the intestine, affecting the digestion of fat-soluble vitamins and fat. Get to know about diet for gallbladder disorders

There are many tips for nutrition after gallbladder removal. You should take your physician’s advice on the nutrition and diets after gall bladder operation. The following are the guidelines that you can follow to avoid complications from eating habits in the post surgery periods:

• You will be unable to digest larger quantities of food, so you need to eat wisely.
• Eat more vegetables, fruits and whole grains, but include small amounts of fish, non fat poultry and non fat dairy products in every meal.
• Your body needs a lot of nutrition and therefore you should eat small and frequent meals.
• Increase intake of fiber in your diet to normalize bowel movements. It is best to slowly increase the fiber intake in your diet to avoid gas and cramping.
• Choose low-fat and non fat foods.
• Avoid high-fat, greasy foods.
• You can seek help from a registered dietician for devising your post surgery diet and consult your doctor if you are unable to eat properly after your gall bladder surgery.

What foods to avoid after gallbladder removal?

The list of foods to avoid after gallbladder removal includes red meats like beef and pork that are extremely high in fats and difficult to digest. These foods can cause digestive problems after a gallbladder surgery and it is therefore best to avoid them completely. Fried and spicy foods, dairy products, refined carbohydrates, poultry products, and chocolates are some of the other foods to avoid after gallbladder removal. In general, it is good to stick to foods that are low in trans fats and hydrogenated fats and easier to digest especially after a gall bladder surgery. It is also important to increase the intake of certain vitamins after gallbladder surgery such as vitamins A, D, E, K. Vitamin deficiencies are common after a gallbladder removal, and therefore additional vitamin supplements are required to aid in the body’s digestive functioning. After a gallbladder removal, the intestines find it harder to absorb fats and this causes a deficiency of fat-soluble vitamins. Increasing the intake of these vital vitamins after gallbladder surgery also helps in treating digestive problems like constipation and diarrhea, which are common after a gall bladder removal. In addition to these, vitamin C is also required for the quick healing of the surgery wounds.

Is drinking coffee and tea after gallbladder removal recommended?

Doctors usually do not recommend drinking coffee and tea after a gallbladder surgery. Consuming large quantities of coffee after gallbladder operation can lead to diarrhea, which can be very uncomfortable for the patient. Coffee contains a large percentage of caffeine that causes food to be digested very quickly, resulting in diarrhea. If you cannot completely stop drinking coffee after gallbladder operation, you should at least try to limit your consumption as far as possible. Similarly, it is also important to avoid or restrict the consumption of tea for gallbladder patients. Problems like constipation and diarrhea are very common after a gallbladder operation and excessive consumption of tea or coffee will only make these worse. On the other hand, you can drink herbal teas for gallbladder treatment. Herbal teas prepared from dandelion and milk thistle are good for the natural treatment of gallstones and are helpful post surgery as well. You can even combine Oregon grape in this tea for increasing bile production and enhancing the blood flow to the liver. Some of the other effective herbal teas for gallbladder problems include chamomile, rosemary, slippery elm and marshmallow. These are not only effective in reducing gallbladder inflammation and pain but also aid in digestion.

Why should spicy and greasy foods be avoided after gallbladder removal?

Spicy and greasy foods will be very difficult to digest specially in the initial days after your gallbladder removal. This is because most people report problems with digesting fats after a removal surgery.

The gallbladder stores and helps secrete bile, which is a secretion made by the liver to digest fatty foods. When the gallbladder is removed, your liver will make enough bile for normal food, but spicy and greasy foods will be difficult to digest. The absence of the gallbladder will make it difficult to manage the bile discharge into your intestines. However a small amount of bile is directly released from the liver to the small intestine at a slow, constant rate.

After gallbladder removal, the body undergoes digestion adjustments and it takes a few weeks for the body to get used to the physical changes. Greasy foods after gallbladder removal will remain undigested because the body produces lesser bile juices to help in the digestion of fatty foods. You may experience cramping, bloating, gas and diarrhea because of the undigested fatty food in the body. Eating spicy food immediately after gallbladder removal is also not advisable as it may cause gastrointestinal disorders. Although digestive disorders post surgery are common, you should keep your doctor informed if you have problems eating or digesting food.

Gallbladder removal has become a common surgery these days. This is a surgery which is performed under general anesthesia. To perform this surgery, the surgeon makes a large cut on the belly in order to open it up and reach for the gall bladder. The patient is kept unconscious throughout the procedure so that he/she cannot feel the pain.

Usually the surgeon makes a six to seven inch long incision on the right part of your upper body, right below the ribs, where the gall bladder is located. In order to successfully perform the gallbladder removal, the surgeon has to cut the blood vessels and the bile duct which is all connected to this organ.
During the surgery for gallbladder removal, the surgeon uses a special X-ray technique known as a Cholangiogram. For this X-ray, the surgeon adds a dye into the bile duct and then takes X-rays of the cavity to find out the exact location of any stones. If there are any stones present, the doctor simply removes them using a special instrument used in surgeries.

The gallbladder removal surgery is not a very long one and usually takes about an hour. Gall bladder removal is usually performed if the gallbladder is not functioning in a healthy manner, or if there is a presence of gallstones which may have causing irritation and pain. Gallbladder removal may also become necessary if there have been many surgeries on your abdomen in the past, if you have pain in the upper area of the abdomen, if you feel nausea and vomit after eating, and if you suffer from frequent indigestion.

There are some minor risks associated with a gallbladder operation. Allergic reactions to drugs, blood clots, and infection are some of the risks that a gallbladder removal surgery may increase. In rare cases, the surgery may cause injury to the bile duct or the small intestines. To minimize these risks, before the procedure is performed, a few tests like blood tests, electrolytes tests, blood count, and kidney testing is performed. The doctor may also take several X-rays of the gall bladder.

The removal of the gallbladder is considered a major surgery and the body needs time to recover after such an enduring operation. Most surgeons advise their patients to prepare their homes adequately for the surgery aftercare. There are many surgeons who may ask the patient to continue to remain in the hospital for a few days after the surgery for proper aftercare as well as observation.

The gall bladder is a significant part of the digestive system and its removal may have some minor effects on your digestion. Therefore, doctors advise a special diet after gall bladder removal. Immediately after the surgery you will be requested to consume only liquids. For a few days you will be kept on a completely liquid diet after which you can slowly begin to include solid foods into your diet.
Depending on your individual condition and your age, the doctor may advice you to avoid fried foods. Since the gall bladder’s role is primarily in the metabolism of fats, you will have to reduce the consumption of fatty foods to a large extent.

Gall bladder Diet 

Gall bladder is a pear shaped sac in the upper part of the abdomen. Concentration of bile acid in the gall bladder results in stones. Abdominal pain is the common symptom and this condition calls for gall bladder removal. People who undergo gall bladder removal, are at great risk for diarrhoea.
 
High fibre foods help in binding with the water, thereby providing bulk to the stools. Pasta, brown rice and whole grains prove beneficial. Relaxation and stress free life is helpful. Natural supplements of bile salts are recommended, under the guidance of a physician. Vitamin and mineral supplements are beneficial in compensating the problems associated with digestion. Foods such as fried foods, those containing Trans fats and saturated fats are avoided.

Caffeinated and alcoholic beverages are completely avoided. Beans and legumes are abstained from, as they raise the cholesterol levels in the bile, thereby causing trouble in fat digestion. Refined foods and artificial sweeteners are not recommended. Vegetables like brinjal, beets, cucumber, garlic, cucumber and garlic prove beneficial. Avocado, tomatoes, grapes, apple, papaya, berries and pears are helpful. Omega 3 fatty acid in flax and hemp is useful.