Eating After Gallbladder Surgery

Updated on April 06, 2009
N.S. asks from Pickerington, OH
18 answers

I just had gallbladder surgery a few days ago and am still recovering at home. I have been trying to find websites that can tell me more about eating after gallbladder surgery and what to expect. My intestines are still recovering and I am still nauseated. Are there any restrictions that anybody knows of as far as eating goes without a gallbladder?

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So What Happened?

Thank you so much for all the great advise and tips. I will stay away from fatty and fried foods for a while and have already noticed that dairy really bothers me now, so I'll go slow on that too. My nausea and dizziness is still w/me but it's getting better every day. Thanks again everybody.

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A.G.

answers from Fort Wayne on

I had mine removed about 10 years ago. you mostly need to watch fat and grease as the gall bladder is the filter for these. I never did but i have also hear people having trouble with spicey foods. no fried food

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L.B.

answers from Indianapolis on

Stay away from fatty foods. When I had mine out I stayed away from fatty foods and stayed to a pretty bland diet for a while. I remember my my whole digestive system was a mess for a while. It gets better though. I still can't eat things like fried chicken or other fried favorites but I guess that isn't a bad thing. Good luck.

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V.W.

answers from Fort Wayne on

I had my gallbladder removed and I have lived with this for awhile now! Pretty much you can eat whatever you want, it is just that after you eat you will have pains like you are going to have diahrea and then you will have to use the bathroom. This is a very commom symptom. I know at least 2 other people who had their gallbladders removed and they had the same symptoms. You will notice this more probably with greasy foods or lettuce and veggie type foods. But more than likely it won't matter what you eat for awhile you will just end up using the bathroom alot more often. I had a chiropractor who told me to eat basmatti rice and take a calcium supplement. I'm not to sure if it really helped me, but that is something you could try! Good Luck!
Hope this helps!

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S.U.

answers from South Bend on

I had laproscopic surgery 20 years ago for removal of my gall bladder. The only thing I consitantly am bothered by is rich tomato sauce. Others I know say fried foods, or spicy things. It is really up to the person.

As for how to eat. Well, fruits, veges and low fat until your system recovers. But that is how we are to eat anyway! Good luck.

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K.W.

answers from Muncie on

I don't remember having any restrictions on what I ate. I did find though that food started passing through me really quickly. I would have diarrhea withing 20 minutes of eating. I also found out from other people who had the surgery that this happened to them too. It is because the gall bladder held all of the bile and now it all sits in your stomach and devours what you eat. I am now on a medicine that helps that. It took me several years to find a doctor who could help me. It's all good now. I also found that salads, slaw and raw veggies would make me cramp and have diarrhea. Really greasy foods too. I hope this helps.

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J.P.

answers from Cleveland on

I feel your pain. When my son was about 4 months old (he's a year now) I had to have my gall bladder out. It was rough for a few days, trying to take care of a newborn after surgery. Luckily my boyfriend and my mom were awesome about doing every little thing they could for me. The eating wasn't a problem really. Soft foods for a couple days and then little by little back to regular food. Start slowly and just see how your body reacts. That is what I did. And by a week after the surgery I was pretty much able to eat normally, whatever I wanted with no problems. As far as the nausea goes, start with very small portions of food and let your body readjust to eating normally. It will pass. You may have problems with certain foods going right thru you after this. I was lucky, for the most part I avoided that problem. My mom on the other hand has had that problem since having hers out when I was little. She can't eat anything with lettuce on it. Everyone reacts differently so you're going to have to just see how your body handles this. Good luck!

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L.S.

answers from Evansville on

I had my gall bladder removed a few years ago and I don't remember any restrictions. If your doctor didn't give you any, you should be able to eat anything that sounds good to you without any problems. Good Luck!!!

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D.S.

answers from Indianapolis on

Hello. I had my gullbladder our about 4 weeks ago (also had a tubal at the same time). I can eat anything I want. There are a few things I have found that will make you have to go to the bathroom fairly quickly but you will just have to learn what it is for you...everyone is different. For example I found out the other day that Wendy's burgers caused abdominal pain and having to do to the bathroom shortly after. It passes after an hour or so. However both my sisters and my mother have their's out and Wendys does nothing to them so it is all on you. Other than that so far nothing has really bothered me. I went back to eating normal after 2 days. Good luck to you!

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D.Z.

answers from Dayton on

Hi N.!
First off, Happy Recovery! I know that before I had my gallbladder out, it was the WORST pain I've ever felt, that was even after 2 c-sections & a tubal. After my gallbladder, I was able to eat mostly anything. I stayed pretty clear of real greasy stuff for about a week on the advice of my doctor, but after that I could eat pretty much anything. Sometimes greasy food will go right through me, but I was never a 'regular' person anyway, so it doesn't always affect me. I will say it has made me more 'regular' but even so, sometimes it's nothing! Good luck!

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J.F.

answers from Toledo on

I came home the day after my surgery and ate vegie soup and did fine. I ate lightley for the next few days because, like you said, I was still pretty queasy. I had my first taste of "greasy" food on day 4 and I paid for it. I sat on the toilet before I was even done with my meal and pretty much stayed there for the next 6 hours or so. I joke now that I never understood how something could "go right through you" until I had my gallbladder removed, lol.

Anyway, things settled down gradually with my intestines. I'm not sure if it was too early or if it would have happened to me regardless of how long I waited to test the greasier foods out. After about a month or so, things were as normal as they were going to get. My surgery was in August of 2008 and I still have some urgency with my bowels every now and then, but really, its nothing too worrisome. Just listen to your body and plan on being home for the day (just in case) when you try your luck with a regular diet.

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P.R.

answers from Indianapolis on

Been there, done that. I had gotten so bad before the surgery I was throwing up the pain pills!!! Okay, limit nuts a lot, go very lightly on fried foods and foods with a lot of fats and heavy oils in them. I stayed with blandish type food for the first week only because I really wasn't very hungry and had a 0 pound weight limit. Low fat milk, yogurt, jellos, chicken, tuna, lean beef, noodles, rice, cooked veggies, canned fruits should all be fine. You will soon be feeling great again! I still have watch fatty fried foods some but that's all right, didn't need them anyway! A meal of fried chicken, fried bisquits, and french fries with peacan pie for desert just is a bad choice!

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K.V.

answers from Columbus on

Ihad my gallbladder removed at 18. I did not make any significant changes to my diet at that time. I later stopped eating heavy creamy sauces and high fat or greasy foods. I just felt better. I eat vegetarian now. I never had any issues with raw vegetables or seeds/nuts. I pray you recover well and quickly. It took me a while before I could walk across campus at a regular speed...don't push yourself too hard, even when any pain is gone.

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L.S.

answers from Cincinnati on

The medical staff should have explained all of this to you. I would call the office of the physician who performed the surgery and get specific instructions from them. In the meantime, only eat bland foods, nothing fried, no nuts or lettuce - they can be hard to digest, nothing too spicy, no heavy creams or sauces. You should probably eat this way for about two weeks. Definately contact the physician's office.

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C.V.

answers from Cleveland on

I had my gallbladder out as well in my early 20's! And on top of that, I work in a general surgeons office (i did then too). And, there are not any food restrictions that we give our patienst. Of course, doctors will always tell you to stay away from fried fatty foods just as you did probably before you had your gallbladder out. Otherwise, you should be ok....eventually. Give yourself sometime to recover completely! Good luck and feel better soon!

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T.F.

answers from Cincinnati on

When I had mine out I just went with whatever I felt like. That night I had soup but also nibbled on a piece of plain pizza. The next day I went to Bob Evans. Sometimes it tears me up to have salad and other times I'm just fine with it. I have heard that everyone is so different afterwards. Some people are like me and can pretty much eat whatever. Others have to stay away from fat, spice, etc. I'm sure it's sort of just trial and error. Good Luck!

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J.S.

answers from Terre Haute on

Hi N....
Didn't the doctors give you a thing on what you can and cannot eat?
I had my gall bladder out awhile back, but I can't remember everything...I just know I had to stay away from greasy, spicy, salty foods.

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K.S.

answers from Columbus on

Hi N.,

I had this surgery about 8 years ago - it was rough!! LOL It really takes your digestive system awhile to get acclimated to the change. I could not eat any greasy or fried foods for a long time. And it took almost a week for my intestines to "get moving" again - it was painful! Get some milk of magnesia and it will help. My diet was pretty bland for awhile, but eventually it went back to "normal" and now I can eat pretty much anything. Keep things simple food-wise for awhile. It's healthier anyway! Best of luck with your recovery!

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B.R.

answers from Indianapolis on

I had my gall bladder removed over 10 years ago and don't have really any issues. Greasy foods bug me from time to time, but that's about it.
Good luck!!

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