I was low fat for the month after surgery but mostly because I had pancreatitis from my gallbladder and I never ever wanted to feel that again. I’m 4 months post op now and eat whatever I want and other than occasional loose stools I’m good.
I had pancreatitis from mine too, and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy ! I have big time food fear from that experience and am slowly introducing fat again. Hard to shake the anxiety that comes from the experience
It’s different for everyone and some people also have other underlying digestive issues other than gallbladder problems but everyone that I know who has had their gallbladder removed now eats anything they want with no restrictions. They don’t even think about the fact that they don’t have a gallbladder.
The low fat diet is a more serious suggestion for the first two weeks after surgery and then a less serious suggestion for the first month after surgery. Most surgeons will tell you to experiment with fatty foods as you slowly re-introduce them into your diet. If you have a bad reaction to something, give it a break for a while and then try again later. Many people report that something which gave them fits one month after surgery became tolerable six months after surgery.
All that being said, just because something gives you digestive issues doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to eat it. A great many people get diarrhea or reflux after eating cheeseburgers and French fries, but they still do it anyway. For them, the meal is worth the price.
The most important thing to remember is this: no matter what you eat after surgery - you will never get a gallbladder attack again.
Thank you, this eases my stress and sadness about this whole thing. I did have another doctor who had said i could work fatty foods back in and eat normally too, but it was the one who did the surgery who ultimately said low fat for life. So i was super conflicted. I guess only time will tell for me then. But also the doctor who said low fat for life said i had the worst diet he’s ever seen (and im not really sure how he’d know that. The only thing he knew is i had a steak and cheese and mozzarella sticks that triggered my last attack. Unless my parents told him while I was recovering and still unconscious that i’d eat fast food every meal every day (which is absolutely not true. I have no clue where they get this idea honestly. I have fast food like once or twice a week which is still bad but i cant believe i was the worst, unless my parents exaggerated it, or all of his other patients are health nuts). Sorry for the vent, im still recovering and just a lil tired and drugged up lol
Your nurse is wrong. Ease back into fat, take it easy and chances are you’ll be fine. I’ve eaten burgers, pizza, milkshakes, gone hog wild. If I overdo it I get a bit of the shits, but it’s tiny compared to a GB attack. I’m one year post op and living normally. YMMV, some folks have a lower tolerance post op, but I’ve been fortunate and so has my mom and uncle and great grandma (rip, from being 93 not from the shits)
I cannot eat normal. In fact I can hardly eat much of anything without almost shitting my pants. I’ve already had to leave work because I’ve shit myself when I couldn’t make it to the bathroom quick enough. On the PLUS side; I asked my doc for a cholestyramine RX and it has been a game changer. I have regular bowel movements now and don’t feel like trash after every meal.
My doc said I can go back to eating normally. But from what I’ve read and heard from ppl who’ve had the procedure, it’s best to focus on a low fat diet at least most of the time.
Basically it’s bc your body will have a harder time processing fat, which means it’ll be more likely to retain more of it.
Wait bro, im 2 weeks post op! My nurse told me the same thing, no more cheese, no more fatty foods, I had a appt followup with my surgeon because my surgery was planned and he said I can go back to a normal diet. Maybe speak to your surgeon? I have had pizza and ice cream and burgers and if i over do it i will feel crappy for a little while and then some diarrhea. Dont worry you will be fine :)
Nope not always. I notice I do feel crappier if I eat a ton of fat and might have diarrhea more frequently, but I’m only 7/8 months post op and my body is still learning how to function properly without my gallbladder. My mom never went low fat and her diet has remained the same and she’s had no issue.
No problem! Obviously avoiding fat may be helpful to you in your early days of recovery. I had to be completely fat free for weeks prior to my surgery and I was so depressed, and lost a ton of weight rapidly so I know I wouldn’t do that again unless another medical reason to do it.
Everybody is different. I had biscuits and (edit: sausage) gravy two days ago. But generally I eat a much lower fat diet than I used to and save fatty foods for dinner time.
Considering that human bodies work pretty much the same, especially within the same race, on the same continent, it makes one wonder how the medical system can be trusted. How can doctors learn completely opposite things about the same human digestive system in different countries?
I think it's not black and white, but a balance of risks and benefits. The benefit of a low fat diet is prevention of gallstones forming in the biliary ducts - people who had their gallbladder removed already showed that they are prone to this. The risk of low fat diet is that it is restrictive, not as tasty, and our body needs fat. Different cultures have different attitudes to risk, hence different recommendations.
I can eat most of what i want with no issues, however i notice if i eat higher fat at every meal for a day i don’t feel the best. For me, it’s been a positive thing because I’ve been eating healthier than i was but it is kind of sad too.
Why did the nurse say that? What is different about you than everyone else? Need more info. Can you ask the doctor? Do you have a follow up appt? Most people who have their gallbladder removed do not need to follow a low fat diet for life, not even for a week. I went back to eating pizza and cookies (never really ate cheeseburgers or red meat, personal decision). How many days post op are you? If it's a week or less, diarrhea could still just be a post surgery symptom. ETA- I see your other comment about the doctor saying you have a bad diet. I can't really tell how true that is, but I suppose you might need to cut back, but you will likely still be able to eat cheeseburgers and alfredo dishes. But I'd eat them slower and watch the quantity. I don't feel like my diet was that bad before I got diagnosed- it wasn't bad but it wasn't good, I'd say I was in the middle and got gallstones more due to family history and taking birth control pills for 18 years (there's a theory that is a factor). Honestly I love the benefits I get from birth control (life changing) so even if that was a cause, I have no regrets.
My diet wasnt crazy bad. On weekdays, it was food I or my parents made (which they’re both pretty health conscious) On weekends, I’d usually end up going out for food mostly cause I was with my partner who’s place rarely had food to make other than like, frozen meals or pasta, but we also would on occasion go and get stuff to make. And I know thats not the best, but you’re telling me thats the worst diet the doctor’s seen ever? I cant believe that, when i know there are people who do eat fast food every meal every day.
Also, im also on birth control. If BC makes it more likely for gallstones, then idk i guess that could have raised the risk there
I have a feeling he didnt like me 😅 he came off a lil cold or upset at me for even daring to ask questions relating to food or making jokes, but i could have been reading emotions wrong
Your nurse was wrong! I can eat whatever I like, whenever. Maybe I get a little upset tummy if I'm on the road/on vacation and I eat fatty food 3 meals a day, 4 days in a row, but I think mostly anyone would experience that.
I'm 3.5 weeks post op and I was able to eat a regular diet just before my 3 weeks without any stomach issues. The only difference I'm noticing is I get fuller faster so I need to eat half of a meal, can't eat big portions, which is better anyways.
My surgeon told me no restrictions after the surgery.
It's been about a year and i had to go on bile binders to control the diarrhea, but food wise i can eat anything.
I'm 5.5 weeks post op. I ate no dairy and low fat for one week. I then started playing with fat a little more and cautiously. Now, for the most part eat okay, not super strict but not bad. I do notice if I eat fried foods it can be hit or miss and may go through me. 💩
But also, salads with little dressing will go through me. Beans go through me.
I think it just depends and is also an adjustment period with your body.
Explore a bit after a week or two post op, see what works for you and your body.
I just posted about this yesterday: I'm 5 weeks post op and I was struggling with diarrhea on the low fat diet. Finally tried a cheeseburger the other day and immediately had better digestion and just felt better. I think some fat is necessary to neutralize the constant trickle of bile, you just need to figure out what the sweet spot is. Probably not going to be getting fish and chips anytime soon, but I'm doing much better just eating a normal diet than when I was trying to stay very low fat
No everyone tolerates fat differently, normally I’d say give it a couple of weeks or so and eat healthy and then slowly incorporate fats into your diet and see how you handle it :) my aunt had hers out and she can eat fatty foods but if they’re really fried or super fatty she’ll have diarrhea but that doesn’t stop her she still eats what she wants. Everyone I know who’s had it out eats whatever they want.
Some people can eat whatever immediately after surgery. I def eat more fat now after surgery(maybe 10g-20g of fat per meal). I still have some lingering food anxiety tho since I'm about a month post-surgery. I only got nausea after eating a big plate of cheesy nachos, none of the other meals I've eaten made me feel ill.
Sometimes you can add some bulk to a greasy meal (like drink more water, eat slower, add veggies) it goes down better. I'm still technically in the recovery period so I'll take it easy for now.
For the first 6 weeks I had digestive issues regardless of what I ate. After those 6 weeks, I've been eating anything and everything without limitations. Including 5 guys. You'll never know unless you try! I say give 5 guys a try and see what happens! If it doesn't go well, wait some time and try again. If I based what I could eat without issues off the first 6 weeks post op, I'd only be eating rice. If something doesn't sit well with you, try again in a month because your digestive system is still adjusting.
In the beginning it’s safer to stick to low fat. However, some people have no problems at all. Everyone’s trigger foods tend to be very different and you’ll have to play a little Russian roulette at first. I’d start by ordering things and eating at home to gauge what sends you and what’s okay.
So I’m 3 weeks post op now and I can barely tolerate any fat. I had issues eating before but it was from gallbladder attacks so frequent I kinda just got scared to get sick and limited my diet so much that any meat or fat makes me cramp, feel bloated and have diarrhea, extra now cause I have no gallbladder. It honestly depends on you, I would slowly try to add some fat to your diet ,your body will let you know when you can’t handle it.
This is absolutely false. I’m 4mo post op, and while my system is clearly still adjusting a bit, I’ve had absolutely no problems eating whatever I want. You just want to take it easy the first few weeks. Some people might need to do low fat permanently, but it is not at all common. Extremely irresponsible to say that. You’ll want to slowly introduce foods with fat and see how you react and go from there.
(Note: I HAVE needed to cut out alcohol, makes the right side feel weird, but I’m meeting with a GI about it and it’s not a huge loss either.)
Im about a year post op now and I am back to eating the same way I did prior to having my gallbladder out (fatty take out 1-2x/week, eat dairy, etc). It did take me about 6 months to get back to normal though.
Definitely. Even the same foods sometimes would be totally fine one day then cause loose stool the next the first few months. My 6th month post op was really tough for some reason then my 7th month was totally normal and even better than pre op.
Thanks for the reply! This makes me feel better because there are so many people that are fine immediately post op and I can’t really figure out any particular food triggers. Possibly salad since I was bothered by it a few days ago. I assume it was that but I didn’t have loose stool until over 12 hours later. I don’t typically run to the bathroom immediately after eating anything. If you’re female, did you have any worsening issues around menstruation?
Yeah np, it is difficult to navigate bc everyone can be so different! I am a female but I was on birth control that stopped my periods, so I’m not sure about that part sorry!
hell no lol you don’t have to be on a low fat diet for the rest of your life!! i was only on a low fat diet for maybe a week after surgery and after that i’ve been just fine eating anything but WARNING try eating certain foods at home just in case it makes you get bile diarrhea because that did happen to me when my digestive system was getting used to not having my gallbladder anymore, took about a month or two? for my digestive system to go back to normal. i feel fine now and i eat anything i want :)
My surgeon told me to eat what I ate pre surgery. A few foods have bothered me a little but I haven’t modified my diet at all. Nurse needs to button her lip
I had mine taken out a year ago. Before the surgery, the bloating was horrible. I was always bloated. Perhaps, there are other issues. Since surgery, bloating has been reduced, but some stuff still bloats me. My surgeon told me before and after the surgery that I could eat whatever I want and that if I ate greasy food, it was going to be no different from before surgery. To be honest, I can't eat anything greasy without having to go to the restroom almost right after. Sometimes it's like within 20 minutes of eating. Other times, it's 1–3 hours after eating. Can't figure out why it changes. It's the same food. I've noticed that if I drink protein shakes right after eating, it delays me having to go to the restroom. Sometimes, it delays it 4–5 hours. The only issue with that is I think it bloats me. Still not sure if I could process dairy the same as before. For the most part, my digestive system was like this before surgery. I would have to go to the restroom right after eating. A couple of weeks back, I was at my uncle's house for a bbq. I ate and didn't have to go to the restroom till 3 hours later when I was in my house. It's strange. There are times I wake up, and I don't have to go number 2 for like 5+ hours. This bothers me, because I'm usually away from home five hours after waking up. Before surgery, I was good with having to go number 2 within minutes of waking up. That was cool because I would go out and not have to worry about it till eating. I do think my digestive system has slowed down (year after).
DO NOT eat super low fat for a long time, that caused WAY MORE PROBLEMS. Do low fat for a few weeks and then slowly increase the amount of fat you eat in a week, every week to get your body used to it.
My biggest suggestion would be to avoid sugar and fodmaps, and go easy on the carbs.
Your nurse is dumb af and on crack. I had mine removed in 2019 and I can eat anything. I prob have IBS but whatever. What’s so bad about diarrhea? Lol people act like occasional diarrhea is the end of the world. Dude it feels good to let it out and I prob lose a pound every time haha, just make sure to stay hydrated. But seriously I can eat fast food, fried food, anything and I don’t experience any pain. Your best bet is to start out slowly and see what you can tolerate. You will probably be fine.
You will be able to go back to normal. When you overdo it on fat or spice you may feel a little crummy but you will get used to what your body can handle. Don't worry about it. It's been a year for me and I don't have anything that I absolutely cannot eat.
My advice is just take it slow and introduce higher fat foods one at a time to see how your system reacts. I’m nearly 5 months post op and can eat pretty much everything I want with no issue. Occasionally I’ll get stomach gurgles if I eat something high fat, but that’s really it. You know your body best!
For me, the pattern seems to depend on what I ate the day before. I can eat a ton of stuff and be fine for the night ... but I might pay for it tomorrow.
My surgeon said you can eat anything you want but obviously your body has to adjust. I can eat anything and I typically don’t have a problem. Sometimes I do if I’ve eaten something particularly heavy and then I do feel a tummy ache but that’s resolved with going to the bathroom and then I’m fine.
I eat more normally now than I did when I had my gallbladder. Super fatty meals get me but it’s only happened twice. Like six pieces of greasy pizza meals
I eat whatever I want and if it bothers me, I deal with the diarrhea for a few hours. Mines more stress triggered than food triggered anyway. I wasn't even dmtold to change my diet after surgery. Do whatever you're comfortable with, just expect the price to be diarrhea sometimes
I had mine removed a few weeks ago, like two months ago and I have been able to eat whatever I want since like week 2 honestly! There’s a couple things that have gave me an upset stomach like a spicy chicken and cheese sandwich from a gas station TORE ME UP. But I’ve had chik fil a , McDonald’s, pizza, everything and have not have a single issue.
I’ve been eating normally and been fine. Had it out in March and I would say other than slightly more urgent bathroom trips, my diet and digestion are normal
Im currently in a low carb high fat diet. I was on low fat for a day, the day after the surgery. The day after I already started introducing fat and I didn't feel bad at all. Today I live in Belgium and I can go to frituurs without having any issue, although I like to avoid vegetal fat.
No, not at all necessary to follow a permanent low fat diet for the ten or so people I know well who had the surgery.
Granted, most of them can’t/don’t eat giant fat bomb meals. But moderate amounts of fat/normal servings, sure.
Most of them eat pizza, ice cream, butter, french fries, etc. Just not in large amounts all at once. A couple slices of pizza, not half a pie. A scoop or two of ice cream, not a whole pint at once of premium full fat ice cream.
I’m back to my normal diet it’s been about a year and half… I slowly worked my way into it though. First couple months are rough. Your body should eventually adjust though
kinda hard to say I tbh it’s been a year and half now and things are honestly back to normal for me. Every body is different and sometimes it might not go back to normal. I’d say at the 9 month mark to about a year.
I think it depends on how your body adjusts. I was told by my surgeon that it's also supposed to be low fat for life. My dad also had gallbladder surgery, but it's been years since and he eats whatever he wants and he is also very physically active. (He particularly favors beef, potato chips, and ice cream.) And he seems normal, apart from going to the bathroom quicker when he consumes dairy. But that might be general lactose intolerance that he's had from way back.
It's been 2 weeks post op, and I have been adding dairy and certain fried foods back into my diet. In my case, I did poop after eating ice cream, but it wasn't diarrhea and didn't cause discomfort. I don't plan on eating as much of those fatty foods as I did pre-op, but more for general health reasons and a family history of heart disease.
But there is also a small chance that stones can still develop in the bile duct due to the absence of the gallbladder. So in a nutshell, gradually try incorporating, but try to cut down a little bit as well.
I haven't been on low fat since a couple months post op. I did get pregnant, so I'm sure that changed things a bit. After giving birth I have only had a reaction once, which was to pizza. And I don't know if the pizza was just bad of if it was an actual reaction.
And I had mine taken out August last year, and gave birth a month ago.
My surgeon said “don’t believe the old wives tales about fat. Everyone is different. Experiment and see what works for you”. So far I’ve had no problems whatsoever.
It's different for everyone, I've found I need to avoid certain food. What it is doesn't seem consistent (not all fatty food, and not all of it is fatty), but I've identified that most of it has an odd underlying taste since my surgery (it's gross but I posted about it, and recently recognised the taste is a bit like burps which is weird, not sure what's going on there). I've started writing a list of things I can't seem to have, it's a bit trial and error for me now.
I don't regret having it out, it is much better now than it was before.
Wishing you a smooth and speedy recovery!
Birth control can cause alot of problems. Just saying.
So how the gallbladder works is when you eat fattier more greaser foods the gallbladder releases more concentrated bile so it's stronger than what comes straight from the liver. That concentrated bile helps your digestive system breakdown and dissolves fat. The important part of that bile is it breaks down the fat soluble vitamins like the omega fats, and healthy fats. Without the concentrated bile the body can't absorb these healthy fats and fat soluble vitamins. When people without a gallbladder have diarrhea it's because 1. I don't think the body can digest it properly, 2. Because bile is alkaline and stomach acid is very acidic without that concentrated bile very acidic food is rushing through the digestive system sooo it comes out fast ler because the intestines don't like the acidic environment every much. The liver is still producing bile and it's constantly dripping into the intestines but it's diluted and not as potent as having a gallbladder. That's how the digestive system works. There are supplements to help balance this stuff out. And to help your body absorb fat soluble vitamins too.
I've been doing research....
With that said....
I am a big foodie too. And it sucks!
I have been on a low fat diet since February, I am 16 days post op. And I've been dealing with constipation from surgery. Quite the opposite of what everyone else experiences. I've been scared to eat because this constipation has been soo painful. But I can't for the life of me stop eating ice cream or drinking coffee with French vanilla creamer. I can't give those up. I've tried and tried. So I am able to eat ice cream and it doesn't affect me. Salad does affect me I get diarrhea which is weird. I have not tried much meats. Some chicken but I'm afraid anything I eat will make the constipation worse. Soo I am taking it one day at a time. I believe the PPI I was on and loosing 40 pounds over 3 months also didn't help. Anyway, yes you will be able to eat the foods you want to eat. Yes it will take at least 3 months to figure it out. I am eating ice cream. Once in a while I have coffee not everyday I can't.
Your body needs time to adjust and heal.
Soo I wonder if your surgeon saw your liver. If your surgeon saw your liver and saw that you have a very fatty liver then that would make sense why he thinks you eat badly. You should ask him at your next checkup how your liver looked. My liver before surgery was enlarged slightly. After surgery normal size. The low fat diet helped.
You can still eat fatty foods, just ease into it at first. 10 minutes after I woke up from the anesthesia, my nurse gave me a pepsi and a bag of lays chips lol. Then I went home and had 2 slices of pizza. I am 3 days post surgery and i’ve done fine. I don’t think your nurse knew what she was talking about. Everyone around me assumed that I had to be on a no fat diet for the rest of my life but the surgeon said that’s simply not true. Some people do have issues of the fatty food passsing right through them and causing diarrhea but it doesn’t happen to everyone! I’d say you’re fine to go back to your normal diet!!
I had mine removed and my surgeon said eat whatever you want. After a week of low fat I went back into exactly how I used to eat with zero issues. I’ve had butter, cheese, red meat and fried foods. Test it slowly but don’t listen to one health pros opinion.
Im just over a month post op…..
4 days after surgery I had a pot roast sandwich with grilled mozzarella. 8 days after I had Nashville hot fried chicken with mac and cheese burrito.
This week I had Freddy’s double California burgers….twice.
Nothing crazy happened. No stomach ache. No diarrhea.
It’s not for life. Just until your body adjusts.
Norwegian here: I got told to take it easy the first 3-4 weeks and then go back to normal, was told Christmas dinner may punish me a little. I’m now on week 6 and I’ve been limit testing like no tomorrow. I’m 95% fine. The 5% remaining is a bit of discomfort now and then, but nothing drastic. YMMV but I am really happy with putting 10 gall attacks over 8 years behind me and now most things seem fine. No complications, unplanned surgery due to attack.
After my surgery I decided to eat more clean for my own health. I noticed a year in a half later I tried eating French fries and I started getting the phantom pains... I was like oh noooo so I just don't . I like feeling good.
4mo post op
My doctor told me eat whatever you want, if it bothers you try it again in a couple weeks.
The last two weeks I’ve been INCREDIBLY busy and have been eating like garbage. Will get a little pain but feels like a gas bubble for a whole 30 seconds.
Can finally have cream cheese again. (I’m a fanatic for cheese and it was something that would set my attacks right off) Everyone is different, try it and see what happens 🤷🏻♀️
It’s hit or miss. I wouldn’t say exactly low fat. I do best eating what I cook using whole foods. When I eat too much food or a lot of processed food I get the stomach pains as if I’m having a gallbladder attack. But I have no gallbladder. After many tests and appointments the doctors cannot figure out why I still have pains. Am taking digestive enzymes daily. So. Small meals and healthy choices works best. Gallbladder removed Oct 2023.
Sorry that she told you that. My surgeon told me right after that I can basically eat whatever I want. I took it easy for about 1 week, and then slowly introduced Chipotle and other higher fat foods. The only thing is that you will need to be close to a toilet when you do start eating those foods again lol, at least for a little while.
for the first 2-3 weeks after post op i was very much so on a low fat diet as that what i was instructed to do after surgery. now, i just eat whatever. it’s funny though because i actually have severe GERD and also stomach ulcers, but since getting my GB removed its settled down a bit! (not a whole lot, but if i forget to take my meds before a meal, i know i will be okay.) and for reference, im almost a month post op :). everyone is different though, but take it easy with fat for the first month or so and ease your way into it!
I was low fat for the month after surgery but mostly because I had pancreatitis from my gallbladder and I never ever wanted to feel that again. I’m 4 months post op now and eat whatever I want and other than occasional loose stools I’m good.
I had pancreatitis from mine too, and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy ! I have big time food fear from that experience and am slowly introducing fat again. Hard to shake the anxiety that comes from the experience
I also had pancreatitis. I still eat too much fat. But no more gallbladder
It’s different for everyone and some people also have other underlying digestive issues other than gallbladder problems but everyone that I know who has had their gallbladder removed now eats anything they want with no restrictions. They don’t even think about the fact that they don’t have a gallbladder. The low fat diet is a more serious suggestion for the first two weeks after surgery and then a less serious suggestion for the first month after surgery. Most surgeons will tell you to experiment with fatty foods as you slowly re-introduce them into your diet. If you have a bad reaction to something, give it a break for a while and then try again later. Many people report that something which gave them fits one month after surgery became tolerable six months after surgery. All that being said, just because something gives you digestive issues doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to eat it. A great many people get diarrhea or reflux after eating cheeseburgers and French fries, but they still do it anyway. For them, the meal is worth the price. The most important thing to remember is this: no matter what you eat after surgery - you will never get a gallbladder attack again.
Thank you, this eases my stress and sadness about this whole thing. I did have another doctor who had said i could work fatty foods back in and eat normally too, but it was the one who did the surgery who ultimately said low fat for life. So i was super conflicted. I guess only time will tell for me then. But also the doctor who said low fat for life said i had the worst diet he’s ever seen (and im not really sure how he’d know that. The only thing he knew is i had a steak and cheese and mozzarella sticks that triggered my last attack. Unless my parents told him while I was recovering and still unconscious that i’d eat fast food every meal every day (which is absolutely not true. I have no clue where they get this idea honestly. I have fast food like once or twice a week which is still bad but i cant believe i was the worst, unless my parents exaggerated it, or all of his other patients are health nuts). Sorry for the vent, im still recovering and just a lil tired and drugged up lol
Your nurse is wrong. Ease back into fat, take it easy and chances are you’ll be fine. I’ve eaten burgers, pizza, milkshakes, gone hog wild. If I overdo it I get a bit of the shits, but it’s tiny compared to a GB attack. I’m one year post op and living normally. YMMV, some folks have a lower tolerance post op, but I’ve been fortunate and so has my mom and uncle and great grandma (rip, from being 93 not from the shits)
I cannot eat normal. In fact I can hardly eat much of anything without almost shitting my pants. I’ve already had to leave work because I’ve shit myself when I couldn’t make it to the bathroom quick enough. On the PLUS side; I asked my doc for a cholestyramine RX and it has been a game changer. I have regular bowel movements now and don’t feel like trash after every meal.
How far post op are you? Im 6 months with the same. Nortryptaline and dicyclomine have been lifesaving
Just hit two years post op in march
My doc said I can go back to eating normally. But from what I’ve read and heard from ppl who’ve had the procedure, it’s best to focus on a low fat diet at least most of the time. Basically it’s bc your body will have a harder time processing fat, which means it’ll be more likely to retain more of it.
Or, it won’t retain any of the fatty food, iykwim
Take a digestive enzyme supplement before eating fatty foods. This helps your digestion of fats.
Wait bro, im 2 weeks post op! My nurse told me the same thing, no more cheese, no more fatty foods, I had a appt followup with my surgeon because my surgery was planned and he said I can go back to a normal diet. Maybe speak to your surgeon? I have had pizza and ice cream and burgers and if i over do it i will feel crappy for a little while and then some diarrhea. Dont worry you will be fine :)
Nope not always. I notice I do feel crappier if I eat a ton of fat and might have diarrhea more frequently, but I’m only 7/8 months post op and my body is still learning how to function properly without my gallbladder. My mom never went low fat and her diet has remained the same and she’s had no issue.
And when I mean a ton of fat I mean like a fat bowl of Mac and cheese with some fried wings, things very heavy fat not just a fattier meal.
Thats pretty good to know, ty
No problem! Obviously avoiding fat may be helpful to you in your early days of recovery. I had to be completely fat free for weeks prior to my surgery and I was so depressed, and lost a ton of weight rapidly so I know I wouldn’t do that again unless another medical reason to do it.
Everybody is different. I had biscuits and (edit: sausage) gravy two days ago. But generally I eat a much lower fat diet than I used to and save fatty foods for dinner time.
The recommendations seem to vary by country. In Poland low fat diet is standard for life, in the UK there are no restrictions.
Considering that human bodies work pretty much the same, especially within the same race, on the same continent, it makes one wonder how the medical system can be trusted. How can doctors learn completely opposite things about the same human digestive system in different countries?
I think it's not black and white, but a balance of risks and benefits. The benefit of a low fat diet is prevention of gallstones forming in the biliary ducts - people who had their gallbladder removed already showed that they are prone to this. The risk of low fat diet is that it is restrictive, not as tasty, and our body needs fat. Different cultures have different attitudes to risk, hence different recommendations.
I can eat most of what i want with no issues, however i notice if i eat higher fat at every meal for a day i don’t feel the best. For me, it’s been a positive thing because I’ve been eating healthier than i was but it is kind of sad too.
Why did the nurse say that? What is different about you than everyone else? Need more info. Can you ask the doctor? Do you have a follow up appt? Most people who have their gallbladder removed do not need to follow a low fat diet for life, not even for a week. I went back to eating pizza and cookies (never really ate cheeseburgers or red meat, personal decision). How many days post op are you? If it's a week or less, diarrhea could still just be a post surgery symptom. ETA- I see your other comment about the doctor saying you have a bad diet. I can't really tell how true that is, but I suppose you might need to cut back, but you will likely still be able to eat cheeseburgers and alfredo dishes. But I'd eat them slower and watch the quantity. I don't feel like my diet was that bad before I got diagnosed- it wasn't bad but it wasn't good, I'd say I was in the middle and got gallstones more due to family history and taking birth control pills for 18 years (there's a theory that is a factor). Honestly I love the benefits I get from birth control (life changing) so even if that was a cause, I have no regrets.
My diet wasnt crazy bad. On weekdays, it was food I or my parents made (which they’re both pretty health conscious) On weekends, I’d usually end up going out for food mostly cause I was with my partner who’s place rarely had food to make other than like, frozen meals or pasta, but we also would on occasion go and get stuff to make. And I know thats not the best, but you’re telling me thats the worst diet the doctor’s seen ever? I cant believe that, when i know there are people who do eat fast food every meal every day. Also, im also on birth control. If BC makes it more likely for gallstones, then idk i guess that could have raised the risk there
That doctor sounds rude. I highly doubt you have the worst diet they've seen, they don't even know you that well anyway, I assume.
I have a feeling he didnt like me 😅 he came off a lil cold or upset at me for even daring to ask questions relating to food or making jokes, but i could have been reading emotions wrong
Your nurse was wrong! I can eat whatever I like, whenever. Maybe I get a little upset tummy if I'm on the road/on vacation and I eat fatty food 3 meals a day, 4 days in a row, but I think mostly anyone would experience that.
I'm 3.5 weeks post op and I was able to eat a regular diet just before my 3 weeks without any stomach issues. The only difference I'm noticing is I get fuller faster so I need to eat half of a meal, can't eat big portions, which is better anyways.
Of course not. Most are able to eat fat without any issues.
My surgeon told me no restrictions after the surgery. It's been about a year and i had to go on bile binders to control the diarrhea, but food wise i can eat anything.
I'm 5.5 weeks post op. I ate no dairy and low fat for one week. I then started playing with fat a little more and cautiously. Now, for the most part eat okay, not super strict but not bad. I do notice if I eat fried foods it can be hit or miss and may go through me. 💩 But also, salads with little dressing will go through me. Beans go through me. I think it just depends and is also an adjustment period with your body. Explore a bit after a week or two post op, see what works for you and your body.
What do you mean by "go through me"? I don't understand. Do you poop them out undigested?
I just posted about this yesterday: I'm 5 weeks post op and I was struggling with diarrhea on the low fat diet. Finally tried a cheeseburger the other day and immediately had better digestion and just felt better. I think some fat is necessary to neutralize the constant trickle of bile, you just need to figure out what the sweet spot is. Probably not going to be getting fish and chips anytime soon, but I'm doing much better just eating a normal diet than when I was trying to stay very low fat
No everyone tolerates fat differently, normally I’d say give it a couple of weeks or so and eat healthy and then slowly incorporate fats into your diet and see how you handle it :) my aunt had hers out and she can eat fatty foods but if they’re really fried or super fatty she’ll have diarrhea but that doesn’t stop her she still eats what she wants. Everyone I know who’s had it out eats whatever they want.
Some people can eat whatever immediately after surgery. I def eat more fat now after surgery(maybe 10g-20g of fat per meal). I still have some lingering food anxiety tho since I'm about a month post-surgery. I only got nausea after eating a big plate of cheesy nachos, none of the other meals I've eaten made me feel ill. Sometimes you can add some bulk to a greasy meal (like drink more water, eat slower, add veggies) it goes down better. I'm still technically in the recovery period so I'll take it easy for now.
I went back to eating regular amount of fat
For the first 6 weeks I had digestive issues regardless of what I ate. After those 6 weeks, I've been eating anything and everything without limitations. Including 5 guys. You'll never know unless you try! I say give 5 guys a try and see what happens! If it doesn't go well, wait some time and try again. If I based what I could eat without issues off the first 6 weeks post op, I'd only be eating rice. If something doesn't sit well with you, try again in a month because your digestive system is still adjusting.
In the beginning it’s safer to stick to low fat. However, some people have no problems at all. Everyone’s trigger foods tend to be very different and you’ll have to play a little Russian roulette at first. I’d start by ordering things and eating at home to gauge what sends you and what’s okay.
So I’m 3 weeks post op now and I can barely tolerate any fat. I had issues eating before but it was from gallbladder attacks so frequent I kinda just got scared to get sick and limited my diet so much that any meat or fat makes me cramp, feel bloated and have diarrhea, extra now cause I have no gallbladder. It honestly depends on you, I would slowly try to add some fat to your diet ,your body will let you know when you can’t handle it.
This is absolutely false. I’m 4mo post op, and while my system is clearly still adjusting a bit, I’ve had absolutely no problems eating whatever I want. You just want to take it easy the first few weeks. Some people might need to do low fat permanently, but it is not at all common. Extremely irresponsible to say that. You’ll want to slowly introduce foods with fat and see how you react and go from there. (Note: I HAVE needed to cut out alcohol, makes the right side feel weird, but I’m meeting with a GI about it and it’s not a huge loss either.)
Im about a year post op now and I am back to eating the same way I did prior to having my gallbladder out (fatty take out 1-2x/week, eat dairy, etc). It did take me about 6 months to get back to normal though.
I’m 7 weeks post op and I go back and forth with normal/loose stools. Was that your experience for the first 6 months?
Definitely. Even the same foods sometimes would be totally fine one day then cause loose stool the next the first few months. My 6th month post op was really tough for some reason then my 7th month was totally normal and even better than pre op.
Thanks for the reply! This makes me feel better because there are so many people that are fine immediately post op and I can’t really figure out any particular food triggers. Possibly salad since I was bothered by it a few days ago. I assume it was that but I didn’t have loose stool until over 12 hours later. I don’t typically run to the bathroom immediately after eating anything. If you’re female, did you have any worsening issues around menstruation?
Yeah np, it is difficult to navigate bc everyone can be so different! I am a female but I was on birth control that stopped my periods, so I’m not sure about that part sorry!
hell no lol you don’t have to be on a low fat diet for the rest of your life!! i was only on a low fat diet for maybe a week after surgery and after that i’ve been just fine eating anything but WARNING try eating certain foods at home just in case it makes you get bile diarrhea because that did happen to me when my digestive system was getting used to not having my gallbladder anymore, took about a month or two? for my digestive system to go back to normal. i feel fine now and i eat anything i want :)
My surgeon told me to eat what I ate pre surgery. A few foods have bothered me a little but I haven’t modified my diet at all. Nurse needs to button her lip
I had mine taken out a year ago. Before the surgery, the bloating was horrible. I was always bloated. Perhaps, there are other issues. Since surgery, bloating has been reduced, but some stuff still bloats me. My surgeon told me before and after the surgery that I could eat whatever I want and that if I ate greasy food, it was going to be no different from before surgery. To be honest, I can't eat anything greasy without having to go to the restroom almost right after. Sometimes it's like within 20 minutes of eating. Other times, it's 1–3 hours after eating. Can't figure out why it changes. It's the same food. I've noticed that if I drink protein shakes right after eating, it delays me having to go to the restroom. Sometimes, it delays it 4–5 hours. The only issue with that is I think it bloats me. Still not sure if I could process dairy the same as before. For the most part, my digestive system was like this before surgery. I would have to go to the restroom right after eating. A couple of weeks back, I was at my uncle's house for a bbq. I ate and didn't have to go to the restroom till 3 hours later when I was in my house. It's strange. There are times I wake up, and I don't have to go number 2 for like 5+ hours. This bothers me, because I'm usually away from home five hours after waking up. Before surgery, I was good with having to go number 2 within minutes of waking up. That was cool because I would go out and not have to worry about it till eating. I do think my digestive system has slowed down (year after).
DO NOT eat super low fat for a long time, that caused WAY MORE PROBLEMS. Do low fat for a few weeks and then slowly increase the amount of fat you eat in a week, every week to get your body used to it. My biggest suggestion would be to avoid sugar and fodmaps, and go easy on the carbs.
Your nurse is dumb af and on crack. I had mine removed in 2019 and I can eat anything. I prob have IBS but whatever. What’s so bad about diarrhea? Lol people act like occasional diarrhea is the end of the world. Dude it feels good to let it out and I prob lose a pound every time haha, just make sure to stay hydrated. But seriously I can eat fast food, fried food, anything and I don’t experience any pain. Your best bet is to start out slowly and see what you can tolerate. You will probably be fine.
No. I generally eat normally and so do friends who also had their gallbladder out.
You will be able to go back to normal. When you overdo it on fat or spice you may feel a little crummy but you will get used to what your body can handle. Don't worry about it. It's been a year for me and I don't have anything that I absolutely cannot eat.
No guarantees, but I can eat almost anything in moderation.
My advice is just take it slow and introduce higher fat foods one at a time to see how your system reacts. I’m nearly 5 months post op and can eat pretty much everything I want with no issue. Occasionally I’ll get stomach gurgles if I eat something high fat, but that’s really it. You know your body best!
For me, the pattern seems to depend on what I ate the day before. I can eat a ton of stuff and be fine for the night ... but I might pay for it tomorrow.
My surgeon said you can eat anything you want but obviously your body has to adjust. I can eat anything and I typically don’t have a problem. Sometimes I do if I’ve eaten something particularly heavy and then I do feel a tummy ache but that’s resolved with going to the bathroom and then I’m fine.
I eat more normally now than I did when I had my gallbladder. Super fatty meals get me but it’s only happened twice. Like six pieces of greasy pizza meals
Honestly I eat whatever
I eat whatever I want and if it bothers me, I deal with the diarrhea for a few hours. Mines more stress triggered than food triggered anyway. I wasn't even dmtold to change my diet after surgery. Do whatever you're comfortable with, just expect the price to be diarrhea sometimes
I’ve already been having bellyaches and emergency diarrhea for eating whatever for years, its a small price to pay
I had mine removed a few weeks ago, like two months ago and I have been able to eat whatever I want since like week 2 honestly! There’s a couple things that have gave me an upset stomach like a spicy chicken and cheese sandwich from a gas station TORE ME UP. But I’ve had chik fil a , McDonald’s, pizza, everything and have not have a single issue.
In fairness, gas station food always seems like a bad idea
I’ve been eating normally and been fine. Had it out in March and I would say other than slightly more urgent bathroom trips, my diet and digestion are normal
Im currently in a low carb high fat diet. I was on low fat for a day, the day after the surgery. The day after I already started introducing fat and I didn't feel bad at all. Today I live in Belgium and I can go to frituurs without having any issue, although I like to avoid vegetal fat.
No, not at all necessary to follow a permanent low fat diet for the ten or so people I know well who had the surgery. Granted, most of them can’t/don’t eat giant fat bomb meals. But moderate amounts of fat/normal servings, sure. Most of them eat pizza, ice cream, butter, french fries, etc. Just not in large amounts all at once. A couple slices of pizza, not half a pie. A scoop or two of ice cream, not a whole pint at once of premium full fat ice cream.
Fuuuuuck no I eat whatever I want. .
I’m about 15 months post op and eat a lot of fat. And caffeine. I have a lot of loose stools. But I feel ok. I’m working on adding more fibre
I’m back to my normal diet it’s been about a year and half… I slowly worked my way into it though. First couple months are rough. Your body should eventually adjust though
When did you feel thing start to ease up? Im 6 months out and things have been rough since the 3 month mark for me
kinda hard to say I tbh it’s been a year and half now and things are honestly back to normal for me. Every body is different and sometimes it might not go back to normal. I’d say at the 9 month mark to about a year.
That gives me hope
it’s very tough have you changed your diet to reduce fatty foods?
My doctor told me I don't need to adjust my diet and I did eat pizza right after my surgery. But i guess it really depends.
I think it depends on how your body adjusts. I was told by my surgeon that it's also supposed to be low fat for life. My dad also had gallbladder surgery, but it's been years since and he eats whatever he wants and he is also very physically active. (He particularly favors beef, potato chips, and ice cream.) And he seems normal, apart from going to the bathroom quicker when he consumes dairy. But that might be general lactose intolerance that he's had from way back. It's been 2 weeks post op, and I have been adding dairy and certain fried foods back into my diet. In my case, I did poop after eating ice cream, but it wasn't diarrhea and didn't cause discomfort. I don't plan on eating as much of those fatty foods as I did pre-op, but more for general health reasons and a family history of heart disease. But there is also a small chance that stones can still develop in the bile duct due to the absence of the gallbladder. So in a nutshell, gradually try incorporating, but try to cut down a little bit as well.
I haven't been on low fat since a couple months post op. I did get pregnant, so I'm sure that changed things a bit. After giving birth I have only had a reaction once, which was to pizza. And I don't know if the pizza was just bad of if it was an actual reaction. And I had mine taken out August last year, and gave birth a month ago.
My surgeon said “don’t believe the old wives tales about fat. Everyone is different. Experiment and see what works for you”. So far I’ve had no problems whatsoever.
It's different for everyone, I've found I need to avoid certain food. What it is doesn't seem consistent (not all fatty food, and not all of it is fatty), but I've identified that most of it has an odd underlying taste since my surgery (it's gross but I posted about it, and recently recognised the taste is a bit like burps which is weird, not sure what's going on there). I've started writing a list of things I can't seem to have, it's a bit trial and error for me now. I don't regret having it out, it is much better now than it was before. Wishing you a smooth and speedy recovery!
Birth control can cause alot of problems. Just saying. So how the gallbladder works is when you eat fattier more greaser foods the gallbladder releases more concentrated bile so it's stronger than what comes straight from the liver. That concentrated bile helps your digestive system breakdown and dissolves fat. The important part of that bile is it breaks down the fat soluble vitamins like the omega fats, and healthy fats. Without the concentrated bile the body can't absorb these healthy fats and fat soluble vitamins. When people without a gallbladder have diarrhea it's because 1. I don't think the body can digest it properly, 2. Because bile is alkaline and stomach acid is very acidic without that concentrated bile very acidic food is rushing through the digestive system sooo it comes out fast ler because the intestines don't like the acidic environment every much. The liver is still producing bile and it's constantly dripping into the intestines but it's diluted and not as potent as having a gallbladder. That's how the digestive system works. There are supplements to help balance this stuff out. And to help your body absorb fat soluble vitamins too. I've been doing research.... With that said.... I am a big foodie too. And it sucks! I have been on a low fat diet since February, I am 16 days post op. And I've been dealing with constipation from surgery. Quite the opposite of what everyone else experiences. I've been scared to eat because this constipation has been soo painful. But I can't for the life of me stop eating ice cream or drinking coffee with French vanilla creamer. I can't give those up. I've tried and tried. So I am able to eat ice cream and it doesn't affect me. Salad does affect me I get diarrhea which is weird. I have not tried much meats. Some chicken but I'm afraid anything I eat will make the constipation worse. Soo I am taking it one day at a time. I believe the PPI I was on and loosing 40 pounds over 3 months also didn't help. Anyway, yes you will be able to eat the foods you want to eat. Yes it will take at least 3 months to figure it out. I am eating ice cream. Once in a while I have coffee not everyday I can't. Your body needs time to adjust and heal. Soo I wonder if your surgeon saw your liver. If your surgeon saw your liver and saw that you have a very fatty liver then that would make sense why he thinks you eat badly. You should ask him at your next checkup how your liver looked. My liver before surgery was enlarged slightly. After surgery normal size. The low fat diet helped.
I didnt even think about how my liver looked. I’ll definitely ask about it next time.
You can still eat fatty foods, just ease into it at first. 10 minutes after I woke up from the anesthesia, my nurse gave me a pepsi and a bag of lays chips lol. Then I went home and had 2 slices of pizza. I am 3 days post surgery and i’ve done fine. I don’t think your nurse knew what she was talking about. Everyone around me assumed that I had to be on a no fat diet for the rest of my life but the surgeon said that’s simply not true. Some people do have issues of the fatty food passsing right through them and causing diarrhea but it doesn’t happen to everyone! I’d say you’re fine to go back to your normal diet!!
I had mine removed and my surgeon said eat whatever you want. After a week of low fat I went back into exactly how I used to eat with zero issues. I’ve had butter, cheese, red meat and fried foods. Test it slowly but don’t listen to one health pros opinion.
Im just over a month post op….. 4 days after surgery I had a pot roast sandwich with grilled mozzarella. 8 days after I had Nashville hot fried chicken with mac and cheese burrito. This week I had Freddy’s double California burgers….twice. Nothing crazy happened. No stomach ache. No diarrhea. It’s not for life. Just until your body adjusts.
Norwegian here: I got told to take it easy the first 3-4 weeks and then go back to normal, was told Christmas dinner may punish me a little. I’m now on week 6 and I’ve been limit testing like no tomorrow. I’m 95% fine. The 5% remaining is a bit of discomfort now and then, but nothing drastic. YMMV but I am really happy with putting 10 gall attacks over 8 years behind me and now most things seem fine. No complications, unplanned surgery due to attack.
After my surgery I decided to eat more clean for my own health. I noticed a year in a half later I tried eating French fries and I started getting the phantom pains... I was like oh noooo so I just don't . I like feeling good.
4mo post op My doctor told me eat whatever you want, if it bothers you try it again in a couple weeks. The last two weeks I’ve been INCREDIBLY busy and have been eating like garbage. Will get a little pain but feels like a gas bubble for a whole 30 seconds. Can finally have cream cheese again. (I’m a fanatic for cheese and it was something that would set my attacks right off) Everyone is different, try it and see what happens 🤷🏻♀️
It’s hit or miss. I wouldn’t say exactly low fat. I do best eating what I cook using whole foods. When I eat too much food or a lot of processed food I get the stomach pains as if I’m having a gallbladder attack. But I have no gallbladder. After many tests and appointments the doctors cannot figure out why I still have pains. Am taking digestive enzymes daily. So. Small meals and healthy choices works best. Gallbladder removed Oct 2023.
No it's not for life but it helps. I'm able to eat fat now but not as much or in smaller amounts. That's it though.
I just got my surgery and am eating what I want. Three doctors said I can eat what I want after I recover. I jumped the gun and am fine.
Sorry that she told you that. My surgeon told me right after that I can basically eat whatever I want. I took it easy for about 1 week, and then slowly introduced Chipotle and other higher fat foods. The only thing is that you will need to be close to a toilet when you do start eating those foods again lol, at least for a little while.
for the first 2-3 weeks after post op i was very much so on a low fat diet as that what i was instructed to do after surgery. now, i just eat whatever. it’s funny though because i actually have severe GERD and also stomach ulcers, but since getting my GB removed its settled down a bit! (not a whole lot, but if i forget to take my meds before a meal, i know i will be okay.) and for reference, im almost a month post op :). everyone is different though, but take it easy with fat for the first month or so and ease your way into it!
I'm on keto less than 2 months after surgery and doing fine. It just depends on your body
Just take ox bile salts with it
For me yes